How to Plan Your Beach Wedding in Hawaii
Beach weddings in Hawaii are remarkably laid-back, fun, and can be very affordable.
The most popular image of a beach wedding that many couples have seems to be mainly white sand, turquoise water, and towering palm trees. They dream of magical sunsets surrounded by great friends and family. You’ve found the place for your beach wedding: It’s Hawaii!
Tropical flowers of every color surround your wedding party. Sea turtles swim in surrounding ponds while birds sing in the trees around your pristine reception site. The food is exquisite, prompting a flood of omplements. Now just imagine the honeymoon.
The options for weddings on Oahu are endless. Which beach to choose? Do you want a reception by moonlight or in the comforts of a hotel banquet hall? Even tying the knot on a surfboard isn’t out of the question on Oahu.
With the deep blue of the Pacific as your backdrop, Lanai provides a more personal alternative to other wedding venues. It’s no wonder why one of the world’s richest men said his vows here on a dramatic bluff
overlooking Hulopoe Bay.
If you decide to hold your nuptials on Molokai, expect an incredible reception – both in terms of your party, and the warm greetings and congratulations you’ll receive from friendly locals wherever you go. Here, you’ll be the center of the celebration, your big splash the talk of the town.
You will get tons of additionalfree info about these options when you visit the links that I display below in my “Location. Location. Location” panel.
In considering which of hundreds of potential beaches to site your wedding ceremony, keep in mind the nearest airports, accommodations and “civilization” (caterers, wedding cake bakers, musicians, photographers, and restaurants to provide for your guests before and after the wedding itself). Also, think about whether it is important to be on the beach at particular times of the day (such as sunset) and where the sun is likely to be at that time.
Huge beach houses can often be rented more affordably than putting up most people in a resort hotel. They also often offer large decks or entertaining areas that would be great for the rehearsal dinner, the wedding reception, and even the post-wedding breakfast.
So, explore! Enjoy! And relax!
Sarah Forrester
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Check out these links to fabulous islands that Hawaii offers for beach weddings.
In general, larger cities and towns are going to have more choices of hotels,motels, and bed & breakfast inns (as well as restaurants, bars, and entertainment for your guests) than remote locales. But don’t avoid considering those remote beaches. They are often far less populated, which will give you more privacy and fewer worries about gawkers and potential party-crashers. BEACH PERMITS: |
Hawaii has a no waiting period between obtaining the license and the wedding, but the license is valid for only 30 days. Since you’ll have plenty to do in the days before The Big Day, it’s a good idea to take care of this about a month beforehand.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Hawaii Health Department or Marriage Agents in rural areas of Oahu and on the neighbor islands, but the license can be used anywhere in the state.The bride and groom must appear in person and present two valid forms of ID (driver’s license, passport, Armed Forces or Resident Alien ID card) or birth certificate. Previously married folks need no documentation. The license fee is $60.00 (cash only). No blood test is required. Marriages are performed by clergy or licensed marriage performers.The officiant will sign your marriage license, which must be sent to the Hawaii Health Department within 30 days of the marriage for it to be legally recognized. |
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Planning so far in advance for a beach wedding means that you need to equip yourself with facts about the weather (temperature and possibility of precipitation) for the beach location that you have in mind.
Although there certainly are exceptions, when it comes to weather, the past is a pretty good predictor of the future. and it will almost always be better than a wild guess. This link provides historical weather data over nearly 50 years for thousands of locations in the world. You won’t want to have the bridal party standing at the water’s edge for the ceremony if the tide’s coming in. But when will that be? Find the time of the high tide for your beach location for any day in 2009 with this link. |
What if a major storm occurs or the groom has an accident that requires the wedding to be postponed or even canceled? What if an important vendor goes out of business before the wedding and you can’t get back your deposit for the cake or the music?
Consider wedding cancellation insurance. It is available online for as little as 1 cent for every dollar of insurance, and it can cover the honeymoon, too. Here’s one site that has designed a special insurance policy just for coverning wedding -related events: http://www.wedsafe.com/ |
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
To help you through the sometimes mind-boggling decisions that you must make,
I discovered an inexpensive and highly readable book that spells everything out for you.
I mean everything! Click here and check it out for yourself!– Your host, Sarah Forrester
