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 Popular Destination Advice
Hawaii Weddings - Weddings in Hawaii
Hawaii Wedding Overview
Hawaii became a state in 1959. Comprised of six islands - Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and “the Big Island” - Hawaii is a great place to have a destination wedding. It's part of the US, so no passports or other paperwork is involved to travel here, and it's a great place to vacation or marry with the entire family. The Polynesian culture and tropical climate make Hawaii an exotic beach (or mountain, or opulent hotel) locale to get married in and honeymoon at, all while enjoying the comforts of your own country. Hawaii's policy of being the “aloha” state means that they are very welcoming to everyone, especially those who are starting their new married life.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Hawaii
Hawaii wedding planning is much easier than in foreign countries for many reasons. No translations or other official paperwork must be prepared before coming to Hawaii to get married, and there are no residency requirements. No blood tests are required. You must be over 18 (under special circumstances you may be married at as young an age as 15, but this requires family court consent), and present proof of your age (birth certificate, or if you're over 19, driver's license). Both members of the couple must be present when applying for the marriage license, and it must be done in person. The fee for the license is $60 and it is good for 30 days once issued. You may have either a religious or civil ceremony, as long as the officiant is legally able to marry people in Hawaii.
Hawaii Wedding Types
Some people think that having your destination wedding Hawaii-style means that you've got to have it on the beach, or with a luau. Not so! Hawaii has tons of different types of establishments and natural areas to get married in. If you choose to get married on Oahu (Hawaii's most populous island), you have nearly as many choices of setting as you do throughout the entire US! You could choose to get married at one of the grand hotels here, such as the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel or Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Or how about on Waikiki Beach or one of the other more secluded beaches? Also available for a dramatic setting are areas around Diamond Head, the volcanic mountain situated on Oahu. The other islands of Hawaii all offer their own variants of these different settings to make your wedding setting special.
Hawaii Beach Weddings
Having your wedding on one of Hawaii's beautiful beaches can be incredibly romantic. At DestinationWeddings.com, the specialists and wedding planners can help you to choose just the beach to make your wedding ceremony perfect. Whether you choose to get married on Waikiki Beach (on the island of Oahu) or the secluded and private beaches of the Big Island, you'll have help along the way from your planners. How about getting married on the popular wedding island of Kauai? Here over 3,000 couples a year exchange their vows of love on the beaches, and you could easily choose this romantic spot for your own vows. Maui can also be a relaxing beach wedding Hawaii spot. It's all up to you!
Hawaii Wedding Packages
Wedding packages in Hawaii are abundant, and DestinationWeddings.com can help you to plan your own package down to the tiniest detail. Whether you want to get married on Kauai by Elvis in his “Blue Lagoon” chapel, or in Honolulu's city setting, you'll be able to get married in style and comfort by planning your package ahead of time. DWT also offers their own Maui wedding package, starting at $1,625, which includes transportation to your wedding site, a minister to perform the ceremony, a small reception afterwards, orchid leis, a beautiful wedding certificate and even a photographer to capture your special moments! Additions to this package can even include having a hula dancer appear at your ceremony. Of course, you're also welcome to create your own Maui wedding package, just like you can on any other island, so start planning now!
Hawaii Destination Wedding Honeymoons
Hawaii is a perfect destination for your honeymoon, and it's even more perfect if you are planning to get married in Hawaii. Hawaii is one of the rare destination wedding sites where you can get married on one island, then leave your guests behind and have a private honeymoon, all without leaving the area. Where you choose to honeymoon may be dictated by what you like to do: if you enjoy surfing, hiking along mountain trails and other outdoor adventures, consider the island of Oahu. If you'd like a more laid-back honeymoon, laying on the beach and enjoying each other's company, you could choose one of the less inhabited and slower paced other islands. No matter where you choose to have your honeymoon, remember you can always “island hop” and see the sights on other islands, so you're not restricted to one sort of stay.
Hawaii Wedding Receptions
Having your wedding reception on Hawaii can be as exotic or as formal as you'd like it to be. With many large hotel chains and resorts with four star ratings, there are plenty of places to hold that fancy reception, complete with a gourmet dinner and chamber music. Or, you can go completely Hawaiian style and have a luau as your wedding reception, where you could choose to go as a group to an already established luau (such as the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui) or have a private event staged just for your reception. No matter what sort of wedding reception you're looking for, DestinationWeddings.com can get you in contact with the right people to make it happen.
Hawaii Wedding Apparel
Choosing what to wear to your Hawaiian wedding is very easy for many brides and grooms. Often, couples want to wear outfits that are in the traditional Polynesian Hawaiian style, such as sarongs and Hawaiian shirts, complete with leis. If you want to, you can even order this clothing before you arrive at your Hawaii destination wedding, from on-line retailers such as Hilo Hattie or other well-known Hawaiian clothiers. But why not just shop when you get there? There are also many different boutiques and other chain stores (such as David's Bridal) available for those who want to wear a traditional wedding dress, and tux rental shops are also on the islands. What you wear is up to you, so pick the style of dress you're comfortable in.
Hawaii Wedding Activities
There are many different activities available to people visiting Hawaii. From laying on white sand beaches, surfing, snorkeling and other water activities, to historic trips to sugar cane plantations, there's something for everyone. If you enjoy coffee, why not visit one of the Kona coffee plantations? There are trails for hiking along volcanic formations, and lots of shopping available for those who are less adventurous. Don't forget about seeing some authentic Hawaiian displays, such as luaus and hula dancing, and you can even take classes in some of these cultural activities. Tours are a good way to bring the whole group together, and there are different sightseeing groups that take place on the different islands. You could even take a helicopter tour of Hawaii!
Hawaii Wedding Guests
Your wedding guests for your Hawaii destination wedding will have just as much fun as you do on the island. Places to stay are plentiful and available in all different price ranges, as are flights to the island. Try to give plenty of notice to your guests so that they'll be able to book their trip (although they won't need quite as much time as if you were traveling to another country). DestinationWeddings.com can help you to choose a hotel or resort that will be accommodating to all of your guests, and even help you to find an additional spot if you choose to honeymoon away from them. Hawaii is a family friendly place, so don't worry about inviting families to come to your wedding; the children will have plenty to do. Just don't overschedule, and allow all your guests to enjoy Hawaii at their own pace
Please Remember:
Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date.
The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.
Start Planning your Destination Wedding Today.
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