Hawaii Weddings...
Saying "I Do" in Paradise

Hawaii weddings seem to have a flavor all their own. Is a Hawaii wedding in your future?

For many couples, Dawn and I included, a beach wedding seemed the perfect thing to do. After all, beaches were a big part of our lives and both our families had grown up spending a lot of time at the beach.

Our wedding, in 1983, was held at the Kahala (then the Kahala Hilton), an upscale hotel on Oahu’s southeast shore tucked away in Hawaii’s most exclusive residential neighborhood. We were married on the grounds, overlooking the beach, after which we immediately went indoors for the delicious brunch buffet that awaited us and our two-hundred-plus guests.




Having lived in Hawaii all our lives, it never occurred to us to schedule the ceremony or the picture taking to coincide with sunset or sunrise… neither did we even think about including the beachscape as a part of our pictures! After all, our thoughts were more on the honeymoon that would take us to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Lake Tahoe, where my first experience with snow was to occur!



What makes Hawaii weddings so popular? No doubt the scenery and ideal weather. But It could also be that there are so many weddings held here that nearly every wedding you can imagine can be had in Hawaii... yes, even in the snow!

Hawaii weddings are almost an icon in the nuptial world due in large to the interest amongst the Japanese to have their weddings here. It’s not uncommon at all to be at a popular beach or some other scenic spot when a limousine pulls up and out jumps a bride and groom, accompanied by a small entourage and a photographer who then proceeds to direct all of them through a series of poses intended to take advantage of the area’s scenery. In fact more than “not uncommon” the frequency of these sightings is “quite often!

As it turns out Hawaii weddings are highly popular with the Japanese for economical reasons, I was surprised to learn!

After years of assuming that the Japanese tourists were so extravagant to come to Hawaii and get married, I eventually found out that their weddings in Hawaii are actually the less expensive option for a couple to be wed, much less expensive than having the wedding back in Japan!

It seems that Japanese protocol places such a high emphasis on social obligations that a family would feel it less than honorable to have a wedding and not invite all they knew. Understandably, “saving face” by including all one’s relatives and friends could make for a huge and costly affair! So rather than insult any you might not be able to include in the celebration, a wedding away from home offers an honorable and convenient way to get married with just an intimate group of invitees. You could always get a box of macadamia nut chocolates to take back to all your friends, an act which would be quite the honorable thing to do.

Aside from presenting an acceptable solution to the wedding guest list dilemma, Hawaii’s close proximity to Japan and the appeal that the islands hold to the Japanese people make Hawaii weddings an even greater option.

Hawaii beaches offer some of the most dramatic and romantic backdrops for a couple to exchange vows. But there’s a lot more to Hawaii weddings. Take the couple who’d prefer a Hawaii church wedding but would like to also frame their once-in-a-lifetime attire against the raw beauty of a lava-lined coastline with waves crashing onto the shore just feet away… not a problem!

One can choose from a number of different churches from informal and quaint chapels to some pretty ornate houses of worship. And, of course, Hawaii’s diversity also makes for a wide spectrum of faiths to match its multi-ethnic and cultural mix.

The bourgeoning “wedding business” in Hawaii has enabled the growth of a mini industry that includes specialized services targeted to the needs and whims of these romantic visitors to the islands. Limousines, specialized photography, bridal shops, videography, and wedding planners have all found an excellent niche in Hawaii’s wedding market along with other more traditional visitor-related services.

Every once-in-awhile, Dawn and I talk about renewing our wedding vows. After all twenty-five years is a pretty impressive amount of time to spend with someone and that quarter-century benchmark is but a couple of years away! Will we do another Hawaii beach wedding ceremony? Actually, no. There’s nothing that can match our Hawaii beach wedding and I know now that Dawn always wanted a church wedding.

We didn’t use a Hawaii wedding planner because everything took place on the grounds of the hotel. But if you’d like to take advantage of locations other than private property, a Hawaii wedding planner can pay big dividends in making sure that your exchange of vows won’t be a source of embarrassment for years to come. Can you imagine going through your ceremony then having someone tell you that what you’re doing is not permitted there… or having a bunch of unexpected passersby gawking at you and your guests?

But for those of you first-time-arounders who might be looking for something out of the ordinary, Hawaii weddings are only limited by your imagination! Here are a few ideas for starters!

Beach Weddings

Aquarium Weddings

Sky-Diving Weddings

Underwater Weddings

On-Board Boat Weddings

Mountain Weddings

Luau Receptions

Many of the major hotels and resorts offer outstanding wedding and reception services. Here are a few on Oahu:



Koolau Ballrooms

Honolulu Country Club

Lanikuhonua

Paradise Cove Luau

Moana Surfrider

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort

Ihilani Resort

Hilton Hawaiian Village

Sheraton Waikiki

Waialae Country Club (must be hosted by a member)

Halekulani

Hale Koa Hotel (military affiliation or sponsorship required)

Here's a site that can help you get to Hawaii for your wedding/honeymoon... or, if you live in Hawaii, wherever it is your heart desires!

TravelLatte.net A comprehensive search and online reservations site for all your travel needs plus a special Honeymoon Bridal Registry allowing friends and family to purchase a part of your honeymoon as a wedding present!

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