How to elope in Hawaii | Tips.

We hope these tips are helpful to you in learning about, how to elope in Hawaii.

1 – Your first step could be choosing the location for your ceremony. To find a beach wedding location that’s ideal for you. Hence, we show video presentations of some of our favorite elopement locations. Note, as all beaches in Hawaii are public, your beach ceremony is limited to  25 guests or less. This is due to state and permitting laws.

2 – Your second step could be researching the wedding vendors you may want to hire. We recommend you firstly check out vendors who already live on the island of your ceremony. There are several reasons for this.

• Firstly wedding professionals who already live on the same island. This way means there’s no need to add the cost of flights/car rentals to wedding packages.
• Secondly we’re more familiar with the weather and traffic patterns here than on the other Hawaiian islands.
• Thirdly, with us all living here, this helps us to create a relaxing atmosphere for you. Logistically everything is much simpler.

3 – Research online to find for your dedicated wedding officiant you feel very comfortable with. This is important because  it’ll be the three of you  creating your experience of your ceremony. Celebrating your love and commitment to each other. As Ellsworth expresses: We like to hear your story, your love story because thats what it is. It’s your story, We want to make your wedding dreams come true. An overall choice is whether you prefer to hire individual vendors, or a team of wedding professionals. Hiring an experienced team used to working together has some benefits: Such as, we know how much time each of us needs to give you the best results. That’s our unifying goal.

4 – Look for a photographer who you feel confident will capture all your heartfelt  ceremony moments. Experience is important as you’ll want a photographer who knows how to be at the ‘right ‘places’ at the ‘right’ times. Just as important is that you get photos of you both together that you absolutely love. As is often said ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. So, rather than relying on the words other people have written about the photos, use you own judgement on the photos you see. Above all, carefully look at the photos of several wedding photographers on Oahu. This is the direct way to ensure you’ll love the photos of you both together. 

5 – Comparing vendors elopement and vow renewal photography packages can be confusing. This is because, unlike most things in life, with wedding photography here, paying more doesn’t mean you get higher quality. There are several reasons for this. Thus, I recommend you use your own judgement by carefully looking at a photographers photos. Your wedding photos will likely be seen for generations. Hence, they are too important to rely solely on ‘within wedding industry’ recommendation lists. Of course, it’s also wise to look at what each package includes.

6 – Learn about the process of getting your marriage license in Hawaii. You’ll need to apply for your marriage license online before your arrival. When you arrive in Hawaii, you pick up the document from an authorized marriage license agent. After your ceremony, your officiant will file the legal documentation on for you. The state will then mail your marriage certificate to your mailing address within 4 to 6 weeks. You are responsible for applying for, and picking up your marriage license. If outside the United States, verify your countries legal requirements. Also check to see if an apostile is needed in addition to the Hawaii marriage certificate. The state of Hawaii does not require a witness.

7 –  In creating your dream ceremony in Oahu you’re probably looking for a beautiful secluded beach. For this, we suggest scheduling  your ceremony for a non holiday weekday. On weekdays, and non State holidays, there are less people on the beaches. Doing this will give you a more secluded experience. 8 – On Oahu there are many choices: From flower petals for your ceremony site , lei’s, hair & make-up,  to even a vintage car for transportation. You can design an elopement package that aligns with your dreams and desires. We can help you in your planning process. and are happy to answer any questions you may have at no extra charge

A practical ceremony tip: For walking over sand and possibly rocks, we recommend you bring comfortable footware to change into. Converse shoes are a safe and fun choice. Especcially if you use pretty ribbons for laces. You may find it interesting to check out fun Converse wedding sneakers

9 – Leading up to your ceremony, take care not to get sunburned. This can happen quite quickly, especially in the mid day sun.

10 – It’s worth bringing some hair clips with you. Just in case it’s windy during your ceremony, and gusty wind is blowing your hair into your face.

11 – To be comfortable throughout, you may want to bring a few small parasol umbrellas for shade. You can find wedding umbrellas online. They also provide shade for any family/guests you may have witnessing your ceremony. Interestingly, during outdoor ceremonies here, there’s often what’s called a ‘shower blessing’, which is a light rain shower.

12 – If you’re planning on traveling around Oahu, car rental gives you the most flexibility. Note: most beach car parks have signs posted saying ‘ Do not leave valuables in car’. For your piece of mind, we can put small items such as cell phones and wallets inside my camera bag for safe keeping. It’s always right by me. It’d be very noticable and time consuming for someone to unzip it, or run off with a heavy camera bag.

13 – If you’re staying in Waikiki and planning a ceremony on Oahu’s north shore, we recommend departing Waikiki about 3 hours in advance. This avoids the late afternoon H1 freeway traffic heading west.. This way , you can take a leisurely drive. Arriving early, you could visit the charming north shore town of Haleiwa. Then head to your nearby ceremony location. By planning to travel early, you can relax, and avoid any stress about potential traffic delays.

In a nutshell, your learning about beach weddings in Oahu, is about creating your fun meaningful adventure. We would love to hear from you to answer any of your questions. Sharing your vision for your special day, discussing options, and your timeline. Feel free to reach out to us for a FREE consultation anytime.

Knowing the possible date for your ceremony, and the location(s) you prefer. We can then stahrt our reservation process. Specifically, checking to see if a permit is available for that location at your date/time. We also confirm our availability for that date and time. We’re here to help you with your planning, and are happy to answer any questions you may have.