We’ve learned over the years that every couple we meet is unique in one way or another. It’s one reason we love chatting with couples during a phone consultation early on in their planning. Not only can we answer a lot of your questions, but we can also get to know what’s important to you and what kind of ceremony you’re looking for.
We have couples who book over a year in advance and plenty of couples who decide on a last-minute elopement or vow renewal. Planning is obviously different for everyone, but we always like to provide you with a guide and as much information as possible, so we’ve compiled a list to help you plan your destination wedding to Hawaii.
Hawaii Destination Wedding Checklist
1. Schedule a Phone Consultation
A casual phone conversation at the start of your planning is so beneficial. In addition to wedding information, we often end up providing tips about Hawaii, too, and we can answer questions you haven’t even thought of yet. We find this takes the stress off you down the road and jumpstarts your planning.
While many couples make reservations without even sending us an email, and we also have an FAQ page with answers, we know for many couples, it’s nice to speak with a wedding coordinator. We hope you know we’re always here to help!
2. Choose Your Wedding Package and Location
We try to put as much information as possible on our website to help you choose which package and location are right for you. We’re also happy to chat with you about these topics. Whether you’re having a Hawaii beach wedding, a private venue, or just looking for a place to start, we’re here for you!
3. Make a Reservation to Secure Your Ceremony Date
Submitting a reservation secures your ceremony. Once submitted, a wedding coordinator will review your reservation, and we’ll email you to confirm everything is set. Next, we’ll schedule your ceremony team and obtain the permits. If you’re making a reservation more than a couple of months in advance, we can usually schedule your ceremony easily. However, suppose you’re making a last-minute, weekend, or holiday reservation. In that case, it’s a good idea to contact us to ensure your date is available.
4. Apply for Your Hawaii Marriage License – After Your Reservation
We’ll send you a link to apply for your Hawaii marriage license online. Hawaii is a great state to marry in, as the process is straightforward and simple. After applying online, you’ll both need to show up in person to pick up your license once you arrive in Hawaii. The process usually takes about 15 minutes.
5. Book Your Travel – Around Three Months in Advance
We have a blog post on booking your travel to Hawaii, and we’re also happy to give you some recommendations and tips. We recommend booking your flight and hotel around three months in advance, give or take.
6. Finish Your Information Sheet – At Least One Month in Advance
After making your reservation, you’ll receive an information sheet with options for your ceremony day, such as choosing flowers or adding the digital image photo package. We need this to plan your day exactly how you’d like.
7. Pay for Your Ceremony – 30 Days Before Your Ceremony Date
Payment for your ceremony is due 30 days before the big day. After making your reservation, we’ll email you an invoice for your booked package. After you submit your information sheet, we’ll update your invoice if needed. You can make payments anytime, in any amount, up until 30 days before your ceremony date, when full payment is due.
8. Plan Your Post-Ceremony Dinner
Whether it’s just the two of you or you have a full guest list, we can help you plan your post-ceremony celebrations. We have contacts with several restaurants and can make reservations and decorate for your special evening.
9. Decide What You’ll Wear
Browsing through our photo galleries is a great way to get some ideas for what you’d like to wear for your ceremony. While pretty much anything goes, we do have some tips.
10. Relax and Enjoy Your Hawaii Wedding
As our motto goes, “No stress…just get dressed, and we’ll do the rest.” Once we know your package, location, and selections, we’ll have everything ready for your dream Hawaii wedding or vow renewal. You can focus on enjoying your time in Hawaii, knowing we’ll take care of making your day perfect!
