We get asked this question a lot, and it’s tough to answer because it all depends on you! The good news? It’s cheaper than most traditional weddings by far.
*Fights and hotel are NOT included in our packages. Hawaii wedding costs are examples based on our packages and research. (Prices are subject to change.)
What’s the average cost of a Hawaii destination wedding? We found that most of our couples spend between $6,000 and $10,000 on their Hawaii wedding, flight, and hotel.
- Our average Hawaii destination wedding couple spends around $2500 (Our wedding packages range from $395 to $8,995. Prices vary as there are many possible customizations.)
- Flight to Hawaii per person from the US mainland: $400-$800 (estimate and not included in packages)
- 7 nights hotel in Waikiki: $1800-5000 (estimate and not included in packages)
We find that most of our couples can have a destination wedding in Hawaii for around $7000, which includes the wedding, flight, and hotel. This is an enormous savings over the cost of a traditional wedding, which is currently over $30,000.
NOTE: Hawaii wedding packages do not include flight and hotel, and Hawaii does not have all-inclusive resorts. Once you visit Hawaii, it’s easy to see why you wouldn’t want to spend all your time and eat all your meals at the same place. Hawaii has much more to offer than just your resort. Also, outer island weddings, such as a Maui wedding, are more expensive. Compare our packages for details.
Are Hawaii Wedding Cost Estimates Accurate?
Before you look at these numbers, please know that their estimates look astronomically high to us. This is not to say they’re wrong, but these estimates must only consider the costs of traditional weddings with high guest counts, and we know extravagant weddings can easily surpass this estimate.
In comparison, most of our weddings are at the beach, park, or private venues with guest counts from 0 to 50. It’s very different.
On our wedding packages page, you can see that we have seven packages ranging from $395 to $8,995, with our most popular package at $2,995 (we’ll look more at that later).
Let’s compare their cost estimates to ours. We estimate most of our couples spend between $6,000 and $10,000 on their wedding package, flight, and hotel. We’ll have our breakdown below.
The Knot’s Estimated Costs for a Hawaii Destination Wedding (this was based on an article that we no longer can find, but a quick Google search will show you similar results):
- Venue: $12,346
- Event Planner: $2,785
- Photographer: $2,604
- Flowers & Decor: $2191
- Wedding Cake: $452
- Wedding Gown: $1,101
- Music: $1,101
- Average Cost Per Guest: $85
Yikes! That’s a total of $22,580 without guests– and they’re not even factoring in travel costs. That’s nowhere close to what our couples spend.
$12,346 for the venue?
Well, if you’re looking for a hotel wedding or large wedding venue, that makes sense.
On the other hand, a permit fee of $50 is charged for a beach wedding—yes, just $50! We also offer affordable private wedding venues.
If you want to add a wedding setup, it costs an additional $495; our most expensive option is only $1,750.
Even for our couples with large groups, wedding setups are usually under $1000, and that’s on the high end. Most of our couples spend $50 for a beach wedding permit, and some choose to add a wedding setup.
$2,785 for an event planner?
Nope. That seems high to us, but then again, a destination wedding is different than a traditional wedding. At Weddings of Hawaii, our team can manage groups of up to 40 without an additional charge. For larger groups, we charge $395 per hour for an on-site wedding coordinator.
In fact, all but three of our wedding packages are cheaper than that. Our Royal Ilima package is $2,995, which includes:
- Marriage ceremony
- Professional photographer
- 150 high-resolution digital images with print release
- Professional ceremony and highlight video
- Three hours of limo service
- Two custom leis
- Choice of in-room hair and makeup or live Hawaiian musician
- Choice of classic bridal bouquet, Hawaiian bridal haku lei, or floral hair clip
Our popular Royal Illima package includes all of this for a little more than their estimate for an event planner.
Note: Some couples do need extensive help from a wedding coordinator. Most of our couples and our guest sizes are under 40 people, and we work best with these sizes and smaller. For couples requiring extensive planning or large groups, we’d suggest finding a dedicated wedding coordinator to help you plan, which could add a lot to the cost of your wedding.
$2,604 for a photographer?
Hawaii wedding photography can be expensive, but it’s also very important, so the price does make sense for an all-day wedding.
Most of our weddings are one or two hours long, and all except our most basic wedding package already include a certified professional photographer. Our photographers have been with Weddings of Hawaii for years, so if you like the images on our website and Instagram page, you’ll love yours as well.
We want to be as transparent as possible, so one expense couples often forget about is purchasing your Full Digital Gallery Download ($295). While the photographer is included for the ceremony in most packages, all digital downloads are only included in the Lehua package and up.
$2191 for flowers and decor?
Yes, you could spend that with us on wedding flowers, and it’d probably be one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve done! Flowers are not cheap, but this is Hawaii, and what’s a Hawaiian wedding without some amazing leis, colorful bouquets, and maybe even a bridal haku?
That said, most of our couples do spend a little extra on flowers. We make that easy by including flower options in most of our packages, but many couples like to add more. After all, flowers are part of the wedding attire, and they sure help the pictures look even more amazing.
$452 for a wedding cake?
This is another expense that depends on the type of wedding you have. Many of our couples choose a beach wedding, so wedding cakes aren’t a priority. That money would be better spent on extra photo time, flowers, video, or anything else that will enhance your Hawaii wedding experience.
Since Hawaii elopements are popular, not all our couples have guests. We include a personal Hawaiian wedding cake for our couples to enjoy with the Royal Ilima package and up, and we often run promos that include the wedding cake in smaller packages too!
$1,101 for a wedding gown?
Yes, that’s possible. If you’ve seen our photos, you know there are no rules regarding what to wear for your Hawaii wedding. It’s entirely up to you; in Hawaii, anything goes. It’s your day, and as our motto goes, “No stress…just get dressed, and we’ll do the rest.”
$1,101 for music?
A live Hawaiian musician is one of the special touches that adds so much to the day. For $285, you can have one of our local musicians strumming away at his ukulele as you enjoy your beach ceremony. While definitely not necessary, it’s a nice addition.
$85 per guest?
This one is tough to calculate. Three expenses for guests often come up: guest leis, wedding setups, and transportation. At $22 each, guest leis are a nice gesture. As mentioned earlier, wedding setups are not required but are nice if you have more than a few guests. Finally, if you’d like to have your group travel to the ceremony together, you could add a party bus. All these are optional, of course.
What Expenses Are We Leaving Out?
- Wedding reception – Many elopements and small weddings decide on a nice lunch, dinner, or luau to celebrate, saving enormous costs over having a large reception.
- Travel expenses—We can help our couples plan their travel. We partner with several Waikiki hotels and send our couples a special booking link to get a discounted rate. We can also recommend hotels to help meet your tastes and budget. For flights, it’s easy to understand costs from travel sites such as expedia.com. West Coast flights are usually from $400-$600, and flights from the East Coast usually run around $1000, give or take.
- How much will you spend while you’re in Hawaii? That’s up to you, of course, but one nice thing to remember is that the beaches are free 🙂 So is the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and many other activities. Shopping and eating out can add up, but plenty of affordable options exist. Rental cars are also an expense to consider. There are other little costs, but knowing how much the ceremony and travel costs are is the big expense.
So, what’s the answer? How much does it really cost for a dream wedding in Hawaii?
The good news is that destination weddings are nowhere near traditional wedding costs, and getting married through Weddings of Hawaii is incredibly affordable.
Estimated prices:
- Wedding Package: $395 – $8,825 (2023 prices)
- Beach Permit: $50
- Round-trip flight for two from the US mainland: $1500 (estimated average)
- One week for two at a Waikiki hotel with our promo code: $3000 (estimated average)
(Note: We do not bundle wedding packages with flight and hotel costs. This is just an estimated cost breakdown to help you budget.)
Our wedding package prices mentioned in this blog are based on our 2023 rates. Travel expenses can vary, but I think this is a fair estimate.
Depending on the hotel you choose and room type (e.g., a suite or ocean-view room vs. a standard room), you could be looking at a wide range in pricing.
Some couples spend less, and many couples spend more, but as you can see, you have options.
We do our best to provide you with an unforgettable experience, regardless of which package you choose. Just being in Hawaii with the one you love in a place of such natural beauty is the important part. Let us know what you want for your day, and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
Have questions or want to know more? We’re always happy to help!
