Oahu beach weddings are one of the most popular and affordable ways to get married in Hawaii. While many beautiful beaches are in the state, we believe Oahu is the best Hawaiian island for a destination wedding.

What You Need for a Beach Wedding on Oahu

Like all the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu requires a permit from the State of Hawaii to marry on a beach. We can apply for and pick up the permit for your event. At the time of writing, a Hawaii beach wedding or vow renewal permit costs $50.

Best Oahu Beach Wedding Locations

Since all beaches in Hawaii are public, most couples want to choose a beach that offers incredible beauty, some seclusion, and a certain amount of convenience. Our selection of beach wedding locations takes this into consideration.

Before reviewing each location, here's a quick comparison to help you get started.

• Closest to Waikiki: Waialae Beach
• Best Beach, Sunrise & Lava Rock Location: Sandy Beach
• If you're staying on the North Shore: Kawela Bay
• If you're staying on the West Side: Secret Beach

Getting married in Hawaii is easier, more affordable, and less stressful than many couples think. We know planning from a distance can seem challenging, but with over 40 years of experience performing weddings, we know how to make your dream destination wedding absolutely amazing! As we like to say, "No stress...just get dressed, and we'll do the rest."

Getting Married in Hawaii Basics

1. Research the Hawaiian Islands

Oahu is the most popular island, followed by Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. All islands offer the quintessential Hawaiian elements, yet they're unique in their own ways.

When it comes to destination weddings, there are a lot of places you could go. We're a little biased, but there aren't a lot of people who'd argue against a Hawaii destination wedding or vow renewal. It has everything you could want: natural beauty, friendly people, tons to do, and world-class cuisine, and we know the best places to get married in Hawaii. Hawaii truly is paradise.

Your wedding photos will be amazing!

Why Have a Destination Wedding in Hawaii?

There are several reasons we believe Hawaii is the best spot for a destination wedding. Here are the top reasons we hear from our couples:

1. Amazing Hawaii Wedding Photos!

Picture yourself in wedding attire on one of the world's best beaches. Your cameraman is shooting away, and your videographer has the tape rolling. It's a postcard moment, and you look amazing. Everything from the comforting breeze to your fresh Hawaiian bouquet is perfect.

Maybe you're eloping in Hawaii, and it's just the two of you. Maybe you've brought a large wedding party. Either way, you're in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, and you're going to have the photos to remember it for the rest of your life. 

A Small Hawaii Wedding - Easy and Affordable

Since 1978, Weddings of Hawaii has been planning small beach weddings and elopements here in beautiful Hawaii.

With most traditional weddings having a guest list of 150-200, many consider anything less than 100 people to be a small wedding. However, comparing a traditional wedding to a Hawaii destination wedding, "big" and "small" take on different meanings.

Many are surprised to discover we think of a "big" wedding as 50 or more. For us, a "small" wedding is usually 10 or fewer. We know a 10-person wedding sounds super small, but sometimes less is more, especially when getting married in Hawaii!

As your trusted Hawaii wedding planners, we do our best to make sure your day goes as smoothly and perfectly as possible, but there are a few things that are up to you. These are the tips and reminders we’re always trying to communicate to our couples.

We speak from experience here, so please trust us that these are some of the best tips you should consider for your special day.

Here Are Our Top 10 Tips for Your Hawaii Wedding Day:

1. Bring Your Marriage License and Wedding Rings

Don’t forget your marriage license and wedding rings! Your officiant needs your license, and your rings are part of the ceremony. You will need to pick up your marriage license from the Hawaii Department of Health or a license agent before your ceremony to be legally married. Here are more details on the marriage license process.

(Note: a marriage license is not required for vow renewals.)

We have couples who book over a year in advance, and we have 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 put together a list to help you plan your destination wedding to Hawaii.

A Hawaii sunset wedding at Magic Island.