Beach weddings are in a class of their own when it comes to outdoor weddings. Gardens and wineries are beautiful, but there is something genuinely magical about an oceanfront ceremony. (Full disclosure, we have been doing Hawaii beach weddings since 1978, so we’re probably a little biased.)

A romantic seaside dream for many, but with so many venue options, it can be hard to decide if it's right for both of you. Here’s everything we could think of to help couples determine whether a beach wedding is a good fit for them.

Choosing the Right Beach for Your Wedding

For most couples, a beach wedding means a destination wedding, but for the lucky few who live near a beach, you’ll have a slightly different approach as you may have a larger guest count. You may need first to decide if you’ll be planning a destination wedding vs. a traditional wedding.

We've wanted to write a post like this for a while. There's no shortage of activity guides for Hawaii, and while those are great sources of information, we want to share some places we love.

You can trust us as your Hawaii wedding planners, and we think we know a thing or two about activities as well.

These recommendations are our personal favorites. We included a few of the popular attractions that many of you've heard of, but we did our best to go off the beaten trail and focus on the lesser-knowns that we feel make Oahu so special.

We broke our recommendations down into five categories: beaches, activies, hikes, Hawaiian foods, and shopping. 

Okay, let's get to it!

Oahu Beaches

Oahu's beaches are a great place to start. Not only are they one of the top reasons people visit Hawaii, but they're also free! Just as with weddings, we highly recommend weekdays (Monday-Friday) and non-holidays for the best beach experience and least crowds. If you are driving, never leave valuables visible in your car. Don't forget reef-safe sunscreen and towels!

Beach wedding dresses aren’t really different from other types of wedding dresses. Anything goes for a destination wedding, so what you wear is entirely up to you!

There are, however, certain dress styles and materials that work better for a beach wedding.

After planning Hawaii beach weddings for more than 40 years, we have seen what works and what doesn’t. We’ve put together all the information you need to pick out the beach wedding dress that’s right for you!

What to Know for a Waikiki Beach Wedding

Waikiki Beach is probably the most famous beach in Hawaii. Located on the south coast of Oahu fronting the hotels, nearly every visitor knows this stretch of sandy paradise.

It’s important to note that the State of Hawaii does not issue wedding permits for most of Waikiki Beach. There is one particular part on the western end of Waikiki Beach (Kahanamoku Beach) where a permit can be obtained for beach weddings, and this is where we hold the ceremonies.

Unlike our other Hawaii beach wedding locations, we don’t yet have a dedicated photo gallery for this location. We have done several ceremonies here because couples have asked for this location. You can think of Waikiki Beach as our “secret menu” item, not on the usual menu, but if you ask for it, we can do it for you!

Elopement packages are an excellent option for couples looking for a stress-free way to plan their wedding, and with some of the most stunning beaches in the world, eloping in Hawaii is a no-brainer!

Did we mention Hawaii has very affordable destination wedding options? But what’s “affordable,” you ask? Our Hawaii wedding packages range from $279 to $8,450, with most couples spending $2,000 or less.

If this sounds like it could be a good fit for you, check out more of our elopement package details below.

*With any of these packages, you choose which stunning Hawaii wedding location will be the place you tie the knot (and all of our packages can be customized). 😁*

9 Tips for Planning Your Destination Elopement

We’ve been helping couples plan their Hawaii elopement for over 40 years, and we’ve seen the term “elopement” change over time.

“Eloping” used to mean the couple getting married in secret, then telling family and friends they were married after the wedding took place.

Nowadays, “eloping” typically means having a destination wedding, but it's just the couple celebrating their special day together. For some, it could even be a small wedding with family and closest friends to witness your vows!