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!

Adding live stream to your Hawaii wedding is one way to include everyone in your special day. :) Especially, if you'll be eloping in Hawaii, this is a great way to allow family and friends from all over the world be there with you.

We've heard a few cute proposal stories recently, so we thought we'd reach out to our couples and ask to hear some more! 

Whether you're looking to recommit to your spouse, want a wedding day do-over, or simply want a personalized alternative to a legal wedding, a Hawaii commitment ceremony provides you the opportunity to affirm your relationship on your terms.

What is a Hawaii Commitment Ceremony?

A commitment ceremony is similar to a wedding in that it is a public declaration of love and dedication made between two people. The ceremony is a special event -- one that is often held in an inspiring location like Hawaii 😉 -- and the guest list usually includes the people who mean the most to you.

One of the most common questions we get from couples when making their travel plans is whether they should get a rental car or not. It’s an added expense, after all, and it’s good to know what other options are out there, especially if you're trying to have an affordable destination wedding.

Everyone is different. Some people like to hang out at the hotel, while others like to get out and explore. While there's never a one-size-fits-all answer, we like to provide as much information as possible to our couples and their guests. 

In this article, I’ll try to cover all the transportation options available to get around Oahu.

Walking

If you don't mind walking, you can get to a lot of places in Waikiki. From end to end, it’s about a 30-minute walk down Kalakaua Avenue, the main street loaded with shopping, restaurants, and hotels.