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.

Having a wedding or vow renewal is not something done often, so one of the questions that often comes up is, "Is tipping common? If so, how much?" 

The short answer: Yes, tipping is common in the wedding industry. As we like to say, "tipping isn't expected, but it's always appreciated."

If you Google this question, there are many articles about tipping vendors. Just remember that many of those are for large, traditional weddings. We're trying to make it easy with this article by letting you know what's common here in Hawaii.

Who to Tip

It's common to consider tipping anyone who performs a service on your special day. 

• Officiant
• Photographer/Videographer
• Musician/Dancer
• Limo Driver
• Hair and Makeup Artist

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 a small fraction the cost of a traditional wedding.

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). 😁*

Adding live stream to your Hawaii wedding is one way to include everyone in your special day. :) 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.

How Does Live Stream Work?

Our live stream process is always evolving. Our team is constantly looking for better solutions, so we expect the exact details to slightly change over time, but here is the basic information.

First, you can add the live stream to your wedding by calling or emailing us or by checking it on your information sheet.

Once you have this added to your package, we’ll set up a page for you on our website.

Magic Island, Waikiki, and Diamond Head on the Island of Oahu.

To say that we’re excited would be an understatement! The plan to open Hawaii up on October 15th to travelers with a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival was the best news that many business owners in Hawaii have heard this year. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome our couples to Hawaii!

With the news comes one recurring question we’ve been hearing: What’s going to be open?

Here’s What’s Opening in October

Hotels

Some hotels are finishing up renovation projects or are opening later in the year, but most of the hotels we work with are already open or planning to open soon. If you’ve been to Hawaii before and have a favorite hotel that's not on the list below, please check their website for opening dates.

Popular hotels that are currently open or will be on October 15:

• Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort
• Outrigger Reef Resort
• Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger
• ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
• Kahala Resort (walking distance to our Waialae Beach wedding location)
• Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
• Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
• Many more … There are too many hotels to list them all, and there are many hotels making preparations for opening, so make sure to check travel websites for more options.

After answering our couple’s questions on getting married in Hawaii, one of the most common questions we get is about how to book travel.

When’s a good time to visit? Where should we stay? Do we need a rental car?

Great questions!

Whether you're planning an elopement, small wedding, renewal, or Hawaii commitment ceremony, we wanted to provide some information to help get you started.

A Sherwood Forest Beach wedding in January.

Quick Notes:

• Peak season is over the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, spring break, Japanese Golden Week, and to a lesser extent, summer vacation, but there are always rooms and flights available in Hawaii.
• Low season is roughly from early spring through June and from September to the middle of December.
• Check flights and hotels on travel sites, such as expedia.com, and then compare directly on the airline and hotel websites.
• For Honolulu, you’ll fly into Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) on the island of Oahu.
• Ask us about our promotion code for great rates at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.
• Consider whether you should book a rental car or not.
• Ask us! If you have any questions or need some recommendations, we’re happy to help.