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.

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.

Everything You Need to Know About Sherwood Forest Beach

Sherwood Forest Beach (aka Waimanalo Bay) is a popular Hawaii beach wedding location. Not only is it a great beach for a wedding, but it’s also a personal favorite of many of us here at Weddings of Hawaii. Although we have descriptions and photos of all our wedding locations, we wanted to share more details that may help you in choosing the perfect beach for the big day!

Details:

• Location: East shore, 40 minutes from Waikiki.
• Available: Monday - Friday (excluding state and federal holidays), 8:00am to 4:00pm.
• Group Size: 30 people maximum (including couple and vendors).
• Decor Add-ons: No Arches and Chairs. Runways 7 days a week.
• Limousine: Requires one additional hour ($110). Not permitted on weekends and major holidays.
• Recommendation: Lighting is best from 10:00am-4:00pm. Early and mid-day offer more vibrant colors but also more sun, while later in the afternoon offers softer, less vibrant colors.
  
  

As you probably have seen in the pictures, this location features soft white sand, clear turquoise blue water, and the striking ironwood tree forest. We often get requests for a Waimanalo beach wedding, likely because it's attention as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and Sherwood Forest Beach is the best Waimanalo has to offer.

The stark contrast between the beach and forest gives couples a "two-in-one-location” photo opportunity. Because of its logistics, it is also our most secluded beach location.

A Hawaiian luau is an experience most visitors to Hawaii want to have, and we’re always happy to make recommendations! 

Ka Moana Luau has been doing shows for many years and is a great option for many couples looking to celebrate their big day the island way! 

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!