By setting a clear amount at the outset, you can save yourself a lot of grief and be more incisive as you make your decisions.
Avoid planning your wedding in June or July. This is peak tourist season in Hawaii, and during those months the cost of everything is very high. Even during dry season, rain is a possibility. In general, most of the rain occurs at night, so an evening wedding outdoors could be affected by this. Consider having an indoor back-up venue, just in case.
Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, and is home to Honolulu, the capitol. There is a lot to see and do there, so you’ll have no lack of pre and post wedding activities to choose from. The international airport of Hawaii is located there, so it is also the most accessible location in Hawaii.
Coordinators can assist you with finding the perfect venue, hiring the minister, and are often marriage license agents themselves, allowing you to kill a lot of birds with one stone by working with one. Most coordinators will provide you with wedding package options that vary in price, with many being quite affordable. These packages are often all-inclusive (the more expensive the package, the more it includes), so choosing a package could provide everything from the hotel all the way down to the wedding cake and decorations.
Other low cost wedding venues to explore are national parks, state parks and botanical gardens. Rules vary, as far as number of guests allowed and whether or not a permit is required, so give yourself plenty of time to research and take care of these details. Don’t forget to ask about any noise ordinances, and be sure to follow them. [3] X Research source Remember that beaches can change from one season to the other. Make sure to check the weather during the time of the year you plan on getting married just to avoid issues or surprises. During the summertime, know that you might need to build a platform that takes people out to the area where you want to get married, because the sand is hot and it might be uncomfortable.
Most basic wedding packages include the ceremony set up, minister, flowers and decorations, cake, champagne and sometimes even the photography and a romantic dinner for the two of you. After the ceremony, the rest of your stay will be your honeymoon, so there are no additional costs to travel elsewhere.
Check airlines for discounts that cover the airfare for small wedding parties. Look for any wedding packages that might include accommodations and multi-room discounts.
Cost for alcohol will be very low, since the event is so early, and you won’t need to worry about spending money on a band or DJ. After brunch, guests can either go off and do their own activities or you can plan activities that everyone can do together.
Since guests will be expected to pay their own way, you will need to send out invitations quite early, in order to give them plenty of time to prepare for travel. No less than 6 months out is a reasonable time frame. 8 months prior to the event or even a full year is much better, though. Think carefully about who you want to invite, especially considering the financial burden that will be placed on the guests to attend. Keep things simple and small.
Have a wedding coordinator assist you with finding the perfect spot where you can take full advantage of Hawaii’s natural beauty. Botanical gardens are a popular and beautiful choice, but you have plenty of options.
A traditional white wedding dress with a train would be out of place on the beach, and a tuxedo will probably be hot and uncomfortable for a groom in Hawaii. Consider casual and beach attire for both the couple and the guests. Make sure that your guests know ahead of time what to wear so that they can plan accordingly.
Technology is such that almost anyone can get great photos with a decent digital camera and even a cell phone, especially when you factor in all of the filters and editing possibilities that apps can provide.
If you choose to go with a wedding coordinator, this is yet another area that they can significantly help you out with. If you plan on marrying during peak season, try to book everything a whole year in advance, not only for the best prices, but also to make sure you’ll have access to everything you want to.
