Why Hawaii is Still a Top Destination Wedding Hot Spot
Hawaii is consistently a top choice for destination weddings. With so many incredible things to do and see for both you and all of your guests, Hawaii takes the cake when it comes to destination wedding locales. In fact, the six major islands play host to a wide variety of culture, history, beautiful sights, plant life, animals, and so much more! Rest assured, if you choose Hawaii for your destination wedding, you’ll surely have fun and make memories you and your family & friends will NEVER forget!
Discover The PERFECT Island For Your Wedding:
Here is a brief description of what each Hawaiian Island has to offer for your destination wedding.
Maui
Photo credits to Fairmont Kea Lani
Maui will give your special day an idyllic setting for the destination wedding of your dreams! You can be as casual or as sophisticated as you want, from a relaxed beach wedding to a lavish affair at one of Maui’s five-diamond resorts. Maui really can meet EVERY expectation!
Activities For Your Wedding Group:
Photo credits to Fairmont Kea Lani
Maui has an amazing variety of sights and adventures you can do with your wedding group! Some of the top beaches in ALL of Hawaii are here in Maui and offer your group total relaxation or water activities such as snorkeling, swimming, and paddleboarding.
During the winter months, you can see migrating humpback whales on a whale-watching tour You can do a nature hike in the famous Iao Valley, and of course, a helicopter tour is a great way to see ALL of the amazing beauty and geography of each island as well!
It’s ALWAYS fun to plan a one-of-a-kind cultural performance, stage show, or other special events that you just can’t experience anywhere else.
World-Class Wedding Venues in Maui
Maui is home to many properties that will give you a beautiful & memorable destination wedding! You'll have no problem finding amazing 4 and 5-star resorts & Villas offering wedding packages that will make your special day be EVERYTHING you have always dreamed it would be.
As I always tell my clients, the best resort is the one that fits you and your fiancée’s wedding vision! It really depends on what type of experience you and your new spouse are looking for. Make sure you and your fiancée research the wedding properties together so that you book the resort venue that is a true reflection of everything you are envisioning for your wedding day.
PROS: Several wedding venues, great resort options for your guests accommodations, romantic sunsets, and fun activities to do with your guests.
CONS: More expensive and some areas are more commercial vs authentic like you’ll find in Kauai.
I recommend Maui for your destination wedding if you enjoy unique dining, enjoy nature hikes in beauty beyond compare, but also want the luxury, pampering, and romance of a 5-star resort!
2. Kauai
Kauai’s lush green landscapes, and long sandy beaches with sapphire-blue waters make Kauai the PERFECT destination to say “I Do!” A favorite location of Hollywood filmmakers, and where Elvis Presley filmed Blue Hawaii, Kauai offers an amazing array of endless destination wedding venues, sites, and locations to choose from for your wedding.
One thing is for sure, Kauai can give you and your wedding guests EVERYTHING you are looking for in your dream destination “I Do!”
Activities For Your Wedding Group:
Kauai offers a multitude of fun & exhilarating activities you can do as a wedding group. Ziplining through the rainforest is always a favorite, as well as taking a kayaking tour down one of Kauai’s famous rivers. Go mountain tubing down the rivers and streams of Mt. Waialeale, and I would definitely recommend either hiking or driving to see the Waimea Canyon, which is breathtaking! If you can afford it, a helicopter tour of the Napali Coast is something no one will EVER forget!
And I always recommend that you get out and explore some of the local culture, such as doing a Luau, visiting museums and famous historical sights. You can even take a filmmakers tour to the locations of over 60 TV shows & films!
Plenty of Incredible Wedding Venues in Kauai:
Whether you’re looking for a wedding ceremony overlooking the sea, or an intimate garden wedding, Kauai has some of the most amazing resorts, villas, botanical gardens, and other wedding locations for your destination wedding! Each of these wedding venues has a setting filled with either the beauty of lush tropical landscapes or the background of glimmering blue waters against the sandy shores! Finding the PERFECT wedding venue won’t be hard in Kauai.
PROS: Luxury, and World-Class Service & Amenities, Great Wedding Packages, Amazing Natural Sights, And Fun Activities to do!
CONS: Less flight options from the U.S.
I recommend Kauai for couples who love to get out and explore, hike, have some adventure, and want to experience “Bucket List” natural beauty!
3. Oahu
If you’re considering Oahu for your destination wedding, the options are limitless! Instagram worthy wedding venues, perfect weather, & world-class wedding packages, your destination happily ever after will be unforgettable!
Great Resort Wedding Venue Options For Every Couple
Photo credits to Sunset Ranch
Oahu is also home to a large number of fantastic resort wedding venues offering 5-star service & amenities all catered to making your destination wedding EVERYTHING you’ve dreamed it to Depending on your budget and the type of ceremony & reception you want to have, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect resort for your destination wedding. With that being said, REMEMBER, this is your wedding, not just another vacation, this isn’t the time to be cheap! If you’re going to make the investment of going to Hawaii, then at the very least I wouldn’t book anything lower than a 4-star resort.
Activities For Your Wedding Group
Endless activities abound in Oahu for your wedding group. You can enjoy incredible golfing, do a luau, go on a shopping tour, enjoy the surf, take a catamaran cruise, a submarine dive, even visit a nature reserve where you can spend a whole day ziplining, driving ATVs, as well as so much more! You will find something that everyone in your group will enjoy!
PROS: Variety of Resort Wedding Options For Every Taste & budget, Plenty of Activities and NightLife, Easy to get to from the U.S.
CONS: Densely Populated, Wedding Privacy Could be an Issue, Big City Right Next to The Resort Zone.
I recommend Oahu for couples who love water sports, big-city shopping, and nightlife, while still being able to experience the physical and cultural beauty of Hawaii.
4. Lanai
Photo credits to Flashpacking America
Lanai is the smallest of all Hawaii’s inhabited islands and will give you a “secluded” island experience to your destination wedding. Lanai will give you the ultimate in luxury and privacy. Just ask Bill Gates, because he chose to say “I Do!” right here on Lanai!
World Class Wedding Indulgence!
Lanai is home to the incredible Four Seasons Lanai, an indulgent 5-star property that rivals the top resorts in ALL the Hawaiian Islands! This unbelievable resort overlooks the magnificent Hulopoe Bay, a protected marine preserve. Getting married here is first class all the way!
Activities For Your Wedding Group
Photos credit to the owners.
Lanai doesn’t have a ton of activities, but it does offer championship-level golf, off-the-beaten-path 4-wheel drive experiences, and there is the Lanai Ferry that will take you back and forth to Maui, where you can enjoy all of the activities and sights Maui has to offer. Check out the activities I have listed above in my overview of Maui.
PROS: Privacy, Luxury, and World-Class Service & Amenities, Top Shelf Wedding Packages
CONS: Expensive, Only One Resort Option, Ferry to Maui For Activities and Sights.
I recommend Lanai to couples who are looking for luxury, serenity, privacy, and off-the-beaten-path experiences.
5. The Island of Hawaii
The “Big Island” could be just the perfect Hawaiian island for your big day! The island of Hawaii offers endless wedding venue options that will make your wedding unforgettable. Imagine, having a sunset ceremony on the beach, or saying your “I Do” in a botanical garden with a snow-capped inactive volcano as your backdrop. For a little flash and excitement, how about saying your vows in an intimate ceremony with your toes in the sand, as the active volcano is erupting behind you! Your choices of great wedding locations in Hawaii are limitless!
Wide Variety of Great Resort Wedding Venues:
Photo credits to Royal Kona Resort
The island of Hawaii offers a wide variety of accommodations for a picture-perfect destination wedding. The wedding resorts here can offer you amazing wedding packages and services so that you don’t have to stress out about your big day! No matter what type of wedding, big or small, extravagant or casual, there will be a resort that will accommodate your destination wedding desires!
Activities For Your Wedding Group:
Photo credits to the owners.
Known as “Hawaii’s Island of Adventure” No other Hawaiian Island will give you the variety of activities and adventures Hawaii offers. Just imagine you and your guests swimming with manta rays or whale watching. Traveling inland to see a 420-foot waterfall, or stop by one of the black sand beaches. And you definitely have to see the VERY active volcano!
PROS: Privacy, Luxury, and World-Class Service & Amenities, Top Shelf Wedding Packages
CONS: Expensive, Only One Resort Option, Ferry to Maui For Activities and Sights.
Destination Wedding Pro Tips For The Hawaiian Islands:
Stay at Least a FULL 9 Days, 8 nights!
Because Hawaii can have long travel times, 10-12 hours from the East Coast & Mid-West, as well as around 5 hours from the West Coast, I recommend that you stay at least a FULL 9 days, 8 nights.
Get the breakfast package:
There are no All-Inclusive resorts in Hawaii, so you will want to buy a package that includes daily breakfast at your resort. Definitely have meal costs in your budget. An example is that some breakfast buffets can be $75 a person.
Celebrate Your Honeymoon on a Different Island!
How cool would it be to skip off to a new island the day after you say “I Do”? I always recommend that you try to at least see at least two different islands when visiting Hawaii. So if you were to have a 9-day, 8-night trip, I would recommend staying 5 days on one of the Islands, and 4 days on another island.
Wait if needed:
Hawaii is a bucket list destination, but if just don’t have the money or time to go to Hawaii, then I suggest that you wait until you do have the money and time to go. Maybe for a special anniversary or even a vow renewal!
Consider St. Lucia:
Photo credits to Sandals
If you have your heart set on going to Hawaii, but just can’t swing it this time around, then I recommend St. Lucia! St. Lucia is often called the “Hawaii of the Caribbean.” There are also many excellent All-inclusive resorts in St. Lucia! If you would like to read more about St. Lucia, click here to read now!
CONCLUSION
With so many options and ideas, it's easy to get overwhelmed when planning a destination wedding. Not to worry! After you hire a planner, take some time to research online so you can narrow down your options and make the best choices for your special day. Use this guide as an overview of the most popular Hawaiian wedding spots. And say 'I do' in paradise!
Are you ready to make your dream wedding in Hawaii a reality? Schedule a complimentary consultation with me today and let’s get started!