Sweet Hawaii Wedding - Oahu destination beach wedding packages and vow renewal ceremonies in Waikiki, Honolulu, Kauai

Frequently asked questions about your Hawaii Beach Wedding

U we ka lani, ola ka honua - When the sky weeps, the Earth is Revived

Sweet Hawaii Wedding answers some of the most frequently asked questions about planning your wedding in Hawaii.  We hope you find these useful.

If you have any further questions which are not covered here, try our Wedding Articles for more information, or feel free to fill out our wedding planner, and then call us on our toll free number below.

  1. Why should we chose Oahu / Honolulu / Waikiki for our Hawaii Wedding?
  2. Once I am scheduled for a Hawaii Wedding ceremony, how important is the timing?
  3. What happens if it rains?
  4. How do I get a marriage license in Hawaii?
  5. When Will We Get Our Photos?
  6. Are we able to meet with the officiate prior to the Hawaii beach wedding ceremony?
  7. What do we wear to the Hawaii wedding ceremony?
  8. What is the best time of day to have the Hawaiian beach ceremony?
  9. What about gratuities?
  10. Is there a travel fee outside of Waikiki?
  11. Can we have our Hawaiian wedding on holidays?
  12. What if we need a marriage license on the weekend?
  13. Can I hire my own photographer or get my own limo for my Hawaii wedding?
  14. Can you send me a Hawaii wedding brochure?
  15. Can I substitute items in the packages?
  16. Do we need a permit to have our Hawaiian wedding on the beach?
  17. How long will the Hawaii beach wedding ceremony last and what will it entail?
  18. Do we need a Hawaii wedding ceremony rehearsal?
  19. What is your refund policy?
  20. What is your cancellations policy?

 

1. Why should we chose Oahu / Honolulu / Waikiki for our Hawaii Wedding?

A: Oahu has the world’s best Hawaii wedding service infrastructure, most aesthetic features of the outer islands with much more variety! Oahu has quiet, secluded Hawaii wedding beaches, magical rainforests with the most adventure filled hiking trails and is full of mystical Hawaiian folk lore. While a major US city Honolulu still has lots of outdoor activities, a potpourri of nightlife, scrumptious dining and great shopping.

There are a variety of activities for you to do, good transportation and amazingly reasonable prices. Many of our couples have a lovely Oahu wedding, and then go to an outer island for their honeymoon. Yet a honeymoon right on the island of Oahu is pure enchantment and a memory of a lifetime.

 

2. Once I am scheduled for a Hawaii wedding ceremony, how important is the timing?

A: It is crucial that you be on time for your Hawaii wedding. Our Oahu wedding service specialists that will be scheduled for your Hawaiian wedding are the best, are in high demand and very likely have other Hawaii wedding commitments before and after your ceremony. We are all on a schedule and everyone’s time is to be respected. If you are more than 15 minutes late, there will be late fees added, and/or vendors may not be able to stay for your wedding. Be sure you know where you are going, travel time and if at peak traffic time, leave early. This is the primary reason we always recommend limousine transportation to your Oahu Hawaii wedding ceremony.

 

3. What happens if it rains?

A: It rains in Hawaii every day-how much and how long is a seasonal issue. Most times in the tropics a rain shower lasts at most a few minutes. If it happens at your Hawaii wedding ceremony, we hand out umbrellas, wait for the squall to pass and then get photos of the Hawaii wedding couple under the lovely rainbow.

If the rain looks to be more serious, we have other options we take for your Hawaiian wedding day:

If you do not have any outside vendors booked (limo, musicians, photographers, video, etc,) and your schedule allows, we can simply move your Hawaii wedding ceremony to the following day

If you have no time in your schedule for a postponement and less than 15 guests, we perform the wedding at the Beach Palace. Under these circumstances the site fee is waved.

If your Hawaiian wedding has 15 or more guests and Hawaii wedding specialists scheduled, you may wish to book a back-up indoor Hawaii wedding site. If you are concerned about a potential weather challenge, a contingency indoor chapel can be booked for an additional non-refundable fee.

Sometimes if the decision to postpone is made early enough (at least 3 hours prior) and wedding specialists are booked, it is possible that vendors can switch their schedules to the following day.

 

4. How do I get a marriage license in Hawaii?

A: Download the marriage License application at the website (click here), and take it in person to the following address:
  Hawaii State Health Department
  Kina`u Hale, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., except holidays.
Phone: (808) 586-4545
Both parties to the marriage must appear personally before the marriage license agent. Proxies are not allowed. Applications may not be mailed in to the agent.

The Hawaii marriage license is good for 30 days from and including the date of its issuance, after which it becomes null and void.

The marriage license must be used only in the State of Hawaii and is valid throughout the state.

The fee for a license is $60.00. The fee is payable in cash at the time of filing the application. Weekend license issuers charge $65.
Visit Hawaiian Marriage Licenses for more information.

 

5. When will we get our photos?

A: If you have a Basic Barefoot Package we will either burn you a CD right at the wedding location or you will receive your CD within a couple of days. If you have a photo package the time is longer due to the developing process. The usual time for developed photos is one week. If you have not received your photos within this week time please call us immediately. We do not want any lost wedding photos. We will keep copys of your photos on our computer for one month. After one moth we can not guarantee their safe keeping.

 

6. Are we able to meet with the officiate prior to the Hawaii beach wedding ceremony?

A: Yes. We are happy to meet with you and discuss the details of your Hawaii wedding ceremony as all of our Hawaii wedding packages come with coordination meeting included. To come to our Fairytale Beach Palace you will need to rent a car (do not take a taxi). If you are not planning to rent a car, you will need to pay for your wedding by the 30 day deadline, and we will take care of the final details by phone and email.

 

7. What do we wear to the Hawaii wedding ceremony??

A: The choice is yours and the only person to please on you Hawaiian wedding day is yourself: formal, casual, wedding gown, tuxedo, shorts, aloha attire .... whatever fits your Hawaii wedding dream! Take into consideration the time of day and the location and be as creative or traditional as you wish.

 

8. What is the best time of day to have the Hawaiian beach ceremony?

A: For Hawaii beach weddings, we suggest after 10 am or before 5 pm for the best photos.

 

9. What about gratuities?

A: Gratuities are expected by the limo driver but are much appreciated by all of our service specialists.

 

10. Is there a travel fee outside of Waikiki?

A: For all of the beach wedding locations on our website, there is no travel fee. We only perform weddings on locations listed on our website.

 

11. Can we have our Hawaiian wedding on holidays?

A: Yes your Hawaii wedding can be done on Holidays. However, Holiday surcharges apply for Christmas Eve/Day, New Years Eve/day, and Thanksgiving.

We do not perform beach weddings on any of the long 3-day weekends during the summer (Memorial, July 4, Labor day). This is due to the beaches being much too crowded.

 

12. What if we need a marriage license on the weekend?

A: We have all the information necessary to assist in your obtaining weekend/holiday licenses. Just let us know if you need this service for your Hawaii wedding.

 

13. Can I hire my own photographer or get my own limo for my Hawaii wedding?

A: We do not allow outside vendors ( i.e. photographers, videographers, limousines cakes , etc) or amenities (arches, pathways, tikis, etc). This is a paramount necessity to making your wedding day perfect. Our own vendors are accustomed to working together harmoniously and of knowing the exact locations we utilize for ceremonies. The outside amenities are not allowed due to the permit agreement we have with the State of Hawaii and to the particulars of our liability insurance policy. Our attention to these details assures you a superb wedding day.

 

14. Can you send me a Hawaii wedding brochure?

A: Visitors to our site that completely fill out our online wedding planner receive an informatoin packet that includes a brochure.

 

15. Can I substitute items in the packages?

A: The Hawaii wedding packages are fixed at a discounted price, so we do not make across the board substitutions. If the Hawaii wedding package has more amenities than you want, then design your own custom Hawaiian wedding package starting with our Oahu barefoot wedding and just select what you want from the ala carte menu. If you want to add something to one of our specialty packages, (like a video for example), then just check the boxes and add the prices from the ala carte menu to the Hawaii wedding package price.

 

16. Do we need a permit to have our Hawaiian wedding on the beach?

A: Yes. We will take care making the arrangements with the state of Hawaii.

 

17. How long will the Hawaii beach wedding ceremony last and what will it entail?

A: Our normal Hawaii beach ceremony without video or musician is 15-20 minutes. There is a conch shell blown, a Hawaiian prayer chant, a lovely lei celebration, vows and ring exchange in every Hawaii wedding we perform. It is a very ecumenical and uplifting service and is always adjusted to accommodate your Hawaiian beach wedding day wishes.

 

18. Do we need a Hawaii wedding ceremony rehearsal?

A: With a Hawaii beach wedding, there is not really the need for a rehearsal. We go over all wedding details at your Hawaii wedding coordination meeting.


 

19. What is your refund policy?

A: The initial deposit to confirm your wedding date is non-refundable. However, we can reschedule your wedding under certain circumstances.


 

20. What is your cancellation policy?

A: There are no cancellations allowed of Service Specialists or Amenities less than 30 days prior to your wedding. (This is due to the cancellation agreement we have with our vendors)


 


We look forward to meeting with you and planning your Hawaii wedding.
Please first fill out our wedding planner, and then give us a call on our toll free number below.
We can begin today to plan your Hawaii Wedding Day!
 

 

Please fill out our Wedding Planner before calling.
Phone: 808-263-2200
Or send us an email

 

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