Eloping in Hawaii: 5 Wedding Planning Tips

In Eloping In Hawaii , Hawaii Wedding , Hawaii Wedding Information You Need to Know , Hawaii Wedding Tips , Real Hawaii Beach Weddings and Information , Uncategorized

So, you’re thinking about eloping in Hawaii? How exciting! As Hawaii wedding coordinators, we love seeing brides and grooms make their Hawaii elopement dreams come true. Our awesome couples travel from all over the world to enjoy a gorgeous destination wedding in Hawaii with just the two of them. Despite how wonderful a Hawaii elopement can be we see a lot of couples experience unnecessary stress over eloping. Here are five wedding planning tips from brides and grooms to make eloping in Hawaii simple and stress free.

Make Eloping in Hawaii Everything You Want With a Solid Plan

When one of our recent couples Alex and Carlos chose to elope in Hawaii, they made a list of of what was important to them — both of them. This way when the time came to make important decisions about what to include in their ceremony and what to pass on, they knew their priorities.

This is a great example of making sure your elopement is what both of you want it to be. After all, you’re eloping in Hawaii because you wanted your wedding to be about each other. Couples often loose sight of what ‘they’ originally wanted when looking at what other couples have done for their elopements. Don’t loose sight of what you want and who you are in your nuptial planning. This is your chance to do exactly what you want uninhibited and make your elopement in Hawaii all yours. Having a solid wedding plan allows you to refer back to it when making choices and keeps you anchored in what matters most to you as a couple and eliminates confusion.

Understand the Differences From a Traditional Wedding

So, you’re starry-eyed in love and excited for your romantic wedding adventure in Hawaii. While your friends are stressing over their wedding plans trying to fit in what everyone who is paying for the affair wants, you think you totally got away with something by eloping to Hawaii. Then you get on Facebook and see photos from someone’s reception — they are surrounded by friends and family having a great time, wishing them lots of love. Then it hits you. You won’t have someone to walk you down the aisle. Only you will be brought to tears by your vows. Your wedding won’t be a social event. Then you remember why you wanted to elope in the first place. Weddings are about two people in love, not a whole entourage of people you kind of know and a few key friends and loved ones. Just remember why you decided eloping in Hawaii was such a great idea, less stress and everything you dreamed of in a wedding experience. Oh yeah, and when you get home you can have an amazing wedding reception so people can drool over the breathtaking photos of your dream wedding in Hawaii so you won’t be missing out.

Get Great Wedding Photos

Since your friends and family won’t be attending your wedding, you should share the day with them through amazing wedding photos. Hire a Hawaii wedding photographer who is able to capture not only the fabulous bride & groom portraits, but also photos that capture the style of your Hawaii elopement. If the photographer is good they should be able to capture the full look of the beach or venue and the way you both were feeling. Beach photography can be challenging to capture perfectly with extremely bright and harsh light. A true experienced professional will know how to handle it, or any other weather or lighting situation that might occur on your wedding day.

Keep photography at the forefront of your wedding budget especially for an elopement. Wedding photography is going to be what tells the story of your amazing day for the rest of your life and it needs to be great. Make sure you choose a photographer who can really capture your wedding day to show just how romantic and beautiful it was while reflecting your personalities and capturing your surroundings. Just remember you won’t get an amazing Hawaii wedding story with low-budget photography from an ill experienced wedding photography company.

Speaking of Budget…

Be Budget Friendly

Weather you’re eloping in Hawaii because of how romantic it is or because of its cost effectiveness (or both), it’s still important to stay within your budget. We don’t mean make your wedding cheap (unless that’s what you want), we just mean don’t spend more money than you need to. It’s just the two of you, so you may not need a lot of the traditional wedding aspects meant for guest enjoyment.

Maybe you don’t really need a musician — you just want to play your favorite song from a portable speaker or wed to only the sound of crashing waves. You can definitely skip on the excessive floral. You came all the way to Hawaii to get married with beautiful scenery, there’s no need to go overboard on your floral budget. Refer back to your list as you make spending decisions (big and small, since small stuff adds up), so that you know what’s worth digging in your pockets for and what’s just as well to skip.

When you consider your budget you’ll be able to splurge on the things that matter to you, weather it’s a fancy dinner, 5-star accommodations, or fun activities while you’re in Hawaii. Just don’t give up something really important to you that you may regret leaving out of your budget. Skimping on on things really important to you can be worse than saving a few extra bucks when you look back. Wedding budget can be a double edged sword so refer to your plan.

Hire a Wedding Coordinator

Hiring a coordinator is a must if you’ve never been to Hawaii before or if you want to keep things super stress free. A good Hawaii wedding coordinator knows all the best vendors, ceremony spots, scheduling, and wedding tips. Your coordinator should live on the island where you’re planning to elope and have excellent reviews. You will definitely be able to find Hawaii wedding packages that fit a small destination wedding like yours. They’ll put together all the fine details of your ceremony and be a great resource for anything you book yourself, such as dinner afterwards or activities. A wedding coordinator is your local source of all information, and they’ll worry about your wedding day so you don’t have to.

If you want to have the best elopement in Hawaii possible, listen to your planner’s advice. Fill them in on your vision and idea of how you want your wedding to be. You’ll be able to work as a team to make eloping in Hawaii everything you dreamed it would be!

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How To Pay For Hawaii Weddings

In Hawaii Wedding , Hawaii Wedding Information You Need to Know , Hawaii Wedding Packages , Hawaii Wedding Tips , Real Hawaii Beach Weddings and Information , Uncategorized

A Hawaii destination wedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but it does require some financial planning, especially if you don’t want to be paying for it years down the road. Here are some tried and true tips on how to pay for Hawaii weddings without maxing out your credit cards.

Hawaii Wedding photo by Karma Hill Photography.

1. Start Saving Early: Okay, saving money is always easier said then done. But if you’re considering getting married in Hawaii, or even just taking vacations to Hawaii, go on and start saving. Open a separate savings account for paying for your wedding, and contribute a portion of each paycheck to your Wedding in Hawaii Fund. Collect your change at the end of the day, put away any extra cash you get as gifts or that’s leftover from other activities. Shop less, save more, and you’ll find yourself already on the right track when it’s time to start your Hawaii wedding planning.

2. Know Your Budget: The first research you do should be the cost of weddings in Hawaii. In order to know how to pay for a Hawaii wedding, you need to know the amount you’ll have to pay. This includes your travel, accommodations, food, activities, and, of course, your wedding. Flights will be about $900 from the East Coast and $500 from the West Coast. A good higher-end estimate is $800 per day per couple after you get here. Combine this with the cost of your Hawaii wedding package plus reception plans, and you’ll have an idea of what your Hawaii wedding will cost you.

3. Keep Costs Down: There are endless opportunities to splurge or cut costs of Hawaii weddings. For example, choose a coordinator that offers high quality and affordable Hawaii wedding packages, such as Simple Maui Wedding. This coordinator will also have expertise on how not to spend too much. For example, a beach wedding in Hawaii will cost far less than a Hawaii venue wedding, and a full reception can more than double the budget for your entire trip. A simple Hawaii wedding on the beach with dinner at a restaurant afterwards will help keep your wedding affordable while still being elegant and beautiful.

When you choose a Hawaii beach wedding, you’re ultimately choosing a more casual wedding, meaning you can save on the wedding dress & attire, decorations, music, and guest count.

Also know what you’re expected to pay for at your destination wedding so you don’t spend more than necessary. For example, guests are to pay for their own accommodations & travel along with any non-wedding related activities. If you know what’s acceptable to ask of your guests, you’ll be able to trim your budget down.

4. Accept Donations: Your friends and family can help pay for the trip, especially if they aren’t joining you for your wedding. That’s right — the people you aren’t inviting to your destination wedding in Hawaii are the ones who might help fund it. If you do everything with formal etiquette and without the expectation of receiving anything, you might find you’ll receive congratulations and well-wishes in the form of money and gifts, which will help offset the cost of your destination wedding in Hawaii. Send invitations beforehand to those you would like to attend your wedding and send announcements afterwards to the masses. If you’re eloping to Hawaii, announcements might be the only way you get word out about your marriage. The Knot has a guide on how to announce your wedding. Don’t forget a prompt Thank You card to anyone sending gifts!

Use word-of-mouth (nothing in the announcements or invitations) that cash is preferred over gifts. Set up a registry or two for friends who prefer buying gifts. Have close friends or parents know your preference, so that when someone asks them what you’d like as a gift, they can share that money would be most helpful.

Hawaii Wedding image by Karma Hill Photography.

5. Find Hidden Money: Money might be hiding all over your house if you’re willing to have a yard sale. Plus it’s a great way to get rid of those old belongings, especially if you’re making room for two after the wedding. Make a (humorous) sign at your sale that all proceeds benefit your Hawaii destination wedding. People will be less likely to haggle you down if they know the money is going directly toward something (even a vacation), especially if it sparks conversation and they chat with you a bit about your wedding plans.

Another way to find money for your destination wedding is in old savings plans. Ask your parents if you have any savings bonds or accounts from your childhood. Really work to jog their memory on this one, as these things tend to get forgotten through the years. Just be careful not to dip into an emergency savings fund for times of unemployment or unexpected expenses.

Also look for frequent flier miles, hotel points, or other rewards that can help fund your trip. Close families and friends might be willing to gift their rewards to you also. That uncle that is always traveling for work or the cousin who is always making the most of her credit card points might be able to share their tips or even a bit of their loot.

6. Take a Second Job: Don’t be shy about working for money. Spread the word that you’re trying to save up for your dream Hawaii wedding package, so if anybody has odd jobs, you can work for some vacation cash. You didn’t think you’d be babysitting or weeding grandma’s garden after high school, but it’s easy money that can be put aside as you save for your destination wedding in Hawaii.

If you really want to get extra income, get an official second job. This is a step up from working odd jobs, because you’ll have to apply and get hired, and commit to working extra while planning a wedding. Many newlyweds are forced to get a second job after to help with paying for your wedding. If you’re ahead of the game, and get a second job pre-vows, you’ll miss heavy interest and post-wedding stress, and you’ll feel like you’re on an extra long honeymoon if you’re able to come home and work less after your destination wedding in Hawaii.

7. Wait to Wed: Wait to book your Hawaii wedding package until you’ve saved enough for the deposit. Then book your wedding far enough in advance that you can save up until it’s time to pay in full. If you book as soon as you save enough for the deposit, you’ll lock in the current price for the wedding package, which could save you a bit of money if you’re wedding in the far future. Beach weddings in Hawaii are far more enjoyable if you don’t have the stress of debt weighing on you — so be smart and have a fabulous and affordable Hawaii wedding!

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10 Reasons to Have Destination Hawaii Wedding

In Hawaii Wedding , Hawaii Wedding Information You Need to Know , Hawaii Wedding Packages , Hawaii Wedding Tips , Real Hawaii Beach Weddings and Information

At some point before their big day, we want to help brides figure out the best-kept nuptial secret — A destination Hawaii wedding is an ideal and easy way to say I Do. Now we’re letting the secret out, and presenting you with 10 amazing and realistic reasons to choose a Hawaii Destination Wedding.

10.

The Chance to Say “I Do” in Paradise!

Who wouldn’t want to get married in paradise? Imagine sharing your vows under soft blue skies as the waves crash to shore and the palm trees sway in the wind. You’ve spent the time leading up to this sipping Mai Tai’s by the pool or snorkeling in crystal clear waters. You’re suntanned and stress-free. It may be the best place to start a marriage, especially if you carry some of that paradise spirit with you back home as you begin your life together.

Less Wedding Stress!

If you’re already into the marriage planning process, take this time to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and clear your mind, as if there aren’t five million things to sort out before you walk down the aisle. Now imagine feeling that way the entire time leading up to your big day. This isn’t fantasy, it’s your reality when you decide on a Hawaii destination wedding. If you’ve left the details of the ceremony to a highly organized wedding coordinator like Simple Maui Wedding. You’ve been connected to a top-notch travel agent, and everything is taken care of. All you have to do is show up. Sure, the days leading up to your flight to Maui maybe a little nerve wracking — Did you pack your dress? Are you forgetting your groom? (make sure to pack your groom) But once your plane has left mainland ground, that’s it. You’re enjoying a paradise vacation, not sorting out a thousand last minute details! You have someone to take care of that for you.

It’s All About You (both of you!)

If you stay at home for your wedding, you may find yourself accommodating a lot of people who you barely know. Maybe its the pressure of having the most impressive wedding. Maybe you have a hard time saying no and asserting what you want. Either way, you’ll end up making a lot of decisions based on what other people want, not what you want for you big day. Like when you order the cake flavor that’s a crowd pleaser instead of your favorite. Or the dress your mother-in-law liked instead of the one you felt most comfortable in. Or the venue your family prefers. Suddenly everything is out of your hands and it feels like your putting together somebody else’s wedding. If this starts happening, or you want to avoid it before it begins, it might be time to consider a destination wedding. Your Hawaii Wedding coordinator will make a point to ask you what YOU want — not your sister or your mom or your grandma. So choose dinner where you want, with the flavor of cake you like. Wear the dress you love. This is your day — treat it like it’s your own!

Let the Wedding Coordinator Do All the Work!

A Hawaii destination wedding is a great excuse to hire a wedding coordinator! If you don’t live on Maui, you might not know who is the most reliable vendors or how to time your ceremony perfectly. A wonderful coordinator like Simple Maui Wedding will plan your special day down to a T, and they’ll be there at the ceremony to make sure everything goes smoothly. No stressing to make sure everybody is at the right place and everything is on schedule — you have a fabulous coordinator doing all the work so you can actually enjoy your ceremony!

It’s a HoneyWedding — or a WeddingMoon!

The honeymoon just might be the best thing about a wedding. If you honeymoon in paradise, why not get married there too? Not only does this minimize costs, it also reduces stress and allows for an unforgettable memory. Guests are totally optional on your honeymoon/wedding combo, which brings us to number five…

No Unwanted Guests!

How do you keep that drama-loving cousin from showing up to your wedding a little drunk and a lotta crazy? How do you avoid inviting all your college buddies out of obligation? Make it as inconvenient as possible for them to get to your wedding! Enjoy time with your closest family and friends or don’t fool with any guests at all. Just book a romantic vacation with your fiancé and get married while you’re there. There’s no better way to have a simple, stress free wedding than not worrying about anyone except yourself and your soon-to-be spouse.

Stand-out Photos!

Don’t worry, those guests you left behind will get to enjoy the phenomenal photos you have taken at the wedding. Karma Hill Photography will capture your Hawaii wedding day with style & class. So stand at the shoreline in front of the setting sun. Kiss your honey at the top of lava rock formation. Caress beneath the shade of a palm tree. Oh, don’t forget that priceless shot of your groom watching you walk toward him, grinning with the Hawaiian ocean and mountains behind him. If that’s not enough to make you want a wedding in Hawaii, how about…

Saving Money!

I know what you’re thinking… there’s no way you can save money by having a destination wedding. But if you already plan on paying for a honeymoon, you can simply include a small, stylish wedding in that trip. Weddings these days run $10,000 – $25,000 and up. Simple Maui Weddings start at $2250. That will cover everything you need to get married and have great photos. So maybe you spend a little extra on a dress. Maybe you don’t. It’s up to you, because a small destination wedding is all about you (see number 8)! It’s easier to stay within your budget for a Hawaii destination wedding, because you don’t have hundreds of guests influencing your purchase decisions, and you’re encountering lest “bumps in the road” thanks to your coordinator, who is also upfront about pricing and works with you to create a beautiful wedding within your budget!

Great Weather!

The island of Maui is nestled in the middle of the Hawaii islands, so it’s the most guarded of all the islands from rain and storms coming in out of the pacific. Any rain usually goes away fast. This is great for a beach wedding, because if you show up to rain, you either wait it out a few minutes or take a short drive to a new, sunny wedding spot. You’ll also enjoy these ideal weather conditions throughout your wedding vacation!

Anything Goes!

Hawaii is a unique place filled with all kinds of people, and we welcome all couples to marry here! You’ve taken away all the worries of a big guest list and a bigger budget, now you get to make this wedding your own! You want to get married in a bikini? That’s fine. You want to wear a huge ball gown? There’s plenty of room on the beach for one of those! You want to hop in the ocean right after saying “I Do”? Go For It! You want all your guests to wear white and khaki? You want to say your own vows? You want your photos to be uniquely you? All of this is completely fine for a Maui Wedding! You’re keeping things simple by choosing a destination wedding, and you’re making it your very own!

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Hawaii Beach Weddings: How Much Photography Time?

In Hawaii Wedding Information You Need to Know , Hawaii Wedding Tips , Real Hawaii Beach Weddings and Information

Hawaii Beach Weddings - Shot of Wedding Party

Hawaii Beach Weddings – Photo of Wedding Party

How Much Photography Time is Needed for a Hawaii Beach Wedding?

One thing brides and grooms often underestimate is how much photography time is enough for Hawaii beach weddings. The amount of photography time needed, has not only to do with how much time you want, but how fast the sun sets. Below you will learn how much time you should allot to get the gorgeous beach wedding photos you came to Hawaii for. We will look at the key factors sunset times, length of ceremony and wedding guest count in determining how much photography time you really need.

Sunset Times for Hawaii Beach Weddings

What time does the sun set and how fast the sun sets are two key factors in understanding how much photography time you need for your beach wedding in Hawaii.

What Time Does the Sun Set in Hawaii Where You are Getting Married?

To figure out what time the sun sets in Hawaii in the particular region of your wedding, you need to use a sunset calculator. As wedding planners in Hawaii our preferred sunset calculator is located here: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/Hawaii.asp. This sunset calculator is extremely easy-to-use. To calculate the sunset on your wedding date all you need to do is add your location and the date of your wedding and it will return the exact time the sun will set. Any quality wedding planner in Hawaii will know when the sun sets to the minute. Use this sunset time calculation tool in reverse when adding photography time. For example the sun sets at 6:30 pm and you want 2 hours of photography, then start time is at 4:30 pm.

How Fast Does the Sun Set?

The reason using a sunset calculator is so important is because once the sun sets in Hawaii you only have an additional 10 to 20 minutes of quality light for capturing the best wedding photos. The sun drops like a rock in Hawaii, it is not the West Coast where sunsets can linger for hours. Once the sun goes over the horizon and is no longer visible the clock starts ticking for your 10 to 20 minutes of gorgeous light. After that 10 to 20 minutes, the rest of your photos are flash photography, creating a dark backgrounds in photos or leaving you with silhouette shots.

Length of Your Hawaii Wedding Ceremony

Let’s talk about the length of your wedding ceremony. Karma Hill, photographer and owner of Simple Maui Wedding says, “from experience with hundreds of weddings, the typical wedding ceremony length is 20 minutes for a Hawaiian based, religious or nonreligious ceremony”. This is important to account for, because if you only have one hour of photography time, this leaves you with 40 minutes to get all the scenery and guest shots you want and as you read further, that is not very long. After you’ve flown a minimum of 2600 miles to get to Hawaii for your destination wedding, you need more than 40 minutes of photography time to get the epic shots you desire.

Wedding Guest Count

So now that you know 20 minutes of your Hawaii wedding package time is taken up for the ceremony, you need to decide how much time you want for guest photos and individual photos of just you and your spouse.

With a large guest count it is very important to write down the combinations of wedding guests you want photos with. The amount of these shots is vitally important to account for in gauging photography time. Let us explain why.

Let’s say you want photos with:

Brides mom and dad
Groom’s mom and dad
Entire wedding party
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Brides grandma and grandpa
Grooms grandma and grandpa
Flower girl
Bouquet toss
Group shot of close friends

So above we have 10 different poses which take up valuable photography time. Each Pose takes roughly 3- 4 minutes to: get all the guests together that are needed for the specific shot and set up the pose. If elderly or people with mobility problems are in the poses, this time frame will be increased. So if you have 10 poses at four minutes apiece that is 40 minutes of photography time and no shots have been taken of the bride and groom alone yet.

So with the ceremony of 20 minutes and just 10 poses with the wedding party you have accounted for one hour of photography. Now if you want to get your bride and groom shots you would need roughly 40 minutes to an hour to get some breathtaking shots. You came all the way to Hawaii to get married and you want to leave with some amazing pictures, so don’t cut yourself short on time. You can find additional information about wedding guest count here: Wedding Guest Count.

Determining Just How Much Photography Time You Need

So when determining how much photography time you need, go through and see which poses with friends and family are most important to you. Add up that amount poses X (times) four minutes for each pose, then add 20 minutes for the ceremony plus a recommend minimum of 40 minutes to an hour of photography time for the bride and groom.

Using the example of 10 poses:

10 poses x 4 min. = 40 Min.
Ceremony = 20 Min.
Bride and groom photos = 60 Min.

Total 2 hours

So in the above example, allow for 2 hours of photography time. As a general rule over-estimate photography time. When the sun has set, you can’t go back and start the wedding ceremony sooner. With Hawaii beach weddings photography time must be planned in advance.

In Closing

The #1 thing to remember is don’t cut yourself short on photography time. Hawaii beach weddings seem simple, but it takes time to wrangle guests together for poses. Use a reputable Hawaii wedding coordinator like Simple Maui Wedding to ensure you have enough time calculated for the perfect Hawaii wedding photos.

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Top 5 Reasons Winter is Perfect for a Hawaii Wedding?

In Hawaii Wedding Tips

We get lots of question about people wanting to know, “is winter a good time for a Hawaii wedding“? Let’s explore the Top 5 Reasons to have a winter Hawaii wedding.

#5 It’s Whale Season

If you want to have a chance of getting a whale jumping in the background of your wedding photos you need to have a Hawaii wedding in the winter time. Whale breading season is in the winter time and whale watching is a fun and amazing experience you won’t want to miss while in Hawaii.

#4 Family can Easily Attend your Ceremony

Since it is winter break for school kids it is a convenient time for your family to be able to attend your wedding in Hawaii, because their children are on winter break.

#3 Have an Individual Wedding Date

Everybody gets married during the summer time. Be different and have a wedding date that isn’t days apart from all of your friends. Get married in Hawaii and you will be one of the few with a winter wedding date making for a great time for an anniversary.

#2 Escape the Snow and the Cold

I know that scraping your car windows and digging your car out of the snow is a fun time, but even the biggest snow lovers get tired of it. Why not escape to the Hawaiian paradisea, get married, thaw out and brighten your spirits.

#1 Winter Time is Warm and Beautiful

Unlike the rest of the US during the winter, Hawaii is still in the toasty warm 80’s with a nice breeze. So if you want to trick yourself into thinking your having a summer wedding, just have a Hawaii wedding and you won’t even know the difference.

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Wedding Packages Hawaii – Don’t Let Cost Stand in the Way of Your Dream Wedding

In Uncategorized

If you are looking for wedding packages Hawaii really isn’t that expensive. If you are interested in getting married on the beach it can actually be very affordable. You can find entire wedding packages on the beach with premium quality from around $1500 – $5500 depending on photography time and extras. Once you add air fare, hotel stay and rental car you can easily have your dream wedding in paradise for less than $15,000 and that is pretty cheap for a wedding these days.

The reason Hawaii wedding packages can stay beautiful and not super expensive is that having a beach wedding is free, no venue fee. You don’t need any elaborate decorations like you would at home renting a venue, as mother nature has brought all the needed decor. Get lucky and score a breathtaking sunset and there is no better backdrop for your wedding in the world than Hawaii.

By the way, since you are already in Hawaii, you may as well stay for your honeymoon :)

So, don’t rule out wedding packages in Hawaii if you really want to get married somewhere fun and not at home. Make your dream a reality and don’t sell yourself short, it is a once in a lifetime event, make it a memorable one.

Oh, by the way, if you are looking for the best wedding packages Hawaii has to offer you need to check out Simple Maui Wedding, they specialize in Maui wedding packages. Their work is nothing short of amazing and the staff feels like family, takes care of every detail flawlessly and are just all around wonderful people to use for your wedding.

Aloha and see you in paradise :)

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Hawaii Wedding Packages is now Social on Facebook

In Getting up and running

Hawaii Wedding Packages just got up and running on Facebook today. Check our our page here: https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiWeddingPackages .

We want to thank everyone for supporting our page and us. Just starting out a new offshoot of your existing business takes lots of time and long hours after our kids go to bed.

We are very excited to be able to reach out to more brides and grooms thinking of having a Hawaii wedding and convince them that it is a great idea. We work with amazing vendors that are far more experience than anyone on the mainland, because we are doing weddings year round not just 3 months out of the year. Working with any vendor recommended by Hawaii Wedding Packages is a great idea, we know who to work with and that is why you want to work with us.

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