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Destination Wedding in Hawaii
Written by
Global Aloha Weddings
A
destination wedding in Hawaii is fast becoming the choice for
couples from all around the world to say "I DO." Brides see
themselves in a simple Hawaiian Wedding Dress, draped in a
fragrant flower lei and with a Haku (head lei) veil of white
orchids to accent her bouquet. Envisioning an oceanfront gazebo
adorned with tropical flowers, she can almost hear the clear
falsetto voices singing the Hawaiian Wedding Song- first in
English, then in Hawaiian. The Bride and Groom kiss and are
whisked away in an Outrigger Canoe into the sunset. Imagine the
video of this ceremony! Just a romantic notion? Too far, too
costly, too complicated? Not really, the vacation location
wedding/honeymoon is becoming more popular and is usually less
expensive than the big family hometown wedding-reception-dinner
extravaganzas of the 80's. It can also be a lot more fun for
everyone.
If a Hawaiian wedding is your dream, a good place to start is
with one of the many wedding planners in the islands. Try the
First Hawaiian Wedding and Bridal Directory, or type "Hawaiian
Weddings" into the search field in Yahoo. According to Scott
Tambling, a local coordinator who has planned literally
thousands of Hawaiian weddings, "the best place to start is with
your making your travel and room arrangements. Once you have a
definite date, you can contact a reputable wedding company such
as Global Aloha Weddings and make arrangements for your
ceremony." Tambling suggests you shop around to compare prices
and packages and says "a couple can easily arrange their dream
ceremony, complete with professional photography and videography
for under $1000."
Tambling goes on to say "Picking an island is another question
that is hard for people who have never been to Hawaii before."
He suggests you have your ceremony and reception if any on Oahu
(the island on which the city of Honolulu and the resort area of
Waikiki is based) and then fly over to Maui, Kauai or the Big
Island of Hawaii for an official honeymoon. "The prices for
wedding services are generally much higher on the outer islands
and it is easier to obtain a marriage license in Honolulu. It
also enables the couple to visit more than one island and really
have a honeymoon within a honeymoon." The most popular sites on
Oahu include Diamond Head Park, at the end of Waikiki, best of
all it is free of charge; The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, for a more
elaborate ceremony, but on the expensive side; and Haiku
Gardens, in the Tropical Forests of the Windward Side of the
Island. Another option is to have your ceremony onboard one of
the many pleasure boats based in Waikiki. A wedding at sea with
the Hawaiian sunset as a backdrop can make wedding photos appear
as if out of a Fairy tale.
To begin planning, answer the following: How many will attend?
What is your budget? Where will you stay, hotel or condo? How
does the wedding look in your dreams? On the beach, in a Gazebo
or Church, by a waterfall or a rain forest, at sunset or on a
bright Hawaiian morning? What type of amenities do you desire,
photography, videography, florals, entertainment and
transportation? These are the questions a wedding planner will
need to get your "vision" and put together a proposal just for
you.
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