We are planning to elope in September to Hawaii. We are still in the early planning stages. It may turn into a very small wedding with just our parents or a few friends. I would like it to be a simple, barefoot wedding on a beautiful beach at sunset, preferably with the mountains in view. Anyone have any recommendations for which island is the most scenic? Or maybe resort or even a planner that could direct me that they would recommend? We will have a full week in Hawaii and plan to visit a few islands. I haven't quite narrowed it down yet. Thanks in advance for the input.

First of all, aloha and congratulations on your impending nuptials! As my husband and I are coming up on our 25th wedding anniversary in July, we will be spending it in our most favorite place in the world, Kauai. We plan to cap off our anniversary day with a renerwal of our vows, and I'm hoping that we will be able to do that at Ke'e Beach, which is at the "end of the road" in Haena State Park, on the north side of the island. From that beach, you can see the silhouettes of the magnificent NaPali cliffs, and at sunset, there's nothing like it! We've been going to Kauai since 1989 and I've always imagined how heavenly it would be to either have a wedding or renew vows at Ke'e Beach. I'm sure there are other equally fabulous spots on Kauai and the other islands, but Ke'e gets my vote! Best of luck to you and have a wonderful time!

P.S. There are a number of websites where you can link to Hawaiian wedding planners. For Kauai, you might want to go to kauaiworld.com and look for the link that is on that page. I'm sure other posters can help fill in the blanks on this as well. Good luck!

Congratulations! While I don't have suggestions of a place, here are some companies (listed in the fantastic books Ultimate Kauai Guidebook and Hawaii The Big Island Revealed). I was considering doing the same and it may be easier, more cost effective, and more enjoyable to go with a planner who knows the islands and can make recommendations. Maybe they have websites? Good luck!

Kauai
Coconut Coast Weddings - 800.585.5595
Mohala Wedding Services - 800.800.8489
Garden Island Weddings - 800.632.0505
Weddings on the Beach - 800.625.2824
Island Weddings - 800.998.1548

Hawaii (The Big Island)
Paradise Weddings Hawaii - 800.428.5844
Anderson Portraits Hawaii - 866.832.8626

A-HA, Ms'55 !!! Yet anopther reason to go over in June/July this year???

Did your parents have to sign a waiver for you to get married at
12 yrs old? ;-D
Kal

Always the big sweet-talker, ain'tcha, Kal?! No, I wasn't 12 (not chronologically, anyway!) - but yeah, big guy, come on over and be our witnesses or best man/matron of honor or whatever! ...You game???

We were married on the Big Island in a sunset ceremony/barefoot/dream come true wedding and I have yet to regret doing it this way-it was so fabulous!Congratulations! One thing I will stress is that unless you arrange a fairly private locale, you will have strangers looking on. We witnessed a beautiful ceremony on the beach in Maui at Kamaole Beach Park but that is a very public spot, cars were slowing down and honking etc...Just a thought. I used a wedding planner at the hotel where I satying (Outrigger Waikoloa Beach)whose services were free, which I feel was a great deal. Her name was Sandy, but that was almost 10 years ago. Once again-Congatulations & Aloha

agree with Aloha Mom. I have seen two weddings on the same beach at the same time and more than once. One year I saw 11 weddings in 8 days.

I think it is a bit cheesy when people are swimming in the vacinity of a wedding on the beach but it is what you get if you leave this entirely up to the wedding planner. I saw a wedding at the foot of the Kalalau trail and on the the beach, the couple walked past about 75-100 (busy summer weekend)people swimming and sun bathing just opposite of the funeral that was taking place out on the rocks.

The funeral was actually more beautiful but I know how nutty that sounds, you had to be there and see the sun hit the spot where they poured the ashes. It was that very bright moment just before it goes done. Everyone was wearing white too and were walking with long torch ginger and other tropical flowers as well as leis.

ANYWHO!! The beach that day was a circus to say the least. Look to the right wedding and music, to the left funeral, me in the middle with a lime green 6ft floating device around me gut. ...tempted to ruin the wedding photos but too captivated by the funeral.

I suggest you find a non-swimming beach.

Good luck sounds like a wonderful plan just be selective and informed on location.

Congratulations! Visted Maui in November and attended a girlfriends wedding. She used this planner and was very happy with everything! (And she is very picky!!) Her pictures are on the website and the wedding planner was GREAT! EMail me for more details!
www.simplymarried.com

Nikki,
I'm glad you're getting so much help here and hope your wedding turns out exactly as you'd like it. But, I just had to comment on something you said...if you only have a 'full week' in Hawaii, I would suggest you stay on one island..or no more than two. You'd be so tired from all the traveling, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the honeymoon!

I just wanted to thank everyone so much for your responses. You've all been very helpful!