Hi all. I am planning a wedding in July 2003 and would like to know if anyone has wed there or has been to a wedding there and would like to share some advice. I am from NY so all my planning will be through the phone and mail so I could use all the advice I could get!! Thanks!!

Do a search on this forum. There is a coral Chapel that is one of of the oldest churches on Oahu. I forget the name. I suggest here or on a remote non swimming beach. A traditional church or house of worship is the way to go as far to in sure privacy. Otherwise it is a bit tacky. I have seen two weddings on a beach at a time. You also get a lot of gawkers if you pick a well touristed beach on any island. If you choose a hotel, many provide glass wall chapels so that you can serve as free entertainment for guests. This being summer that you plan your visit expect full families dripping wet and staring on. This is what I have observed on just about every trip over.

I would recommend getting married in Maui or Kauai....these islands are beautiful and in my opinion have a more romantic setting for a wedding. If you must get married in Oahu, there is a wonderful Marriott I think it's a JW Marriott Ko-Olina about 20 miles from the city. Congradulations on your upcoming wedding.

Yes Paula but she is coming from the East Coast. Oahu as more 5 star dining and there are remote locations, consider the outer islands for the honeymoon.

Kiwi do you want a beach wedding or a church wedding. Will many family be coming?

What I meant is by coming from the East Coast is that I think when you come to Oahu for the first time, Oahu is beautiful. Waikiki is fun but too too commercial. I am talking about the Windward and North Shore sides.

Thanks for the response. To answer your questions...
My fiance was raised on Oahu so there is sentimental value on that particular island. We are spending a week there and then spending a 2nd week on Kuai. There will be approx 50 people attending so it is small but not intimate. Since the people attending are pretty familiar with the tourist traps of the island, we will definatly be looking at areas the tourist's don't normally flock to. I am aware that there are no private beaches in Hawaii but I thought I go get some inside infor from those have been through it. I have talked to many vendors and they all say they are "the best" which I find to be hard to believe. Like I said before...I will take all advice into consideration. Thanks again!

Kiwi, when we were in Oahu last month, there were some couples getting married at Ko Olina Cove. I think the beach here is very scenic and beautiful. There were only few people that comes to this beach as most tourists stay in Waikiki beach. I would definitely recommend this for your wedding.

I have to say that the coral chapel would be the most elegant choice if you are going for a chapel wedding. Steeped in Hawaii's history which might mean something to your mate but you need to reserve early it is very popular.

Having already blasted glass walled chapels the turtle bay out on the North Shore has gorgeous but simple chapel. The chaple sits in back of the property but faces the pacific. Again glass walls around you but the pacific to gaze out at. Perhaps being enclosed gawkers would get bored. If you could only get some kind of assurance that you would not gather up the pool swimmers for a view. It is wedged between both buildings that block the pool so swimmers are not likely to go to the trouble to walk around

This hotel never seems fully booked though, at least on my stay last summer and other frequent visits into the property. Would suggest you do in September so that some summer traffic would be down.

My favorite beach on Oahu and possibly all of the islands is Makuha (makooa)on the leeward side(Not to be confused with Makaha). Rarely any people here but it is a swimming beach. I remember a few years ago there was a homeless encampment here. They were removed of course but there was an article about it. One of the leaders of the camp said that he would notice people coming here clearly crazy (some war vets other just strung out from life). Anyway he recalls seeing some ranting out into the ocean but day after day they would come back mentally, stop the screaming, interact with others. He thought the place healed them. If you ever saw Makuha you would understand this. Green Green mountains in the background, crystal clear water in the foreground engulfed with smooth blond sand.

Abandoned or low trafficed beaches not too hard to find on the North & Leeward.

Want to have an informal wedding?

I got married at a small park next to the ocean at the foot of Diamond Head. We had a judge marry us (but you could get a minister of your choice as well) in a small arbor in the park with the ocean as a backdrop.

My husband to be was just moving back to Hawaii after many years living in California and it was important to him to have something near the ocean. As someone who lives here, though, I didn't want to be surrounded by "gawkers" and curiosity-seekers, so this worked out perfectly.

The problem is that there is no parking there. Given enough information, though, your guest could park at Kapiolani Park and walk the short distance to this park. We had a limo drop and pick us up. A nice morning or sunset wedding would be perfect, then a littlie reception at an oceanfront restaurant nearby. We had a brunch reception at the Hau Tree Lanai (on the beach at Waikiki!) in the Kaimana Beach Hotel, but there are other places that would be appropriate as well.

This is my nice, easy wedding suggestion.

Aloha!

Just attended a wedding on July 6 at the kahala Mandarin Hotel. It is on the grass above the sand. After the long thread about beach weddings and "gawkers" on this site a few days earlier, I took notice of the father and daughter about 20 yards down the beach who discreetly watched. No one else even looked op from their towels. It was a beautiful and elegant ceremony just before sunset with a gazebo and chairs on the grass facing the gazebo and the ocean.
The reception was in the ballroom, and I'm sure was very expensive, but the bride said she let the hotel take care of everything except the guest list and the favors, so it was very easy. It was one of the nicest weddings I've been to in years.
I wouldn't recomend a wedding on the leeward coast, unless it is at Ihilani..Knowing Oahu, your finance will second this I'm sure!
Turtle bay might not be bad, but could be a long drive for guests.
Congratulations and good luck!

Well kiwi are you looking for a hotel wedding, beach wedding or chapel wedding? What does money look like for you? Kahala Mandarin is removed but could you see bathers from the service? Just curious Lcuy when you said bathers did not even look up from their towels. Not sure I would want that. Surprised too, I would think those grounds are large enough to have a ceremony away from pool area.

I have visited the coral church, also don't remember the name but it is an elegant older church. There is also a great old church near Strab medical center. But of course none of this matters if you have your heart set on another type of wedding.

Congrats sounds like a fun project!

Oh I have to disagree lcuy. You know I lived on Oahu and I made trips out to Makua every other week. I don't know a better beach on Oahu. Some on the windward side come close but nothing matches Makua. There is a crime factor in Wainai but Makua is apart from this, you can find secluded beaches out there with very dramatic landscape. Several guide books point you to this part of the island for natural beauty. If memory serves Makua is about 30 minutes from ihilani resort.
You don't have exclusive resorts nearby and are more reliant on the dramatic landscape. I could see it being difficult to arrange guests with ceremony though. For an intimate affair with just you and your mate this is an incredible beach IMHO.


I would avoid tourists in the distance. Isn't the image of wide open ocean and beach what most of us have in our minds when we think of a Hawaii wedding. Why go to all the trouble and expense to see vacations while you are taking your vows? I think people that live there are more comfortable having beach goers nearby. Perhaps you mate might feel the same way having grown up with this life style. Just figure out if it will sit well with you.

We are planning to marry on the beach and not in a chapel if at all possible. We are leaning more towards an informal wedding although I will be wearing a simple wedding gown and my finace will be wearing a tux (both of us barefoot of course once on the sand). Money of couse is an issue to a point (bieng a New Yorker I can appreciate wha weddings around here go for without the ambience and beauty Hawaii offers. My fiance took me there for his 10th HS reunion and I fell in love with it all. His dad lives on Maui so the pressure to move there is very strong!! Anyhow, back to the point...
We have considered Turtle Bay but I don' t know how costly this will be.
We have even considered having a or going to a luau afterwards at the Polynisan (sp?) Cutural Center (we went to Pardise Cove's Luau and were disapointed) My mind is completely open at this point (I wanted to get married under water or in a helecopter but the hubby to be wouldn't go for it

What I am seriously worried about is the photograpy. If anyone has any do's or don't as far as who to use my ears are open. Sorry about the rambling..I am am so excited I cannot wait. A year feels like a lifetime away!!!!

Try this link:
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/menu/visitors/visitor_assistance/weddings/index.htm

I went to my sister's wedding (that would be Burta) and I do need to say that the spot was kind of windy. It is, however, one of THE most popular spots to get married. People drive up in limos all the time, at sunset. However, the sun actually sets on the West Coast--which would make that Ko Olina, Paradise Cove, Ihilani. At Paradise Cove, they have a private grassy area called Lanikuhonua. Perhaps you could book your ceremony there and have your reception at the Ihilani.

Have you booked a photographer? Keely Luke is great, but she is a little expensive. Charles Fasi is also good, as is Advanced Photo Design.

kiwi -

you and i have a lot in common right now! my fiance and i are getting married on Oahu in April 2003. My fiance also grew up in Oahu, and that's why we're going there. We plan to elope - just the 2 of us. And, we live in Brooklyn.

We plan to rent a beachfront house with a patio and/or gazebo. Probably on the north shore, since it's more scenic and lush. We'll have the ceremony on the beach nearby the house, and have a romantic dinner for 2 planned afterwards.

As for photography, here is a link to a site I liked a lot.

http://www.clr-photography.com/clrflash.html

They were very prompt with responding to my questions, and seemed very friendly.

Let me know if you have any tips about hairr/makeup people, caterers, officiants, etc.

Good luck!

eloper,
That is so cool that we have that much in common. I would be happy to share whatever I find out as I find it out. Right now I am going on the web and just figuring out where we want to get married and then we will get the rest done. I went to that website you suggested and it looks really nice (and a bit expensive...we will see) I have been looking into the nicer hotels to see what kind of wedding services they offer but no one has been able to send me the photographers work as of yet. Eloping huh...we considered that but there would be too many hurt family member so we figured we would have a cozy 50 guest ceremony (LOL) It started out as 6 guests and multiplied.
BTW this forum has alot of really great people on it. I look forward to reading how people prepare for there trip to this beautiful place (and look forward to how your plans come to fruition) Feel free t o email me if you want to discuss any wedding details that might bore these nice people.

Thanks again!!

Betty- The wedding at Kahala Mandarin is far away from the pool on the Ewa end of the grass, and the few people (maybe 10) on the beach were for all intents and purposes, invisible, as the grass rises before the sand slopes to the water. Only the two I mentioned were paying the least bit of attention and I only saw them because I was researching the issue!
I believe the coral church is Kawaiahao Church. As I have my office right next door, I can tell you that is a busy spot...they have up to one wedding per hour (slower recently) and the cars on King and Punchbowl streets whiz by about 30 feet away from the entrance and photo spots.

The spot Burta mentions is very pretty...and you can watch the sunset nicely from there. You could rent a trolley to transport your guests there and then off to the reception to avoid the parking issue.
Short of marrying inside a church, there will almost always be other people around. I just returned from an outdoor wedding at an inn near Portland. They had plenty of guests nearby, but I was probably the only guest who noticed. The bride, my niece, says she wasn't even aware of her guests for most of the ceremony!

well it sounds like Lcuy here is the one in the know and the one to listen to, kiwi. I guess coming out of any church in the US people are going to stop and stare.

Wow never knew that about the coral church, a wedding every hour, when does worship happen? Have a great wedding Kiwi you'll figure it out. That trolly idea sounds fun.

Yikes! lcuy, I think I work down the street from you. I am next to McKinley Car Wash.

Melissa- I just had my car washed at Mckinley yesterday! I'm in Kawaiahao Plaza- we should meet for lunch somewhere on Kapiolani!...
BTW, is the Fodorites Hawaii reunion still on for September? I went to Oregon and the thread was gone when I got back.

Sarah- Kawaiahao Church is rolling in money since they started offering weddings to outside wedding businesses. They still have services and weddings for members on Sundays, but Monday thru Saturday they just crank em thru!