Renee

Hi everyone,
I desperately need some experienced advice here. I've heard Kauai is the prettiest island, but many love Maui. Either island, which has the prettiest setting for a wedding. When is the best weather to go, I was thinking early May? I'd prefer a gazebo decorated in flowers, but beautiful turquoise waters MUST be the backdrop. Let me know where you've seen pretty weddings. Please give me suggestions.
Thanks for your help!
Renee

e

Grand Wailea is going to be tough to beat. They even have a beautiful chapel just steps from the beach. JMHO

Marilyn

My son was married at dawn (sunrise) at the top of Mt. Haleakala (10,000 ft. mountain). Can't get much more romantic than that. Afterwards we drove down the mountain to Maui Prince Hotel for gorgeous Sunday brunch; son and daughter-in-law danced to Hawaiian Wedding song; then to the beach in front of the Prince for photos. They honeymooned at the Prince. A wonderful wedding!

dana

On Maui at the Hyatt Regency. they do a good job. We got married there.
But on Kauai, at the Hanalei Bay REsort was a very pretty setting for a wedding!
Check out their website. It shows a lot
of wedding photos, as does the Hyatt(a few photos)

Ally

I second the Grand Wailea! Beautiful little chapel, beautiful hotel and grounds, beautiful beach. But, Hawaii is not the carribean, so don't expect 'turquoise' water. Yes, it's clean water, but it's not 'turquoise'!

Renee

You mean the water is actually bluer and more clear in the Carribean? I assumed Hawaiian waters were more beautiful since everyone picks Hawaii over the Carribean. Could someone please clarify because I may reconsider the Bahamas if there is a considerable difference in the ocean water.
Thanks!

Carol

You're just yanking our collective chains here I'm sure, right?
No one would select the Bahamas for a wedding OVER Hawaii ONLY because of the water's color in the background.

There are many places in the Caribbean with water which is almost 'artificial' looking water color...so bright blue it looks fake. Hawaii is in the middle of the ocean and the water doesn't have the same bluishness (which in other locations is due to the reflected white sand not far beneath).

But the overall honeymoon experience in Hawaii will be much better than the Bahamas can provide (and no, I'm not a Hawaiian travel agent or shill....we spent our honeymoon there 12 years ago, so yes, I'm biased).

Roxanne

My husband and I were married on an absolutely breathtaking spot on the beach (Ulua Beach) on Maui. This spot is close to the Maui Prince Hotel and is covered in natural white coral with the clear royal blue ocean as your real backdrop. We booked our wedding through a Maui wedding consultant that I found in the back of a brides magazine. Just thinking of it gives me goose bumps...unforgettable!!!!!!

Renee

Hello,
Hi Carol. Yes, I am that crazy. I love turqoise waters, I have never seen the fake looking ones you are talking about due to my lack of travel experience and I know Hawaii is all romance, waterfalls, volcanoes and lush vegetation, but I want beautiful water as my backdrop. I live in Florida and if I'm going to fly the distance to Hawaii, I don't want to be disappointed with the ocean. Where as the Bahamas are an hour or two flight. I appreciate your insight and opinion and I'm glad you posted. Thanks to everyone, too; you've all been a tremendous help. Does anyone know of a personal website with pics of their Hawaiian wedding?
Thanks again everyone for sharing!

sissa

the hyatt regency on Maui is top notch for a wedding. I got marrried there and everything was wonderful I didn't have to worry about a thing. I cannot say anything but good things about the entire experience.

Joy

Renee-- The ocean in Hawaii is spectacular. It does not matter which island you choose. The sight and the sound of it are incredible. Why does it have to be turquoise? I personally would not want the ocean I see in Maui to be one iota different. Also, there are other things to consider. Are you getting married by the turquoise ocean, and then leaving? You cannot find a more hospitable group of islanders that inhabit Hawaii. People are very happy there, and it shows. There is no worry of insects, or drinking water. In my opinion there is no other place to compare with Beautiful Hawaii.

Alex

Renee, Hawaii IS vastly superior to the Caribbean. However, I DO understand your dilemma because I, too, like the beaches in the Caribbean (however, I would NOT want to get married there!). On Hawaii, you might want to consider the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Oahu, an exclusive, smaller, 5-star property which is secluded and away from Waikiki. The reason I recommend it is because the ocean water on Oahu (even Waikiki)is much closer to the Caribbean type that you prefer, bluish-green in color, and CALM, especially in front of the Kahala! Check it out!

AreYou4Real?

C'mon folks, stop telling Renee to marry in Hawaii -- the water color is all wrong!
Her ONLY criterion is to have turquoise blue water in the background!

Tammy

don't overlook the Hyatt on Kauai. it has a lot to offer brides to be and is a beautiful place to be after you are married. However, all of Hawaii is beautiful. You can choose wher you want and it will be great no matter what isle or resort. the occassion is what makes it great and Hawaii is a very beautiful place period.

mike

Try the Kahala Hilton on Oahu. First class place all the way including the dolphins which swim in the hotel pools.

Linda

I haven't traveled extensively in Hawaii, but I stayed at Hilton Waikoloa village on the Big Island, and it is fantastic. The island is not so much pretty as starkly beautiful (the western coast looks more like a moonscape than a landscape!) with volcanoes and valleys and waterfalls. The Hilton has a chapel called Hale Aloha (the House of Love) where you get married. The whole resort has little man-made islands surrounded by lagoons, and you can take a boat ride to get from one place in this sprawling resort to another.

Renee

Hi again,
I've been researching everyone's opinions. My favorite so far is from Alex. I looked up the resort you are talking about in Oahu and found this photo of the gazebo there http://www.mandarin-oriental.com/mohg-hotels/mohg// How beautiful! I am not ruling out Grand Wailea because the grounds look stunning even though I can't find any wedding related pics here. I'm still doing some research and keeping my options open, so keep the ideas coming!
Thanks again!

Blue Water

But Oahu's water is the wrong color. It is BLUE -- Pacific Ocean Blue.

Maybe you could dump a couple hundred gallons of yellow food coloring off shore just before the ceremony.

Alex

Thank you, Renee! Most of these people really don't understand your preferences but I certainly do! Glad you found the Kahala website. They also have nice, LARGE pictures of the rooms, etc. that you can click on as well which I'm sure you've already discovered! It's a wonderful resort in a quiet, peaceful setting! However, now that you ARE considering the Grand Wailea (in spite of the darker blue water -- HA!), I would have to say that between the two, the Grand would be the one to go with because it's so much more "grand" and elaborate, etc., than the Kahala! I can assure you, your wedding would be quite memorable there! I thought they had a photo of the wedding chapel on their website. If not, I can assure you that you WON'T be disappointed as it's quite a gorgeous setting at the resort!! You should still consider spending at least 3 days on Oahu -- at the Kahala, of course -- because, in spite of what some people might say, it's a gorgeous island to explore! Also, do some "searching" on the web for "Hanauma Bay" (on Oahu) and you'll see how really beautiful that would be for you as well (fits your criteria)! Let me know what you decide in the end!

[Note to Blue Water: You are quite incorrect -- the ocean water on Oahu IS more of a bluish-green color, even in Waikiki and ESPECIALLY on the East side of the island itself along the "Waimanalo Coast" as I like to call it!]

Alex

Can I confuse you even more, Renee? You might also consider the Manele Bay Hotel on Lanai for your wedding. This is also a glorious place to have one (just ask Bill Gates, who was married there)! This hotel sits on top of a small cliff, so a wedding on top of that particular cliff, near the ocean and with the sun setting would also be fantastic! Go to their website and take a look! However, you have to do a bit of clicking within the site itself to see the wonderful pix facing the front of the hotel, but it IS there, so keep clicking and you should be able to find it. Of course, Lanai itself is VERY, VERY QUIET, so you won't have much to explore like you would on Maui and Oahu! However, you certainly could get married on Lanai, stay for maybe 3 days the then skip over to the Grand Wailea and finish it off at the Kahala on Oahu! Good Luck (and I hope you'll remember to post a report on this very site when you get back as I'll certainly be looking forward to reading it)!!