Let’s get real—destination weddings are the BEST! Whether you’re traveling to a place you’ve always wanted to visit or a location that has a special place in your heart, destination weddings— especially Oahu weddings! —always have that extra little wow-factor. But planning for them? Not so much. Because unfortunately, the not-so-fun side is the side no one ever prepares you for, and to make matters worse, it’s also kind of the deciding factor in whether you get your destination wedding or not. So, if you want to get all the annoying logistics out of the way and get right down to the fun part, take a look at our planning guide first!
Boring Legal Stuff
Cake tasting is a lot more fun, but you kind of need this. Fortunately, Hawaii’s state guidelines make it super easy to knock this out. Here’s what you need to know about getting married in the Aloha state:
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- Both applicants must be at least 18 years old (So far, not so bad, huh?)
- Both applicants must appear before the marriage license agent at the time of application (You can do that, right?)
- Official proof of age, such as a certified birth certificate (age 18 and under) or a driver’s license (age 19+), must be provided (Cool! Now, where’s my birth certificate…?)
- Applicants must pay a $65 fee for the license and processing (Just add it to the growing list of wedding expenses!)
- As far as officiants go, any already licensed religious official or judge can register to perform a marriage ceremony in the state of Hawaii. It’s also important that they file your marriage license online or via mail within three working days of your ceremony.
And there you have it! As far as legal requirements for your Oahu wedding go, that’s all you have to worry about. That wasn’t so bad, right?
Beach Permit Rules
Kind of the same as boring legal stuff, but a little different. Because— and we’re just taking a wild guess here— getting married on a beautiful beach is probably your number-one reason for an Oahu wedding, it’s important to be aware of the beach permit rules surrounding beach weddings so you can stay on the right side of them. Here’s what you need to know:
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- There’s a two-hour time limit. (Seriously???)
- If you want to invite more than 30 guests, you might need to get special permission from Oahu officials (Bad news for big wedding parties…)
- If random people are hanging out on the beach that day, you can’t ask them to get out of the way for your wedding (…you’re kidding me…)
- You’re not allowed to have any structures or big decorations (So, there goes the cute flower arch).
- If you want chairs, tough luck. Chairs are only permitted for the elderly or disabled, and even then, you’ll have to prove why you need them. (At that rate, maybe that two-hour time limit is a good thing!)
- You’re also not allowed to block off part of the beach (You’d think we could have just a little corner of it…!)
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This information may not be the most fun, but obviously, it’s important to know. Oahu officials are used to their beaches being a popular destination wedding spot, so they tend to take these rules pretty seriously in order to protect their beaches and the normality of everyday life. As a result, violating these rules might mean that you run into some fines or other awkward moments that could ruin your big day. So, if you want to avoid any sticky situations, you might want to invest in a local wedding planner who specializes in these details… or just plan really, really carefully.
Weather and Timing
Given Hawaii’s lovely climate, you might think you wouldn’t have to worry about the weather. But think again! Although you’re definitely free to plan on a winter wedding with beach vibes for days and you can safely count on warm weather, there are still a few weather details to keep in mind.
Peak Tourist Seasons
Unsurprisingly, people love going to Hawaii when the weather’s terrible at home, so don’t expect the island to be uncrowded or airfare to be cheap if your wedding is planned at any point during December-April. Unfortunately, this time frame is one of Hawaii’s peak tourist seasons, so it’s important to consider how inflated costs and lots of tourists might affect your wedding plans. If you want to shoot for a better time, you might consider planning your wedding in May, June, or any time in September-November. Because most people’s lives are taken up with work or school during these months, this is more likely to be the tourism off-period you’re hoping for.
Weather
Because Hawaii doesn’t experience Spring or Fall in the same way as the mainland, they technically have only two seasons, and the good news for you is that there’s little difference between them. Even in the middle of winter, the low drops to (get your sweaters out!) a chilly 70 degrees, so as long as you plan accordingly for tourist seasons, you’re pretty much guaranteed the temperatures you want.
So, although we haven’t quite covered every single thing you’ll face in the destination wedding planning process, these are a few of the biggest and most common concerns for you to be aware of as you plan your special day in Oahu.
