3 dancers performing luau.

Every visitor to Hawaii should experience a proper luau. (Photo: Stocksy)

Hawaii

How to Plan Your Dream Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Tropical flowers. Sandy beaches. Waterfalls. Lush landscapes. Breathtaking sunsets. Few places are more exotic or romantic than Hawaii, making it an ideal choice for destination weddings. Many hotels in Hawaii offer beautiful settings and professional assistance for your big day.

The first step is to determine which island is best for you and your wedding. Each has something different to offer, with Maui and Kaua’i as the most popular.

A Maui Wedding Dream

If you decide on Maui, there are a number of beautiful beachfront resorts on Wailea Beach that offer destination weddings.

Maui is the second largest island in Hawaii, and Wailea Beach is on the island’s sunny western coast.

You might choose a hotel overlooking the water between Ulua Beach and Wailea Beach, which is often described as “America’s Best Beach.”

There will be plenty of time to experience Maui’s culture and beauty if you let the hotel’s expert wedding staff take care of all the details.

While you’re on Maui, make time after planning the big day to visit Haleakala National Park, home to lush tropical rainforests and the Haleakala volcano crater.

Of course, every visitor to Hawaii should experience a luau, so book a spot for you and your fiancé– or your entire wedding party – at Te Au Moana for an unforgettable island experience.

Mandara Spa and a day of massages, facials and pampering for you and your wedding party is a lovely way to top off all of the planning for a destination wedding.

Kaua’i: The Garden Isle

Another favorite spot for destination weddings is the island of Kaua’i, also known as “The Garden Isle.”

You can book a room at a hotel on Kalapaki Beach, and from this beachfront location, you can whisk your guests off for a visit to Waimea Canyon State Park, home of the largest canyon in the Pacific.

Options include a nice hiking trail, scenic overlooks, and for a bird’s-eye view of the island, book a one-hour helicopter ride that affords panoramic views of Kaua’i’s breathtaking beauty.

Then, get closer to nature with a boat ride on Hawaii’s only navigable river, Wailua River, and end your day at the Smith Family Garden Luau, where everyone can enjoy the food and hospitality for which the island is so famous.

Planning a destination wedding can be easy with the right location, expert hotel staff and a plan that offers you a chance to be a guest at your own wedding.