Basic Legal Requirements for getting Married in Hawaii

Jetting off to the Hawaiian Islands for your wedding may sound a little intimidating, especially regarding the legal requirements. But luckily, they’ve made it pretty straightforward. Here are the basic legal requirements for getting married in Hawaii.

●      Both parties must be 18 years old.

●      Apply for a marriage license.

●      Your officiant or celebrant will have to register with the State of Hawaii (if you’re bringing one with you). It takes at least two weeks to receive registration approval.

●      Meet with an agent (in person) up to 30 days before the event. The agent will review your application and verify your ID and necessary documents. They will then issue the license. Note a scheduled appointment is required.

●      Have your wedding within 30 days of picking up your license. (There is no waiting period in Hawaii to get married)

●      Must present all divorce decrees or death certificates.

How Much Does A Marriage License Cost In Hawaii

The cost to obtain a Hawaii civil union or marriage license is $65.00 ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee).  All payments are non-refundable.

For more information on Hawaii legal marriage requirements, click here.

How To Plan a Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Several elements make up a unique wedding experience in Hawaii: a beautiful and unforgettable ceremony site, a fresh lei to exchange during the ceremony, vibrant tropical flowers for your table, aloha wedding attire, and drinks and food with a Hawaiian flair.

But how will you pull off the perfect Hawaii destination wedding, especially when planning from abroad? No worries, that’s why you’re here. With this guide and my expertise, we’ll have your unforgettable Hawaii wedding planned in no time, with little stress.

Set A Date

The first thing you must do when planning your Hawaii wedding is set a date. This is because the date you select will impact many other factors. For example, if you choose a date in peak season, rates at resorts, airlines, and even with your wedding venues will be higher.

Another thing to consider is your wedding guests and how the time of year impacts their lives. Summers, for example, is a time when many families have pre-planned vacations, and many may want to avoid traveling during the holidays because they like to be at home to celebrate.

The Best Time To Marry In Hawaii

The weather in Hawaii is genuinely picture-perfect all year round. Temperatures hover between 70 - 80, which is pretty fantastic. But keep in mind the winter months, November - December, do see a little more rain.

Set A Budget

Setting a budget is essential in any wedding, but it becomes even more crucial for a destination wedding. This is because other factors will play into your overall destination wedding budget. Sure! You need to budget for your Hawaii venue rental price, where you will stay, your airfare, the food and drinks, decor, etc.

But some other items to consider that will impact your Hawaii wedding budget are, will you host a welcome party or goodbye brunch, will you have welcome bags with goodies for your guests, and will you pay for guests' airfare or excursions? These are just a few extra expenses that can blow a wedding budget out of the water.

If you need help getting all the details of your destination wedding in Hawaii organized and setting the best budget, give me a call. I can help!

Choose A Venue

Ok, now that you’ve set the date and locked down your Hawaii destination wedding budget, it’s time to choose the location for your “I Do’s.” And in Hawaii, there is an endless supply of beautiful venues. From budget-friendly to lush and luxurious to adventurous and rustic, there is definitely a special place for your ceremony and reception.

The best way to start your search is to Google things you like. For example, if you dream of a Hawaii beach wedding, search that phrase on Google. Or if you want an adventurous mountain wedding, or waterfall wedding, you can effortlessly search Google to find venues.

But if that sounds like a lot of work, you can certainly ask an expert, such as a Hawaii wedding planner, for recommendations.

Make Your Guest List

One good thing about destination weddings is that the guest list typically is much shorter than if you were hosting one in your local area. But that doesn’t always make it easier. Sit down with your partner and make a complete list of everyone that “should be” invited, and then eliminate the ones who aren’t that close to you.

When planning a destination wedding, you don’t have to invite distant relatives, co-workers, friends of mom and dad, etc. Instead, only the absolute “closest family and friends” should be invited.

Select Your Bridal Parties

Now, it’s time to decide who will be in your bridal party to stand next to you while you marry the love of your life. Choose your best friends or family; remember, the bridal party can be any size “you” want. Keep it small and intimate, or go big with your ten most loved friends. It’s your wedding, so make it your own.

The Details

Next on your checklist of things to do is to plan all the details. Work with your venue or wedding planner to decide on the decor, the ceremony site, and reception details such as food, music, drinks, etc.

Hire A Hawaii Wedding Coordinator

This is a big one! And it’s one that most people don’t think about. Hiring a Hawaii wedding coordinator is essential to pulling off an unforgettable wedding. It is best to hire a Hawaii month-of wedding coordinator to make the final steps of planning your wedding come together without a hitch.

A Hawaii month-of wedding coordinator will be by your side during the final month before your wedding to take on or assist with all of the last-minute details, including tasks you may need right down to the final hour.

The following are some of the services a Hawaii month-of wedding coordinator might provide:

●     Pre-wedding consultations

●     Management of RSVPs

●     Wedding seating chart assistance

●     Create a Hawaii wedding-day timeline

●     Handles vendor communication and organization

●     Hawaii wedding rehearsal management

●     Help with any last-minute & unexpected issues

If you think you have control of the final month's wedding checklist and to-do list, you may opt to hire a Hawaii day-of coordinator.

The day-of wedding coordinator handles the flawless execution of the already-made plans. Additionally, they serve as the point of contact for vendors, taking inquiries and concerns away from the happy couple and their relatives. This expert ensures that everything is carried out flawlessly in the present, unlike the wedding planner who plans, curates, and books the wedding.

They will run interference if any problems arise, coordinate with your vendors so everyone knows where to be at what time, they’ll help you get dressed, run errands if you forgot something,

Both the Hawaii month-of coordinator and the day-of coordinators are essential parts of planning a destination wedding. They will be a stress reliever and lifesaver for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy the big day.

Get Married!

There you go! It’s time to get married!