Looking to wed in Hawaii and need some tips and want to find some affordable Hawaii destination wedding all inclusive packages?
Well, you’re in luck as we share some of the best destination wedding tips for those wishing to travel to Hawaii for their special day.
If you think Hawaii weddings on a budget aren’t possible then you’re wrong! All you need to do is your research, plan in advance, forgo on over the top/ unnecessary décor details, be flexible on what day, time and season and let the destination speak for itself.
Let us show you how it can be done.
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Tips for an affordable Hawaii destination wedding all inclusive experience:
1. Where to Get Married in Hawaii?
With many beautiful spots to choose from in Hawaii, it is pretty daunting to decide. So, a good way to get a sense of where you want to say your vows is to simply try and visit your interested spots (islands, hotels, venues etc).
For us, we love The Big Island of Hawaii, in particular, the seaside town of Kona as we’ve found it’s more laid back and less crowded than other spots such as Oahu or Maui, which are the most popular islands to wed in Hawaii.
TIP: Here’s a handy list covering all islands including the Big Island Hawaii wedding venues. It’s a good starting point for your research and even highlights those Hawaii wedding packages all inclusive in nature.
Also, don’t forget to check out Hawaii’s tourism board for more information on weddings.
Royal Kona Resort, Kailua-Kona
It’s rare to go to the Aloha State for a Hawaiian wedding ceremony and not think about saying your vows on the beach or oceanfront. And, one place that does a romantic Hawaii beach wedding is the Royal Kona Resort.
Not only was this resort located right in the heart of Kona’s town centre but also its views of the coast were incredible. And, let us say the sunset views from this place are stunning. Do yourself a favour and add it to your wedding options list!
Royal Kona Resort Big Island Hawaii Wedding Packages
The Royal Kona Resort’s Big Island Hawaii wedding packages offered plenty of choices and are great value for money.
So what do they offer?
They have many affordable Hawaii wedding packages starting from $1,500USD. These are mostly all inclusive and you even receive a Big Island Hawaii wedding planner who looks after the details for you.
The Hawaii wedding planner cost is factored into their package fees and it’s worth every penny, as the stress of organising a Hawaii destination wedding all inclusive in nature can be overwhelming and very expensive if unguided.
From offering small weddings in Kona with their Hawaii wedding packages for two, all the way up to a large function – they can cater to pretty much anything including mixing Hawaiian wedding traditions with your own traditions.
For the wedding, my partner and I had with them, they did this by adding a Scottish handfasting custom to our ceremony.
Hawaiian wedding traditions mixed with Scottish handfasting.
Sunset at Hugo’s on the Rocks for pre-wedding event
In need of a rehearsal pre-wedding event venue? You should look at Hugo’s on the Rocks!
This amazing spot is next door to Royal Kona Resort and you and your guests can soak up the sunset views, enjoy happy hour cocktails and dine barefoot on the beach sand – making this a memorable and affordable pre-wedding event venue.
Hugos on the Rocks dining experience in Kona, Hawaii.
Also for some budget-friendly activities to enjoy while in Kona pre or post your wedding click here.
2. What is the average cost of a wedding in Hawaii?
According to The Knot and their wedding study, getting married in Hawaii costs around $28,212USD on average.
In our experience, that’s rather high and other sources such as Wed Hawaii also agree. We found the Hawaii wedding packages offered at various venues were fairly priced and offered everything you need.
We held an intimate ceremony and reception (including a private luau) with around 15 friends and family and it wasn’t near the cost of that average.
So, don’t be put off from marrying in Hawaii on a budget if you see figures like this online.
TIP: Here’s another great wedding listing that highlights some of the top destination wedding packages Hawaii offers and their wedding in Hawaii cost amounts.
CASE STUDY: What was our Hawaii destination wedding experience like?
We held our special day on the Big Island during the summer months (June to August), which was also peak travel season.
TIP: As Hawaii has near-perfect weather all year round, I recommend booking a wedding in the off-peak season and on a weekday. This will reduce travel and accommodation costs, plus attractions will be less crowded.
It was a warm day and the forecast predicted some light rain.
Luckily, the weather stayed dry for our outside ceremony at Nohea Point, which beautifully overlooked the ocean and had crashing waves in the background.
Our celebrant kicked off the ceremony with the most beautiful words and readings. It incorporated some Hawaiian culture, blessings and our own vows.
As we made things official during the recessional, local musician Bula Akamu (see below) was playing in the background.
His vocals were everything you would want for a romantic Hawaii wedding.
Shortly after this, we were led around the resort by our Hawaii wedding photographer, Emotion Galleries Photography by Ranae Keane to get those perfect Hawaii Big Island wedding shots.
She was incredibly professional, efficient and on point – knowing all the best photo locations at the resort including these sunset pictures taken.
Overall, she exceeded our expectations, especially since we didn’t know who our photographer was prior to booking one of the resort’s all inclusive Hawaiian wedding and reception packages.
The reception soon followed and we sat down to a variety of beautifully prepared dishes.
As mentioned we were fortunate to have a private two-hour luau performance (cast of 16ppl), which was simply incredible and rivalled any large-scale luau I’ve been to in Hawaii.
Private luau at our Hawaii destination wedding.
As part of our Hawaii destination wedding all inclusive package there were only a few extras and upgrades that we needed to incorporate eg. mostly around food, beverage, entertainment and photography. The service, venue setup, décor and suppliers included were brilliant.
Destination wedding Hawaii verdict
Overall, our wedding at the Royal Kona Resort was five out of five. The Big Island Hawaii wedding planner team were outstanding and their package offering was affordable.
So, for us getting hitched in Hawaii was every part the fairy tale offering a magical, spiritual and romantic feel.
Kona was defiantly one of the best Big Island Hawaii wedding locations as it’s easy to get to from the airport, is close to many island attractions and provided plenty of affordable accommodation options.
3. Best Hawaii Vacation Honeymoon Options
The best part about going aboard to wed is it allows you to extend the celebrations with friends and family and enjoy a longer and more affordable Hawaii vacation honeymoon – saving on flights, transfers, transport and accommodation.
So, if looking to get hitched in Hawaii, why not consider honeymooning there too.
Some of the best locations across a few Hawaii islands to stay and play as a newlywed are below.
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, The Big Island
Located along the Kohala Coast only 40 minutes north of Kona is The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.
This well-rated newly renovated property is a lovely place to enjoy a honeymoon in Hawaii due to its private beachfront access, blissful atmosphere and stunning views.
Staying here will make you feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie set in Hawaii like ‘Just Go With It’. The moment you enter the lobby you will be blown away by the amazing ocean and beach views.
The resort features a contemporary decor style set amongst lush manicured gardens.
There are two swimming pools including an adults-only infinity pool, gym, luxury day spa, 18-hole golf course and plenty of dining venues. The private beach offers lounge chairs to relax and reefs to snorkel or scuba dive.
Where: 62-100 Kaunaʻoa Dr, Waimea, HI
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (TripAdvisor)
Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Oahu
What makes the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort a must is its close proximity to the best restaurants, bars, shops, attractions and trolley stops in the city.
Located beachfront to the iconic Waikiki Beach, you can walk right from the pool lounge area onto the beach without having to break a sweat.
The resort is home to the legendary Duke’s Waikiki restaurant and bar, which serves up delicious hula pies, umbrella drinks and Mai Tais.
Staying here will have you enjoying a classic Hawaii vacation honeymoon.
You can enjoy a Mai Tai at the legendary Duke’s Waikiki restaurant and bar downstairs after lapping up the waters of Hawaii’s most famous beach.
The resort also offers gorgeous views of the beach from your room, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 room service, an onsite spa, shuttle services, Waikiki trolley and complementary activities such as stand up paddle boarding, yoga, lei making, surfing and the use of beach toys.
Where: 2335 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (TripAdvisor)
Andaz Maui At Wailea Resort, Maui
Located directly on Wailea’s shores is the super-luxe 15-acre beachfront property, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.
Boasting stunning ocean and Maui sunset views, a private beach, modern villas/guest rooms, infinity pools, full-service spa and salon, superb dining options and poolside cocktail service – this place is the epitome of a Hawaii honeymoon.
By day enjoy the resort’s adult’s only infinity pools, day spa massages and treatments, poolside cocktails, private beach (where you can hear and see humpback whales migrating), beachfront walk along the Maui coast and resort activities like canoeing and lei making.
And, by night dine at one of their fine dining restaurants such as Morimoto Maui and enjoy some artisan cocktails at the Lehua Lounge, while soaking up the live music and cool breezes of the ocean.
Where: 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (TripAdvisor)
Did go for a Hawaii destination wedding all inclusive package? Tell us about it and share your best places to get married in Hawaii.
2 comments
Love it
Amazing! Congrats 🙂