Best Hawaii Wedding Venues
Updated for 2024
Hawaii Wedding Photographer
The Hawaiian Islands make for a perfect wedding or elopement destination for their enchanting and picturesque setting, offering a romantic backdrop that is unparalleled. The islands boast breathtaking landscapes, from pristine beaches with crystal-clear waters to lush tropical gardens and majestic volcanic scenery. The warm and inviting climate adds to the allure, creating an idyllic atmosphere for a memorable celebration of love. Hawaii's diverse culture and rich traditions also provide a unique and meaningful context for exchanging vows. Additionally, the abundance of luxurious resorts and venues cater to various tastes, ensuring that couples can find the perfect location to create lasting memories on their special day. Overall, Hawaii's natural beauty and activity options make it an ideal destination for couples seeking a truly magical and unforgettable wedding experience.
The first step in choosing your Hawaii wedding venue is to decide which island is the best fit for you. Let’s begin by breaking down each island option and talking about the unique features of each island, travel information and weather to expect.
Which Island Should You Get Married On?
Maui
Maui is the favorite island of most visitors because it encompasses pretty much everything you think of when you picture Hawaii. It is a medley of beautiful beaches, tall volcanoes, tropical flora and of course, lots and lots of palm trees. As the second largest island, you’ll never get bored with all of the beautiful landscapes and there are even some very remote areas too! Be sure to go whale watching and explore the ocean to see amazing marine life and ecosystems.
Overall, the island has a little flavor of both O’ahu and The Big Island where you can find cultural and culinary options along with hotels and outdoor activities. There’s not a big late-night scene on the island, which many people enjoy. But there are plenty of beach towns scattered around where you can find local food, drinks, and entertainment. Obviously, it’s not as large as the Big Island as far as terrain goes, but Haleakala is amazing and would take a lifetime to explore!
Airport
Although there are two smaller airports, Kahului Airport is the main airport on Maui. It offers direct flights from both domestic and international airports and there are even a lot of non-stop flights here. If you fly into Honolulu, it’s a 30 minute flight to Maui.
Weather
Maui is sunny and warm overall, but like any island, Maui has a lot of microclimates. So the weather can change drastically based on where you are on the island and the time of day. In fact, the average annual rainfall changes by a few inches within a distance of a few miles! Check the local weather for the specific location you’re staying for the best information. The best months to visit are typically between September through November and April and May are great too.
Kauai
Kauai—also called the ‘Garden Island’—is the oldest island of the chain and has centuries of tropical growth that formed rivers, jungles, and waterfalls all over. Because of the water movements, there are lots of cliffs and mountain spires around that round out the lush landscapes. In fact, over 90% of the island cannot be reached by road! One of the unique aspects of this island is that you can drive from one end of the island all the way to the other in under 3 hours, which makes it very accessible to explore everything Kauai has to offer in a weeks long trip!
Naturally, there’s lots of hiking, kayaking, ziplining, and exploring to do. But the island is also known for its more relaxed and laid back vibe with lots of local towns full of local cuisine and people to talk to. Just be sure to bring some extra cash because accommodations can be sparse and expensive.
Airport
In many ways, the Lihue airport matches the vibe of the island in that it’s completely open air—even check-in desks! Most flights to the island are inter-island, but if you’re on the West Coast, you can find domestic flights too.
Weather
Like most of the Hawaiian Islands, average temperatures are the low to mid 80s for a high and mid 60s to low 70s as a low. Again, most rain falls at night and you’ll experience small, localized showers here and there. The rainy season is from December to March, but that’s the high tourist season for the island—also the most expensive time. The best time to travel is from September to November or April to June.
O'ahu
The first thing to know about O’ahu is that there is much more on the island than Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and Waikiki Beach. It’s Hawaii’s third largest island with the largest population. O’ahu blends the cultures of East and West and has many traditional Hawaiian roots. Here, you can explore ancient Hawaii, modern cities, and surfside towns too.
The contrasts make it an “every person's” island because it has whatever you’re looking for: accommodations, fine dining and local cuisine, entertainment, night life, beach life, surfing, and tropical scenery. Rent a car and go explore!
Airport
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is Hawaii’s largest airport. It takes both domestic and international flights and is a hub to all of the other islands. There are non-stop flights from pretty much every major airport in the US.
Weather
Temperatures in O’ahu average in the mid to upper 80s as the high and the mid 60s to low 70s for the low. Again, it’s an island, so there are lots of microclimates around. However, most of the rain in O’ahu falls at night when you’re not on the beaches or exploring the island. The best time to visit is mid-April to early June or from September through mid-December.
Big Island
The Big Island is an explorer’s paradise. As both the youngest and biggest of all the Hawaiian Islands, the size of the island and the range of sights are awe-inspiring to say the least. You can literally go snowboarding and surfing on the same day and the same island. Maunakea and Maunaloa—the island’s two main volcanoes—are massive and have a weather shielding effect which makes the climate and fauna on the island hard to describe. Because of the volcanoes, the island features both white and black sand beaches and many lush valleys where you can explore and have fun all day.
Airport
Kona and Hilo are the two major airports on The Big Island, but most people arrive at Kona. Kona serves as more of a direct flight and international hub whereas Hilo has more inter-island flights. However, the price difference between the two is usually negligible.
Weather
The weather on the Big Island is warm and tropical, and like any of the islands, the rainfall and weather depend a lot on what side of the island you’re on. However, the Big Island is a little different because of the size and terrain. In some areas of the island, it’s like a desert with little to no rainfall, but other areas have rain every day of the year. Regardless, the rain is usually very fast and localized, so it won’t disrupt your travel plans. The best months to visit are April and May and August through October.
Best Maui Wedding Venues
Located on Maui’s northern shores, the Haiku Mill is where everything you think about Hawaii meets Old World Europe. Described by the venue as a “botanical paradise”, it has stunning, spectacular backdrops that will leave you and your guests speechless at nearly every turn. Plus, they specialize in all things weddings and events, so the staff is fully prepared to make your special day a dream come true.
Capacity: up to 100 guests
Estimated Cost: Contact the venue for exact costs, but the Knot rates the pricing as ‘$$$ - Moderate’
Amenities: Select vendors, outdoor ceremony and reception area, dressing room and Wifi.
Distance from Kahului Airport: 22 miles
Part of the Hyatt Hotels & Resorts chain, this is a wedding venue that has it all. You can elope on the beach, have a large wedding party, or just have the reception here. The venue offers everything from planning to food and bar, and they even have pastry chefs who can create your wedding cake. The oceanfront lawn is a phenomenal backdrop for a sunset wedding.
Capacity: up to 300 guests
Estimated Cost: packages start at 4,500
Amenities: Wedding planner, select vendors, indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception sites, wedding cake, and lighting. Plus, you can use and will get Hyatt hotel points you can use worldwide.
Distance from Airport: 17 miles
Another Hyatt Resort, the Hana Maui Resort offers more of a tropical flair than many of the other venues on the island. Here, you can do a beach wedding, indoor ceremony or even have a traditional luau that goes late into the evening. Regardless, getting married in Hawaii shouldnt’ be a chore, so work with a team at the resort to create the Hawaiian dream wedding you’ve always wanted.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests
Estimated Cost: 6,000 for 50 guests
Amenities: Wedding planning, indoor and outdoor ceremony, luau, dressing rooms, large parking area, food and beverage accommodations
Distance from Airport: 51 miles
Best Kauai Wedding Venues
National Tropical Botanical Gardens
With over 20,000 plants, these botanical gardens are actually a scientific habitat for plant restoration and study. But they still do weddings here too! And with beautiful ocean views, waterfalls, cliffs and valleys, you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop. Plus the venue offers a lot of planning services and flexibility to bring in outside vendors with their approval.
Capacity: Over 300 guests
Estimated Cost: Contact the venue for exact pricing but the Knot rates it as $$ - Affordable
Amenities: Outdoor ceremony area, indoor and outdoor reception areas, wifi, planning services, and transportation
Distance from Airport: 15 miles
Mentioned in National Geographic as one of the “top 5 scenic golf courses in the world” this venue is sure to wow your guests with it’s breathtaking northshore Kauai views! The most popular ceremony location is on the bluff of the 7th hole, overlooking the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see.
Capacity: up to 200 guests
Estimated Cost: 2k-12k
Distance from Airport: 29 miles
This venue is in one of the most popular tourist dream locations on the island - sitting along 20 acres of Poipu Beach with panoramic views! Invite your friends and family along to celebrate your marriage and to take in all the beauty Poipu has to offer. Stay in the resort for wonderful amenities and service, while using it as your home base to jump from to explore the best of the southern part of the island.
Capacity: up to 500 guests
Estimated Cost: starting at 3k
Distance from Airport: 14 miles
A coastal wedding dream, the Beach House offers plenty of room multi-level views for your wedding day. They offer high end packages to meet your every need! You’re sure to catch the most beautiful Hawaiian sunset for your reception just steps away from the ocean.
Capacity: up to 350 guests
Estimated Cost: contact the venue directly
Amenities: cake, planning, rentals, dance floor lighting, sound, Pacific Rim style cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients
Distance from Airport: 14 miles
Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue
Capacity: 200 or more guests, depending on which venue location you choose. I recommend the Luau Gardens or beach front.
Estimated Cost: Contact venue for pricing
Amenities: Outdoor and indoor ceremony options, packages inclusive of decor & planning, catering and rooms available
Distance from Airport: 2 miles
A unique idea - book a private catamaran tour of the epic Na’pali coast and bring your officiant, photographer, and a few family or friends along if you’d like!
Best Oahu Wedding Venues
The Kualoa Ranch has every type of venue you can imagine to create the perfect vibe for your special day. White sandy beach? Check. Tropical botanical gardens? Check. Ancient Hawaiian fishpond? Check. Whether you want to go indoor or outdoor for your ceremony, it has it all. But where the Kualoa Ranch really shines is its authentic Hawaiian cuisine where they offer the real-deal when it comes to farm-to-table. As far as views go, the ranch has been featured in over 170 movies and TV shows, so cinematic would be a great word to describe it!
Capacity: 250 guests
Estimated Cost: average package costs between 2,000-4,000
Amenities: Farm-to-table dining, indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception, wifi, select vendors, and wedding cake preparation.
Distance from Airport: 21 miles
Hawaii truly has it all. The Haiku Gardens are a magical venue that offer a variety of tropical settings like a classic Hawaiian open air chapel, a gazebo with tranquil pond or a private botanical garden. No matter what you choose, the Haiku Gardens look stunning! And they offer a number of packages to help you create the vibe you’re looking for on your special day.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests
Estimated Cost: 4,000 to 15,000
Amenities: Dressing rooms, planning services, select vendors, large parking lot, and day-of coordinator.
Distance from Airport: 12.5 miles
Want to have your wedding at a tropical Hawaiian estate? The O’ahu Wedding Villa offers a little more than your standard estate. With over 500 walking/jogging paths, there’s plenty of beautiful scenery to explore before the ceremony. And while most of your guests won’t be able to enjoy all of the amenities of the property, let’s just say you’ll be busy the whole time. You can have your ceremony or just a fabulous reception here that’ll leave your guests speechless.
Capacity: Up to 200 Guests
Estimated Cost: $100 - $400 per person average
Amenities: Coordination through preferred vendors, lighting and sound, portable bars, staff, wifi
Distance from Airport: 14 miles
Ho’omaluhial means ‘a peaceful refuge’ and that’s definitely the vibe at this magnificent state park which features a scenic lake and mountains in the distance. Because it’s part of the state parks service, you’ll need to get permits for the ceremony and photography and do most of the planning and preparation yourself to have a small ceremony here. But with views like this, it’s definitely worth it!
Capacity: 50 Guests max
Estimated Cost: Contact the Hawaiian Parks Department for pricing and application form
Amenities: Limited amenities. Work with the parks department because most items—even chairs—are prohibited without permit.
Distance from Airport: 12 miles
Best Big Island Wedding Venues
Part of Mariott’s Autograph Hotels Collection, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is the very definition of a resort wedding. The hotel overlooks Kauna'oa Bay with its beautiful white sandy beaches. The venue itself offers multiple locations around to set up the wedding and the hotel can definitely provide everything you need for an elegant ceremony and reception both indoor and outdoor. Your guests will never be bored here with all the activities, and it’s a golfer’s paradise with the championship Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course nearby.
Capacity: Up to 225 Guests
Amenities: Outdoor ceremony area, indoor and outdoor reception areas, wifi, planning services, select vendors, wedding cake
Distance from Airport: 27 miles
Located in the Kona Coffee region, the Holualoa Inn and Estate is 30 acres of Polynesian paradise. The Inn and Estate are the perfect setting for a small or elegant wedding surrounded by tropical fruit and coffee trees. For the reception, you and your guests can enjoy an open air pavilion with views of the Kona Coast or the front lawn where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset. All-in-all, this is a versatile venue with lots of luxurious possibilities!
Capacity: Up to 120 guests
Estimated Cost: 4k to over 20k
Amenities: Outdoor ceremony area, estate and pavilion areas, accommodations, wifi, dressing rooms, day-of coordinator, prep kitchen
Distance from Airport: 12.5 miles
The Falls at Reed’s Island are stunning. Located on top of volcanic rocks, the views are full of streams, ferns, and of course, the waterfalls. This is the perfect place for a very small ceremony or elopement as the max guest capacity is 25 and they only allow a reception here if there are 10 or less guests. But if you’ve always wanted to get married next to a beautiful waterfall with scenic tropical views, this is the place for your special day!
Capacity: Up to 25 guests for ceremony, 10 or less for reception
Amenities: Contact venue for wedding-specific amenities
Distance from Airport: 77 miles
Hawaii Wedding Packages
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Full Day $8,000
7 hours of coverage
3-5 locations + capturing any activities you do
Split or consecutive coverage
Includes any necessary photography permits
Includes ALL TRAVEL FEES to get here
Vendor referrals, location recommendations, help planning your timeline
-
Half Day $6,500
4 hours of coverage
2-3 location
Consecutive coverage or $250 extra for split
Includes any necessary photography permits
Includes ALL TRAVEL FEES to get here
Vendor referrals, location recommendations, help planning your timeline
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