If a Hawaii wedding is the fairy tale you've been dreaming of, you're not alone. Between 1994 and 2004, the number of mainland visitors who were married in a Hawaii doubled. This means that an entire industry is at your beck and call, clamoring for the honor of creating your dream wedding.
Chances are that you don't have a private jet to shoot you back and forth between all seven islands and home everyday so that you can taste wedding cake samples, pick out the perfect reception hall, and still be on time to work. Use the following information to help you organize your wedding in Hawaii from far away.
If you've signed up for a hotel wedding package, most likely a wedding planner is a part of the deal. If it isn't, be sure to set aside about 10% of your total budget for a local who knows the ins and outs of the business. She will handle auditions for the music and vendors, help your guests find fun things to do when they arrive, and be there to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Get there a week early. Make sure that the cake is everything you want it to be. Meet the hair dresser and florist. Ensure that transportation to and from the airport and enough rooms are secured for your guests. By this time, you should have a final count of your guests so you can be sure that your church and rehearsal dinner restaurant aren't planning for the original 30 guests that have increased to 60.
Have every vendor on the island send you samples, photographs, pictures, and references. This may sound excessive but you need backups. Check the references and find out which companies have worked with whom on other events similar to yours. Let this network of companies serve as further references for each other and keep files according to first, second, and third choices in the areas of vacation fun for your guests, caterers, musicians, florists, photographers, etc.
You can never say 'thank you' enough - or 'mahalo' as they say on the islands. Your vendors, your guests, your wedding planners - send each of them a handwritten thank you note and a small gift. For the vendors, do this ahead of time. It will serve to set you apart from their other clients and increase their level of service - something a pocketful of small bills will further when you slip them to various servers and attendants on your big day.
If you don't want to leave everything to the locals, go ahead and fly in some hometown talent. Maybe a particular photographer has a touch that you can't do without or your hairdresser can take a little time off to come take care of you. Having a big city professional with a backup team of local helpers can be helpful to everyone involved.
Hawaiian destination weddings are beautiful because of Hawaiian people and the culture of relaxation as well as its gorgeous waterfalls and beaches. Be forewarned that not everything will happen exactly by the clock. They don't call it 'island time' for nothing! Ask your guests to send their gifts to your home address. It will save them and you a ton of luggage space.
Send your guests on their way with a small, personal basket of island goodies that are reminiscent of you and your love as well as the beautiful island of your wedding. Keep one for yourself and add to it with little mementos you pick up after the wedding. You and your love will discover the true meaning of 'aloha' together as a married couple.
