Maui is one of the great romantic icons of the world, and may be the finest of all in terms of natural beauty. If you’d rather have your wedding on Maui than in your home town, there are a number of vital top tips we can offer you so you can make sure your wedding is seamless, beautiful and full of unforgettable memories, no matter how familiar or unfamiliar you are with the island.
1. Hire a Maui Wedding Coordinator
When planning a Maui destination wedding, you should avoid using planners located on the other Hawaiian islands, or worse, out of state. A planner who lives and works on Maui will have a much more intimate familiarity with the strengths and limitations of the various accommodations, venues, activities, and many other details; like the time it takes to get from one to the other.
Most importantly, a local wedding coordinator will know which island services provide the best quality and reliability for catering, flowers, photography, etc. The right planner can bring your whole dream wedding together, from ceremony to reception, so that you can relax and enjoy your trip to Maui from start to finish with your loved ones.
2. Best Time of the Year for a Wedding on Maui
Although our island paradise is blessed with warm weather all year round, certain times of the year provide more ideal weather than others. However, these have become peak wedding seasons, which are times when prices tend to be higher, and wedding service providers are busier. This doesn’t have to be an obstacle if you reserve your services early and you can afford higher prices. Maui has two peak wedding seasons.
- Winter -The first is peak season is winter, because it’s so cold everywhere else. That being said, the weather tends to be most unpredictable from January to March. On the plus side, these are the best months for whale watching.
- Summer – The second peak season is during the summer, when the kids are out of school and more people use their vacation time. Although there are no whales during that time of year, the weather is warmer and more consistent. You do need to watch out for those big tropical storms that will sometimes show up around August, so early summer is a safer option.
- Spring/Fall – If the logistics work out for you, April and May are excellent months with beautiful weather, you may have a few whale sightings, and the island is less crowded, which means prices are lower. Fall months generally shares these qualities as well.
3. Learn About Hawaii Marriage Licenses
Hiring the right officiant can make the process much easier for you in terms of obtaining your marriage license in Hawaii. In any case, the process is actually pretty convenient. The State of Hawaii Department of Health provides an online application process for your license, but you will need to schedule a meeting later in person. Fees can change, so we won’t state them here. Be sure to check the link for the current cost. You will be issued a live document that will be valid for 30 days. A good officiant should be able to help keep this process on track.
4. Reserve Your Maui Wedding Venue and Accommodations Early
This step in your wedding planning should be one of your top priorities. When choosing your venue, you should definitely consult your wedding coordinator, or any long-term Maui residents who you might know for some great suggestions. As for accommodations, an early booking is important, especially if you want to reserve a room block.
Wedding Venue – Maui is one of the hottest destination wedding locations in the world, and that means that if you have your heart set on a particular venue for your ceremony or reception, you should book it as soon as you possibly can. The more popular destination locations fill up months and sometimes even over a year in advance. If you don’t have much time in which to plan, it’s best to be flexible about your wedding location. After all, our island is full of beautiful places! South and West Maui are ideal if you want to get married on a gorgeous beach, or opt for an elegant beachfront lawn at one of the many exquisite resorts. Upcountry venues feature cooler temperatures and breathtaking vistas, while the North Shore Maui area is known for its lush tropical greenery and laid-back vibe.
Rental Accommodations – Many hotels and resorts on Maui offer package deals for your wedding, reception and accommodations. This may sound like a less adventurous option, but makes for smoother logistics. It all depends on what kind of wedding is right for you. If you can reserve a room block at a hotel, then you’ll usually get a discount and you’ll have all your guests in one place. If you are going for a small wedding, you may find it more convenient to rent out a large beachfront vacation home where your group of friends and family can all stay together. Plus this option means you’ll get the chance to cook your own meals!
5. Plan Fun Activities for Your Guests
One of the best things about booking a destination wedding here on Maui is that you and your guests can add vacation days to the trip. If you’ve visited before, then you’ll know that there are so many things to do that one trip can’t usually cover all the possible activities and custom tours on Maui. When you plan group activities for your wedding party along with family and friends, it’s a good idea to think of activities in terms of how physically capable your group is. Some activities are best for the young and able-bodied, but not suitable for the elderly or young children. Here are our suggestions based on physical intensity, in terms of strength, energy and environmental factors, like temperature.
Rigorous
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
- Bicycling
- Surfing/Windsurfing
Moderate
- Ziplining
- Snorkeling
- Parasailing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Haleakala Crater
- Twin Falls
Easy
- Whale Watching
- Ocean cruises
- Fishing
- Beach Days
- Sightseeing
- Theater Performances
6. Protect Your Skin
Hawaii is closer to the equator than any other state in the U.S., so keep in mind that the sun’s UV rays are more intense. That means that you will get a sunburn faster here than you will at a higher latitude. The last thing you want on your big day is a sunburn, or a new set of tan lines! For the sake of your health, you should always protect your skin while visiting Maui, and you may want to remind your guests to do so as well. Nothing puts a damper on a Maui trip like a painful and unsightly sunburn. If you plan to be on the island for a number of days before the wedding, be conscious of outdoor activities, sightseeing and even restaurant dining, if you end up sitting outside or next to a window. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and try to keep most of your skin covered by light, breathable clothing.
7. Picking the Right Maui Wedding Photographer
Opt for a wedding photography company with plenty of experience, and a big portfolio of work to show for it. Rookies may offer you a cheaper deal, but this is the part of your wedding day that will last for the rest of your life, so if you splurge on anything, it may as well be this. Even if your hair and makeup doesn’t end up ideal, a good photographer can often fix it in the editing process. Read the contract thoroughly. This will ensure that you know what you’re getting in terms of the hours of shooting and the number of images. Last but not least, make sure your photographer has a backup plan for their files and equipment. When it comes to your wedding, there are no do-overs! If you find a great Maui photographer who can easily share their process with you regarding all these factors, you can focus on looking and feeling your best.
8. Hire Reliable Maui Wedding Transportation Services
This is the part of your Maui destination wedding that we hope to help you with directly. If you’ve read through the above tips, then you have probably just begun to grasp how thoroughly we know the island. We’ve earned this knowledge from many decades of first hand experience. Because our company was founded in 1928, our Maui Transportation Service has been in business longer than any other, and with great success. That’s because our first priority is to customize our services to your precise transportation needs. Whether you need us to transport you and your wedding party between the ceremony and reception venues in one of our chic limo buses, or you’d like us to gather up your wedding guests for a day of sightseeing or activities, we will get you there comfortably and promptly!
Some Maui transportation companies book through agents who don’t live on the island. Unlike these transport companies, we know how long a drive will be at a certain time of the day, which routes are the quickest and most scenic, and which locations are or aren’t accessible by a large vehicle. These are just a few examples of the many considerations that we take into account so you can spend your time enjoying your dream wedding and soaking up those fun, memorable moments with your loved ones. The best way to enjoy your wedding is to make sure you have reliable people handling all of your logistics so you can spend your time celebrating! If you’re ready to let us help you put together a seamless, unforgettable wedding, you can call us at (808) 879-2828.
