Elope in Big Island

We decided to elope for the adventure of it! Instead of a traditional wedding, we wanted our wedding to be a dream vacation for the two of us. Our elopement was private and beautiful, and a big advantage was that there was absolutely no stress that came from planning or organizing an event.

We looked at a large number of elopement packages online in the months before we wanted to get married. Simply Eloped looked like the most professional company while still being at an affordable price.

I reached out to customer service and they were able to specifically answer all of my questions before I chose Simply Eloped. The reviews and pictures on their website sealed the deal for me!

We eloped at Kiholo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. First, the scenery stood out to us. Kiholo Bay is a secluded black sand beach where Hawaiian wildlife is often found. As we were being married, whales swam in towards the bay and it was one of the most beautiful things we have ever seen.

We got married on the second day of our trip to Hawaii! However, before the wedding we were able to squeeze in some activities. We went snorkeling at Two Step beach where we saw sea turtles and tropical fish, and we hiked around Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. We got married in the evening as the sun set so we had time to dress at the hotel before we left for Kiholo Bay. Before the elopement we were both very excited but it felt peaceful. This was exactly how we wanted to start our marriage.

Simply Eloped had everything planned out perfectly. We didn’t have to worry about anything and everyone was super friendly. Our Officiant, Tom Fernandez, gave a beautiful speech and explained the history of the beach we got married on. Our photographer Lei Conradt was both professional and friendly. She helped coach us through our first time being professionally photographed and she gave us memories that will last forever.

After the wedding we watched the sunset and ate a Hawaiian seafood meal by the beach. We had two weeks left on the Big Island and explored a new section every day, from Volcanoes National Park, to Waipi’o Valley.

Marc: Go for it! We are planning a family celebration eventually.

Amanda: I recommend eloping to almost everyone. This was the perfect way to start our marriage and I wouldn’t have changed a thing about our elopement!

Kat: I did not want to pay for a big wedding and still have someone [at the wedding] be upset. I also did not want to choose silly details such as napkin colors, etc. We wanted a small affair that was about us and who we were, instead of focusing on what everyone else thought should happen. We also loved traveling, so we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding.

Gotta love Google!

We knew Simply Eloped was the right fit for us because it had everything we were looking for. Flowers, hair, make up, officiant – all the work was done for us! I’d email asking crazy questions where to get married, or which location was better, and they helped me through it all. The price also allowed us to put the money away where it really mattered: a home for our future.

Dan and I have always loved adventures and travel, and we really LOVED Hawaii. Our first trip as a couple was to Hawaii by coincidence. We had never been to Big Island before (it was the last island on our Hawaiian to-do list!) and we decided, why not! Let’s do it! It was thrilling to plan something knowing there were going to be surprises (although sometimes stressful), but chatting with Simply Eloped helped! We wanted a wedding that was about us, but not a beach or a traditional wedding. Pine Trees Beach gave me a lava aisle to have my father walk me down, and the photographs were beyond amazing.

We did the typical snorkeling with Manta Rays, eating everything and anything to our hearts content, as well as traveling all over the island to soak in the views. The day of the wedding, we all went out for breakfast overlooking the ocean. After breakfast, we drove down to the beach and just enjoyed the views. We had considered spending the night apart, but we realized that yes, while it was tradition, nothing about us was traditional. We began house hunting before we even became engaged! Once we got back to our rental, Dan went to get ready with his brother and mom, while I stayed with my parents and got my hair and make up done. The make up artist did a phenomenal job! She made sure I knew what was going on, and that it was part of my vision (lets be honest, i just asked for flowers in my hair!). She gave me the most amazing updo, and the make up I still wish I could recreate to this day!

Simply Eloped was great at having everything all in one place. Hair? Check. Flowers? Check. Make up? Check. Paperwork? Check. They were fabulous at responding to emails, and are great at choosing an “Instagram photo-worthy” location.

After taking fabulous and adventurous photos with our photographer Lei, we drove up the Island to Merriman’s, one of Hawaii’s best restaurants, to celebrate with the few people that attended our wedding: my parents, his mom and his brother. We had ordered a wedding cake from a fabulous baker, and had it delivered to the restaurant. While it wasn’t the typical traditional wedding, it was perfect for us.

Getting married is about you and your partner. We wanted to honor our families in our engagement, so we had an engagement dinner that was a fraction of the cost, but also a fraction of the stress! Remember, it’s about you. Make sure that the both of you are happy, as it’s your life. We found out who really cared for us and how supportive they were when they let us do “us.”