Hawaii Elopement Packages

How to elope in Hawaii

There’s a certain kind of magic in the atmosphere when you visit Hawaii, making tropical paradise somehow feel like home. Maybe it’s the locals who radiate positivity, or perhaps it’s the long, sun-soaked beach days that feel endless. Any way you slice it, eloping in Hawaii is nothing short of heavenly. If you’ve been dreaming of reciting your I-do’s on a beautiful Hawaiian beach with the waves crashing in the backdrop, you’re in luck: figuring out how to elope in Hawaii isn’t all that difficult if you follow these steps. Whether you’re considering the adventurous Big Island, the iconic island of Oahu, or the ultra-romantic island of Maui, we’ll explain how to elope in Hawaii in a few basic and easy steps.

When is the best time to elope in Hawaii?

Choosing your date is the first step to making it all happen for you and your partner. Whether you’re escaping the cold of winter or taking a stellar summer vacation, the average temperature year-round in Hawaii is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can’t go wrong with any time of year! Even their rainy season isn’t all that rainy – but if it does happen to rain on your wedding day, we’ve got you covered! Determining the time of year can also dictate some of your expenses, as prices tend to be higher during tourist season, which lasts from mid-December to mid-April and June-September.

Once you and your partner have chosen when you’d like to elope in Hawaii, it’s time to begin the process of choosing your location. There’s no shortage of epic backdrops here: whether you’re looking at one of Hawaii’s white-sand beaches that are perfect for sunset ceremonies or its mountaintops overlooking the Pacific ocean, there’s a special location that will feel like a perfect fit for you. And, much like love, once you find the right spot, you’ll just know. This is all about you and your love, so take your time with choosing what kind of backdrop you want to set the tone for your day.

Choosing the right Hawaii elopement package

After you accomplish the crucial step of choosing your date and elopement location, finding an elopement package that suits your needs is the proverbial cherry on top. What do you envision for your big day? Do you want an out-of-this-world photographer who will document your day, giving you tangible memories for years to come? Does the thought of a lush, tropical bouquet make your heart beat faster? Does the idea of getting glammed up with a hair and makeup artist sound like the perfect way to get ready for your elopement? Figuring out what vendors are a priority will help guide you towards selecting which elopement package is a perfect match for you.

What do I need to elope in Hawaii?

The Aloha State requires a few things in order to elope in Hawaii. First, you’ll need a marriage license in Hawaii (more on making your Hawaii elopement legal in the next question!), but no witnesses or blood tests are required. Second, you’ll need a registered officiant, pastor, or celebrant to perform the ceremony and file the license. After your wedding, it takes about 3 weeks for the license to be processed and mailed to you. The state actually quotes a delivery of the marriage license of 40 business days.

How to make your Hawaii elopement legal

Every state has different requirements for applying for and receiving a marriage license, and the State of Hawaii is simple in some ways, but not-so-simple in others. In order to apply for your marriage license, you’ll need an ID – state issued or a passport works – and a copy of a divorce decree if either you or your partner have previously been married. You can begin this process online, but you’ll still need to make an appointment with a license agent to validate your information and obtain the physical copy of your marriage license.

The state of Hawaii does not require a waiting period nor a witness (so if you’re planning on eloping alone, you don’t have to worry about finding a kind stranger to witness your big day). The total application fee is $65.

It is crucial to receive your marriage license prior to attending your ceremony, otherwise your union will not be legally recognized as a marriage! Set an alert on your phone; write it down in your daily planner; do anything and everything you can do to remind yourself to bring your license! To make an appointment with an agent to receive your marriage license, please click here.

How to prepare for the day of your elopement

Planning an elopement is enough to give anyone the pre-wedding jitters. It’s a big, important moment that you’ve likely been waiting for, so if you’re got a bundle of nerves, don’t worry – we’re here to help.

We’ll send you an itinerary of your elopement details prior to your ceremony, which ensures everyone is one the same page for details concerning time, location and series of events. Be sure you’re clear on where you’re meeting and where you intend to hold your ceremony. Your team can always make suggestions if you’re unsure – that’s what they’re here for! Always ensure to bring the hard copy of your marriage license with you, as all parties present will sign.

If you’re eloping without a coordinator, a great way to make sure you’ve not forgotten anything is by creating a checklist for yourself. Your checklist should include things like your marriage license, your vows, any additional details you want your photographer to capture, and gratuity for your vendors. We know that Aloha time is a very real thing, so make sure you leave plenty of time in between each portion of the day to ensure you don’t stress about running late!

Whether you’re still figuring out the beginning stages of how to elope in Hawaii or if you’ve already got your plane tickets book, having all of this information at the ready will help make you feel less stressed and more focused on what really counts – the person you’re choosing to spend forever with.

Article written by

Karen Norian

Karen Norian is an elopement photographer and has photographed over a hundred elopements. Karen has also worked as an elopement planner for Simply Eloped, as well as a writer, editor, and content strategist.

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Read the real stories of couples that eloped in Hawaii!

Kat + Daniel

Kat and Dan are the kind of couple that felt eloping just made sense to them. Not wanting to sort through all the little details of a traditional wedding, the pair wanted the focus to be solely on their love and knew that eloping was the perfect option. They have a huge passion for traveling and wanted to experience something extra-special for their big day – and what could be more special than a dreamy sunset elopement in Hawaii? Their first trip as a couple was to Hawaii – but they both had never traveled to Big Island, so they instantly knew that’s where they wanted to celebrate their wedding day! On March 8, 2020, Kat and Dan were married at Pine Trees Beach and had the ceremony of their dreams. Read all about their love story and their Hawaiian elopement experience below!

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

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.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

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.

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big 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.

How did you celebrate after?

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.

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Amanda + Marc

Rather than having a traditional wedding, Amanda and Marc wanted to elope privately – and they did so in a big way. Wanting to have an adventure in a dream location, these two lovebirds chose to tie the knot on Big Island’s Kiholo Bay, Hawaii on February 22, 2020, and their wedding photos make it clear they got what they wanted! Scroll through to see their intimate beach elopement, followed by the dreamiest sunset you’ll ever see. Read all about their love story – and their experience with Simply Eloped – below!

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

There was not an official proposal because we were always sure that we were going to elope somewhere. We did not want a huge traditional wedding so we waited until we had the time to go on a dream vacation instead. Marc proposed the idea of a Hawaiian elopement and I was immediately on board!

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

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.

How did you celebrate after?

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.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

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!

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Fiona + Peter

Fiona and Peter’s love story begins in college. They were both studying Engineering at the University of Michigan. Fiona says they were in the library A LOT studying for long hours & late nights. After noticing one another on several different occasions Peter finally asked her to dinner.

About three years after that fateful night in the University of Michigan library, Peter and Fiona got engaged! They knew from the beginning that a huge, traditional wedding was not going to be their thing. Fiona was stressed out by the thought of coordinating flowers, tablecloths, and seating charts. They both wanted their day to be private and really focused on the heart of marriage: commitment. So, they got to Googling and quickly found us, Simply Eloped. It was fate again!

The two decided to hop on over to the Big Island for their ceremony. They both had never been but the found sandy beaches, hiking and scuba diving very appealing. Before their big day they had the chance to go soak up a lot of magic that Hawaii has to offer. They went scuba diving with manta rays, hiked around Mauna Kea (the highest point in Hawaii), and drove a camper van on the Road to Hana. Fiona said the 600 hairpin turns and 40 one way bridges in the giant vehicle was definitely an adventure! Talk about an amazing experience!

The couple met with their Simply Eloped team at Pine Trees Beach near Kona in the late afternoon. A location with a very misleading name as there are no Pine Trees – only Palms! Needless to say Fiona was surprised but not disappointed. “It was beautiful and turned out perfect.”

Fiona wore a lovely long sleeved white dress with a gorgeous belt of greenery and flowers in her hair. Peter wore a nice white collared shirt and dress pants. They both had purple orchid leis dangling from their necks. The two were stunningly casual in true Hawaiian fashion. They were able to exchange vows in private with no onlookers or gawkers. Fiona tried to hold back tears between giggles and an enormous smile on her face while Peter said his vows. Fiona says she remembers feeling very free and that she had no obligations but to just enjoy it all.

The two of them finished up their Hawaiian elopement eating lots of fresh fish and ice cream. They relaxed to the sound of rain on their hotel roof and dreamt up the future.

Fiona said, “One of my favorite things about Peter is his “l’ll try anything once” type of attitude. He’s always down for whatever weird/dangerous/irresponsible adventure that I plan and he always keeps an open mind.”

We sure are glad that Peter was open minded about your biggest and boldest idea yet. We hope the rest of your lives are filled with the same lust for adventure and love for each other. Congratulations to them both!

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Cindy + Cameron

Cindy & Cameron were high school crushes but it just never quite happened. So they viewed it as fate when they were thrown together during college. Cameron proposed and Cindy was honored to have her mother’s engagement ring placed on her finger. They both wanted to wed somewhere that would create lifetime memories. Simply Eloped helped them find Pine Trees Beach in Hawaii for their special day. Cindy & Cameron eloped along the white sand beach surrounded by black lava rock and ocean breezes. The newlyweds described their Simply Eloped wedding as a magical time that they will never forget. Read more to see why they feel this was the perfect elopement for them.

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination?

Cindy: We chose to elope at Pine Trees Beach in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii! We chose this destination pretty easily after viewing the options Simply Eloped offered! We felt like something this special should be in a place this special. We had never been to Hawaii before, but it seemed so magical we knew it was the destination for us!

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Cindy: What attracted us the most was the thought of being able to elope on a beach far away from our normal crazy lives. Our favorite part was the culture. Everyone in Hawaii was so extremely nice. It was much different than what we’re used to normally. It’s such a magical place to be able to marry the love of your life, and being able to carry that magic with us forever is so special.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Cindy: The emotions we felt on those lava rocks were incredibly strong. We were able to look out at the vast ocean, hear the waves crash against the shore, smell the saltwater floating in the air, and feel the wind breezing against our skin. It created a feeling beyond any other.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Cindy: Simply Eloped gave us the best experience we could have asked for! I have multiple friends planning their weddings and they are so stressed all of the time. Simply Eloped meant I didn’t have to stress at all. I trusted them to handle everything, and that’s exactly what they did.

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Emilee + Dan

Emilee & Dan had a vision for their elopement. They wanted to marry on a beach, and what better place to do that than Maui? Hawaiian elopements are filled with traditional customs from those Islands and bring beauty and culture to couples who tie the knot there. Emilee & Dan had Simply Eloped to take all the worry away as they exchanged their vows on White Rock Beach, known locally as Palauea. Emilee had a lush bridal crown and bouquet created with local birds of paradise, orchids, and palm leaves. Dan wore the traditional garland of green maile leaves. The part we love the most? Emilee being serenaded by the ukulele as she walked down the beach and again as they had their first dance. A true ‘Maui’d’ elopement experience! Read more to see why this couple describes their Hawaiian Simply Eloped experience as truly perfect.

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Emilee: We chose to elope in Maui because we wanted a beach wedding. What place would be better for that than a beautiful Hawaiian island?

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Emilee: We had our ceremony on White Rock Beach in Maui because of its seclusion and beautiful views. Our favorite part about eloping on this beach was when we officially became husband and wife, and a whale decided to breach out of the ocean. It slapped his tail on the water as if he was celebrating our marriage with us. What a magical day!

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Emilee: Maui is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Having our elopement on White Rock Beach was magical, and I could not have asked for more. I highly recommend White Rock Beach (Palauea) for its intimate and beautiful setting for those interested in eloping in Maui.

What did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

Emilee: Before our wedding, we spent a lot of time on the beach. It helps to relax and stay calm before the big event so that you can fully enjoy it. We prepared by making sure we had everything put together before we arrived. On the day of the wedding, I had my hair and makeup was done by Lexi, and she was absolutely amazing. She was so kind and helpful and kept me calm. She listened to what I wanted to look like on my wedding day and then she made me look more fabulous than what I had described! I felt like the most beautiful bride that day. We both felt so excited and happy leading up to our elopement, thanks to the Simply Eloped team.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Emilee: Hands down, I would recommend Simply Eloped to everyone getting married. They took care of everything and constantly updated me, which helped take all the stress and responsibility off my shoulders. Keely and Haley were amazing at helping get everything put together and scheduled. The flower company they used made the most beautiful flower crown and bouquet. My hair and MUA artist, Lexi, was amazing and did a spectacular job. She was prompt and delivered our flowers to us. Our officiant, Reverend Kuya, was amazing. He made our ceremony so memorable and so intimate. Micah, our ukulele player, did awesomely. He played while I walked down and also sang while we had our first dance on the beach. He was able to play the song we wanted and did it beautifully. After the ceremony, we had our photos done by Kathryn, and she was also amazing! We aren’t into taking pictures, but she made us feel so comfortable our photos came out amazing. We love them all! Thank you, Simply Eloped, for giving us a magical and amazing wedding. I wish I could go back to that perfect day and do it all over again!

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Emilee: We celebrated at the Four Seasons Restaurant, and we were not disappointed with their amazing food and lava flow drinks. We then spent eight days in Maui on our honeymoon. It was so perfect!

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Emilee: Honestly, eloping was the best choice we made. The most important part of any wedding is the Union and commitment between two people. Eloping allowed us to have an intimate and personal ceremony. A wedding ceremony shouldn’t be stressful or about anyone else. It should be about the bride and groom coming together to express their love and commitment to one another. I would highly recommend eloping and using Simply Eloped to make your day magical.

Officiation by: Kuya Alamodin
Photography by: Kathryn Haldiman
Hair & Makeup by: Lexi McGhee
Flowers by: Katherine Mangicaro
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Palauea: White Rock Beach, Hawaii

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Kelsey + Jeff

Kelsey & Jeff chose to elope in Hawaii because they could not think of a more beautiful place, and they would not be wrong! Maluaka Beach had everything they were looking for – a beautiful beach, epic scenery, black lava rocks, and crashing waves. They exchanged sunset vows in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony with leis and the blowing of the conch shell. Kelsey is the real star of this show in her exquisite dress and gorgeous native floral bridal bouquet. Read on to find out how Simply Eloped helped these newlyweds have the beach elopement of their dreams!

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Kelsey: We chose to elope in Maui, Hawaii because of the beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery, and vibrant culture.

Jeff: What she said! We couldn’t think of a better place to have our elopement.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Kelsey: I loved the look of the black lava rocks, sand, and crashing waves as the backdrop of our ceremony.

Jeff: Funny story, we were supposed to have our ceremony at Makena Cove but had to go up the road to Maluaka Beach due to the high tide. It ended up working out perfectly, though, since everywhere you go in Hawaii is beautiful!

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Kelsey: A perfect, beachy, paradise!

Jeff: A gorgeous beach down a dirt road with a perfect view of the sunset.

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?

Kelsey & Jeff: We were coming from the east coast, so we took a full day after arriving in Hawaii to adjust to the time difference and take care of our marriage license appointment via Zoom (much easier!). We went to breakfast, had mimosas, and listened to an awesome Hawaii Vibes playlist. It was definitely a good mix of nervousness and excitement!

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Kelsey & Jeff: We loved how simple it was to plan and that there were different options to customize our experience. We really appreciated how convenient it was to plan everything via email. They were very organized and helpful, leading up to our elopement and accommodating, even when we had to reschedule our entire trip due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in Hawaii. We would definitely recommend Simply Eloped to anyone who wants to tie the knot without all of the family drama, stress, and financial burden of a traditional wedding!

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Kelsey & Jeff: After our ceremony, we went to the Grand Wailea Resort and had a private, six-course candlelight dinner under a cabana, overlooking the infinity pool and the ocean.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Kelsey: Just do the damn thing!

Jeff: This will be the best decision you’ll ever make. No regrets whatsoever!

Officiation by: Kuya Alamodin
Photography by: Samantha Dahabi
Hair & Makeup by: Lexi McGhee
Flowers by: Katherine Mangicaro
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Makena Cove, Hawaii

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