About Your Ceremony

Our ceremonies follow a basic traditional western and American wedding format.

Note: Hawaiians did not get married and there is no "traditional" or authentic Hawaiian wedding ceremony.

Ceremony Permit.

A permit and liability insurance is required for all beach ceremonies and parks. Permits have a (30) person maximum limit.

Our standard permit application covers ceremonies with (10) or less people and including our vendors. Larger ceremonies that require more space will increase the permit cost and are additionally charged.

There are no private beaches in Hawaii except, the man-made lagoons fronting the hotels which are not open to ceremonies. Additionally, because of conflicting laws, some public beaches have restricted access and are available only through private property (Waimanalo Beach).

Ceremony Types:

- Marriage: To be legally married in Hawaii and the USA requires a marriage license issued by the State of Hawaii Health dept. Read more  here.

- Vow Renewal: You do not need a marriage license if you're already legally married in the USA or your home country and are just doing a renewal or ceremony recreation.

Ceremony Styles:
 

- All ceremonies are performed in the traditional western format including the statement of intention (I do's), vow exchange, , exchange of rings, lei exchange (if any), followed by the invocation, and kiss.

Note: You may exchange personal sentiments during the ceremony usually, best during a lei exchange if a Christian ceremony or during your ring exchange if a Romantic ceremony.

- Hawaiian Accented Romantic: You can include Hawaiian elements to give your ceremony a uniquely Hawaiian feel. FYI: Aboriginal Hawaiians did not get married so, there is no "traditional" Hawaiian marriage ceremony.

- Hawaiian Accented Christian Romantic Non-Denominational: Includes the above.

- Romantic: Non-religious.

- Christian Romantic Non-Denominational: Christian based non-denominational western style ceremony.

Note: Our Christian Romantic ceremonies are very "light" in religion as well being non-denominational. Basically, it includes God whereas the simple Romantic does not.
 

- Ceremony Extras

- Conch shell blowing by the minister before the start and after the ceremony.

- Traditional Hawaiian lei exchange. Purchase lei from us or bring your own.

- Our "Hawaiian Salt & Bowl Ring Blessing" adds a local touch to the ring blessing. Note: Must be accompanied with a Hawaiian Accented Christian Romantic Non-Denominational or Christian Romantic Non-Denominational.

- The "Sand Mixing Ceremony" represents the blending of two people (or family) and can include participation of your children. We suggest purchasing colored sand and decorative container on Amazon or other website.

- In the "Children Inclusive Ceremony", the minister will mention or include your children in some part of the ceremony. A lei presentation or sand mixing adds to the inclusion.

- A "Bride Processional" is a pretty simple set-up and would stage a short distance away for the processional with the minister and groom waiting. You must select this option on your contract so, we can advise you and prepare properly.
 

Ceremony Details

When you fill out the Request Form, you're going to select the "Ceremony Type" and the "Ceremony Style" so, we can assign the properly licensed officiate.

There are several choices for "Ceremony Style". If you do not make a selection, the default is our "Civil Romantic Hawaiian Accented".

All ceremonies are created to appeal to the greatest number of people and without offense i.e. none include anything which any normal person would object to hearing or repeating in a ceremony.

All ceremonies are the same format and differ only in certain parts and wording (marriage or renewal).

Note: Our ceremonies being non-denominational are not mushy, preachy, not a counseling session, do not include archaic wording or religious dogma, and the minister won't make like he knows you. Yup, we've seen it and it can be embarrassing. LOL.

We do not have a set written ceremony or "canned" words to share. While all ceremonies share the same format, individual wording is personalized to the couple by the minister and consequently, varies for each couple. Also, each of our officiates have their own proprietary ceremony.

All ceremonies start with the blowing of the conch shell (if selected) followed by a short introduction, a few words about marriage, love, and/or commitment.

There will be the required affirmation of intent, the "I do's", which legally must be asked by the officiate if a marriage ceremony.

Next the exchange of rings with an affirmation of commitment followed by a lei presentation and the exchange of any personal sentiments (if desired).

The pronouncement of marriage and the kiss end the ceremony.

The minister supplied decorative certificate and marriage license (if marriage) are signed and the minister is done.

Without anyother ceremony inclusions, this all takes up to about 12-15 minutes and the rest of your time will be spent doing photos or any other post ceremony extras ordered.

 

What Happens on Wedding Day?

 - Arrive before or by the "ceremony start time" ate the "meet" time which is normally 15 minutes before the actual ceremony unless, you have a large party or your ceremony requires additional instruction or getting to the ceremony site. If you arrive earlier, no worries, our photographer is usually there well before that. He doesn't like to mess with parking LOL.

- If you arrive late OR are not ready to proceed at the time scheduled to meet us, your ceremony may be shortened or happen not at all if very late if the minister has another ceremony to follow. Note: All ceremonies for all companies are usually scheduled in 1 hour time slots.

- If a marriage, you must bring your State of Hawaii Marriage License or Civil Union worksheet to the ceremony. If not, while our minister will agree to perform the ceremony, you cannot be legally married at that specific date/location/time and instead, must meet the minister at a later date/time which will be the official date/location/time. This service also costs additionally, paid directly to the minister. Important: If you forget it at your hotel room, do not return to the hotel. For most people, this will definitely make you late and may affect your services!

- We'll be waiting for you at the designated "meet spot" indicated in our written instructions and Google map we'll email to you.

- The coverage start/meet time is 15 minutes before the ceremony start time unless, we schedule otherwise. That's when you need to be ready to walk out to the ceremony spot.

- We'll all walk out to the ceremony location together.

- If you owe a cash balance payment, give it to our lead site vendor, the photographer.

- The officiate and photographer will give you final ceremony instructions just prior to the ceremony. We'll set you up "in-place" or give instructions for a processional if you ordered one. Once everything is set, the ceremony will start.

- Having a processional is not the same as not seeing each other. Both must be scheduled on the contract.

- No worries, just relax. Our minister and photographer will guide you through the ceremony.

- After the ceremony, you'll sign the decorative certificate and/or the marriage worksheet, the officiate will certify it with his signature, take it from you, and electronically submit it to the State of Hawaii as required by law.

- Once submitted, the Health Dept. will process and record your license. This may take a couple of days or more.

- If you applied for your license on-line, you'll be able to download a temporary license usually, within 2-3 business days after it's processed and recorded by the State. Your official marriage license will be mailed to you from the Heath Dept. in 30-45 days unless, you paid extra at the time of application to expedite processing.
 

How long is the ceremony?

Most ceremonies take about 12-15 minutes approximately depending upon the specifics of your event i.e. sometimes less, sometimes more. Photos after the ceremony will be about another 30 minutes. No worries, we don't need much time to get a variety of shots.

 

Can we exchange our own vows in our ceremony?

Yes. We allow couples to exchange sentiments during the lei exchange. With that said, the minister is required by law to ask you, "Do you take XXXX to be your...?" and he must hear it verbalized . This is usually preceded by what some may consider "vows". If a vow renewal, you can ask the minister to do it during the ring exchange after all, you're already married LOL.


Can we see and/or approve the ceremony or tell them what to say?

No, sorry. 

Ceremonies are individual to the minister. Our minister has variations of his ceremony memorized and he does like to personalize it to the couple consequently, the actual words spoken vary slightly ceremony to ceremony. Also, the basic structure and wording is proprietary to the minister.

With that said, be assured that all of our officiates perform a ceremony with nothing that would be objectionable to the average person for the type and style of ceremony you've selected.

Note: When you get married in a church or by a judge, they don't give you the words for your inspection and approval. Our officiates operate under the same principle.


Can we get a written copy of the ceremony after the wedding?

No sorry. See above. If you do want to remember the exact words spoken, order our video service with remote mic's for the clearest sound or simply record the ceremony by your own effort.


Can we speak with the officiate?

No, sorry. Direct contact with your minister or any of our vendors is not part of our service agreement with them. After all, that's our job! All questions should be directed through us and we'll check with him


Can we meet the officiate?

No, sorry. There will be time just before the ceremony where he may inquire about information to personalize your ceremony. Unlike a church wedding or one with unique religious practices, a meeting is not necessary, and is not included in the cost of your ceremony package. 


Do we need to meet with you?

No. A meeting is not necessary and is not included in the cost of your package. All the details of your event are set on the contract consequently, there shouldn't be any reason to meet and no final details to confirm. If you have any questions, call or email us. Note: If you need to meet with a website company to discuss "final details", your event has not been planned as it should and there should be no "loose ends" to tie up.


We're not religious.

Select our "Romantic" ceremony which is a non-religious ceremony. Simply, we do not include God.

Note: We do not guaranty that a reference to "God" won't slip out. Our officiates do a lot of weddings each day and sometimes the mention of God just comes out. If this is a problem for you, please don't book us. We simply can't allow the outcome of a job to hinge upon a inadvertent reference to God that some people are opposed to.


Do we need a witness?

No. The State of Hawaii Marriage License Worksheet does not require a witness to sign or be present at your ceremony. The minister and photographer sign the documents.


Can we include our children?

Yes, of course. The simplest way and the way we do it, is to have them participate in a lei presentation or sand ceremony (make sure you order lei or a sand ceremony) and have them sign the decorative certificate. Let the officiate know. We also have a simple "children" ceremony where the minister brings them forward and includes them.


Can we use our own Officiate/Minister?

No, sorry. But, if you have a parent or relative who is a minister, he/she can be incorporated into the ceremony at some point by our minister.

Note: Our vendors work as a team. Our ministers understand what we expect of our photographer, videographer, musician, and other vendors. Teamwork enables everyone to perform at the highest level. When we've allowed a non-team member minister, we have experienced difficulties in getting them to do it "our way" which ensures the best photos and coverage.


We do not want to see each other.

Get that out of the way before you arrive LOL. Seriously, up to you. This must be noted on your contract so, we can provide the proper scheduling, meet spot, time, set-up, and have our vendors prepared for this. FYI: Ordering a processional alone does not mean you do not want to see each other.


Can we have the ceremony on a spot other than where the minister or photographer directs?

We do not do use unsafe or possibly problematic areas. The ultimate decision is left with our vendors but, you can ask. If our vendors agree to your request, you are agreeing to accept all liability for any outcome. For example, if you want to stand on a bolder jetty and our vendors agree, and the rings fall in-between the cracks either by his or your action and are lost, that's on you, not us. Yes, this has almost appened!

Finally: If you ahve any more questions of concerns, please feel free to contact us. We've seen, experienced, or heard just about every scenario so, we're probably gonna have an answer for you LOL.