Oahu Dream Weddings Tips & Advice

General suggestions:

- Have your final contract available for reference while you're in Hawaii.

- Send us your hotel/accommodation name and mobile # if not on the contract already.

- Please do not to wait until day before or the morning of the ceremony to ask something important. We may not be able to reply.

Payments:
 

- Contract listed payments dues are paid before services begin.

- If we have allowed you the option of making a cash payment, please have it ready to give to our lead vendor (Charles).


Please be "on-time":
 

- The contract lists the latest departure time we suggest. We've got it timed pretty well but, we suggest leaving earlier if possible, just in case there's a traffic event or the elevator in your hotel or parking structure is super busy (yes, that's happened LOL). If you arrive early, we can usually start early unless, vendors are traveling from another event. 

- Please meet us and be ready at the "meet" time is listed on your contract. If you think you'll need more time to travel to the site, find parking, or be ready including guests, please make allowances.

- Make sure your family and guests know the "meet" time. We may not be able to wait for guests who are late.

- Not wanting to see each other before the start of the ceremony is usually impractical at most beach locations but, we will accomodate you. Please let us know so, we can scheduled and time it on your contract. FYI: Ordering a bride processional, does not mean you do not want to see each other.
 

- If you arrive late, your services may have to be shortened or not performed and no monies will be returned.

Marriage license:

- A marriage license issued by the State of Hawaii is required to be legally married. We cannot get this for you. Please use the link on our website. A marriage license is not required for a vow renewal.

- Bring your Hawaii marriage license to the ceremony and give it to the minister. If you do not have your license, you will not be legally married until, the license is completed and submitted by the minister. You'll need to meet the minister on a day/time he's available and that will be the official time, location, and date of the marriage. Expect a $50+ service fee.

Location directions:

- We'll send written and map link directions included with your officiate name.

- Be careful using other links map routes unless, it duplicates the directions we give. We've found that sometimes, it can send you in a direction that takes more time!

- Do not type in a beach name to a map app believing it's the place for your ceremony. For example, Waimanalo Beach is 4 miles long and they are a couple of beach parks with similar names. FYI: Most beach locations and public parks and parking areas do not have street addresses.

- Sometimes the Uber or Lyft driver will tell you they know where to go and/or use a map app and you may find yourself blocks away. Track the route on your phone as well using our link.


Where to meet us:

- We'll be waiting for you at the designated "meet spot" indicated in our directions. It's usually just off the road or parking area and not at actual ceremony spot.

- Be where we can see you. If you walk out to the beach, ceremony spot, or sit in your car waiting (yes, that has happened), we will not see you.

- If you don't see us at the "meet" time on your contract call us ASAP.

Use the restroom before you leave:

- Magic Island and Waialae/Kahala have rest room facilities. Most other locations do not.

- We suggest not relying upon public facilities being available to put your dress on. They can be closed because of vandalism and/or repair, have wet, sandy, dirty floors, or are unusable.

- Hydrate but, please avoid excessive liquid intake before the ceremony.

Participants:

- Please make sure our contract lists the correct number of participants. This number is important for our DLNR beach permit and for the vendors.

- Please make sure all participants know your schedule. You are responsible for the actions or non-actions of your guests. If there's a problem, a word from the minister is usually settles things down but, we may need to ask you for your help. Worst case, we stop, cease services, leave the site, and no monies will be returned.


Using your own transportation:

- Please consult your contract schedule for the suggested departure time.

- Use the Google map link and print the written directions we provided.

- You might want to do a "drive-by" before the ceremony day to familiarize yourself with the route.

- While this is very rare, please have your mobile phone available just in case we have to make a last minute location change given a traffic event, inclement weather, or a unanticipated circumstance at the location. FYI: If you have a non-USA number, we cannot contact you.

- If at Waialae/Kahala, parking can be tight after 10 am, and unavailable on weekends and holidays. We suggest you take a tax, Uber, Lyft, or use our transportation.

- There is no place where any car is "safe" on your stay in Hawaii. Never leave valuables in your car, even for a few minutes! Always remove items which cannot be replaced easily.

Uber, Lyft, or taxi service:

- We suggest you pre-book and reserve your ride-share to avoid unavailability or last minute cancellations. It happens.
 

Product Delivery:

- All products including, bouquet, lei, floral hairpieces, cake, toast, site decorations, etc., will be delivered to the ceremony site only. We do not do deliveries to hotels or other locations.

Attire:

- Check out your dress, shirts, pants, shoes, etc. the days before and have it hanging and ready for you. Ironing or steaming a dress just before the ceremony is not a good idea.

- We advise against long trains or long veils. They can be unwieldy and wind can be a problem but, we will do what we can if you have one.
 

Footwear:

- We suggest flat shoes or Hawaiian style slippers to walk to the ceremony location spot. You can always change out to heels when we set you in place. FYI: Most locations you'll be on the sand or grass for the ceremony and heels don't work the best.
 

Eyeglasses:

- If people are used to seeing you with glasses and you want to wear them, that's fine. You might get reflections from the camera flash but, that can't be helped.

- Avoid "transition" lenses or dark sunglasses. Bring a clear lens pair if you like to be seen with your glasses.

- Beach locations (Waimanalo) can be particularly bright with the sun and the reflection of the sand.  We'll try to minimize it when possible but, most time it cannot be avaided. We have had clients need to wear dark glasses especially those with eye conditions. Not a big deal.


Hair:

- Expect that there's going to be at least little wind at outdoor locations. If you know your hair or hair style doesn't work in wind, bring something to control your hair just in case.

- Consider a Hawaiian Haku head wreath to hold your shoulder or shorter length hair in place.

- If you secure your own hair person directly, please make sure they know that you cannot be late. Stylist are notorious for making people late LOL.

Make-Up:

- Just a little heavier foundation than you would normally use is best for photos but, up to you if you don't use much make-up.

- Avoid any type of make-up that will cause face shine or shimmer. 

- Do not use glitter on your face or eyes, the flash can make them look like small white specks in your photos and we can't fix that.

- If you have oily skin or think it's going to be hot, bring some corn silk or other powder with you to keep the shine down in photos.
 

Tanning and Sunburn:

- Please avoid sunburn! There's no way to fix sunburn in photos, not to mention, it's pretty uncomfortable. LOL. Watch out burning the tops of your feet and hands. Yes, we've seen it. LOL.

- Avoid spray-on or rubbed-in tanning products. They can photograph in different colors (orange or yellow is common) and cannot be balanced with the naturally colored complexions of others, your clothes, and the scenery. They can also get washed off rather quickly, especially on the hands, arms, and face, and you'll have different colored body parts :)

- Be especially careful about "raccoon eyes" from wearing sunglasses all day too. LOL.
 

Photography:

- Be happy, smile, relax, look at each other often but, not the entire time LOL.

- Avoid looking into space, the ground, or anywhere else except at your mate, the officiate, musician, or whatever is going on for the ceremony. There is no need to look at the phographer unless, asked.

- Avoid habits like: pursing your lips, running your tongue over your teeth constantly, or make habitual and frequent mouth or tongue movements. If it's a unconscious habit, try your best :)

- We can't do anything about blinking. We try to catch it but, many times not and especially during the "action" parts of the ceremony where we can't do another shot. FYI: A Kodak study found that blinking is caused by nervousness, not the flash, or camera sound.

- A nice kiss touching lips looks best for photos. Open mouth grinding? Up to you haha.

- We try to keep an eye on it at the start of the ceremony but, we are not responsible for your wardrobe malfunctions (labels, straps, ill-fitting attire, etc). Check your wardrobe.

- Finally, all photography is done at the sole discretion and artistic decisions of the photographer and in a sequence, amount, and style we require towards the satisfaction our our packages and service. Please don't show up with a list of shots though, you may ask if the photographer can do a shot for you. Detailed requests may require an additional session charge.


Photography and video by others:

- Photography and video by guests during the ceremony is allowed but, under the direction of the minister and photographer. After all, you don't want your paid products affected by hobbyist guest photographer.

- Photography and video is prohibited during the performance of proprietary work after the ceremony i.e. license signing, portrait sessions, group and family shots, scenics, romantic candid scenes, and any of our "set-ups" though, it's at the discretion of our photographer.


Non-AHW vendors:

- We do not allow outside vendors or anyone deemed to be a professional at or within the vicinity of the ceremony location. Our permit and  insurance liability requires that, only AHW vendors may be "on-site" during our coverage.

- You may use your own vendors for "off-site" services (limousine, hair & make-up, etc.) but, we cannot communicate or our coordinate with outside people you may hire. This must be done directly by you. 

Ceremony on a weekend or holiday

If you're having your ceremony on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, be aware that special events happening in Waikiki or the ceremony location, along the route (parades, shut-down of streets, traffic events, festivals, etc.) may affect your departure time, travel time, or parking availability. Please ask the concierge at your hotel if they are aware of any, let us know, and make adjustments. If we hear of anything, we'll let you know.

Speaking with vendors

- Our agreement with our vendors does not provide for direct client contact before the ceremony day. If you have any questions, please email and/or phone us and we'll get an answer for you.
 

Gratuities & Tips

- Gratuities to our vendors are not expexcted or included on the contract totals but, are much appreciated.