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. Note: For larger events with guests, we will usually schedule our "meet time" 30 minutes vs 15 before the ceremony start time to allow more time for your guests to assemble.
- Make sure your family and guests know the "meet" time. We may not be able to wait for guests who are late to start the ceremony.
- Not wanting to see each other before the start of the ceremony is impractical at most beach locations but, we will try to accomodate you. Please let us know so, we can scheduled and time it correctly on your contract. FYI: Ordering a bride processional, does not mean you do not want to see each other.
- If we have to start late, your services may have to be shortened or not performed and no monies will be returned. FYI: This is rare but, we've had clients so late that, the minister had to leave for his next ceremony (not with ODW).
Marriage license:
- A marriage license issued by the State of Hawaii is required to be legally married. We cannot aquire this for you and you must be issued it in person at the State Dept. of Health. See our link on our website for information. Note: A marriage license is not required for a vow renewal.
- Bring your Hawaii marriage license to the ceremony and give it to the minister before the ceremony. 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.
- 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 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 Beach Park/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 under repair, have wet, sandy, dirty floors, or are simple undesireable to use.
- 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. We already secured you permit. If you need to add more people, let us know, we'll need to apply for an additional permit for additional cost to you. Normally, a few extra is no big deal, less is OK with us LOL. The max allowed is (30).
- 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 our suggested departure time.
- Use the Google map link and/or may print written directions we provided. You might want to do a "drive-by" before the ceremony day to familiarize yourself with the route but, this is not required.
- 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 parking at Waialae Beach Park for a Kahala Beach ceremony, parking can be tight after 10 am, and is unavailable on weekends and holidays. We suggest you take a tax, Uber, or Lyft. It's just a couple miles from Waikiki.
- If at Magic Island, we try to avoid Friday's and weekends because parking is rough. If you are having your event on these days, our recommended departure time will not account for this so, we suggest you leave earlier.
- There is no place on Oahu where a car is "safe" from theft. 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.
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've got stories LOL.
- We advise against long trains or long veils. They're really nice in our photos and we love them but, know that they can be unwieldy in even the slightest wind. No worries, we will do what we can to mistagate it.
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 (not Dawn), please make sure that they know that you cannot be late. Stylist are notorious for making people late.
Make-Up:
- Just a little heavier foundation than you would normally use is best for photos but, no worries if you don't use or like much make-up.
- Avoid any type of make-up that will cause face shine or shimmer.
- Avoid use too much 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. Actually, it's a good idea irrespective.
Tanning and Sunburn:
- Every wants a tan and maybe some color but, irrespective of your skin tone, dark and especially light please, avoid getting sunburn. There's no way to fix sunburn skin in photos, not to mention, it's pretty uncomfortable. LOL. Watch out burning the tops of your feet and hands too. Yes, we've seen it. and it's painful. Sunscreen all over until after the ceremony!
- Do not use tanning of skin darkening 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-ODW vendors:
- We do not allow outside vendors or anyone deemed to be a professional at or within the vicinity of the ceremony location unless, we have specifically agreed to it in writing. Our permit and insurance liability requires that, only our 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 (except Dawn our H/M person). This must be done directly by you. Unfortunately, they can having differing "stories" from what we suggest.
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.
Rain
We've been very lucky over the years and we'd say very blessed when it comes to inclement weather and severe storms and it's been rare for us to have to reschedule a ceremony. On Oahu, we often have early morning mauka (mountain) showers and later Hawaiian sunshine so, not to worry, it's expected. On those days where it's cloudy or even with intermittent rain throughout the day, we've always been able to perform our ceremonies with a little patience. The photos are just as good and rainbows don't appear without some rain :) In some cases, we may recommend a location or time change to avoid the weather or a day change if you and our vendors available. In the case of severe sustained weather, our contract does provide for a return of your monies paid minus the $100 reservation booking fee and the cost of any perishables (cake, flowers, lei, site decorations).
Contact 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 included on the contract or required though, they are aof course, always ppreciated.