Destination Wedding in Hawaii

[DRK]

My fiance and I are trying to plan a wedding in Hawaii (we've never been) and I'm hoping someone knows of a good wedding planner or can just give us some advice on how to get started. We are hoping for about 60 people to show up and are fairly casual about the formality of the wedding/reception. I started looking at a few places and the reception seems to be quite expensive. Most of the places I've contacted are about $130-$170 per head and that doesn't even include alcohol. So, I'm starting to get worried that thsi might be too expensive for us. In anycase, if anyone has any advice or can recommend a good planner, I would be very grateful!!!!

Thanks!

[Heather]

Hi DRK, welcome to Pash and congrats on your engagement.

I personally didn't do a destination wedding, but what I would recommend is collecting a list of hotels or venues on the island at which you're going to be married, and start sending e-mails. Give them the details of the number of people, date, etc and write down their estimate. If no one e-mails you back, start making phone calls.

You could also do a search (online) for wedding planners, but I'll bet in HI that most of the hotels have them directly on staff.

We do have a few girls that planned destination wedding so I'm sure someone will pop on soon with some additional advice.

One more thing - The price you listed is about what we paid for 180 people in Albany NY, but that did include cocktail hour w/ appetizers, full sit-down (4 course) dinner, and open bar all night, plus 2 bottles of wine on each table. So for HI, that actually seems like a fair price since you're in such a popular, expensive location. I'm sure you didn't want to hear that... Just get as many price quotes as you can. Good luck!

[TheaterDiva1]

I just wanted to say hi and welcome to Pash!

Sorry - I don't really know about destination weddings.

[DRK]

Thanks for the welcome posts and the advice on planning.

Heather, you're wedding in Albany sounded great! And it reminded me that I need to figure out the cocktail hour. ugh. Maybe I'll just elope.

Definitely looking forward to hearing from people who have planned a wedding in Hawaii.

Thank you!

[tripsdown]

Hi DRK,

Hopefully I can give you my two cents worth. My name is the Lindsay the person in the Ask Destination Weddings section here at Pash Weddings. It is a new section, so there is not a wealth of items there, but hopefully I can give you a hand here.

First of all, having planned many Hawaiian wedding, I must be honest to say that the weddings in Hawaii can average around $60.00per person and up. That is not only due to the higher food cost, however due to the surcharges and costs the Catering and/or food & beverage departments put on the bill. I always tell people who are looking for a large wedding with reception that it is going to be like back home. Everything is ala carte. There is no real set menus or wedding plans like resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico have. That is also why all inclusive resorts are popular with weddings. And believe me you can have a first class wedding at these resorts now.

Now there is a beautiful resort we like to use on the Big Island who has an excellent wedding dinner for starting at $62.00per person, plus the 18% service tax and the 4.166% Hawaiian tax. The only concern with that resort is that the stay at the resort is high. You could also have a luau there too for $93.00per person plus the taxes or a tasting menu of various Pacific delights for around $80.00per person. Those are the lowest priced ones that I know of that would give you not only quality but watch your bottom line.

As for wedding planners there, you have to be careful because not all, take care of all services. And it is not because they don't want to. When you work with a resort and have your wedding offsite, you have to obtain two wedding planners. Just like vendors. They have to be approved by the resort inorder to work with them. If you work with just the resort, you still have to watch out for the vendor rule. They might not allow an outside photographer or wedding planner. So if you want to stick with a resort, then ask them what is ok to bring in. Now a funny part of the rule is that outside destination wedding planners like our company who are not local, but sometimes travel with the wedding group are welcomed with open arms. That is why when you see the shows on the cable the wedding planners that flew with their clients had no problems working with the resort.

What I would suggest first of all before you talk with a planner is to decide between the two of you what you are looking for in a wedding. Could you go down to a buffet to save costs for the wedding dinner? Would you take your drink menu to maybe house wine and a signature drink or one of those and beer? Or have an early afternoon wedding with a cocktail hour instead of a dinner? Or have a tasting menu in a buffet setting? There are ways to cut prices, but the main item the two of you need to take care of is the budget. Find out what you can comfortably take care of. Sit down, write a list of your thoughts. An excellent planner will not sell you the high or low road, they will be right in the middle. But the two of you have to be set what you want first.

I hope this helps!

Best Wishes,
Lindsay

[ringem1]

Hi my name is Erin and my fiance and I are planning a wedding in Hawaii right now. My fiance's aunt does weddings on the island of Oahu on the beach and she is cheap. Try visiting www.hawaiianbarefootweddings.com

[Brandonsgirl]

I wish I had better advice for you but I just began planning...I hope you're able to find a place within your price range so you don't have to change your plans!!!!

[NovemberGal]

DRK posted in July and hasn't been back...

[HtownNole]

Reported Ringem1

[ringem1]

Im sorry I didnt even look at the date that this was posted.

[NovemberGal]

No worries...I'm like the post date police, sorry. It's my peeve. We all do it, and it's hard especially for new folks, because all the threads are new to you. Just try to remember to check thread dates.