How to Plan a Wedding in Hawaii
- May 28, 2024
- by
- stephaniemae
Congratulations on your recent engagement! Planning a wedding can be both exciting and overwhelming (trust me, been there and done that). But don’t worry! Everything is figureoutable and with a little planning and organization, you can create a beautiful and memorable day. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Set a Budget
Prioritize: Determine what’s most important to you. Is it the venue, the dress, or the food?
Be Realistic: Initially, I wanted my wedding to be outdoors surrounded by nature. I mean it seems cliche given that I’m a plant mom but sometimes I can’t help myself. Give me some grace here people!
I spent months looking at outdoor wedding venues and boy let me tell you – I was not expecting such a hefty price tag just to rent the space. Add to that the number of vendors needed to make it all happen and the budget could have been mistaken for someone’s college tuition.
Slowly I realized what wasn’t going to happen, my outdoor wedding.
First my dream destination wedding, now this. Yes, your girl loves to dream BIG.
Track Your Spending: Use a spreadsheet or budgeting app to keep track of your expenses. I’m a marketer by trade so you could say I’m a freak in the spreadsheets (see what I did there). I developed a giant wedding spreadsheet with 10+ tabs. Remember those outdoor venues I looked at? For each venue I visited, I crunched the numbers just to get an idea of what the budget might look like.
But for those who don’t find spreadsheets sexy, here’s an easy Google sheets template to get your started.
Choose Your Date and Venue
Dream Date: When do you envision your perfect wedding? If you don’t have a dream date like me, then start with the top three venues within your budget and ask for venue availability.
Pro tips
If you have guests who will be flying in then consider booking your venue during off-peak seasons so you both can save some money. In Hawaii, the peak seasons are spring and summer which leaves fall and winter up for grabs. Just know that October through December are peak rainy seasons. This may lead to more expenses such as tents, umbrellas for guests, etc.
Create Your Guest List
Prioritize: Now let’s be real, you and your partner get to decide who gets invited. Your mom’s co-worker or neighbor who you politely wave to but don’t know their name, shouldn’t be in the front row of your ceremony, let alone invited to the biggest day of your life. Decide who’s a must-have and who can be invited to smaller celebrations.
Not everyone on your guest list will be able to make it. And that’s okay. Just make sure those who can be there, fit into your venue’s capacity.
Hire Your Dream Team
Now that you know your budget, guest list, venue, and date, you’re in the homestretch!
This phase of wedding planning was the most exciting and stressful part. If you’re just getting started here are a few vendors you may want to consider getting or have a family member or trusted friend help out where they can.
Wedding Planner or Day of Coordinator: It’s important to know the difference!
A wedding planner can help you navigate permits, vendor selection, and logistics. A day of coordinator will do just that – help you on the day of your wedding.
You typically meet with a wedding planner several months in advance – sometimes a year in advance. You’ll have lots of check-ins and they can be a lifesaver when finding vendors or brainstorming color schemes and themes. However, this level of service comes with a price. In 2023, the cheapest wedding planner I found in Hawaii was $3,000.
Photographer and Videographer: Capture your special moments with talented professionals. Remember, whatever they capture is what you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. So do your research, ask for their portfolios, and find out what their clients are saying.
Makeup Artist and Hair stylist: These professionals are a MUST to make the bride and bridesmaids look flawless on the big day.
Florist: Create stunning floral arrangements that complement your theme.
Caterer: Delight your guests with delicious food and drinks. Before you send wedding invites, ask for any food allergies so the caterer can plan accordingly.
Officiant: Choose a licensed officiant to perform your ceremony.
Musician or DJ: No one wants to hear your spotify playlist. Hire a professional who can set the mood.
I called my team of vendors the Avengers – they came in, saved the day and left. Modern day superheros in my book.
Assemble Your Wedding Party
You may have ten best friends who you want to be a part of your wedding party but can your future husband say the same?
Consider a smaller wedding party. Trust me when I say this – you will have a lot of other things to juggle so do yourself a favor. Your future self will thank you for the reduced stress and costs.
By following these tips, you can plan a stress-free and unforgettable wedding. Happy planning!
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