“David stayed by my side during a hard time in my life; I knew he was the one.” April and David’s Oahu destination wedding culminated with love, family, friends, and fun! It was a beautiful and relaxed affair that reminded us why we love what we do at Simple Oahu Wedding! We are so happy for these two!

For a bit of backstory, our gorgeous couple met online! David was the first one April met that night – fate definitely had a hand in their meeting! They began dating with intention and loved each other’s company! Fast forward years of long-distance dating later, and here they are tying the knot at their Oahu destination wedding!

Their friends and family were so thrilled for them despite the fact they had initially wanted to elope to Oahu! However, many friends and family wanted to travel and be there for their big day, so they chose Secret Island at Kualoa Ranch to host their celebration! And to their surprise and delight, many were more than happy to travel to celebrate with them!

The Aloha Spirit

Our beautiful couple was sent with many kisses and cheers on their way as we captured their first moments as newlyweds! They look so blissfully happy! David loves anything to do with the ocean, and April loves adventuring together, so Oahu was the perfect fit for these two! She looks radiant in her tropical Haku flower crown…that bouquet is the picture of Hawaii’s tropical beauty!

How gorgeous is this backdrop!? It doesn’t get any more authentically Hawaiian with these Jurassic-like cliffs! But we were so happy to see their vision for their Oahu destination wedding come true! And, most importantly, celebrate with their friends and family!

Congratulations to our beautiful newlyweds, April and David, on your Oahu destination wedding! You were a joy, and we wish you all the blessings in your next adventure together! May you together forever carry the aloha spirit in the years to come!

OAHU DESTINATION WEDDING – Session Details

Oahu Wedding Planner: Simple Oahu Wedding

Wedding Venue Location on Oahu: Secret Island – Kualoa Ranch 

Oahu Wedding Florals: Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Officiant: Rev. Kimo Taylor

Wedding Photographer in Oahu: Laura of Karma Hill Photography

It was a long time coming for our beautiful pair! Nora and Travis’ Oahu beach wedding was a simple and elegant affair that was our pleasure to photograph! Please keep reading to see other moments of their special day…

Our beautiful couple has been together for nearly 15 years! And they have lived together for 10! So, naturally,,, they were so ready for their big day!

To Many More Years…

The ceremony for their Oahu beach wedding was heartfelt and personal. The waves rolled in at Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Park as they exchanged their traditional leis, vows, and rings…

A photo that ecapsulated their many years together in one…it was so moving to witness!

Nora looked ethereal in her flowy, glittering gown as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife! Their friends and family gathered to celebrate with them on their fantastic day!

After their friends’ and familys’ warm well wishes ventured around the rocks to capture these intimate moments… it was so romantic!

After so many years together, our darling newlyweds were so excited to begin their new journey together as husband and wife! Their Oahu beach wedding will be forever cherished in their hearts!

Even though it was an overcast day, our happy newlyweds didn’t mind one bit! We appreciated their easy going attitude! They were blissfully happy they walked down the beach together…

We want to send a warm mahalo to Nora and Travis for choosing Simple Oahu Wedding! We wish you the best in your next chapter together with many more years to come!

OAHU BEACH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY – SESSION DETAILS

Time of Day: Sunset

Oahu Wedding Photography: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Oahu Wedding Packages: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Beach Wedding Location: Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Park 

Wedding Florals: Sweet Blossoms

We recently had the pleasure of capturing Brandi & Jorge’s Oahu beach wedding! It was an elegant and authentically Hawaiian affair that was just as relaxed as it was beautiful! We couldn’t be happier for these two! Take a peek at their photos below to re-live their special day…

Their ceremony began with the passing of leis between our beautiful bride and groom…it is a Hawaiian tradition for nuptials that our delightful pair embraced…Brandi wore a haku, or flower crown, that looked so exquisite and tropical!

Our two lovebirds met at work; they passed each other frequently in the hallways, and they kept finding excuses to talk to each other! Brandi finally rustled up the nerve to finally ask Jorge out! And, over nine years later, here they are on the beach, tying the knot!

Our lovely pair have always had a special connection to Oahu – they got engaged here! They knew they wanted to return here and began planning their Oahu beach wedding with us! It was long-awaited, and they were so excited to celebrate this milestone with their friends and family!

As you can see, their nuptials had the most epic and dramatic setting! Papa’iloa Beach was the gorgeous location for their Oahu beach wedding. This hidden gem is on Oahu’s North Shore, just outside Haleiwa town. Its aquamarine waters, rolling waves, and the long stretch of white sandy beach were the perfect Hawaiian backdrop for our newlyweds!

After their ceremony, we captured their entire wedding party, which was authentically Hawaiian! We love her bridesmaids’ tropical floral dresses and the aloha shirts! We love how wholeheartedly they embraced the Hawaiian theme and culture!

Our delightful couple couldn’t wait to take a few personal portraits together with the crashing waves in the distance…their Oahu beach wedding was everything they dreamed of!

Oahu Holds Our Hearts

We wandered further down the beach to the rockier end to capture more private moments together as husband and wife! Brandi and Jorge wanted a simple, elegant, and fun wedding in a place with so much personal significance! They were more than ready to begin their next chapter together…

And of course, we have to talk about Brandi’s wedding dress! We love the sultry draping around the neckline and the elegant slide-side slit!

Mahalo to Brandi and Jorge for choosing Simple Oahu Wedding! We wish you the very best in your next chapter together! Much aloha…

OAHU BEACH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY – SESSION DETAILS

Time of Day: Morning

Oahu Wedding Photography: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Oahu Beach Wedding Location: Papa’iloa Beach

Oahu Wedding Packages: Simple Oahu Wedding

Wedding Florals: Sweet Blossoms

Recently, we had the pleasure of capturing Joann and Marcell’s Oahu beach wedding! Our newlywed’s private beach ceremony was an intimate and elegant celebration with their closest friends and family. There is something so magical and surreal about getting married on the beach! Hawaii was our lovely couple’s dream wedding destination, as you’ll see in their stunning photos below…

A Life Commitment – Their Oahu Beach Wedding

Let’s rewind a bit and share how are delightful couple met! Thanks to the modern dating scene, they met on a dating app in 2018! They went out for Korean BBQ on their first date and never looked back! After that, they began dating, and three years later, they vacationed in Hawaii to celebrate Joann finishing nursing school and preparing for her board exam! What an accomplishment!

On that trip, Marcell asked the big question – he was so nervous that he proposed right in the hotel room as opposed to his original plan! We were touched when we heard their endearing story…

The quiet ceremony truly felt like a sacred moment, especially with the beautiful natural surroundings! Beach weddings are incredibly moving for this very reason! The turquoise waters and salty breeze that carried a plumeria fragrance added to the tropical ambiance of their precious moment! Our sweet couple had the most epic backdrop for their very first kiss as husband and wife! Oahu beach weddings have that inexplicable something…we call it Hawaii magic!

Joann and Marcell were elated to celebrate with their friends and family after the ceremony. It was a treat for all to visit the island! When planning their nuptials, Joann suggested Hawaii because of her close connection with the islands. She thought there was no comparison between Los Angeles beaches to Oahu’s – we couldn’t agree more!

After we took a few photographs with their nearest and dearest, we were delighted to capture a few special moments of our newlyweds. They couldn’t help but be playful, laughing in between shots! It was adorable to see what best friends they were…

A New Journey Together

We took these lovebirds around the corner to showcase the natural elements and beauty of Paradise Cove. This location is ideal for an intimate Oahu beach wedding because it is secluded and calm. The weather-worn rocks and tide pools added to the tropical feeling of their day!

Joann gingerly made her way across the rocks in her stunning lace gown – not an easy feat with such an exquisite train! But, of course, her doting new husband, Marcell, was happy to help!

As the sun began to set, the sky turned to a pale golden hue that illuminated our lovely couple. It was the perfect Hawaiian ending to a splendid and joyful day! They were glowing in the sunlight in the photos below!

It was an honor, Joann and Marcell, to photograph your Oahu beach wedding! With wish you all the happiness and success as you start your new life together! Mahalo for choosing Simple Oahu Wedding for your special day!

PARADISE COVE OAHU BEACH WEDDING – ALL THE DETAILS

Time Block: Sunset

Oahu Beach Wedding Photographer: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Beach Wedding Location: Paradise Cove

Oahu Wedding Packages: Simple Oahu Wedding

Ceremony Officiant in Oahu: Kimo Taylor

We recently captured Ellie and Terry’s stunning Oahu beach wedding, to our delight! Our newlyweds couldn’t contain their excitement about their intimate ceremony. Sometimes the most uncomplicated weddings are the most moving! Please keep reading to see our favorite highlights of their special day….

With Thanks

Our beautiful couple wanted an easy, relaxed affair to celebrate their commitment to each other. We could feel their mixed emotions of happiness, excitement, and a few nerves! During the ceremony, Terry, whose family is of Peruvian and Chinese descent, wanted to extend their thanks to the Earth (Pachamama) for bringing them together and supporting them as they grow as a couple. We were deeply touched by this sentiment, which resonated with our Hawaiian values… They were just moments away from being declared husband and wife!

Hand in Hand

After their intimate ceremony, our fun-loving and easy-going couple walked side by side for the first time as husband and wife! Then, we walked down the grassy lawn to the sandy shoreline at Waialae Beach Park.

We love this beach park because it has plenty of palm trees and is conveniently located next to the larger resorts in Waikiki. Our happy couple didn’t even notice the onlookers who wished them well because they were so swept up in the moment!

They couldn’t have asked for a better day for their Oahu beach wedding! It was nearly a cloudless sky with a gentle breeze. So we went around the corner to capture a few playful moments of our darling newlyweds…

Finally, as you’ll see in the following photos, Ellie and Terry know how to have fun together! Their wedding portraits were just as silly as they were significant! We laughed right alongside them the entire day…

After the giggles and smiles, our lovely couple sought a secluded beach area for some intimate portraits. As you can see, it wasn’t for long until their playful side came out again! Their easy and relaxed nature made capturing their Oahu beach wedding a joy for us!

Mahalo Ellie and Terry, for choosing Simple Oahu Wedding for your special day! It was our pleasure to capture your Oahu beach wedding! We send you the warmest aloha and wish you all the love, happiness, and fun in your next adventure together!

WAIALAE BEACH PARK OAHU WEDDING – ALL THE DETAILS

Time Block: Morning

Oahu Beach Wedding Photographer: Mike from Karma Hill Photography

Beach Wedding Location In Oahu:  Waialae Beach Park

Florals: Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Wedding Planner: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Officiant: Ellsworth Simeona

Our sweet couple, Julia and Brandon, wanted a lush tropical ambiance for their Oahu venue wedding! Surrounded by the island’s raw beauty, their intimate affair was a joyful day as their friends and family joined them to celebrate their union! However, they wanted a simple, relaxed, and, most importantly, nature-focused ceremony. As you’ll see in the following photos, we are so pleased they had their dream Oahu venue wedding!

With a nature theme in mind, Julia walked down the aisle and was showered with rose petals. We absolutely love it when our brides include this floral detail in their ceremony! It felt thoroughly tropical and authentically Hawaiian with the jungly mountains in the distance! The gorgeous setting for their tropical Oahu venue wedding was The Royal Hawaiian Golf Club. This location is ideal if you love lush greenery and epic views like our delightful pair! They were so pleased to have chosen this location for their Oahu venue wedding because of the majestic landscape and cinematic scenery. As you can see in their photos, it is pure paradise!

How They Met

Julia and Brandon met at work casually until they discovered something more between them. We often hear that! Originally from Arizona, our lovely pair recently are new homeowners too! They enjoy adventuring with their furry family and cooking together in their free time.

Our tropical bride, Julia, has always been drawn to the raw beauty of the Hawaiian islands. She was delighted to share her love for the islands with Brandon since it was his first time visiting! As nature lovers, they wanted a ceremony reflecting the simplicity and tropical colors in the Oahu’s landscape. We were so honored to capture their dream Oahu venue wedding!

Sealed With A Kiss

With their closest friends and family nearby, Julia and Brandon were off to the lush forests of Oahu to capture their first moments together as husband and wife! It was about time because they had been dating for 10 years! But it was well worth the wait, as you can see! True love always is worth the wait, in our opinion…

Natural Beauty

As we went to take their private newlywed photos, we couldn’t stop looking in awe at Julia’s colorful bouquet! It is the epitome of tropical elegance with protea, ginger, anthurium, and the like! It matched her warm and charismatic personality beautifully. The birdsong and banyan trees added to the tropical ambiance that brought its own kind of magic to the day! We gushed over her flower crown and ethereal slit dress; she looked positively radiant, don’t you think?! Brandon certainly thought so – he looked at his new bride with such love and deep friendship, as you can see below!

Sending Julia and Brandon a huge mahalo from all of us a Simple Oahu Wedding! Your special day was an honor to capture, it was tropical elegance at its finest! May you have all the love and happiness together in your next chapter… until we meet again in paradise!

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – ALL THE DETAILS

Time of Day: Afternoon

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Custom Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Wedding Venue Location: The Royal Hawaiian Golf Club

Oahu Wedding Packages: Simple Oahu Wedding

There was so much emotion and beauty during Lani & Alex’s Beach Wedding in Oahu. The stunning couple traveled from Washington to marry on our glowing shoreline. For them, this destination wedding also felt like a homecoming.

Lani’s parents live on Oahu, and this island girl was radiant at their wedding. Surrounded by the warm Hawaii sun and a small group of loved ones, Lani & Alex committed their lives to each other.

We were all in tears! From the bride’s grand entrance to their big pronouncement, each moment was unbelievably sweet.

Karma Hill Photography captured so many moments from Lani & Alex’s Beach Wedding in Oahu, and we’re excited to share some of our favorite images here!

By Calm Waters

Ellsworth Simeona officiated Lani & Alex’s beach wedding in Oahu. He led the pair in traditional vows and Hawaiian customs, like a lei exchange and chant.

The ceremony was full of personality and warmth. Lani & Alex are grounded and authentic, but also elegant and modern. They brought that balance both to the tone of their ceremony and in their visual styling.

Lani wore a tropical haku flower crown with a simple and timeless wedding dress. Alex’s tan suit was perfect for a beach wedding in Oahu. These two would have looked amazing anywhere, but their fantastic style really worked on these scenic shores.

With a tall palm tree swaying gently overhead, and calm waters behind them, Lani & Alex had a wedding ceremony that was as dreamy as it was down-to-earth. We love it!

From a Beach Wedding in Oahu to a Beautiful Forever

After their ceremony, Lani & Alex enjoyed some newlywed portraits with Karma Hill Photography. These two were born to be in front of the camera! Part of it is their natural good looks, and part of it is their curated attire. But it’s also their amazing chemistry.

Lani & Alex each bring their great personalities to their relationship, and they go so well together. You can tell this is a couple who brings out the best in each other. We love to see it!

Spending this late afternoon with Lani & Alex was such a joy, and we’re grateful we could be a part of their Beach wedding in Oahu!

Now with the big day behind them and the rest of their lives ahead of them, they’re ready to go change the world! We know they’ll do amazing things as a married couple, and we’re honored to see this beautiful beginning!

Congratulations, Lani & Alex! Your Oahu wedding was so fun and gorgeous, and so are you!

Beach Wedding in Oahu – Session Details

Time of Day: Sunset

Oahu Beach Location: ​​Wai’alae Beach Park

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Pinky from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Planners in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Vy from Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Ellsworth Simeona

Wedding Florals: Vibrant Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms Hawaii

Check out another recent Hawaii wedding here!

When you imagine a wedding in Honolulu or anywhere in Oahu, you likely picture marrying on the beach. Endless pristine sand, scenic views, and serene water. It’s an idyllic picture, and your photos will likely embody much of that. 

After all, Oahu is a beautiful place, and it’s hard to find a bad spot to get married. But your wedding is more than photos – it’s an entire experience. 

There are two main choices for having a Honolulu wedding: marrying on the public beach or renting a dedicated venue. 

A public beach wedding is great for many laid-back couples who want a budget-friendly and no-frills event. A commercial wedding venue is a bit pricier but comes with more comfort and amenities than the beach, plus there are fewer restrictions.

Do you think a beach wedding is the best choice for you? Ahead, we’ll outline some key considerations so you can make sure you’re booking the best Honolulu wedding package for you. 

The Beach Crowds

A wedding at a public beach involves, well, the public. You don’t get exclusive access to any part of the beach, so you will be sharing your wedding site with swimmers, sunbathers, spikeball players, and day drinkers. 

This is where experience vs. photos really comes into play. Our photography partner, Karma Hill Photography, photoshops nearly all the people out of wedding photos. So while you will be joined by strangers on your big day, you don’t have to remember them forever in your photos. 

But how will these strangers make you feel during your wedding in Honolulu?

Couples often enjoy a quiet beach for their wedding in Honolulu and Oahu, but it’s a gamble. We try to predict the least crowded days by avoiding weekends and holidays as much as possible, avoiding peak hours during the day, and avoiding the most popular locations (sorry, that rules out a Waikiki Beach ceremony). 

So while we do our best to get each couple the most serene beach wedding experience possible, many unknowns could cause the beaches to be busier. 

The Wedding Plan

Each day is different at the best beaches in Oahu. Our team of experienced photographers and onsite coordinators are used to working in various conditions, but they have to make many calls only minutes before the ceremony.

What does that mean for your planning experience? We can plan many key elements ahead of time, but other things depend on each day’s unique circumstances. 

Here are some things we can plan for at beach weddings:

• If the couple would like not to see each other until the ceremony begins
• Timing the ceremony for the best photography lighting
• A meet-up spot for guests
• A point of contact in case you need help finding the meet-up spot
• What will your officiant say, and if you’ll share your own custom vows

Here are things that your team will decide as they show up shortly before the ceremony:

• Where on the beach we’ll have the ceremony
• Where the entrances will begin and where guests will stand
• What kind of photo backdrops are available based on beachgoers and the tide
• If parking is full, we’ll direct guests to a backup lot, which could cause one of your guests to serve as a shuttle from a distant lot to the beach.
• If the weather is turning bad, we’ll decide if we need to wed under umbrellas or if we can wait out a passing shower.

If you and your guests are ok with going with the flow and following the guidance of your trusty onsite coordinator, you could really enjoy a relaxed beach wedding. But if you get anxious over the unknown, you may be better off booking a commercial venue, where we have a set location and more certainty. 

The Risks of a Beach Ceremony

A commercial wedding venue in Honolulu or nearby will be a controlled space where we can manage seating, enjoy more privacy, and be in touch with a venue contact leading up to the ceremony. 

A beach wedding leaves more opportunities for things to go wrong. This could include rain, strangers in the background, permit enforcement checking for paperwork, wind, noise, and parking struggles. 

If you are so excited about a fun, relaxed beach wedding and hiccups like these won’t phase you, then go for it! But if you’ll be distracted on the day, or worried leading up to it, you may want to consider Oahu wedding venues instead. 

Your Guest Count Is Important

Did you know that you can only have about 25 guests at a public beach wedding in Hawaii? This includes a beach wedding in Honolulu and throughout Oahu. And that 25-count limit could decrease if you hire many vendors or if the state changes the rules at any time. 

There are no exceptions to the guest count cap, so you’ll definitely want to control your group size if you book a beach wedding. 

If there is any chance that you could have 25 or more guests, then you should book an Oahu venue, which will be more flexible with guest count and provide a more comfortable experience for your larger group. 

Based on our years of experience, we’ve actually found that guest counts of 15 or less work best at beach weddings. Most of this has to do with parking challenges at the beach and the fact that we aren’t allowed to set up seating. 

Cost Of Oahu Beach Weddings

Having your wedding on the public beach does cost less than having it at a venue. This is because we don’t need to pay a site rental fee. Instead, we just need to secure a permit to have the wedding legally on the beach. 

Budget-minded couples will likely first consider beach weddings, and that could be an excellent choice for you. But if you have concerns about some of the risks and unknowns involved with beach ceremonies, then you may need to look at your overall wedding and vacation budget to see if you can swing for a lower-cost venue. 

What about couples with a larger wedding budget who really want to marry on the beach? If you have the funds for your dream wedding, then consider that a public beach wedding is the cheapest option. A beach on private/commercial property or any commercial venue could allow you to have a more elegant wedding while still being only steps away from the ocean. 

Choosing a Beach Wedding in Honolulu and Oahu

If you’ve considered these key factors and still think a beach wedding is perfect for your laid-back and scenic vision, then we are excited to plan that for you! Check out our Honolulu wedding packages here. 

If you think these elements could affect how you enjoy your wedding, from the planning to the day of to the memories of it, then let’s talk more! Contact our Honolulu wedding coordinators to see what options are available and how we can help create a simple yet beautiful wedding for you. 

There are so many ways to have a beautiful Hawaii wedding. You just need to narrow down the best option for you. Want more advice about choosing between the different wedding options? Check out our blog post to learn more about picking your perfect Oahu wedding location.