An Oahu destination wedding was the ultimate dream for these two! The island holds a special place in their romance because they got engaged on Oahu’s Northshore! Easy, relaxed, and elegant is just what our beautiful couple wanted for their big day… so Hawaii felt like the perfect place to celebrate with their close friends and family! Let’s relive their magical day with them through their gorgeous photos!

The look on the groom’s face when he sees his beautiful bride always gets us! Dwayne was no different when he saw his radiant bride, Tiffany! These two go wayyyy back….they actually went to high school together but never met until their 10-year reunion and have been together ever since!

There is something so special about an Oahu destination wedding! Our beautiful newlyweds were so grateful to be joined by their friends and family for their fantastic day. Tiffany was a little nervous about planning a destination wedding with so many details to consider, but as you can see, it went without a hitch, thanks to our incredible team at Simple Oahu Wedding!

Our lovely newlyweds were ready to bask in newlywed bliss after their portraits with their extended family! The lighting in these photos is so light and airy that it looks like they are encircled in a golden glow!

Their first photos as husband and wife look like they came out of a tropical dream! And they had the entire beach at Kualoa Ranch Secret Island to themselves!

The secluded beach was just one amazing location for their portraits at their Oahu destination wedding! We love this venue because it offers a variety of picturesque Hawaiian backdrops like this mountain range!

We wish Tiffany and Dwayne all the happiness and joy in the years to come! Congratulations! We are so happy your beautiful day was just as you dreamed!

OAHU DESTINATION WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time of Day: Late Afternoon

Oahu Wedding Planner: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Venue: Secret Island – Kualoa Ranch 

Wedding Florals: Custom Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Officiant: Kahu Dennis Chong-Imamura

Wedding Photographer in Oahu: Megan of Karma Hill Photography

The time was right for our beautiful couple! We recently had the pleasure of planning Samantha and Dinos’ Oahu venue wedding! These two have been dating for nearly ten years, can you believe it?! They originally met at Ohio State University and have been inseparable since! They couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day so let’s see some of our favorite highlights from their incredible day…

Initially, our beautiful couple was playing with the idea of eloping in Maui, but they came across our company, Simple Oahu Wedding, and loved the idea of a small, intimate wedding ceremony with their friends and family! It was all they could have asked for! Our down-to-earth pair wanted something simple, relaxed, fun, and, most importantly, full of love! Their friends and family were more than happy to travel the distance to celebrate with them, as you’ll see below!

Our newlyweds couldn’t stop smiling! Their beautiful Oahu venue wedding was held at Kualoa Ranch Secret Island, where the photo opportunities are endless! It felt like a dream for our newlyweds with the cinematic backdrop and the private beach. Its serene and picturesque scenery made for the most tropically elegant photos of our darling pair! They had the entire beach to themselves…so romantic!

Samantha looked exquisite in her beachy, flowy gown! It was subtle yet elegant and perfect for the ambiance of their Oahu venue wedding! Dinos’ sharp blue suit reflected the ocean blue, too… laid-back tropical elegance done right!

The dramatic cliffs were the most stunning background for their intimate first portraits as husband and wife! Just another reason why we love this location for a venue wedding! Their photos are so soft and pastel-like, which adds to the dreaminess of their incredible day, don’t you think?

Congratulations to Samantha and Dinos on your wedding! It was a pleasure to plan this incredible day for you both! May you have many more beautiful years together!

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time of Day: Late Afternoon

Oahu Wedding Planner: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Venue: Secret Island – Kualoa Ranch 

Wedding Florals: Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Officiant: Rev. Kimo Taylor

Wedding Photographer in Oahu: Pinky of Karma Hill Photography

With close friends and family, Mariah and Jeff’s Oahu venue wedding was all they could have hoped for! Our beautiful couple wanted an intimate and relaxed celebration in paradise, and we are pleased to say their big day was just that! So, let’s see how their big day unfolded…

Paradise Found

Firstly, their tropical ceremony began in the late morning with clear blue skies and plenty of Hawaiian sunshine! The scenic setting for their Oahu venue wedding was held at Paradise Cove, and its beautiful calm waters, palm trees, and rocky reef area make it beautiful for photos!

Our lovely couple was surrounded with love by their friends and family on their big day! However, they had never been to Oahu before, but they were excited to share this experience with their friends and family!

Great Outdoor Lovers

In addition, these two love the outdoors and enjoy nature’s peace, so Oahu felt like a proper fit when planning their wedding! Their photos capture the natural tropical beauty of the island with the palm trees and epic ridge line in the distance!

Our beautiful newlyweds met online! And Jeff proposed on a snowmobiling trip in Idaho on February 17th, 2021! How far away the snow seems from these tropical shores on their Oahu venue wedding! Moreover, we were so happy to celebrate with you here in paradise!

Our charming couple wanted something simple, relaxed, and fun for their Oahu venue wedding. As you can tell in their photos, the day was just as they had hoped! Furthermore, they look so happy together and ready to begin their next chapter!

Mahalo to Mariah and Jeff for choosing us to plan your Oahu wedding! May you have all the love and joy for years to come! We hope to see you in paradise again one day!

Oahu Venue Wedding – Event Details

Time of Day: Morning

Wedding Venue Location in Oahu: Paradise Cove Lower Luau Lawn

Wedding Planner in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Florals: Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Mike of Karma Hill Photography

“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

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

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. 

Clare & Christopher’s venue wedding in Oahu was straight out of a fairytale! The exquisite landscapes at Kualoa Secret Island surrounded our delightful duo as they exchanged vows. Then the heavy clouds and soft sunlight created a romantic mood. Most importantly, this ceremony was the definition of intimate! Our beautiful pair had only two guests in attendance — their two children! Keep scrolling to see this gorgeous event for yourself.

Secret, relaxed, and intimate are a few words our charming couple used to describe their sunset occasion! Kualoa Secret Island was the perfect place for Clare and Christopher’s special day. This private spot has an endless amount of breathtaking views! First, we set up the wedding on the shoreline. The cerulean waves, beige sand, and lofty palm trees were an impeccable background for this tranquil event. After the ceremony, Karma Hill Photography captured flawless portraits of our radiant newlyweds with epic mountains and an ancient fish pond!

Why They Had a Venue Wedding in Oahu

Clare and Christopher wanted to keep their wedding simple and stress-free. They made the right choice by teaming up with us! We covered the basics of planning their day, then ensured their ceremony would look stunning. Above all, we’re glad to hear our passionate pair loves their day! 

This romantic getaway wasn’t our radiant newlyweds’ first time on the island! Thirteen years ago, Clare and Christopher visited Oahu and Lana’i. Since it was one of their most unforgettable holidays — they knew they had to return with their daughters!

Our lovely couple met when they were nineteen years old. Then in 2011, they got engaged in Sardinia, Italy! Christopher is a property developer, while Clare works in Investment Banking. They have two daughters, who are eleven and eight years old. As a family, this bunch loves being active! You can find them hiking, boating, and skiing in their spare time. Lastly, Clare and Christopher have been a couple for twenty years. However, they decided it was time to get married since they were both turning forty. Their Oahu venue wedding was the perfect way to celebrate their strong connection!

Congratulations, Clare and Christopher! Thank you for sharing your special day with us. We wish you a future filled with adventure and great memories!

Venue Wedding in Oahu – Session Details

Time of Day: Sunset

Oahu Venue Location: ​​Kualoa Secret Island

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Planners in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Oli from Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Kahu Kawena Mechler

Wedding Florals: Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms Hawaii

Musician: Rodney Bejer

Check out another wedding in Oahu here!

Last week, Brooke and Tyler tied the knot on Kualoa Secret Island! Their Oahu venue wedding was full of exquisite floral arrangements and loving moments. Most importantly, you can tell our beautiful pair savored every minute of this unforgettable day! Brooke and Tyler had gorgeous smiles on their faces throughout this sunset affair. Thankfully, Karma Hill Photography captured every meaningful moment! Keep scrolling to experience this event for yourself.

This day began with Megan from Karma Hill Photography capturing getting-ready footage of Brooke, Tyler, and the bridal party! Then, our groom and the guests headed to the venue. As you ride the boat to this private island, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a tropical fairytale! Next, our beautiful bride and her bridesmaids headed to the Kualoa Secret Island.

The Romantic Oahu Venue Wedding

Our delightful duo had their ceremony at Kualoa Secret Island. This private venue is one-of-a-kind! It’s the perfect place for couples who want an intimate and elegant event on the seaside. We adore this spot because it has everything from sandy beaches to dramatic mountain views. In addition, you can decorate the shoreline with an arch and chairs! Above all, we adore this destination because it’s spacious. Brooke and Tyler had plenty of space for their twenty-five guests to sit comfortably and view the ceremony!

When the ceremony began, the ambiance was perfect! Jeremy Hirokawa effortlessly played the ukulele and enhanced the tranquil mood. Then Kahu Dennis Chong-Imamura delivered a heartwarming sermon! More than anything, we love how Brooke and Tyler decorated the shoreline. Their two transparent pillars with the bright pink bougainvillea are breathtaking custom arches!

After exchanging vows and leis in front of family and friends, Brooke and Tyler ended the night with dinner at Dukes Waikiki! We can’t think of a better way to close the day after having such a stunning Oahu venue wedding!

Congratulations, Brooke and Tyler! Thank you for sharing this special day with us. We wish you a future full of love, happiness, and abundance!

Oahu Venue Wedding – Session Details

Time of Day: Sunset

Oahu Venue Location: ​​Kualoa Secret Island

Oahu Wedding Photographers: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Venues in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Oli from Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Kahu Dennis Chong-Imamura

Wedding Florals: Custom Bouquet by Designs by Hemingway

Musician: Jeremy Hirokawa

Hair & Makeup: Reveal Hair & Makeup

Check out another wedding in Oahu here!