More than 25,000 couples--both residents and tourists--choose to wed in Hawaii each year, making it the second most popular place in the U.S. to get married. Once you choose to exchange vows in Hawaii, you'll need to pick a date and which day of the week your nuptials will take place.
Significance
Destination weddings were once popular for couples wishing to elope; however they now serve many purposes, one being the couple wants a more intimate wedding, where they can spend more time with each guest. Destination weddings also typically cost less because there are fewer guests, and the honeymoon can be combined with the wedding. Hawaiian weddings cost as little as a couple of hundred dollars to as much as you're willing to spend.
Monday or Tuesday are ideal days to wed in Hawaii as you can get your marriage license and exchange vows the same day. However, some of your guests, if you're inviting any, may not find Monday or Tuesday as convenient to attend your wedding compared with other days because of work or other obligations.
Types
Most weddings in Hawaii take place on the beach with the natural landscape serving as the backdrop. Because the beaches are public, there is no guarantee of privacy. Permits are required to hold your wedding on the beach, although approval is easy to obtain. People who want small, intimate weddings with few or no guests can typically find a small section of the beach that affords some privacy. However, larger weddings may require more planning and compromising. Your wedding may be viewed by thousands of strangers, or worse--your wedding photos may include pictures of strangers who just happen to be on the beach where your wedding is held.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays may bring fewer people to the beaches, as weekends typically draw larger crowds.
Considerations
The best day to get married in Hawaii largely depends on you, your intended, the type of wedding you have planned and how important privacy is to you. If privacy is high on your list of priorities, consider a chapel, private garden, hotel or other venue for your ceremony.
Friday would work for you if you don't mind crowds or prefer to make it more convenient for others to join you. Starting the weekend early is typically easier than taking an entire week off work or away from other obligations. Friday is also the last day of the week that you can obtain your marriage license and get married on the same day, as the office is only open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays.
Time Frame
The time of day will also largely affect how crowded the beach is and how many other weddings are planned. Sunset is the most popular time for beach weddings in Hawaii, which could limit your options if you do not book your wedding arrangements in advance.
The most popular days for weddings in Hawaii is Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, no matter what day of the week the holidays fall on. The month of your wedding will also determine how crowded the beaches are and how in-demand wedding professionals are, which could affect the price of your event. April through June and August through October are the busiest months for marriages in Hawaii. March, July and August are the busiest tourist months in Hawaii.
Bottom Line
Choose a day based on the elements of your wedding that are most important to you. Saturdays are usually the most common day for weddings, however that does not have to be the case, particularly with destination weddings.
Weekends require at least some advance work because wedding professionals are more likely to be booked. You would need to obtain your marriage license in advance, since license bureaus are not open weekends. However, Saturday or Sunday may be the ideal day for guests to come to your wedding.
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