Start with when your beach wedding will take place. The islands are especially attractive in the northern-hemisphere winter months because Hawaii’s temperatures are consistently mild all year round. Keep in mind that those popular winter months for visitors (November-March) are the months local people will indicate when you ask them when the “rainy season” falls, and that’s also when the prices go up.

Often, it will rain steadily for days or even weeks at a time during that period, but it’s impossible to predict just when that time will be. For the most part, it rains a little just about every day year-round on all the islands, usually in the mornings in the mountain valleys and on the windward sides. Nobody cares -- or even seems to notice. Most umbrellas in Hawaii are used to ward off the sun, not the rain.

Once you’ve decided on the time of year, give yourselves a year or so for the planning. You want to be able to have a choice of accommodations, venues, amenities, caterers, etc., and the choices become limited if you don’t start early enough. And you’ll have to consider travel arrangements and lodging for your wedding party and any traveling guests.

What kind of wedding are you thinking about? While you might be thinking of a traditional ceremony at a denominational church in a lovely island setting, it’s hard to resist a beautiful beach with a “Hawaiian” flavor (featuring Hawaiian wedding traditions, Hawaiian décor, Hawaiian food, Hawaiian music and Hawaiian dancing).

Most Hawaii beaches are public -- completely open. That means you can be married there if you like, but you can’t control your privacy. There are scores of splendiferous private venues -- beaches, adjacent tropical gardens, luxurious resorts, quiet beachside villas, boats – all of which will require advance arrangements (and fees paid).

What is the licensing process? What will you and your party wear? Will a reception be part of the package you put together? Will you want flowers and/or music? How will everyone find and get to the venue you select? Will you stay in the islands for your honeymoon? On the same island?

There’s a lot to plan. Get busy.

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