What Do Weddings in Hawaii Cost? Romance by the Numbers

Curious about what weddings in Hawaii cost? Let’s look at the numbers. 

If you visit a beach in Hawaii at sunset, you’ll likely see lots of things. Kids running around in the last light of day, beautiful scenery and a colorful sky. Couples relaxing. Wildlife like whales, birds, and turtles. And at certain beaches, you’ll see something very noticeable: weddings. 

Hawaii has hundreds of weddings each day – every day of the week. Visitors come here for romance and beauty: two of the top elements of any wedding.

And if you’ve seen a real Hawaii wedding in person, you’ve maybe asked this question: how much do weddings in Hawaii cost? 

That barefoot-on-the-sand beach ceremony that happens in the middle of playtime and picnics? It’s probably a pretty affordable Hawaiian wedding. 

The ones you see from your hotel balcony, on a lush oceanfront lawn with attentive staff and flowing drinks? It’s probably more than you can imagine spending in one day. 

Let’s take a look at the costs of Hawaii weddings and find out what people spend. Whether you’re just curious or considering your own island nuptials, it’s fun to look at the kind of money people pay to wed here in Hawaii. 

Average Cost of Hawaii Weddings

There’s no official database on the cost of Hawaii weddings, so getting a true average is impossible. But we estimate that most full-size weddings with 100 guests and traditional elements like dinner, drinks, and dancing, will probably cost about $50,000. 

And since that’s a round-about idea, it could easily be less than that and (very easily) be much more than that. 

Many Hawaii weddings cost over $100,000, so if you’re ready to indulge in a luxurious experience, Hawaii is a great place for your wedding. 

Why Are Hawaii Weddings So Expensive?

Weddings are expensive in many places. Much of that is driven by demand and cost of living in a certain area. 

Both of those things are high in Hawaii. 

Lots of people want to get married in Hawaii. An upscale resort can find people willing to pay $7,000 or more for a few hours’ use of their lawn, so they’ll charge it. 

Of course, the cost of maintaining that lawn is higher in Hawaii. Watering it, staffing it, and (of course) buying it are all big bucks, so that cost is passed along to couples. 

And many resorts won’t even rent you a lawn unless you’re ready to spend $15,000 or more on food and beverage – an easy feat if you’re wining-and-dining 75 people in Hawaii. 

And when it’s time to get married, you’re hiring vendors who have to make a living in a very expensive place. A single person in Hawaii needs to earn over $120,000 a year to live comfortably. Now, not everyone is making that much, but wages are higher for many people in Hawaii. That cost is also passed on to couples, whether you’re paying a self-employed photographer, a team of event staff, a rental company, or a Hawaii wedding planner. 

A wedding in Hawaii also becomes expensive because your DIY options are limited. You don’t want to spend your vacation arranging tons of flowers that you had shipped to your hotel room. You don’t want to pack suitcases full of dishes and decor. And you don’t want to build your own ceremony arch to carry to the wedding in your rental car. 

You also won’t be using as many friends and family for help with your wedding day – especially since paying for their travel is more expensive than hiring a pro from Hawaii. 

How To Have a Cheap Hawaii Wedding

But the weddings you see at the beach seem so simple, so carefree – there’s no way those are $50,000 events, right? 

Right. 

You can have a Hawaii toes-in-the-sand ceremony for a couple hundred bucks, or even less!

In fact, if you just want to share vows with each other on the sand, it doesn’t cost a thing!

I’ve also seen a $200 wedding where a licensed officiant comes and marries you while they take photos on your own cell phone or camera. 

But most beach ceremonies will run a couple of thousand dollars. These simple events likely involve a Hawaiian wedding officiant, a local photographer, a bouquet of flowers, an event permit, and maybe some extras, like live music or a videographer. 

Beach weddings in Hawaii do have their limits. You can only have a handful of guests, and you can’t set up seating. These rules are meant to keep the beach open and available for everyone. But you get another perk with these rules – it keeps the cost of your Hawaii wedding down. 

So if you’re wondering how much weddings in Hawaii cost, the answer is as much or as little as you want them to. You can book someone to do a quick-and-easy ceremony with DIY photos, or you can hire a team of professionals that will turn a simple beach wedding into an elevated experience. 

After the wedding, couples often go out to eat or relax at their hotels. Less stress, less money, and a way more enjoyable wedding. 

The Price of a Hawaii Wedding Vacation

There’s more to the cost of the wedding, of course. There’s the entire vacation. And that’s a big reason why so many people are drawn to a small Hawaiian beach wedding. For the cost of a hometown wedding, they can have a memorable ceremony AND a full vacation in Hawaii.

Everyone has different priorities for their weddings, but if you’ve got the funds but lack the gusto for a big wedding, coming to Hawaii might be the perfect answer. 

And Hawaii Aloha travel can help plan the kind of trip you want – whether you are looking for a luxurious honeymoon trip or a no-frills getaway. 

So when people budget for their Hawaii weddings, they typically include the entire vacation in that cost. The end result? Money that goes toward several days of excitement and new experiences. 

What About the Cost of Guests?

So you’ve budgeted for the wedding, and the vacation – but what do you pay for guests when you have a Hawaii destination wedding? 

Typically, guests pay their own way to a destination wedding. You may recommend a hotel or arrange a room block, but it’s up to the guests to actually book and pay for their vacation. 

This may mean some loved ones don’t make the trip (for better or for worse!). Some couples decide to help pay for guests’ travel, but that’s the exception and not the rule. 

Once your guests are here, they’ll be free to enjoy their own activities, but you may want to bring everyone together for an excursion or luau. In this case, it’s common for you to book and pay for that (unless you stress it’s optional). 

Once the wedding day arrives, you should fund the reception. That could be a simple barbecue dinner, a luau, or an upscale restaurant. 

You’ll also want to budget for drinks if you’re paying for those at the reception. 

What Your Hawaii Wedding Could Cost

So, what will your wedding look like? Will you be barefoot on the sand with only you two and your officiant? 

Or will you be bringing along 200 guests for a luxurious wedding on an oceanfront lawn? 

Most people who marry in Hawaii land somewhere in the middle, so your costs will be somewhere in the middle too. 

Maybe you want to splurge on an upscale hotel while having a low-cost elopement. Or maybe you’ll cut some corners on your vacation to pay for a celebration with 50 guests. 

Ultimately, it comes down to this:

• A beach ceremony in Hawaii will cost a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, depending on what elements you include. You might also want to budget for a nice dinner afterward. 

• A full ceremony and reception at a private venue in Hawaii will probably be closer to $50,000, depending on how many people you invite and what you include in your day. 

Some venues cost a couple of thousand dollars, while others run nearly $10,000 for a wedding rental. Some photographers do cheap work while others charge $10,000 for luxury services. 

Just remember that your Hawaii wedding won’t include as much DIY, and you’ll be marrying in an expensive area. Still, if you decide on a small group and simple plans, you may be surprised by how little a Hawaii wedding can cost. 

Pro Tips for a Hawaii Wedding

No matter what your wedding will cost, there are a few pro tips that will keep 

• Budget and plan for every guest you invite to attend. You may be surprised by how many people decide to make the trip out to Hawaii (hey, it’s Hawaii, right!)
• Work with a local Hawaii travel agent for your vacation plans – we can help make sure your wedding vacation works with your budget and that you’re splurging on experiences that are worth the cost. 
• If you’re trying to keep the cost of a Hawaii wedding down, skip out on a bunch of flowers. Floral designs are very expensive, so keeping the design simple is a great way to save money. 
• Fly with your wedding gown as a carry-on. 
• Have fun! You likely chose a Hawaiian wedding because you want a more laid-back experience. So enjoy it – even if things don’t go exactly as planned!