Ceremony

Home

Our ceremonies follow a basic traditional western and American wedding format of appropriate length for a beach wedding or vow renewal. Pretty straight forward and simple.

We also offer Hawaiian elements, the same that many local Hawaiian couples add, to give it a Hawaiian feel.

FYI: Hawaiians did not get married and there is no traditional or authentic Hawaiian wedding ceremony.



Ceremony Types:

- Marriage: You want to be legally married in Hawaii. This requires a marriage license. See here.

- Vow Renewal: You're already married and want to celebrate your years together OR you just got married at home want another Hawaii ceremony for photos, family, or friends. No license is required.



Ceremony Styles:

- Romantic: A non-religious ceremony. FYI: Our ministers do multiple weddings and sometimes "slip-up". If the mention of "God" offends you, please choose another website.

- Romantic Christian non-denominational: A non-denominational Christian based ceremony.

- Hawaiian accented: We include Hawaiian elements to give your ceremony a uniquely Hawaiian feel including a conch shell blowing (called a "Pu") by the minister.


Details

When you fill out the Order Form, you're going to select the "Ceremony Type" and the "Ceremony Style".

The "Ceremony Type" is pretty obvious and there will be only one applicable selection. We need to know this to assign the properly licensed officiate.

You'll have several choices for your "Ceremony Style". If you do not make a selection, the default is our "Romantic non-religious ceremony". FYI: We do not do denomination specific ceremonies.

All ceremonies are created to appeal to the greatest number of people and without offense i.e. none include anything which any normal person would object to hearing or repeating in a ceremony. FYI: Some websites scare you into believing you'll hear "obey" or other archaic wording.

All ceremonies are the same in terms of format and differ only in certain parts and wording, Actual wording will vary from officiate to officiate.

Not to worry. Our ceremonies are not mushy or preachy, not a marriage counseling session, do not include archaic wording or religious dogma, and the minister won't make like he's been your long time personal friend. Yup, we've seen it and it can be embarrassing LOL.

We do not have a set written AHW ceremony to share. Why? We don't have "canned" ceremonies LOL. While all ceremonies share the same format, individual wording usually varies for each couple. Also, each of our officiates have their own proprietary ceremony.

All ceremonies start with the blowing of the conch shell (if selected) followed by a short introduction, a few words about marriage, love, and/or commitment.

There will be the required affirmation of intent, the "I do's", which legally must be asked by the officiate.

Next the exchange of rings with an affirmation of commitment followed by a lei presentation and the exchange of any personal sentiments (if desired).

The pronouncement of marriage and the 1st kiss end the ceremony

The decorative certificate and marriage license (if any) are signed and the minister is done.

Without and other ceremony inclusions, this all takes up to about 12-15 max and the rest of your time will be spent doing photos or any other post ceremony extras ordered.



What Happens on Wedding Day?

- Be early, do not be late! If you arrive late or are not ready to proceed at the time scheduled to meet us, your ceremony may be shortened, and if really late and are vendors have to be at another wedding,not at all.

- If yours is a marriage ceremony, you must bring your State of Hawaii Marriage License or Civil Union worksheet to the ceremony.

- The contract schedule lists the latest time we suggest you leave your hotel and the latest time you should be meeting us.

- We'll be waiting for you at the designated "meet spot" indicated in our written instructions and Google map. The coverage start/meet time, is 15 minutes before the ceremony start time unless, the specifics of your event dictate otherwise. That's when you should be standing in front of us and be ready to walk out to the ceremony spot.

- We'll all walk out to the ceremony location together.

- Do not try to find or walk out to the ceremony site before us. We will not see you, look for you, or try to guess if it's you.

- Do not sit in your car and wait for us unless, you are early and just want to stay cool :) If you do arrive early, please make sure you meet us on-time.

- If you're parents or guests are late, we may have a couple minutes to wait but, we will start without them if our vendors have another ceremony. Late fees will apply.

- If you owe a cash balance payment, give it to the lead site vendor usually, the photographer. Please have exact amounts. If you forget the cash, you'll need to make payment after the ceremony by credit card using our website in the amount listed on your contract.

- The officiate and photographer will give you final ceremony instructions just prior to the ceremony. We'll set you up "in-place" or give instructions for a processional if you ordered one. Once everything is set, the ceremony will start.

- Note: Having a processional is not the same as not seeing each other. Both need to be scheduled for on the contract.

- No worries, just relax. Our minister and photographer will guide you through the ceremony.

- After the ceremony, you'll sign the decorative certificate and marriage license (if any), the officiate will certify it, take it from you, and electronically submit it to the State of Hawaii as required by law usually within a day or two.

- Once submitted, the Health Dept. will process and record your license. This may take a couple of days. We have nothing to do with the license after it is submitted.

- If you applied for your license on-line, you'll be able to download a temporary license usually, within 2-3 business days (after it's inputted by the State). Your official certified marriage license will be mailed to you from the Heath Dept. in 30-45 days. If you paid to expedite processing, it will be sooner.



Answers to Common Questions

How long is the ceremony?

After set-up, most ceremonies take about 10-15 minutes depending upon the specifics of your event i.e. sometimes less, sometimes more. Photos after the ceremony will be about another 10 minutes

Can we exchange our own vows in our ceremony?

Yes. We allow couples to exchange sentiments during the lei exchange. With that said, the minister is required by law to ask you, "Do you take XXXX to be your...?" and he must hear it verbalized . This is usually preceded by what some may consider "vows".



Can we see and/or approve the ceremony wording?

No but, be assured that all of our officiates perform a ceremony with nothing that would be objectionable to the average person.

When you get married in a church or by a judge, they don't tell you the words, nor do you get a copy for your inspection and approval. Our officiates operate under the same principles.

Additionally, each minister has their own ceremony memorized, wording is proprietary, actual words spoken vary slightly ceremony to ceremony, and finally, the assigned officiate may be replaced.



Can we get a written copy after the wedding?

No. See above. If you want to remember the exact words spoken, order our video service.



Can we tell the officiate what to say?

No.



Can we speak with the officiate?

No. Direct contact with our vendors is not part of our service and they may be replaced. All questions should be directed through us.



Can we meet the officiate?

A meeting is not necessary before the ceremony and is not included in the cost. Expect a fee of $125 to meet before the ceremony and at the officiates sole discretion.



Do we need to meet with you?

A meeting is not necessary and is not included in the cost. All the details of your event are set on the contract consequently, there shouldn't be any reason to meet and no final details to confirm. Simply, if you need to meet with a company when you get to Hawaii, you've hired the wrong people.



We believe in God but, don't want a really religious ceremony.

No worries. Our Romantic Christian ceremonies are a "lite" version non-denominational religious ceremony.



We're not religious.

Select our romantic non-religious ceremony.

FYI: We do not guaranty that a reference to "God" won't slip out. Our officiates do a lot of all kinds of weddings each day and sometimes the mention of God just comes out. If this is a problem for you, don't book us! Most officiates mention a "higher power", "universe", etc. as part of their ceremony so, if you don't want this either, don't book us. We simply can't allow the outcome of the job hinge upon a inadvertent reference.



Do we need a witness?

The State of Hawaii Marriage License Worksheet does not require a witness to sign or be present at your ceremony.



Can we include our children?

Yes, of course. The simplest way and the way we do it, is to have them participate in a lei presentation or sand ceremony (make sure you order lei or a sand ceremony) and have them sign the decorative certificate. Let the officiate know. Let us know on the Order Form and we'll assign our officiate who is best at this.



Can we use our own Officiate/Minister?

No sorry, we stopped doing that. We've had problems with ministers being late, not starting on-time, having an unnecessarily long ceremony, not understanding or even caring what our other professionals need to happen to create what our clients expect from them.

FYI: Our vendors work as a team and the minister is just one part. Our ministers understand how we like our ceremonies performed and what we expect of our photographers, videographers, musicians, and other vendors. Teamwork enables everyone to perform at the highest level versus other websites who just hire a bunch of people assembled together to do their own thing.



We do not want to see each other.

Come on, it's a beach wedding, get that out of the way before you arrive LOL. But seriously,up to you. It must be scheduled for on your contract. FYI: Ordering a processional alone does not mean you do not want to see each other.




Can we have the ceremony on a spot other than where the minister directs?

Maybe and maybe not. The ultimate decision is left with our vendors . We do not do use what we consider unsafe or possibly problematic areas. If our vendors do agree, you are agreeing to accept all liability for any outcome. For example, if you want to stand on a bolder jetty and our vendors agree, and the rings fall in-between the cracks and are lost, that's on you, not us.