How to Get Married in Oahu

Most of the 20,000 weddings that take place in Hawaii each year are held on the island of Oahu. Although Honolulu is bustling, you can still find secluded spots to say "I do", including white-sand beaches, fragrant gardens and stunning waterfalls.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. See related eHow, "How to Get Married in Hawaii" for general information on requirements for getting married in the state of Hawaii.

2. Visit the official Oahu Visitors site at www.visit-oahu.com/ to find resources and links to wedding services.

3. Decide what kind of wedding you would like to have. The choices are almost limitless, from a traditional church ceremony to a beach wedding. For the more adventurous, there are ceremonies conducted on horseback, while sky diving or while scuba diving.

4. Hire a wedding planner if you can afford it. Wedding planners are worth it, especially if you don't reside on the island and are planning from afar.

5. Choose a venue for the wedding. Popular Oahu wedding spots include Waialae Beach Park, Magic Island, Moli'i Gardens at Kualoa Ranch on the North Shore, the waterfall gardens at the Pagoda Hotel and Kakaako Waterfront Park near Honolulu. You can also choose one of many hotels and resorts in the area.

6. Get a marriage license.

7. Enjoy your day!

Tips & Warnings

• You can apply for a marriage license on Oahu at the Department of Health Building, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. For information, call [phone].
• Start planning your Oahu wedding at least six months in advance.
• High-end hotels with wedding facilities in Honolulu include the Halekulani, the Hale Koa, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental, the Hawaii Prince, the Royal Hawaiian and the Outrigger Waikiki.
• Oahu in general has more of a "party" atmosphere than the other islands, with lots of things for tourists to do. This may or may not be a plus, depending on what you have in mind.
• History buffs will want to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, the Bishop Museum and the Iolani Palace. For a taste of the local culture, plan a trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center at Laie.

[shiho]

on 9/10/2008 This site has a lot of pictures of Hawaii weddings. You can see and plan how your wedding will be.
http://www.wedaloha.com

on 8/8/2006 I am forever grateful that my wedding planner informed us to make sure we arrived in Oahu at least two days prior to our Saturday wedding.

Our flight was delayed and instead of arriving on Thursday, we didn't get in until Friday. Fortunately, we still had time to get our marriage license on Friday, as the Department of Health is closed on the weekend.