Step1
Include variations of Christian-Protestant traditions in your ceremony - traditional for most Hawaiian weddings. Plan for the ceremony to include a combination of English and Hawaiian.
Step2
Select a white holoku (Hawaiian wedding dress) for the bride to wear.
Step3
Choose a white shirt and pants with a colored sash for the groom's wedding attire.
Step4
Order maile leis (garlands made out of fragrant green leaves) for both of you to wear. The lei symbolizes "aloha" and how ancient Hawaiians communicated with nature.
Step5
Request that the bride's lei be woven with pikake (white jasmine) and the groom's made from ilima (a flower with very thin yellow-orange petals).
Step6
Provide leis for the mothers of the bride and groom to wear. Triple strands of pikake are a good choice.
Step7
Follow an early Hawaiian tradition by having someone blow into a conch shell three times at the start of the ceremony to signify the Lord's divine presence.
Step8
Incorporate ethnic customs that reflect the rich mix of cultures in Hawaii. Look to Filipino, Chinese and Japanese cultures for ideas. For instance, you might incorporate the Chinese tradition of setting off fireworks to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the marriage.
Step9
Plan a money dance (called a Pandango), which is a Filipino custom used at most Hawaiian weddings. During the bride and groom's first dance, money is taped together and wrapped around the bride and groom. The dance continues until all the guests have a chance to contribute to wish the couple good luck.
Step10
Fold 1,001 origami (tsurus) cranes out of metallic paper prior to the wedding. The crane lives for 1,000 years and represents good luck, good fortune, longevity, happiness, fidelity and peace.
Step11
Order a Hawaiian wedding cake made of wheat flour. The wheat, known as the "staff of life," symbolizes the start of your new relationship together.
Step12
Cut the first slice of the cake together to show your commitment to share whatever path lies ahead. Then feed each other a small piece as a way to show that you will love, honor and respect one another.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 In a traditional Hawaiian wedding the bride does not have to wear a veil. Instead, she can wear a wreath of fragrant flowers like a crown around her head. Leis can be given instead of boutonnières to the parents and grandparents of the bride and groom. The nice thing is these flowers actually dry pretty well (if done right), and can remain beautiful and fragrant.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 The only place to have a Hawaiian wedding is in the Fern Grotto on the isle of Kauai. Check it out. There's probably a long waiting list, but it'll be worth the wait.