Dream on and discover the Garden Island of Kauai, the most lush and beautiful of all the isles with broad sandy beaches and emerald colored mountains standing nobly over the azure seas below.

When reality settles in, and practical planning means searching the internet for bargains, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn there is such a thing as an affordable Kauai Hawaii Wedding. But, it does take planning and research, plus a bit of flexibility to match your vision and budget with what is available in travel and lodging, car rental, and most importantly, a wedding package from a reputable local professional wedding coordinator.

Airfare and lodging will be, by far, the most expensive part of the total budget. The cost will be inversely proportional to how much work you do checking with travel agents, airlines, hotels, bed-and-breakfast agents, even a wedding coordinator you have chosen. The season has a lot to do with all these prices, but generally speaking the seasons don’t affect prices of wedding services on Kauai. The “high season” for lodgings and airlines starts around mid April and tapers off after the New Year. Do your homework and you can really save some money.

Planning a Kauai Budget Wedding

Things like flowers, limos, restaurants, photographers and videographers don’t usually vary in price with the seasons, it’s just that their availability may be greater. Think about what you really want for your special day because the sky’s the limit when you start adding a lot of extras. If just you and your beloved are going to be at the ceremony, maybe all you need is a license ($60 at Department of Health, Kauai office 808-241-3498), a minister/officiate and a beach. All beaches in Hawaii are public, therefore free of charge and a minister can cost as little as $150-$200. Pick up a pair of beautiful flower lei at a local flower shop, or even cheaper at most supermarkets on the island and that is a truly low budget wedding in paradise.

Should you wish to add more to the great memories this day will induce, such as photography, video, musician, etc., your best bet is to find a local wedding coordinator. They will know the most reliable people to engage and be able to set up a license appointment near where you are staying and a location that will fulfill your vision that you may not be able to find yourself (though it can be a lot of fun exploring the island looking for that perfect spot. As you can see, it is entirely possible to create a truly affordable Kauai Hawaii Wedding.

Usually when it does rain it it is a gentle warm rain, often sunny at the same time in which case you’ll be blessed with a magnificent rainbow. It’s really a matter of luck and flexibility on your special day, and a lesson in letting the joy of love during the ceremony rise above these trials as you will be challenged to do in the years to come of your marriage.

Hawaiian Blessings

Hawaiians consider rainfall a blessing from the gods on a wedding day. Of course you don’t want too much rain, just a sprinkle. If you do not live in Hawaii, you would be well advised to pick a professional wedding coordinator on the particular island of your choice who knows about these factors and can put together the best package possible for your budget.

Even more importantly, the wedding planner will be able to recommend a reliable wedding photographer to get those ultimate shots just as the sun goes down. On each island there are locations on the north and south shores with great sunset views, often better than westerly shore locations. Between the local coordinator and photographer, they should be able to recommend the perfect site for the size and theme of your wedding.

The photographs of your Hawaii sunset wedding are a critical consideration when it comes to planning the precise timing of the celebration. When the sun sets, from when it is hanging just above or on the horizon line, there is less than a fifteen minute envelope of time to set up the classic keepsake shots. This is perfect light for a photographer with the right equipment and a good eye for setting up memorable poses. It is not, however, good light for all the rest of their photos; ceremony, group shots, formal poses, candid moments, portrait and beauty set up shots.

Be sure to schedule the ceremony early enough to allow the photographer time to compose the ultimate Hawaii sunset wedding photos just as the sun dips into the darkening Pacific Ocean.

For the purposes of this article about planning a small wedding, however, here are a few tips for a wedding with just the bride and groom plus maybe two to four guests. Often a wedding couple plans a full blown reception party back in the hometown, full of family and friends, balloons and a band and party favors, but chooses to have a destination wedding in a location of their dreams; just a quiet ceremony with a trusted minister. This simplicity need not be without some elegant trappings to make the event memorable, fun and profound.

Start with Location and Budget

Small Wedding Planning

Planning a small wedding begins by choosing a location and date. Figure out a realistic budget and then figure in a little fudge margin. It’s recommended, just from a romantic getaway standpoint, to choose a location as far away and different from hometown as can be afforded. A bed and breakfast in California, an island in the Caribbean or the dream romantic wedding in Hawaii, wherever the heart and imagination may call, find a local wedding coordinator to help with the details. These details may include a limo, dinner reservations, flowers, musician at the ceremony site and the minister. Just because this is a small wedding doesn’t mean it can’t fulfill a bride’s and a groom’s fantasies.

A small wedding focuses attention on the intimate relationship of the bride and groom without all the pomp and circumstance of a major production full of anxiety and glitz. The central theme becomes the vows themselves, written in whole or part by the most important people in the world for that moment in that place, the bride and groom. Try and talk to or exchange e-mails directly with the minister a week or two ahead of time to find out ahead of time what the ceremony he or she uses sounds like. There is nothing wrong with changing the wording of the ceremony to be more congruent with personal vows the bride and groom have written.

Finally, when planning a small wedding, don’t forget about photography, and possibly video. The folks back home and future generations are going to want to see what occured, especially since they were not there. It’s possible to even make a stack of postcards out of one of the wedding photos to send out to all those closest friends.

This is one of the most important events in your life, so a video of the occasion is going to be viewed many times, perhaps by several generations of family and friends. The key to getting a quality video is the level of experience of the person behind the camera, even more than the quality of the camera (though that is not to be underestimated).

When searching for an experienced videographer, don’t be shy about asking questions. It’s very important that you like the person who’ll be mingling with your guests and working closely on this emotionally charged day. The way he or she answers your questions will tell you a lot about their personality.

Now, what questions need to be asked? First ask how long they’ve been in business and how long they’ve been working in video or film. Will the person you’re talking to be the camera person and if not, how experienced is the person who will actually be your wedding videographer?

What kind of cameras do they use? What’s called a three chip digital camera, either mini-DV or DV format has become pretty much the standard of the industry these days. One chip cameras can still provide a good image, but not as good. S-VHS or Hi8 were once the format of choice for weddings and even local news stations, but they are not easily compatible with digital editing. More on that later. If the company is using VHS (the same tape you put in your home player) politely say goodbye.

Ensuring Your Audio Video Quality

The audio on your wedding video is crucially important. If you can’t understand what’s being said, it doesn’t matter how smooth the camera moves are. At least one wireless lavaliere microphone should be used and two is better; one for the minister and one on the groom. They should be professional grade UHF, especially outdoors as UHF is less susceptible to interference.

Lighting may be a consideration, but unless the event is at night or in a very dim church, the latest three chip cameras work surprisingly well in low light situations.

Ask what kind of editing system will be used to make the final product. Nonlinear editing basically means editing on a computer. This is the best way to go, because the image on the completed edit will be just as crisp as the tape from the camera. The alternative is a tape to tape copying method causing your video to lose a bit of quality with each “generation”.

When the edit is done, have them put it on DVD even if you don’t have a DVD player. It may cost an extra hundred dollars or so, but it will last longer than your tape copy.
So you can let Uncle Harry have fun with his new camera, but a professional wedding videographer will make your memories come alive for years to come.

Once freed from the restraints of traditional vows, the challenge becomes one of choosing elements from the infinite tumbling stream of words and images from each person’s history, memory and creativity of mind. Sometimes you can do this together. That is, you can sit together (or email back and forth) with a pile of books of prose, poetry and quotes that have been meaningful or inspirational that you want to share with the other and with all who will be in attendance. Or perhaps you will each explore your newly discovered personal landscape of love in private and surprise the other on your special wedding day.

Revelations of Love

However, these collections of quotes and phrases should serve as an inspirational jumping off point to plumb the depths of your own feelings, hopes and desires. Far more important than your own feelings even, may be the beauty you can see only in the other that no one else can possibly see. This beauty is only revealed as a reflection in the mysterious pool of love that lies between the two of you.

From these revelations of love the two of you share, can spring the wording of vows to be spoken aloud giving them the power to under gird the commitments you pledge to each other. Furthermore, spoken vows from the deepest recesses of the heart can be a touchstone of strength to be recalled in the trying years ahead. When these words founded in joy and devotion are recalled, they can open a gate of power, a flood of memory about the profundity of your lives together.

One recommendation, however, is that you do write your non-traditional wedding vows out and even rehearse them before the special day. Unless you are an experienced lecturer used to delivering your insights extemporaneously, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable, even amongst those who love you, if you know what you’re going to say ahead of time. You’re expressions of love can then burst into spontaneous utterances more memorably when they are based upon a foundation you’ve thought carefully about.

Beach weddings can be as simple as just the two of you and a minister, or as elaborate as any church wedding complete with tuxedo and full gown, teary guests, bridesmaids and groomsmen, champagne, cake and a tossed bouquet. Because Hawaii is world famous as an ideal destination wedding location, there are lots of companies specializing in wedding services. However, since it is so far away, over two thousand miles from the west coast of the mainland of the United States, for a celebration of any size you would be well advised to hire the services of a local professional wedding coordinator who will know the most reliable photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, musicians, etc.

The Hawaii Lei Exchange

For even the simplest ceremony some of the flavor of Hawaii will make your special day even more memorable. Lovely Hawaiian lei for everyone can be given away in a traditional lei exchange ceremony conducted by the bride and groom or the minister in charge. A local Hawaiian musician playing guitar or ukulele and singing songs of your choice or some of the many classic Hawaiian tunes can set a mood of romance and enchantment. Many musicians will also blow a conch shell to begin and conclude the celebration, a tradition as ancient as the Hawaiian people.

All beaches in the Hawaiian Islands are public and free of any fees for their use. However, prohibitions against alcohol and loud music are strictly enforced on the most popular beaches. A simple champagne toast and musician are tolerated, but plan on holding your reception somewhere else or at a private estate overlooking the beach. There are also numerous public parks along some of the island’s beaches with restrooms, covered pavilions and places to erect a large tent or canopy. These require a permit to reserve which is free but needs to be booked well in advance.

A Hawaii beach wedding can be the greatest romantic adventure of your life, so dream on and make it come true.

Because your marriage cannot be sanctioned by the state you do not need a license or a licensed minister. This means you can have a friend lead the ceremony or even do it just between yourselves. Still, it adds power to your words and vows to recite them in front of a third party, so search the internet and find a coordinator who has no reservations about a same sex wedding. They can also help you find a location, get flowers, limo, cake, champagne, music, etc.

Same Sex Church Weddings

If you do want a formal church wedding, remember not all ministers or officiates will perform same gender ceremonies, it is a matter of personal conviction for the individual to decide. Many churches will not sanction them or allow the ceremony in their facilities.

For a same sex marriage try contacting the Unitarian-Universalist Association, the Metropolitan Community Church or the United Church of Christ. In the Jewish faith try the Reformed Association.

Writing vows is the heart of any marriage ceremony. Any officiate you find will have some standard vows, but since the whole affair is so very personal and not legally sanctioned, you are free to dispense with tradition and speak wholly from the heart. Also, you can include just about any kind of favorite ritual, traditional or completely made up between yourselves in the choreography of the event itself.

Hand binding rituals (as seen in the Mel Gibson movie Braveheart) are very popular these days. Include some of your favorite music to make your Hawaii same sex wedding especially memorable. You and your beloved are taking a courageous untraditional step, so feel free to customize the celebration to your very personal tastes.

Of course, one way to get good wedding photography in Hawaii is to hire a local professional photographer who specializes in weddings. Because Hawaii is a photographers dream situation, the local phone books and especially the internet are full to bursting with photographers. With the internet you can at least see some of the photos best work and get an idea of their style and, more importantly, prices. If you want some formal, studio portraits only a professional can provide them, so unless you have a cousin in the business and want to fly him over and put him up in a hotel, find a local photographer.

Why Choose a Hawaii Local Photographer

Another advantage to hiring a local photographer is they will know where the really great locations are; the best ones are often remote or not on the regular tourist maps. One more consideration is the weather. Hawaii is beautiful because it rains a lot. A local professional will know about seasonal weather patterns on various islands and the likeliness of rain in the area where the celebration will be held. For instance, north shores get more rain than south shores, but have more lush green locations. Again, it all depends on the season as well.There is also another possibility to getting good wedding photography in Hawaii. By following a few guidelines someone in the wedding party can get adequate, maybe even surprisingly memorable photos of the wedding. Perhaps you, the reader of this article, have been called by the bride and groom because you have a good camera and love to shoot.

With a digital camera, be sure to bring an extra memory card or your laptop to download and show the photos. A good flash unit is also highly recommended even if it is very sunny so you can fill in harsh shadows.With a 35mm film camera, again bring a good flash and plenty of batteries. Have three different types of film because the weather and lighting can change rapidly; 100 ASA for bright cloudless sun, 200 ASA for partly cloudy or shade, and 400 ASA for overcast, indoor or evening shooting.

One more thing, and this will make a big difference whether you shoot film or digital; get a circular polarizing filter for all outdoor shooting. This filter can be rotated to eliminate glare off the water and bring out the most spectacular blue in the sky.Have fun getting some great wedding photography in Hawaii.

Hawaii is such a popular wedding destination, there has grown a lively production industry specializing in weddings. Many of these companies use state of art cameras and editing systems that rival the best wedding video production facilities found on the U.S. mainland. Still, there are some questions you need to have answered before you sign a contract and send your money off to to the distant Hawaiian Islands.

Shopping for a video company begins on the internet. Compare prices and determine how elaborate a video you want and can afford. Some companies instruct you to call for a quote. Go ahead and call, but reserve your commitment until you’ve gotten several candidates on your list and have called all of them as well. When you do talk to each of them, make note of how you feel about their manner. Are they friendly and open to answering questions? Remember, they will be mingling with all the most important people in your life and participating in one of the most precious days of your life.

3-Chip Digital Cameras

Look further on the web sites (or ask on the phone) to find out what kind of cameras they use. The best companies today use what are called 3-chip digital cameras or better. Also, the company must be using a nonlinear (meaning computer) editing system. This preserves the same quality of image throughout the editing process as in the original camera tape. However, in the final analysis, it is the talent behind the camera more than the quality of the equipment that makes the difference.

Which brings us to cousin Vinny and his new camera. If this is his first video project where he’s going to learn how to use his new gear, you might think of just letting him go ahead and shoot, but hire the video company as well. But maybe he really does have some experience. There’s a lot to be said for the fact that he knows you and most of the guests. He may get some fun shots an outsider may not. However, you need to ask the same questions you ask a professional outfit. Especially ask what kind of microphones he has. One, or even better, two wireless lavaliere mics are essential. Using the built-in mic on the camera will mean you won’t hear the vows clearly, especially for an outdoor Hawaiian ceremony with wind and possibly surf noise in the background.

Find a balance between budget, expectations of quality, and peace of mind as you decide about your Hawaii wedding video.

The most important consideration is what kind of mood you want to create for the ceremony and celebration afterward. A rule of thumb follows that as the feeling of the wedding lessens in formality, more color can be introduced into the wedding color scheme. Very formal weddings almost dictate classic white for the bride with just a splash of pastels in the bouquet, subdued colors or pastels for bridesmaids dresses, black tuxedos for the groomsmen and black or gray for the groom.

Starting with the Bride’s Dress and Bouquet

Wedding Color Schemes Center on the Bride

As more color and textures are included, they must center around the bride’s dress color and her bouquet. These in turn must be determined by the bride’s taste, of course, but also by her hair color, eye color, and skin tone. Bridesmaids dresses and shoes need to pick up a color of the bride’s color scheme, but not overwhelm the center of attention. It’s a good idea to actually use a color wheel to choose complementary hues in your color scheme. Pick one up at an art supply store or print one out from the internet. Even experienced professionals use them to create soothing consistency throughout.

A lesser, yet still important consideration is the environment of the ceremony and reception. Churches and chapels are often rather dark inside. This can be especially problematic for the photographer and videographer if your wedding color scheme calls for darker colors. The reception hall may also have a definite color dominance; wood paneling, strong color paint on the walls and some dreadful carpeting, for instance. You can’t do much about the carpeting, but if you and your wedding planner make a visit to the locations, you may be able to do something to brighten up the decor to complement the wedding dress.

Don’t forget your guests! You can clue them into the mood and theme of your special day with the wedding invitation. Again, a formal black and white theme can be reflected in an elegant embossed card with gold or silver calligraphy. You might also mention “black tie” if appropriate. A colorful, fun design with some hints of the wedding color scheme will let your guests know the level of informality of the event so they won’t show up overdressed and feel out of place.