Oahu Dream Weddings

Our ceremonies follow a basic traditional western and American wedding format. We also offer Hawaiian elements 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: To be legally married in Hawaii requires a marriage license issued by the State of Hawaii Health dept. Read more  here.

Note: Your home country may require an additional document called an Apostille to be recognized. Please check your marriage laws. Read more here.

- Vow Renewal: You do not need a marriage license if you're already legally married in the USA or your home country and are just doing a renewal or ceremony recreation.

Ceremony Styles:

- Romantic: A non-religious ceremony. No mention of "God".

- Christian non-denominational: A Christian based non-denominational western style ceremony.

- Hawaiian accented: We include Hawaiian elements to give your ceremony a uniquely Hawaiian feel. This is available for both Romantic and Christian ceremonies. FYI: Aboriginal Hawaiians did not get married so, while there are elements that have been added (like the lei exchange) there is no "traditional" Hawaiian marriage.

- Extras

- Our "Hawaiian Salt & Bowl Ring Blessing" adds a local touch to the ring blessing.

- The "Sand Mixing Ceremony" represents the blending of two people (or family) and can also be used for including children. We suggest purchasing colored sand and decorative container on Amazon or other website.

- In the "Children Inclusive Ceremony", the minister will include your children in some part of the ceremony. A lei presentation or sand mixing adds to the inclusion..

- A "Bride Processional" is pretty simple and would start a short distance away with the minister and groom waiting. 
 

Details

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

Select "Ceremony Type" so we assign the properly licensed officiate.

There are several choices for "Ceremony Style". If you do not make a selection, the default is our "Romantic non-religious ceremony".

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.

All ceremonies are the same format and differ only in certain parts and wording (marriage or renewal).

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

We do not have a set written ceremony or "canned" words to share. While all ceremonies share the same format, individual wording usually varies for each couple as it should. 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 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 minutes and the rest of your time will be spent doing photos or any other post ceremony extras ordered.

 

What Happens on Wedding Day?

 - Arrive before or by the "ceremony start time" which is 15 minutes before the actual ceremony. Do not be late! 

Note: If you arrive late OR are not ready to proceed at the time scheduled to meet us, your ceremony may be shortened or happen not at all.

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

- We'll be waiting for you at the designated "meet spot" indicated in our written instructions and Google map we'll email to you.

Note: The coverage start/meet time is 15 minutes before the ceremony start time unless, we schedule otherwise. That's when you need to be ready to walk out to the ceremony spot.

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

- If you owe a cash balance payment, give it to our lead site vendor, the photographer.

- 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 must be scheduled 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/or the marriage worksheet, the officiate will certify it with his signature, take it from you, and electronically submit it to the State of Hawaii as required by law.

- Once submitted, the Health Dept. will process and record your license. This may take a couple of days or more.

- 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 processed and recorded by the State. Your official marriage license will be mailed to you from the Heath Dept. in 30-45 days unless, you paid extra at the time of application to expedite processing.
 

How long is the ceremony?

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 15-20 minutes

Can we exchange our own vows in our ceremony?

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 or tell them what to say?

No and we don't have any to share sorry.

Ceremonies are individual to the minister. Our minister has variations of his ceremony memorized and he does like to personalize it to the couple consequently, the actual words spoken vary slightly ceremony to ceremony. Also, the basic structure and wording is proprietary by the minister.

With that said, be assured that all of our officiates perform a ceremony with nothing that would be objectionable to the average person for the type and style of ceremony you've selected.

Note: When you get married in a church or by a judge, they don't give you the words for your inspection and approval. Our officiates operate under the same principle.


Can we get a written copy after the wedding?

No. If you want to remember the exact words spoken, order our video service or record on your phone.


Can we speak with the officiate?

Direct contact with our vendors is not part of our service. All questions should be directed through us.


Can we meet the officiate?

There will be time before the ceremony. Unlike a church wedding or one with unique religious practices, a meeting is not necessary and is not included in the cost of your ceremony package. 


Do we need to meet with you?

No, a meeting is not necessary and is not included in the cost of your package. 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. If you have any questions, call or email us.

Note: If you need to meet with a website company to discuss final details, your event has not been planned as it should.


We're not religious.

Select our "Romantic" ceremony which is a non-religious ceremony. Simply, we do not include God.

Note: We do not guaranty that a reference to "God" won't slip out. Our officiates do a lot of weddings each day and sometimes the mention of God just comes out. If this is a problem for you, please don't book us. We simply can't allow the outcome of a job to hinge upon a inadvertent reference to God that some people are opposed to.


Do we need a witness?

No. 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. We also have a simple "children" ceremony where the minister brings them forward and includes them.


Can we use our own Officiate/Minister?

No. We have own own minister. If you have a parent or relative who is a minister, he/she can be incorporated into the ceremony at some point by our minister.

Note: Our vendors work as a team. Our ministers understand what we expect of our photographer, videographer, musician, 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.

Can you get that out of the way before you arrive? LOL. Seriously, up to you. This must be noted on your contract so, we can provide the proper scheduling, meet spot, time, set-up, and have our vendors prepared for this. 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 or photographer directs?

The ultimate decision is left with our vendors. We do not do use unsafe or possibly problematic areas. If our vendors agree to your request at their sole discretion, 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. Happened!