THE ULTIMATE MAUI ELOPEMENT 10-STEP PLANNING GUIDE
2021 IS THE YEAR OF ELOPEMENTS
(And 2022/23 will be too)
An elopement is an intimate wedding that keeps the focus on you as a couple, rather than the production of a traditional wedding. With the state of our world amidst a global pandemic, many couples are trading in their larger-than-life celebrations for smaller, romantic elopements and micro weddings.
Why Should You Elope in Maui?
Maui is the perfect destination for couples looking to elope in paradise. From beautiful beaches for your ceremony, excellent restaurants, tons of outdoor activities, and great hotels - Maui has everything you can dream of for a Hawaii elopement!
With so much to offer, Maui is both the perfect place to elope and the ultimate vacation destination. You can take your wedding photos on a beach or underneath the palm trees before enjoying some of Maui's delicious cuisine and retiring to a romantic hotel.
If you’re not sure how to even start planning your Hawaii elopement, you’re in the right place.
We’ll show you the best places to elope, how to get your marriage license, and recommend you the best Maui elopement vendors!
PRE-PLANNING CHECKLIST
If planning your Maui elopement is causing you stress, we're here to help.
Ahead, you'll find our ultimate step-by-step guide for eloping in Maui.
#1 - Book your Travel & Accommodations
Don’t wait too long to book your travel – especially if you are set on staying at a specific resort or Airbnb! Accommodations in Hawaii fill up fast, especially during popular times of the year, so the sooner you book, the better. From the Four Seasons Resort Maui to Andaz Maui at Wailea, there are plenty of romantic resorts and hotels to stay at during your elopement.
Here you can find some of my favorite resorts on Maui, since you’ll already be in paradise, make a honeymoon out of it! And therefore, you’ll want to enjoy it at its bests.
As for airfare, the price can range drastically from one airline to another. But I do recommend Hawaiian Airlines since they have their own partnership with a COVID testing facility, which will make your process easier. Read more on this here.
Another option is with American Airlines, but this will only work if you have a stop at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), with CareNow Rapid Testing.
> DON’T FORGET ABOUT RENTING A CAR, YOU’LL NEED ONE
#2 - Got your wedding dress?
Of course, there’s no wedding without one? Who would be so bold? So yeah, you should probably start thinking about one if you haven’t already.
And since you’ll be digging deep on Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, you might as well create a vision board for your wedding day, in search of photos of locations, colors, outfits, flowers, decor, etc.
Think about what you want your wedding day to feel like and remember, the sky's the limit with an intimate elopement!
MAUI ELOPEMENT PLANNING CHECKLIST
Now is where the fun starts, let’s start planning what really matters. Your elopement!
#3 - Pick your Maui Ceremony Location
The location is the main reason why you’ll be eloping to Maui, am I right? So, finding the perfect location for you is key! Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Makena Cove
Also known as “Secret Cove”, Makena Cove is a breathtaking elopement spot tucked away behind a lava rock wall. The location offers a beautiful white sand beach, palm trees, and dramatic black lava rocks that will make your wedding day truly extraordinary!
White Rock Beach
White Rock Beach or otherwise known as Palauea Beach, is located on the South Shore of Maui. What really sets White Rock apart from other elopement destinations is its soft golden sands and backdrop of the neighboring islands, perfect for photos and video!
Ironwoods Beach, Kapalua
This hidden gem located in West Maui is perfect for an elopement ceremony due to its off-the-beaten-path location. Lava cliffs border the beach, and there is also a beautiful boardwalk that connects the beach to the private residences and condos.
Some more of my top recommended Maui beaches here.
But if you are still indecisive, one of our main jobs as a videographer is to make beautiful images, so we do know the differences between them and can totally help you out to find the right one for you.
#4 - Get your beach permit (Wiki Permit)
Once you’ve decided on a ceremony location, you’ll need to get a permit in order to perform any commercial activities during your wedding (Officiating a wedding, photographing a wedding, filming a wedding… you get the idea).
It only costs $20 for 200sq ft, and an additional $0.10 per extra sq ft. (But 200sq ft should do it for an elopement)
It’s a simple online process and you can find out more about it here.
You don’t want to accidentally break local rules and end up with an unfortunate ticket or fee on your wedding day!
If you have any doubts, check the Wiki Permit FAQs here.
>> Once you have it, send the permit to your vendors.
*If you hire me as your videographer, I’ll be able to take care of the permit for you.
#5 - APPLY FOR A Marriage License
The marriage license fee in Hawaii is $65. Luckily, the State of Hawaii has a very simple online system to issue marriage licenses that makes it easy for out-of-state couples to fill out and pay.
Maui marriage license application website here.
However, you will have to finalize your license in-person with a state marriage license agent so be sure to build in time to do this after your arrival!
Your officiant will do the last step of the process once it’s been signed after your ceremony. They can also be very helpful if you have any doubts during the application process.
Ernest Puaa, Maui minister.
#6 - Find the right officiant for you
The bare minimum you’ll need to get you married is; your partner and an officiant.
Here you’ll find a list of some of my favorite Maui officiants. I do suggest watching some wedding videos with them in it since each one has its own style.
#7 - Plan Your Elopement in full
What happens before you say “I do”?
Will you be getting ready in your hotel room? Let your hair and makeup artist know where you’ll be staying, and your florist to deliver the arrangements for you. (Extra tip: Let all your vendors know who your other vendors are, sometimes they can connect beforehand and simplify some of the processes for you)
Will anything special be happening? Will you two exchange gifts and/or letters? Would you want any of this to be covered by your photographer and videographer? If so, consider this when booking them for the extra coverage
How about after the ceremony? Do you want a sunrise or sunset backdrop, or it doesn’t matter? Consider this when choosing the ceremony time.
Maui ceremonies usually last between 20 to 30minutes long, so aim to start them at least 1 hour before sunset, that would leave you an extra 30 minutes to capture some photos/video, ending at sunset.
Stop for a moment and imagine you’ve just been delivered your wedding video.
What do you envision? What parts of your whole wedding day were included and you would like to remember? This will help me to understand what you are looking for, and suggest to you what package would best fit your expectations.
Once you’ve booked your vendors, be sure to connect with them and tell them your elopement vision. This is where your inspiration board will come in handy to show them your vision and details so they can bring it to life!
Jennica Lowell in action.
#8 - Secure your Photographer & Videographer
I know I said the bare minimum is your partner and the officiant, but who’s eloping on one of the most beautiful places on earth, to not get any memories of it? So a videographer and photographer should be next on your list.
Weddings are typically shared with loved ones and eloping shouldn’t be any different. Since your family and friends won’t be with you, hiring a Maui videographer and photographer is essential. Not just so that your loved ones can experience your wedding day, but for you and your partner to re-watch and treasure it for years to come.
Your photographer and videographer can be heavily involved with planning your elopement if you allow them, so secure them first. It’s also important to select a videographer and photographer that you’re genuinely excited to spend the day with, so be sure to pick someone with who you truly connect. If possible schedule a Zoom call with them first!
I’ll be glad to chat with you, talk about your wedding day, and even give you any pointers if you need them.
#9 - Book THE REST OF your Vendors
After finding your location, you can start booking some of Maui’s most talented local vendors.
At a minimum, I recommend a videographer, photographer, hair and makeup artist, and florist.
#10 - Plan YOUR Honeymoon Activities
As I mentioned before; “since you’ll already be in paradise, make a honeymoon out of it!”
These are some of the activities that you should consider while you are visiting Maui:
Whale Or Dolphin Watch. (December-April)
One of my favorite activities, I’ll never get tired of themDrive through the Road to Hana.
Some of my MUST stops are; 7 sacred pools, Pipiwai Trail (a 3hr round-trip hike, but so worth it), red sand beach, and black sand beach.Go snorkeling at the Molokini crater.
Or scuba diving.Visit Wailea or Kapalua.
Depending on which side of the island you are staying on, make sure to visit the other one.
(Check my recommended Maui beaches here)Play one round at the famous PGA Golf Course of Kapalua.
If you are a golfer, you don’t want to miss this opportunity while you’re here.Enjoy a Romantic Dinner at the best Local Restaurants.
Check my recommended Maui restaurants here.Watch the sunset at Haleakala.
Sunrise is the most typical, but it gets really crowded (And you’ll have to wake up REALLY early for it)
ONCE YOU’re DONE WITH THIS CHECKLIST,
YOU CAN Send Elopement Announcements
After you’ve tied the knot, send your loved ones the good news! You can do this by sending a card announcing your marriage or plan a dinner party, and announce it to everyone there. You can get as creative as you want!
I do offer video live streaming services in case you want to give them the great news that they can also be part of it!
If you are wondering
HOW MUCH WILL A MAUI elopEMENT COST ME?
The cost of eloping on Maui will come down to your budget. The only required expense is the $65 marriage license fee. Anything beyond that is up to you and what you envision.
I have a fully detailed Maui Elopement’s Cost blog post.
But down here you’ll see an average Maui elopement cost sample:
A “COMPLETE” ElOPEMENT
average price
”1”-Hour Elopement
(Starting prices)
Marriage License fee: $65
Beach Permit: $20
Officiant/Minister: $375
Photographer (1hrs): $1,500
Videographer (1hrs): $1,900
Floral (Bouquet + Maile Lei + Orchid Lei): $500
Hair & Makeup: $425
-
Subtotal: $4,785
+4.166% HI State Tax: $199
Total: $4,984
*(rounded numbers)
This does not include travel and accommodation costs since this varies and does not include any costs related to food or local activities.
SAVE $800
with Let’s Get Maui’d
*EXACT SAME PACKAGE COSTS;
Total: $4,166
(tax included)
*Savings at $1,700 and they’ll plan it and coordinate the officiant and photographer.
Maui Elopement Inspiration
Still looking for inspiration for your Maui elopement?
Check out the films and stories from some of the 200+ weddings I’ve filmed in Hawaii here.
DO YOU NEED A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER IN MAUI?
If you’re interested in having me capture your elopement in paradise, I’d love to get to know you better.
Click here to get in touch and secure your elopement date now!