━ Big Island Wedding Help ━
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Married on the Big Island
Everything you're wondering about getting married on the Big Island — permits, marriage licenses, weather, timing, and the difference between an elopement and a group wedding. Answered by Kona Wedding Officiant®.
Your Questions
What couples
ask us most.
1 Do I need a wedding permit?
2 What if it rains?
3 How do I get a marriage license?
4 Best time for my wedding?
5 Sunrise or sunset fees?
6 Elopement or group wedding?
Yes. In order for your wedding to be legal on the Big Island of Hawaii, a permit is required for most locations. Kona Wedding Officiant® will obtain this permit for you, or assist you in obtaining it, depending on your chosen location.
A Special Use Permit is required for some beaches, State Parks, and all waterfall locations — so please contact us to discuss these locations.
We love the Big Island for its incredible weather — and often, weather passes quickly. We recommend you heed our advice regarding best practices for weather. If needed, we will change locations to a Plan B.
Typically for Adventure Elopements, we proceed with the date and time as planned, since the couple and team have traveled distances to be on location. In the unusual event of long-lasting weather systems, we will reschedule your wedding for another location or date.
Kona Wedding Officiant® will assist you with obtaining your marriage license by sending you the link to Hawaii Vital Records, and then filing your marriage license after your wedding. If you need help scheduling with an agent, please let us know.
For the full step-by-step process, costs, and licensing agent contacts, see our complete Hawaii marriage license guide.
We recommend ceremonies before 10am to avoid heat and crowds, and two hours before sunset for the best light — and the enjoyment of the sunset itself! Times vary by location.
Keep in mind that the sun rises in East Hawaii (the Hilo side) and sets in West Hawaii (the Kona–Kohala side). This matters a great deal when planning your ceremony location and time.
We do not have sunset fees. We do have a sunrise fee, which is per vendor and applies to times within 90 minutes of sunrise:
$550
Sunrise fee — locations in Kailua-Kona
$850
Sunrise fee — locations outside Kailua-Kona
Our Elopements are for couples. Our Group Weddings are for groups of 3 to 25 or more.
At the beach we service groups of 3 to 25, and at private venues we service groups over 25 with some additional fees. Our Black Sand Beach and Waterfall Adventure Elopements & Weddings are booked as separate packages and can be viewed here.
Planning A Big Island Wedding
With Kona Wedding Officiant®
Getting married on the Big Island of Hawaii is easier than most couples expect, but a few details — permits, licenses, timing, and weather — make all the difference between a smooth day and a stressful one. Kona Wedding Officiant® has guided more than 1,000 couples through every one of these questions since 2017, and we handle the details so you can simply enjoy the moment.
Permits & Locations
Most Big Island ceremony locations require a permit, and waterfall and many State Park sites require a Special Use Permit. We obtain or assist with the right permit for your chosen spot — explore our wedding services to see how each ceremony type is handled, and reach out anytime to talk through specific beaches or adventure locations.
Marriage License & Legal Requirements
Hawaii has no waiting period and no residency requirement, so the legal side is simple. We send you the application link, help you book your in-person licensing appointment if needed, and file the signed license after your ceremony. The complete walkthrough lives on our Hawaii marriage license guide.
Still Have Questions?
If your question isn't answered here, we'd love to help. Reach Deanna and the team at konaweddingofficiant@gmail.com or call (808) 209-6275, learn more about Deanna DiMichele and our Hawaii wedding officiant team, or schedule a free planning consultation. Aloha!
Keep Exploring
Plan The Rest Of Your Big Island Wedding
Legal
Hawaii Marriage License
The complete step-by-step guide to getting your marriage license for a Big Island wedding.
Weddings
Hawaii Wedding Packages
Group weddings for 3 to 25+ across the Big Island's most beautiful beaches and venues.
Elopements
Big Island Elopements
Just the two of you and the ocean — intimate, romantic elopement packages for couples.
All Services
Our Wedding Services
From officiant-only ceremonies to vow renewals and adventure weddings — see it all.
Officiant
Kona Wedding Officiant
Your local Kona–Kohala coast officiant team for legal, heartfelt ceremonies.
Meet The Team
Officiant Deanna DiMichele
Founder, licensed minister, and lead officiant of Kona Wedding Officiant® since 2017.