Big Island Elopement Packages: How to Choose the Right Experience

One of the first things couples tell us when they reach out is, “We know we want to elope on the Big Island, but we’re not sure what package is right for us.”

We hear this all the time, and I completely understand. Planning a wedding from thousands of miles away can be overwhelming, especially when you're trying to decide on the right package, beach, officiant, photography, and other details.

That’s why we offer a free consultation. We can talk about what you’re looking for, answer your questions, and go over the different package and location options to help you decide what’s right for you.

Before we talk, though, here’s a little more about how we structure our Big Island elopement packages and what you should consider when choosing one.

Why We Love Doing This on the Big Island

One of my favorite things about getting married on the Big Island is how many completely different locations Hawai’i Island has to offer.

A sunset ceremony at Kuki’o Beach feels completely different from a morning ceremony on the black sand at Kiholo Bay. A waterfall ceremony at Kulaniapia Falls is an entirely different experience from a breezy afternoon at Kikaua Point Park.

If you’re looking to elope on the Big Island of Hawaii, you really can find a location that feels like you.

The island is home to golden sand beaches, black sand, lava rock, turquoise water, lush tropical locations, and even a private waterfall. The Kona side also has some of the best weather in Hawaii, which is one of the reasons so many couples choose to get married here.

How Our Packages Are Structured

We created our Big Island elopement packages so you can choose what is important to you.

Every package includes a licensed officiant, personalized ceremony, beach permit, and Hawaiian leis. From there, you can choose how much photography, florals, music, and videography you want.

• Standard Elopement (from $1,395+tax) — This is our most popular package. It includes extended photography, more retouched images, and fresh flower leis. Most couples choose this because it gives the photographer enough time for the ceremony, family and couple portraits, and those beautiful golden-hour photos.

• Mele (from $1,895+tax) — Standard Elopement plus one hour of live ukulele music.

• Lehua (from $2,049+tax) — Standard Elopement plus a bridal bouquet, boutonniere, premium leis, and haku head crown.

• Nani (from $3,195+tax) — Standard Elopement plus 4K videography and a highlight film.

• Just The Basics (from $995+tax) — This adds our in-house photography, retouched images, and accommodates 2 to 6 guests. It’s a great option if you want the important parts covered without a lot of extras.

You can also customize your package based on what you want. If you don't want certain extras, you don't have to include them. We also have individual items available through our Wedding Shop if there is something specific you'd like to add.

Choosing Your Big Island Wedding Officiant

Your officiant is an important part of your ceremony, so you want to make sure you have someone who is a good fit for you. Every officiant has their own personality and style, and we want you to feel comfortable with the person performing your ceremony.

We have several officiants on our team, and each one has their own style. When you contact us, we can talk about what you're looking for and help you choose the officiant who is the best fit for your ceremony.

As the owner and lead officiant of Kona Wedding Officiant®, Deanna DiMichele performs non-denominational, spiritual, Hawaiian, and Christian ceremonies. I speak with my couples before the wedding so I can get to know them and find out what they want included in their ceremony.

Kona Joe brings faith, warmth, and a natural ease to Christian, non-denominational, and Hawaiian-style ceremonies.

Kahu Tom Fernandez has more than three decades of experience living on the Big Island and brings that connection to the island into his ceremonies, including English and Hawaiian vows and the values of aloha and ohana.

Rev. Libby has been performed weddings since the late 1980s, once owner her own wedding company, and as a seasons officiant, offers spiritual, Hawaiian, a warm and personal approach to ceremonies.

During your consultation, we’ll talk about what you’re looking for and match you with the Big Island wedding officiant whose personality and ceremony style are the best fit for you.

Regardless of which officiant you choose, your ceremony is created for you based off of elements you choose.

Finding the Right Beach

We perform ceremonies at more than 20 locations across the island, this is one of my favorite parts of helping couples plan their wedding.

Our standard packages can take place at beaches throughout West Hawaii, including Kuki’o Beach, Kikaua Point Park, Honl’s Beach, Old Kona Airport Beach, Holualoa Beach and Kua Bay.

If you're looking for something different from a traditional beach, Big Island is home to black sand locations such as Kiholo Bay, Kaimu Beach, Kehena Beach, and Whittington Beach Park.

We also offer ceremonies at Kulaniapia Falls on the Hilo side of the island. The 120-foot waterfall is surrounded by lush tropical scenery and is a great option if you desire something other than a beach ceremony.

When you're deciding on a location, we can go over the different options with you and help you choose a location that works best for what you're looking for.

During your consultation, I’ll ask what you’re envisioning, how comfortable you are with walking or uneven terrain, whether you want a sunset or daytime ceremony, and what kind of setting you naturally gravitate toward. Then I’ll help you narrow it down.

Making It Yours

Every ceremony we perform is designed for each couple.

You can write your own vows, or you can work with your officiant to create something together. Hawaiian traditions such as the blowing of the pu (conch shell), lei exchanges, sand blending, ring blessings, and hand binding are also available at no additional charge.

Our officiants help you to create lasting memories so that you don’t need to overlook the little things. You can include family traditions, special readings, a loved one's words, or anything else that is meaningful to you. These little things can make your ceremony feel personal without making it complicated.

You can also read your vows from a card or your phone. You do not have to memorize them. A lot of couples do this, and it's completely fine.

Those are the details that can make a simple elopement incredibly meaningful.

Before You Book

Before your consultation, it helps to think about a few things:

• Do you want an officiant-only ceremony or photography included?

• Are there two or three beach locations that immediately stand out to you?

• What type of ceremony feels right — Hawaiian, Christian, non-denominational, spiritual, or non-religious?

• Are there any extras that are important to you, such as flowers, videography, or live music?

• Have you started the process of getting your Hawaii marriage license?

You don’t have to have everything figured out before we talk. That’s what the consultation is for.

If you’re planning at the last minute, don’t assume it’s too late. We can usually accommodate last-minute elopements with as little as two days’ notice, thanks to our wonderful team.

Ready to Elope to the Big Island of Hawaii?

Kona Wedding Officiant® has been performing wedding ceremonies on the Big Island since 2017.

We have an in-house team of officiants, photographers, videographers, and musicians, so you don’t have to coordinate a bunch of different vendors yourself.

If you're ready to start planning, give us a call at (808) 209-6275 or email konaweddingofficiant@gmail.com. We can answer your questions, go over the packages, and help you decide what will work best for your wedding.