How do you elope on the Big Island?

Congratulations on your engagement! We are excited to help you navigate how to elope on the Big Island.  We are experts at helping couple’s elope here in Hawaii. Fourteen years ago, my husband and I were just like YOU. We were two mainlanders who needed help with the where, when, how of planning our Hawaii elopement. Having lived through the experience, we now live in Hawaii and have planned hundreds and hundreds of weddings. We have a LOT of advice to lend.  Here goes!

Why choose a Big Island elopement?

There are MANY reasons to choose a specific Hawaiian island. I could list my favorite things about every island, but I will stick to the Big Island for this post.  Hawaii Island, or most commonly known as the Big Island, it lives up to its name. You could fit ALL the other islands inside the land mass of the Big Island and still have room. It is HUGE, and also less populated, so therefore it has a lot more room for visitors and locals alike.  That means more privacy for your Big Island elopement. Less chance of wall-to-wall beach weddings like you may find on Oahu or Maui.

Location, location, location!  

We are located on the west side of the Big Island! This means we have the most beautiful, unobstructed sunset views nightly.  This is amazing for those of you dreaming about orange and pink skies for your Hawaii wedding photos. You have a MUCH better chance of having this dream become a reality here on the Big Island. Additionally, we also see FAR less rain than many of the islands.  This also means clear skies and beautiful weather 99% of the time.  If rain on your wedding day worries you, a Big Island elopement is a perfect fit for you. Dawn and Mike have also curated a perfect assortment of beaches and locations to choose from.  We rank privacy, ease of driving and parking, walkability, scenery, etc…. We have taken all of these into account to help you pick the perfect place to say “I do”!

Licenses and the legal stuff

Hawaii may be one of the easiest states in the US to get married. To marry in Hawaii, you have to apply for a license and meet with a licensed agent. Once the license has been issued, there is no waiting period before the marriage can take place. So simple! 

Here is a quick list for the Marriage License requirements:

• There are no state residence or U.S. citizenship requirements.
• Blood tests are NOT required.
• The legal age to marry is 18 years for both applicants.
• Applicants 15 to 17 years of age who wish to marry require additional consent forms and a certified copy of a birth certificate.
• Proof of age is required. A valid I.D. or driver’s license may be presented for anyone 19 years of age or over.
• If previously married, proof of original divorce decree or death certificate needs to be presented to the marriage agent by the applicant if the divorce or death was final within 30 days of applying for a marriage license. Usually you just need the dates in which the event occurred (divorce or death) and that is all you will be required to supply.
• You will then fill out the online application and submit payment. The marriage license fee is $60.00 (plus $5.00 portal administrative cost), and make an appointment with a marriage license agent. But don’t worry; we help you with this entire process, including recommendations on agents, etc…

Why choose a Big Island elopement? 

Once you have your license, you’re all set and ready to say “I do”. Call it an elopement, micro wedding, or destination wedding, but we think eloping in Hawaii the best! Elopements by definition or usually 30 or fewer guests. Eloping also offers an intimate wedding experience with your closest family and friends. We believe there are many reasons to choose to elope or plan a destination wedding:

• Skip the headache of planning an elaborate wedding with a huge guest list and massive details to tackle

• Your honeymoon starts right away. No waiting or plane rides required!

• Enjoy a vacation with your closest friends and family. You will spend much more time with them, more than only ONE day.

• Get to do what YOU want and plan around the details that are most important to you

• It saves money! The average wedding now costs over $24,000! Eloping is a budget friendly way to celebrate in paradise!  Price one of our Big Island elopement packages today. Now, compare that against a mainland wedding cost or even a resort wedding package and see the difference!

On myth is you have to sacrifice tradition or it won’t be as beautiful if you elope. That couldn’t be further from reality! We make it as simple or as elaborate event as you’d like. Want to have your first dance on the beach? Of course you can! Have a cake on the beach? Absolutely! We are here to incorporate any traditional elements you with into your Big Island elopement. We are here to help see your vision through from start to finish!

Why hire a local on the Big Island?

Mike and I are your local eyes and ears here on the Big Island. You may wonder why it matters to choose local instead of a mainland copy to plan your Big Island elopement. Because plus we are local and know the best local locations & vendors!

We are the experts on Big Island elopements and Big Island destination weddings. We have also been a part of hundreds of elopements and weddings. Dawn and Mike provide the best possible planning services, guiding you every step of the way. We are a locally run and owned company, run by LOCALS l that actually LIVE in Hawaii. There are now many Hawaii elopement planning services located on the mainland. Unfortunately, they don’t have intimate, hands-on experience of a local. We KNOW all of our beaches, the hidden gems, the vendors, and how to respect the culture. By hiring us, you’re also supporting locals, the local economy, and helping us protect the ‘Aina or land.  We take care of our beaches, our trails, our nature. We also make sure to only hold weddings where it’s legal. Not all mainland companies do.

How can we help plan your Big Island elopement?

Dawn and Mike are able to help you plan the perfect Big Island elopement. Your wedding day should be special and perfect! We never want you sacrificing any of the best parts that a larger wedding would offer. However, we want elopement planning to be as easy as possible! With over 700+ weddings planned, we know just what to do! We also think the Big Island is the perfect location to elope. From pristine white sand, to stunning lava rock shores, this island offers so much more than gorgeous scenery. The size of the Big Island offers more seclusion and privacy too. Additionally, we know all the local gems and when they will be less crowded. We are the experts on sunsets, settings and scenery. We will show you all of the options. You choose your location, and leave the rest of the details to us!

Blog written by Dawn Eicher, professional Hawaii wedding photographer and Big Island Elopement planner here in Hawaii! Mike Eicher is your Big Island Officiant, and will help make your day perfect!