| There's much to do when you're planning a wedding | | | | both cheapest and most stress-free choice. If you |
| in Hawaii. But as with any destination wedding, a | | | | have more wiggle room, a good wedding planner will |
| special wrinkle is that you'll need to take care of | | | | help you make the most of your money.4) Another |
| many details from far away. And perhaps you've | | | | important item on your checklist is the marriage |
| never been to Hawaii before. All this can pile some | | | | license. Fortunately, Hawaii makes this easy. You'll only |
| frustration onto your planning, but in the end, there | | | | need to arrive a few days in advance, and the only |
| are few places in the world that can compare to the | | | | major requirement is that both the bride and groom |
| Garden Isle of Kauai, Magic Island off Waikiki, or | | | | appear in person. Hawaii doesn't have a waiting period |
| Oahu's Paradise Cove, just to name a few of Hawaii's | | | | or require a blood test, but you'll need enough time |
| many jewels.Here's a quick checklist of things to do | | | | to apply in person on a weekday before the |
| and remember when planning a wedding in Hawaii:1) | | | | wedding.5) You'll also need to research lodging and |
| First, find a location. This is the fun part. Pour over | | | | airfare for your entire party. That means you'll need |
| coffee table travel books at the bookstore -- try the | | | | to manage a pleasant location that offers a fair price |
| "From the Skies of Paradise" series, for example. | | | | for not only for the bridal couple, but for guests as |
| Eventually you'll settle on an island.2) Next, you have | | | | well. Be sure that your planner or other former brides |
| a second decision to make: should you go with a | | | | give the thumbs-up to your lodging before you book |
| resort, a wedding planner, or do it all yourself? For | | | | it.Airline tickets are another major cost, especially if |
| most brides, the best bet is to choose a resort | | | | you're footing the bill for friends and family. You can |
| package, or book a local wedding planner that | | | | buy tickets up to 11 months in advance, and the |
| specializes in destination weddings.An on-site planner | | | | sooner you buy them, the cheaper they are. With |
| should help you pull together every aspect of your | | | | airfare on this scale, try to take advantage of other |
| wedding. They'll recommend vendors, let you know | | | | money-saving tactics such as flying in on a weekday |
| whether that hotel really looks as beautiful as it does | | | | and staying over on a Saturday night.6) Finally, don't |
| in the brochure, and help you work out murky but | | | | forget that the whole charm of a destination |
| important details, such as how to seat your guests | | | | wedding lies in not having to obsess over details. Be |
| at the beach, or how transport your guests from the | | | | sure to research a great wedding planner, but after |
| hotel to the ceremony site. An experienced local | | | | that, be willing to roll with the punches and take what |
| planner can make a huge difference, but you'll want | | | | comes. With a destination wedding, you can often |
| to research her carefully before choosing one. The | | | | actually relax enough to enjoy and remember your |
| last thing you want is to hire someone who "goes | | | | day, which isn't always true with more elaborate |
| dark" on you.It's impossible to tell from a web site or | | | | productions.From choosing your favorite Hawaiian |
| a photo whether a planner is responsive and | | | | island to picking out foot jewelry or beach-style |
| professional. The best way to find a great one is to | | | | invitations, there's plenty to do when it comes to |
| visit destination wedding boards and ask newlyweds | | | | planning a wedding in Hawaii. While a destination |
| for their recommendations.3) Next, you'll want to | | | | wedding is much like any other, they tend to feel |
| consider your budget. Can you pay for close family | | | | more complex simply because of the huge distance |
| and friends to attend your destination wedding, or will | | | | involved. The good news is that you can easily get it |
| they need to pay their own way? If the budget's | | | | all done, especially when you choose a resort |
| tight, one option is to have a very small wedding on | | | | package, or hire an experienced local wedding planner |
| the island and throw a larger reception later, at | | | | who can be your eyes and ears and guide you |
| home.You'll also need to look at the other aspects of | | | | through the requirements and on-site issues.Blake |
| the budget, and consider the fundamental costs of | | | | Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for |
| things like ceremony locale, reception locale, lodging, | | | | continually-updated celebrity |
| catering, your cake and flowers, and any other | | | | wedding news, remarkable beach wedding favors, |
| services involved in your wedding. For very | | | | exclusive hairstyling articles and gorgeous and unique |
| constrained budgets, a small resort package might be | | | | wedding favors. |