Top 10 Wedding Locations in Hawaii (2024)

KAUAI is called The Garden Isle so it stands to reason that this island has a number of breathtaking gardens. The Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens is not an inexpensive place to hold your wedding but it is unbelievably versatile.

There is a residence where your caterer can prepare the meal. So, this spot is a good choice for the reception. Indoors or outdoors depending on your vision. Besides gorgeous gardens, this Na Aina Kai has waterfalls, meadows, forest, beaches on the ocean, and lagoons. It is a photographer’s dream venue. Located on the North Shore this fantastic place is perfect for a memorable wedding with just the two of you or up to two hundred.

The Big Island of HAWAII is known as much for its volcanoes and beaches as it is for the beautiful ranch land. In Hawi, on the Kohala Coast the Puakea Ranch is the perfect place to get hitched on an authentic restored plantation era ranch.

The Kona Beach Bungalows are five luxury vacation houses on the same oceanfront estate in Kailua-Kona where your wedding party can stay and enjoy the festivities too. You can rent one or more or all five! The estate has a lava rock saltwater pool and Jacuzzi with a lushly landscaped yard that overlooks the ocean. It can accommodate up to 34 overnight guests. The location has a fabulous view of the sunset so it would be a great spot to tie the knot as the sun goes down.

MAUI has resorts, churches, lavender fields, botanical gardens and sandy beaches but if your heart is set on a location where you can have the wedding and reception on the water there are several estates that you should consider. One of my favorites is The Kukahiko Estate in Makena. It is family owned for generations with a two bedroom house and fantastic kitchen for your caterer’s use. The patio or lanai area can be used for a dance floor or you can have your reception there.

This location is exotic and the scenery absolutely stunning. Whether you want to say your vows on the rocky beach or the expansive grassy lawn both with the ocean right there, and neighbor islands in the distance you can do so without all the sand getting in the wrong places. If you decide to get married during whale season (mid-December through mid-April) you might be surprised by extra special guests showing up in your photos. Kukahiko Estates is perfect for a smaller wedding and after party in the same place.

Located in Kihei, South Maui Gardens offers a magical setting for a Maui wedding. This large property is a community garden, a working nursery with over 500 species of tropical plants, and an in-the-know Maui event space. This is a fabulous hidden oasis on Maui.

You should check out the Haiku Mill. This is an unbelievable more than a century old historic site. There is old world charm oozing out of every corner of the incredible setting. The ruins of an old sugar mill that was abandoned and left behind were transformed into an elegant European style courtyard with chandeliers and delightfully hand selected French antique décor.

This is another location where you can happily combine the wedding and reception for up to 120 seated 150 guests co*cktail style. There is also a sweet little shabby chic cottage furnished with a flair reminiscent of by-gone days, its available for pre-ceremony preparations.

OAHU has the majority of the state’s population by far and first time visitors to Hawaii usually go there. So, it makes sense that the largest number of wedding venues would be there as well. This fact makes it very hard to choose which ones to recommend, but since we are not looking at resort venues that narrows it down.

For a truly magnificent location that is spacious and private with several options of where to set up for the ceremony Haiku Gardens in Kaneohe is worth checking out. Besides lush colorful tropical gardens there is a Tahitian chapel on the grounds that is perfect for couples who would be too stressed worrying about weather. You can set up inside or outside and if the weather doesn’t cooperate you have a back-up location.

The wedding coordinator works with you to fit your budget and to eliminate the stress of planning a wedding. The venue is part of Haleiwa Joe’s which is an award-winning restaurant set against the backdrop of the Ko’olau Mountains, which provides a beautiful setting for your wedding and reception, (all receptions are held in the restaurant).

Also on the North Shore is Waimea Valley. Deeply rooted in Hawaiian history this breathtaking location has world class botanical gardens, ancient archaeological sites on 1,875 acres of sacred land. There are a number of wedding and reception sites to choose from such as; a spectacular waterfall; two meadows; a pavilion; a main lawn; two covered open air sites; and one indoor lanai. So depending on your preference and the size of your guest list there is a location at Waimea Valley for you.

Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is an incredibly versatile wedding location! It is also one of Hawaii’s top film and TV production sites. It has been used as a set for a wide range of films, from Elvis to dinosaurs and King Kong. As such, the scenery here is so varied that you won’t need to look elsewhere to find the vibe you seek. This private nature preserve, also known as Jurassic Valley, sprawls over 4,000 acres of pure natural beauty. There are secret beaches, lush valleys, majestic mountains, ancient Hawaiian cultural sites, historic ranch buildings, hidden gardens, and the most breathtaking views.