It’s easy to see why Hawaii is such a popular location for destination weddings. With Hawaii’s glittering beaches, miles of soft warm sand, the calm sound of waves licking up the shore line, the gentle swishing of palm trees swaying in the island breeze, it’s one of the closest things we have to paradise on Earth.

It’s no wonder Chris and Niki decided to hold their wedding on Maui. The couple had been planning on a destination wedding since day one and was eager for their guests to be able to celebrate their marriage with them, while indulging themselves in a vacation at the same time.

At the beginning stages of planning their wedding, the couple was a bit nervous. After hiring a wedding planner to assist in putting together their dream wedding, Chris and Niki’s apprehensions were abated. “At first it seemed like it was going to be a daunting task, but we hired a great wedding coordinator and it was smooth sailing,” said the couple.

The only problem which arose was a statewide noise ordinance, meaning that the reception could only last until 10 p.m., a major disappointment for the couple who had hoped to dance the night away with an outdoor reception.

“We really wanted an outdoor wedding reception, but wanted to party well into the night,” the couple said. “We decided that in the end this was not a deal breaker and we went to a local bar for an after party.”

Guests had a relatively easy time organizing flights to Hawaii since the state is such a popular tourist destination spot. Even guests coming from as far away as Europe were able to book their flights with no sweat. This is due in part to Niki and Chris’ wedding website, which offered guests with information on where to stay and vacation packages the couple had researched.

Some of the resources the couple used for wedding advice were a book called The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings along with magazines such as Destination I Do and Bride. Mywedding.com was a useful website for Niki and Chris to keep organized and on schedule when tasks needed to be completed (i.e. save the dates, wedding invitations, etc.).

Despite their preparations, the couple was forced to get used to the chill style of their local Hawaiian vendors. “One thing we had to remind ourselves of was people on the islands live a different lifestyle, they are more laid back,” the couple said. “We had to get used to the fact that they don’t check their e-mail and voicemail every five minutes.”

For advice, Niki and Chris encourage other destination couples to take a queue from the Hawaiian locals and relax! “It’s your wedding day and no matter what happens it’s going to be the best day of your life.”

Vendors:

Photography: Studio Moirae, Christy Shipp and Jasen Arias, Wedding Planner: Steven Cook with White Orchid Weddings, Ceremony/Reception Site: Honua Kai Lani (Sugarman Estate), Hair and Makeup: Shelby Skitt with Chromatics Salon, Bar: Maui Bars Are Us, Ceremony Musician: Kawika Regidor, DJ: Ace Beats, Randy “DJ Skinny Guy” Bermudez.