As you search high and low for the perfect place to get married, why not set your sights on paradise? By planning your wedding on Kauai, you get to tie the knot in a picture-perfect locale while enjoying good vibes for all. You have many excellent venues to consider, too, making it easy to plan your dream wedding in no time flat. Ready to get started? Here’s a look at the top five places to say, “I do,” with the love of your life.
Waioli Huiia Church
Set in the heart of Hanalei, the Waioli Huiia Church is a truly charming spot for a wedding. The 200-year-old church boasts a gorgeous American gothic style complete with stained-glass windows, exposed rafters, and stately columns. Farmhouse-style doors lead out onto the classic cement steps, making for magnificent photo opportunities of the bride, groom, and wedding party.
In order to have your wedding here, you’ll need to book the venue directly. Then, go through the marital counseling process with the reverend before your big day. Beyond that, they keep arrangements pretty simple, overall. So, plan to bring your own musicians, photographers, and catering services. You’ll need to get ready elsewhere as well.
As for cost, you’ll need to pay a $150 fee to use the church and another $150 for the reverend’s services. After your ceremony, you can have your reception at Waiʻoli Mission Hall next door for an extra charge.
Anini Beach
When nothing else will do but a beautiful ceremony in front of the open ocean, put Anini Beach on your radar as your venue of choice. Set on the North Shore of Kauai, this quiet beach lets you stand on the jet-black lava rocks as you recite your vows to each other.
If you want a huge wedding, this is a great place to do it. You can pack as many people as you want on the beach to witness your vows. Or you can keep things wholly private by only inviting the officiant to tag along. Either way, don’t forget to hire a professional photographer because you’re going to want pictures of you and your beloved standing together in the middle of paradise.
Since you cannot reserve the beach for your event, there’s no cost for the venue. You will need to pay for the services of the officiant, photographer, and any musicians you bring along for the ride. Want to hold your reception right on the beach, too? Get a caterer to bring the full spread and have a fun picnic with all your family and friends.
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Located on the southern shores, the Sheraton Kauai Resort is a fantastic place for a wedding in paradise, especially if you don’t want to personally handle all the details. You can just hire their wedding planner to pick the perfect spot, set up all the décor, and even bring in catering services.
They have many excellent spots for your vows and reception, too, including:
- RumFire Point
- Garden Luau Lawn
- Ocean Courtyard
- Lava’s Lanai
- Ballroom Foyer
If you want to go beyond the venue alone, you can get their wedding packages. Their packages come with the ceremony location, chair set up, enhanced water station, and a ceremony rehearsal. On top of that, you get to select three perks, like complimentary overnight accommodations, dining credits, or an Aulii Luau for two.
No matter which spot you’d like for your wedding, the venue cost alone starts at $1,500 for the wedding and another $1,000 for the reception. All-inclusive wedding packages start at $2,500 but can reach over $15,000 for just 50 guests. Outdoor spaces can accommodate 500 guests, however, while their indoor venues have a limit of 200 people.
Kilohana Plantation
If you want to handcraft your perfect wedding experience in the center of a 27,000-acre sugar plantation, there’s perhaps a no better place to go than the Kilohana Plantation. Set in East Side Kauai, this venue offers spectacular views of Mt. Waialeale while surrounding you with the intoxicating scent of tropical plants all around.
With flowers at all sides, you’ll get to hold your ceremony out in the open air, and then have your reception right around the pool. Indoor rooms are available, too, for more intimate ceremonies and receptions if you wish. Across their entire venue, up to 150 guests can join in your celebrations, making it a great place to hold a big bash to remember.
They usually charge a setup fee of $500 for the wedding ceremony. There’s no additional fee for the reception, but you’ll need to meet their food and beverage purchase minimums. The total cost includes all the chairs, tents, and linens, but you’ll need to provide centerpieces and the like if you want themed décor.
Smith Farm Garden
When you just want an intimate wedding in a stunningly beautiful locale, you cannot go wrong with the Smith Farm Garden. With their help, you can hold your ceremony in the wondrous Fern Grotto or in their very own Tropical Paradise venue.
If you go with the Fern Grotto arrangements, you’ll start your journey with songs, dance, and stories aboard their riverboat. Then, you’ll get to say your vows within the grotto before hearing the “Hawaiian Wedding Song” and joining the family luau if you so choose. For the base $750 price, you can bring up to 12 guests – additional guests are an extra charge since they have to take a bigger boat.
The Tropical Garden wedding lets you walk through vivid tropical flowers to the side of the lagoon lined by palm trees. At that point, you’ll get to say your vows in front of up to 10 guests while enjoying all the beauty in your midst. The package starts at $375, making it a bargain if you can resist the add-ons.
If you want to make the event even more unique, ask about their additional touches, like custom leis, hairpieces, wedding bouquets, and many other floral elements. You can also bring in musicians, hula dancers, conch shell blowers, and a photographer for a bit more.
As you plan your big day on Kauai, don’t forget to book your venue as early as possible. Calendars fill up fast, after all, especially during the spring and summer months. So, call as soon as you have your favorite spot picked out, and then remain a bit flexible on the dates if you can. With that move, you’re sure to have your venue squared away, so you can focus on all the rest of the details leading up to your amazing wedding.
