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Hawai‘i beach weddings - rules and guidelines you need to know

Nicole Salmoiraghi

Not sure where to start with your beach wedding? Here is a comprehensive, simplified list of everything you need to know when planning a Hawaii beach wedding.

Hawai‘i BEACH WEDDING RULES AND GUIDELINES

  1. You must have a beach wedding permit from the DLNR. What does this mean? It means you cannot get married on the sandy area in front of the ocean without this specific permit. You could get fined if you don’t have one.

  2. HOW TO GET THE PERMIT - You must be registered with the DLNR and be an authorized applicant. To get this authorization you need to do a few things, which is outlined here. One of the main items which discourages the average person is that you need to have a specific limited liability insurance plan of $1,000,000, naming the state of Hawaii as the additional insured. Super confusing? It can be - but this is why you probably just want to work with a wedding planner who already has this insurance and is already registered with the DLNR. Your planner can then just purchase the permit for you.

  3. ANY OTHER PERMITS REQUIRED? Yes, certain beaches require other Hawaii wedding permits like photographer beach permits. Not all beaches do require these permits just specific ones, so check with your planner to be sure.

  4. NO CHAIRS OR ARCHES. I know you’ve all seen the beautiful photos of Hawaii beach weddings with chairs on the beach and a beautiful archway covered in flowers. This is not legal if done on a public beach and only private properties allow this sort of set up. Most rental companies will not drop off and set up on a public beach and planners should not be doing this sort of set up, as they could get fined. If you have one or two chairs for the elderly, this is usually ok. A full ceremony set up with many chairs and an arch, however, is illegal here in Hawaii.

  5. SIMPLE SETUPS ARE ALLOWED on the beaches, like flower circles on the ground, simple signage or vine aisles. But - all the flowers, petals, vines, etc. must be picked up and cleaned up after the ceremony.

  6. LEAVE THE BEACH THE WAY YOU FOUND IT. Our wedding planners ALWAYS pick up all florals after the ceremony so that the beach is left clean for beachgoers. It is important that we keep Hawaii beautiful for everyone! ❀

  7. KEEP YOUR BEACH WEDDING SMALL. Hawaii beach weddings with more than 25 guests are usually not allowed and may require additional permits.

  8. ONLY SPECIFIC BEACHES ARE ALLOWED. You must choose a beach that allows for beach weddings. There is a list of specific beaches that Hawaii allows you to get married on. Consult with your Hawaii wedding planner to find out which beach is the best fit for you.

  9. NO ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH. Yup, that’s a rule here in Hawaii. You can pop the champagne in the limo after the ceremony but not in the sand. This ensures that there is no broken glass left on the beaches and really helps the state keep the beaches in pristine condition.

  10. PRIVATE LAND BEACH OPTIONS. Sound like too much to handle? There are a few private venues with beach front access that allow chairs, arches, champagne, and the works, but they are generally quite pricey. If having a specific set-up is important to you though, this may be something worth considering. Look into our Hawaii Private Venues - like Secret Island Wedding Package or the Paradise Cove Wedding Package to learn more.

There you have it - The basic rules and guidelines to follow here in Hawaii.

All these rules for a simple beach wedding - is it worth it? → ABSOLUTELY! ☺ Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Our beaches are amazing and the landscape here is incredible. It’s the kind of place you’ll remember forever, a perfect spot to make such an important lifetime vow. We’d love to help you bring your Best Day Ever to life and Hawaii beach weddings are our specialty.

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✌, Nicole


Nicole Salmoiraghi is the author and owner of  Best Day Ever Hawaii Events + Weddings, where she helps brides + grooms bring their dream weddings to life. She is an expert planner and has over 10 years of planning experience. Follow her on Instagram, on Facebook and on Pinterest for more wedding inspiration, and Hawaii wedding insider tips.