Secret Island FAQ’s
What will our day of timeline look like?
(Leave Waikiki approx. 1-1.5hrs before 3:30pm to arrive on time, estimated drive time from Waikiki is 1hr, / Give yourself 45m if you're staying at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore.)
2:30pm – Setup boat departs from Molii Dock (vendors only)
3:30pm – Guest boat departs from Molii Dock (boat will make 2-3 trips depending on how many guests you have, bridal party will depart on the last boat 3:45pm)
4:00pm – Ceremony
5:00pm – Guest depart Secret Island
5:15pm – breakdown boat departs Secret Island
7 or 8pm - Dinner
We want to do a luau after the ceremony can we push the ceremony up earlier?
A lot of couples want to do a luau after the ceremony, the best and closest luau to Secret Island is the Polynesian Cultural Center Luau. If there is not a lot of set up we can push the timing up slightly but not too much. The earliest we can have the ceremony is 3:30pm. Here is a sample timeline.
2pm leave Waikiki (groom & guests)
2:15pm leave Waikiki (bride)
(45m drive to Secret Island)
2:30pm vendor boat (set-up, vendors only)
*2:30pm is the earliest set up time we can do, but set up should be quick (not a lot of decor)
2:45pm groom & guests arrive at boat dock
3:00pm boat ride 1 (groom, guests)
3:00pm bride arrives at boat dock
3:15pm boat ride 2 (bride, anyone who is walking down the aisle)
3:30pm Ceremony - Secret Island
4pm end
4-4:30pm Photos
5pm leave Secret Island
(20m drive)
5:20pm Luau
Polynesian Cultural Center Luau
- Dinner is served from 5-6:30pm
- Evening show starts at 7:30-8:30pm
Are their restrooms on Secret Island?
Yes, there are restrooms located on secret island. These will be open for guests to use as needed. It is a portable restroom but a fancier one that is clean and quite comfortable.
How likely is it to rain on my wedding day? What happens if it does rain?
On the morning of your wedding we check the weather report and radar and watch the rain carefully. If it is pouring all morning (this is really rare), then we'll call you and discuss options with you. 95% of the time even on a very rainy day there are patches of sunshine, especially near the ocean. Usually we wait out the passing showers and will do a ceremony in between showers. The skies usually clear beautifully and photos are magical. In Hawaii we consider rain showers to be extra blessings so don't be afraid of rain. So far we haven't had a wedding get completely rained out and even rainy days here end up being pretty. We have even had weddings go off without a hitch on hurricane/tsunami days. Please note, at Secret Island there is a covered tarp area which guests can stay if it does rain on the beach. Ceremony could also be held here but we'd prefer to wait out the rain if possible.
We don't like your photographer and want to hire someone else can we do this?
We really think you'll be quite pleased with our photographers but if you're sure that you would like to bring in another photographer then we can credit you $250. Our main concern is that you are happy with how your wedding day turns out.
My friend is going to officiate, is that ok?
Yes, most definitely! You just need to make sure that your friend is ordained and that he or she is registered with the State of Hawaii to do the wedding. This must be done a few weeks prior to your wedding. Click here for more information. There are no pkg. discounts if you decide to bring your own officiant.
Do we need to do a wedding rehearsal?
We do not do rehearsals for our Secret Island weddings because the ceremonies are generally pretty simple. We will have a basic outline of the bridal party processional and will send this to you along with your timeline a week or two prior to your wedding day. You should go over the order of how your bridal party will walk down the aisle with everyone involved ahead of time. On the day of the wedding we will line everyone up and let them know when to walk, where to walk and how to stand. It is a simple process and we will guide you through all of it.
Any tips on how to make our wedding more personalized?
Check our our CEREMONY DECORATION page - adding a wooden arch with florals, matching bouquet, aisle flowers and a boutonniere, is an easy way to make a simple beach wedding feel a lot more special. Florals are personalized to your liking and look amazing in beach wedding photos. Also, little touches like pretty fans, parasols or sunscreen for guests and bright bouquets / boutonnieres for the bridal party can go a long way. Colored parasols look great in photos and provide good shade for guests too. I also love the idea of honoring everyone who flew all the way down for your wedding with a lei. You can present everyone with an orchid lei at the end of the ceremony, it's a nice touch and doesn't cost too much money. You could also honor parents with a parent lei ceremony (where you'll present your mom and dad with a lei honoring and thanking them for all they've done for you). Lastly, if theres someone you've lost that is very close to you like a parent or dear friend (one whom you wish could be there), you could honor them after the ceremony by throwing a lei out to sea as you say a blessing or prayer at the same time. Kahu's (a Hawaiian officiant/priest) can assist with this as well. Lastly, adding in the arch with fabric and florals, is really very pretty and can create a gorgeous backdrop to your ceremony. Adding chairs for guests is also a nice touch that guests seem to appreciate.
What is the address / directions to Secret Island?
49-345 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744 is the address you can send to guests or put on your invitations. There is a sign on the main road way (Kamehameha Highway) which says the numbers "49-345", this is where you will turn in to get to the dock where the boat will depart. If you drive to Kualoa Ranch you've gone slightly too far. It is easy to miss so drive slow and use your maps app! Once you make the turn in drive down until you get to the dock. There is parking onsite. If hiring transportation, limo or shuttle, you can give them this address as well.
When should we send out our invites?
Destination weddings involve a lot of travel planning and often taking vacation time. We suggest sending out a Save the Date as soon as you have your date set. You can send out an official invite 4-6 months prior.
Can we do a Champagne Toast and wedding cake at the beach?
Alcohol is not legally allowed on the beaches here in Hawaii but they do allow it at Secret Island. We can do a short and simple toast but you must provide the plastic cups and champagne. Since there is only a short period for photos after the ceremony the champagne toast does take away some of that time. If you can wait to drink until after you get back to the dock or to the dinner location, that is suggested. We don't recommend doing a cake cutting at the beach because that would also involve a table, utensils, plates, garbage, water, etc. We can arrange for a cake to be delivered to your dinner location, this ensures that it stays fresh and is served properly. Additionally, usually photos are done right after the ceremony, and your photographer will need this time to coordinate family and group photos, also to do couple photos on the beach. Guests are usually happy hanging around for a little while and checking out the beach while photos are being taken.
Got more questions?
send your planner an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can :)
~ Nicole & the Best Day Ever team