waimea falls 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.)
4:00pm – Vendors only for Set-up
4:15-4:30pm – Guests & Couple Arrives at Waimea Valley
5:00pm – Ceremony
5:30-6pm – Photos with Friends & Family at the Falls
6-6:30pm – Couple Photos
7 or 8pm - Dinner (or Luau)
We want to do a luau after the ceremony can we push the ceremony up earlier?
No, the ceremony time is set at 5pm and cannot be pushed up earlier because the Falls is open to the public before then. A lot of couples want to do a luau after the ceremony and there is a wonderful Luau right at Waimea Valley offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. If you choose to do the Luau after the ceremony you’ll just show up a little late but will still make dinner and the main show.
Ceremony Timeline:
5:00- 5:30pm Ceremony
5:30-6pm Photos
Luau Timeline:
4:45pm Luau Check-in (you will not be able to check in until after the wedding ceremony & photos / around 6-6:30pm)
5-6:30pm Cultural Demonstrations
6:30-7:30pm Luau Dinner Buffet
7:30-8:30pm Polynesian Show
8:30pm Aloha and Farewell
Are their restrooms AT The Falls?
Yes, there are restrooms located near the waterfall. We recommend showing up dressed and ready.
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, and 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. We do bring umbrellas in case of rain but there is no backup location for the falls if it is raining. Check with your wedding planner that day for updates.
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 Waimea Falls 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. Adding in the arch with fabric and florals, is really very pretty and can create a gorgeous backdrop to your ceremony.
how long does it take to walk to the falls?
The trail to Waimea Falls is about 3/4 of a mile and takes approximately 30 minutes. It is paved the entire way and is a comfortable easy walk but guests will need to walk this path to get to the falls so comfortable shoes are suggested.
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 falls?
Alcohol is not legally allowed at Waimea Falls and with the tight timeline we won’t have time to do a cake, so unfortunately you’ll need to wait to do the toast and cake at dinner.
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