Hawaiian Wedding Customs

By Author: Howie Welfeld
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There is nothing quite as romantic as a sunset on a tropical beach or a cascading waterfall surrounded by lush forest foliage. The Hawaiian Islands are a tropical paradise and for this reason, Hawaii is often a chosen location for weddings. The warm tropical climate, spectacular scenery and warm island vibe set the scene for a romantic and memorable occasion. Many couples come to Hawaii to have a small intimate wedding in this beautiful location. In Hawaii, the vows are often personal and therefore meaningful. Incorporating a few of the local Hawaiian traditions adds that finishing touch to an already perfect day.

Traditions to Match Your Wedding Location in Hawaii

Few weddings that take place in Hawaii are very formal. There are a number of quaint chapels on the islands that can comfortably seat a small gathering of guests. But because of the many stunning locations available, many couples prefer to have an outdoor wedding. The island sunsets are particularly beautiful and beach locations are numerous. One tradition that can be incorporated into a beach wedding is that of the Poured Sands. Two different colored ...
... sands, one for the bride and one for the groom, are poured into a decorative bottle to symbolize the union of two individual lives. Sometimes some beach sand from the wedding location is added as well. The following poem is sometimes recited as the bridal couple pours the different colored sand together: "Inseparable we are like the grains of sand united now. The individual is emptied into the sea of love and no longer be separate but will be forever and always entwined as one."
The Heralding of a Celebration

The Conch shell is an integral part of Hawaiian tradition. Used to herald the arrival of royalty or the announcement of important events throughout the ages, today its echoing sound sets the stage for many wedding celebrations. Conch shells can be as large as a foot long and when blown into like a trumpet, produce a beautiful sound that carries across the seas. In wedding ceremonies, it's often used to announce the arrival of the bride at the beginning of the ceremony, and again at the end when the newlyweds are presented as a married couple. Some wedding officials are accomplished in blowing the conch shell and you can request that it is part of your wedding ceremony.

Share a Lei as Symbol of Your Love

Flowers have a long association with Hawaii. Visitors to the islands are often greeted with a lei, also known as a floral wreath, in welcome. Giving a lei is symbolic of showing your love for another person. As part of a wedding ceremony, leis are exchange between the bride and groom and their respective families. Local flowers that are often selected for the bride's lei are the pearl-like Pikake flowers which have a wonderful fragrance. Orchids, ilima and roses can also be incorporated into the bridal lei. The groom will often have a lei made up of green maile leaves which are associated with Hawaiian royalty. Traditionally the fathers are presented with green tea leaf leis and mothers fragrant ginger leis. The bride will traditionally give a lei to her new mother and father-in-law and the groom will reciprocate to the bride's parents. This gesture symbolizes the gratitude to each family for the care and love the parents provided to their future spouse. The bride and groom also exchange leis as a token of their love for one another and commitment to spend a lifetime together.

Exchange Vows in a Circle of Love

A circle of love can be easily incorporated into a beach or forest wedding location. As the bride and groom exchange their vows they stand in a circle of flowers that represents their eternal love for one another. The colors and type of flowers can also be carefully selected to blend into the theme of the wedding. Combined with a beach setting, the flowers add a vibrant color contrast which shows up beautifully in wedding photos.

Celebrate Your Wedding with Traditional Hawaiian music

Island music has a way about it that just makes you want to celebrate. The energetic beat of steel drums combined with string instruments and melodic voices sets the tone for a memorable event. Dancers can also be incorporated into wedding ceremonies and celebrations if desired. A solo harpist provides beautiful background music to a ceremony and serves as entertainment while the bridal couple performs the wedding legalities. As the vibe picks up into the evening, the bridal couple and guests can dance away into the early hours of the morning, celebrating in traditional Hawaiian island style.
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Plan your hawaii wedding package on the white sand beach across from Pukalani Falls. Visit Rev./Capt. Howie Welfeld online at HawaiiWeddings.com for all the details to planning a spiritual and unique wedding.