Use bridal magazines for beach wedding inspiration.

Looking for inspiration? Need help choosing a color palette for your wedding? Looking for designer products and aren’t quite sure where to find what you need? The easiest solution is to pick up a bridal magazine and pick out the pictures and articles that catch your eye.

These publications are filled with ideas for every kind of wedding – from spur of the moment Las Vegas nuptials to large-scale resort celebrations. While you’re at it, get more for your money by subscribing to the magazine instead of buying from the newsstand. Order the magazine and receive it every month, or every season for more info and motivation.

Here are a few of Oahu Wedding’s favorites. Order a subscription, or just take a look at magazines to decide which one suits you. Our recommendations:

Martha Stewart Weddings

Modern Bride magazine

Brides magazine

Elegant Bride magazine

Grace Ormand Wedding Style

Featured beach wedding location: Anela Gardens

Today Oahu Wedding is featuring another amazing garden location in the Honolulu area. We recently attended an open house at Anela Gardens – a private estate in the Diamond Head area. This gorgeous garden is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city – a beautiful home, luscious green garden, and artistically designed chapel.

Until recently, Anela Gardens has been a popular wedding site mainly for Japanese couples. Just recently, they have opened their markets in an attempt to attract local customers and a larger audience for destination weddings. Even more exciting than the beauty of Anela Gardens is its versatility. It is perfect for a wedding for 30-60 guests, offering countless choices for ceremonies and receptions. Unlike most other Oahu Garden locations, Anela Gardens is only a 5 minute drive from Waikiki! Forget about shuttling your 50 guests an entire hour out of the way; choose Anela Gardens and shuttle them by limo or trolley, drive separate cars to be serviced by on-site valet parking, or simply let them walk about 15 minutes out of Waikiki.

Would you like a chapel wedding with an outdoor buffet-style gourmet dinner (cooked on-site by Anela Gardens’ own specialty chefs) and a DJ for entertainment and dancing into the warm Hawaiian evening? How about a garden wedding in a beautiful white gazebo followed by an intimate served meal with Hawaiian musicians and hula dancers serenading your guests? Maybe you envision a beach wedding with an elegant garden reception that is close-by and not as mainstream as a large resort? Whatever you are dreaming about, they will accommodate, and of course Oahu Wedding will be there to coordinate every detail.

Anela Gardens offers these unique accommodations:

-valet parking service
-on-site gourmet catering by experienced culinary professionals
-choice of an indoor estate reception or outdoor garden reception
-private non-denominational chapel
-beautiful estate with seating for up to 60 guests, changing rooms for bridal party, and full kitchen for catering staff

Here are a few pictures of beautiful Anela Gardens:

Anela Gardens Chapel:



Garden Gazebo:



Hawaiian Waterfall and garden area:



Front entrance to Anela Gardens estate:



Upstairs banquet reception room:



Sitting room at Anela Gardens estate:



Keep an eye on Oahu Wedding's packages for new garden wedding packages and services!

Hawaiian activites at the Hawaii Water Sport Center

There are hundreds of different activities, tours and entertainment on Oahu. The beautiful beaches, warm weather, and availability of services make it a perfect place for fun in the sun –especially after all the excitement of an Oahu beach wedding. The great part about being responsible for providing information is having to find the fun stuff for ourselves. This afternoon, a few of us at Oahu Wedding took a trip to the Hawaii Water Sports Center and tried out the bumper tube. It is definitely not for the weak at heart, but it was a blast!

The Hawaii Water Sports Center also offers a multitude of other water activities including banana boats, jet skis, snorkeling, parasailing and wakeboarding all on the Harbor at Koko Head Marina. They also have great package deals if you are interested in more than one activity; banana boating and bumper tubing for only $49.00, and more. Look at these funny pictures from our trip, and then call Hawaii Water Sports Center to plan your vacation!

Beautiful new designer gowns: Oscar De La Renta

Oahu Wedding recently came across an amazing new bridal line by Oscar De La Renta. The hit designer released his Spring 2008 line of wedding dresses in all different fabrics and styles. We love his attention to detail and appeal to all different ages. There really is something for everyone in this new line.

Unfortunately, the price tags do not appeal to everyone. Lucky for us, thousands of designers and bridal lines look to famous designers like De La Renta for inspiration and ideas. So even if you don’t have an upper four-digit budget, take a look to feed your style and take notes from the one of the best fashion designers in the country.

Here are a few of our favorites:



White sequined embroidered tulle strapless draped gown with embroidered illusion neckline and tulle embroidered skirt



Cream silk faille strapless gown with detachable over-skirt



White guipure lace gown with portrait neckline and full skirt



White embroidered strapless gown framed in powder blue satin organza


These gowns will make any bride feel like a princess whether she is on a beautiful Hawaiian beach or a five star hotel. If you have a slightly higher budget and ability to splurge, De La Renta is the perfect place to do it. Happy shopping!

Notes on Bridal Registries

Imagine this: You spend months organizing and preparing for an immaculate Oahu beach wedding. You come to Hawaii with close family and friends and celebrate in style on the sands of Hawaii. You remain in paradise for your honeymoon and have a wonderful time. One week later, you return home to a bride and groom’s worst nightmare: A pile of gifts from friends and family that you do not want, need or have a place for.

Bridal registries are a simple, yet wonderful solution to the traditional wedding gift-giving. They are becoming increasingly more popular in the United States and are delightfully socially acceptable. Choose the gifts that you need and desire for your life together, and allow your friends and family to choose what to give according to what you have not already received!

Tips:
1. Keep in mind the budget and anticipated spending of your families (ex. Registering at Neiman Marcus might not be the best idea if the majority of your guests will only be able to spend under $100 on gifts). This will make the registering process more effective and is also considerate to loved ones.
2. Include a registry card with your information in your invitations. This way, while your guests are already thinking about your wedding, they can go online and look at your wish list.

Here are a few examples of popular bridal registries that are trendy and in a mid-price range:

Bed Bath and Beyond

Target

Crate and Barrel

Pier One Imports

Macy's

Pottery Barn

Sit down as bride and groom-to-be, and pick out your wedding gifts! Not only is this a practical way to give gifts, it can be a really fun way to plan your futures together. Enjoy!

Beach wedding inspiration boards from Abby Jean

Abby Jean’s Style Me Pretty wedding blog is hosting part 2 of an inspiration board contest that Abby started about two weeks ago. We love Abby’s work here at Oahu Wedding and couldn’t help but show off a couple of the beautiful boards that her contestants have submitted.

The following are three boards all featuring beach themes. Each one has its own flair and feeling. These women all have different visions for their ocean-inspired weddings and they are equally beautiful! Your Oahu beach wedding does not have to be a generic bright-colored ceremony with birds of paradise lining your isle (unless that is precisely what you envision). Take a look at these brides’ ideas from Style Me Pretty’s contest, and while you are at it, go to www.stylemepretty.com and see the rest of them!

Stacy's "If I could do it all over again it would be a Tre-chic beach-side affair..."



KC's "Blue Hawaiian" wedding:



Jessruthie's "Beach nupitals with a touch of glitz" wedding:

Oahu beach wedding timeline

Most couples that come to Oahu request beach weddings. Here at Oahu Wedding, we book beach ceremonies and receptions every day and many of our couples have the same questions. One aspect that everyone has to know is the timeline. What time will the wedding be? How long does it take to get to the ceremony location? Now long will the ceremony last? What time is the sunset? When will the musician play? How long will the photographer be there? These are all commonly asked questions from brides, grooms and everyone involved in this important day.

We can arrange your beach ceremony at any time during the day. Generally, you can choose from an afternoon or sunset ceremony. Our sunset ceremonies are by far the most popular. Here is a model timeline for a sunset ceremony at Waialae beach park:
One to three days before ceremony:

-Bride and groom attend appointment in downtown Honolulu to obtain marriage license (previously arranged by Oahu Wedding)
Day of ceremony:
3:00 – Hair and makeup artists arrive at bride’s hotel room
4:00 – Bride and bridal party meet at hotel and prepare to be picked up by limousine
5:00 – Wedding planner arrives at Waialae beach park to begin setting up for ceremony
5:30 – Limousine arrives at bride and groom’s hotel
5:45 – Limousine departs from hotel
6-6:15 – Musician, minister, photographer, and other vendors arrive at Waialae beach park
- Bride, groom and guests arrive at Waialae beach park
- Hawaiian-style musician begins to play as guests arrive and assemble on the beach
-Photographer begins taking pre-ceremony pictures
6:30 – Dove or butterfly release takes place on the shoreline of Waialae beach park
6:35 – Minister begins non-denominational Hawaiian-style ceremony including traditional Hawaiian chants, lei exchange, ring exchange and vow exchange
6:45 – Musician plays Hawaiian-style acoustic song of couple’s choice during ceremony
6:55 – Ceremony concludes
7:00 – Photographer takes additional photos of bride and groom, bridal party and guests
7:10 – Bride and groom cut cake and serve guests while photographer takes photos and musician plays
7:30 – Musician, photographer, minister and guests depart Waialae beach park and proceed back to hotels of to reception
7:35 – Bride and groom proceed to catering on the beach or reception
- If bride and groom select catering for two, limousine service will pick up at 8:30 to return them to hotel room. Receptions in the Waikiki area normally conclude between 9 and 11:00.

*This is not a concrete timeline. Times are subject to change according to availabilities, sunset times or preference of the bride and groom.

Edible favors: Mini-wedding cakes!

Wedding Favors are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. Guests love to have something to take home with them; this is a perfect way to give a little piece of yourself to your loved ones. We are big fans of edible favors: they are fun to look at and delicious to eat after your friends and family take them home. Today we are featuring individual wedding cakes. These mini-treats are a beautiful way to send home something meaningful and delectable after your big day.

Include something that resembles yourselves within these culinary creations; have your initials written in frosting, or simply give out replicas of your actual wedding cake that is served at the ceremony. This way, your guests have a gorgeous treat that not only satisfies their taste buds, but also makes them think of you!
We found great examples of individual cakes from wedding sources around the country. Take a look at a few of them:



“Rose bouquet” mini-cakes by Just Fabulous cake company in San Diego, California


Perfect for an Oahu Beach Wedding are “Silver Seashells” mini-cakes by Just Fabulous cake company in San Diego, California


Individual mini-cakes by Wedding Things in New York, New York


These fun designs are locally made by Sweet Stop in Kailua, Hawaii.



Round floral design mini-cakes also locally made by Paradise Pastries on Oahu.

Bakeries will customize these for you just like your actual wedding cake. They truly are mini works of art! They are delicate, elegant and really represent the beauty of each individual wedding. Couples are also choosing to use them instead of a traditional wedding cake. Some arrangements can include a small cake for the bride and groom and lots of mini-cakes to be served like slices during the ceremony. Take a look at these unique set-ups:


Green orchid cupcake set-up from the Vanilla Bakeshop in Santa Monica, California


“Ivory Lustre and Pearl” mini-cake set-up by Maisie Fantasie in London, England

A pink color palette for your beach wedding

Pink is an extremely versatile color; it can be used to create a modern, fun theme, or a simple classic elegance with the warmth and beauty of blooms and pastels. We recently created a color palette for Anna – a beautiful southern bell and her fiancé, Lawrence. They came all the way to Oahu to experience the beauty of the ocean mixed with a pink chic affair with plenty of elegance to remind them of home sweet home.

This inspiration board can be applied to an Oahu resort wedding, or beach wedding. It is very Martha Stewart-inspired, with a touch of glamour entwined. Take a look:



Top Left: Sophia Tolli bridal collection “Lila”. Top Right: Martha Stewart table settings in shades of pink. Center Right: Edelm ballerina slippers “Cynthia.” Bottom Left: Modern style wedding cake by French Confection. Bottom Right: Pink and gold Hollywood inspired dressing room by Martha Stewart. Middle Left: Colin Cowie’s goblet of rose petals. Middle Right: Martha Stewart centerpiece. Middle Center: Thierry Lenne pink champagne.

Colin Cowie's fantasy wedding on Oprah.com

For those of you with a little taste of design in your blood, you may have heard of the hot designer/planner, Colin Cowie. Recently, Oprah threw a wedding for her physical trainer (wouldn’t it be nice for the richest woman in the world to throw your wedding?) and Cowie designed, planned and arranged everything. This wedding is a fairy-tale come true if we have ever seen one. Take a look at these pictures! Then read the story for yourself along with a few other Colin Cowie wedding stories at Oprah.com!







While a wedding like this one is slightly out of most couples' price range, Colin has some really great ideas about how to personalize and decorate your wedding to make it yours and only yours. He is truly an inspiration! More on Colin and ways to personalize your ceremony to come!

Personal wedding sites - a new trend.

Looking for a way to let your family know what’s going on with your wedding day? Want to experiment with themes and create a space to share information about your special day? Creating wedding websites is an increasingly popular idea for engaged couples and their families. This is a great way to “keep people in the loop,” even from far away. It’s also a fun way to express your feelings and share important events about your relationship.

After the wedding, it can become a family site, info board, or newsletter that friends and family can view – announce your new baby, post pictures of a memorable vacation, etc. You can also include polls, quizzes and videos for your visitors to view and participate in your fun!

Oahu Wedding has pin-pointed a few great examples and even a website that provides themes and templates for free! All you have to do is register. Check out these cool sites:

Sarah and John’s Wedding website is a beautiful example of creativity. They are getting married on September 2, 2007 in the wine country of California. Take a look:
http://www.sarahandjohn.org/home.asp

Cassandra and Sean also have a beautiful website about their wedding in Houston, Texas:
http://seanandcassandra.com/wedding-info.htm

EWedding is a site that provides free templates and themes for your wedding website. They also have special features like guests lists and photo albums to explore when you are a member of their site.
Here is an example of a themed website from their page:
http://cs01.ewedding.com/v20/?a=demo:82:82:GENTLE-AND-CUTE

Also try google’s Blogger to create a personalized blog about your wedding for free! They have templates to choose from, and it is extremely easy to use and view.

Beach wedding check-list

Many couples initially decide that they want to get married in Hawaii. To all of you couples who have made that first step, Oahu Wedding commends you on your decision. There is really no other place quite like the Hawaiian islands – a beautiful paradise with just enough to make a great wedding destination and unforgettable vacation!

Now that you have gotten this far, we would like to propose a few organizational tips to help you make your next crucial set of decisions. First, what do you envision for your wedding in paradise? A sunset ceremony on the beach with only a few of your closest relatives and friends followed by a Hula show and a romantic candlelight dinner for just the two of you? An elegant white ceremony at one of Oahu’s finest resorts overlooking the ocean and the Waikiki sunset followed by a ballroom reception with all of your guests complete with fine dining? Maybe a country-style garden wedding with a gazebo ceremony and outdoor reception decorated with island flowers tiki torches?

However you dream of your day, Oahu Wedding will create it for you. Here is an easy check-list of standard inclusions for weddings here on Oahu. Decide which of these you would like to include in your wedding package:

-Photography (comes in 4 increments according to number of prints)
-Videography
-Hawaiian musician for your ceremony
-Decorative seating for your guests
-Archway for the bride and groom
-Flower leis for bride, groom and/or guests
-Bridal bouquets
-Butterfly or dove releases
-Flower petal walkway for bride
-Catering for two on the beach
-Polynesian entertainment – Hula dancers
-Wedding cake
-Wedding reception
-Buffet or Sit-down catered dinner
-Entertainment for reception (ie. DJ, live band)
-alcoholic beverages (alcohol is prohibited on Hawaii state beaches)
-Limousine service
-Additional flower arrangements

After you have decided what you would like for your wedding day, take a look at Oahu Wedding’s packages and choose the one that best fits your needs. Oahu Wedding also has a resort wedding page and a garden wedding page coming soon! For any questions and customized wedding packages, call (866)446-1072 and one of Oahu Wedding’s planners are ready to assist you.

Tips on footwear for your beach wedding

A bride’s graceful walk down the isle is a very special moment. It symbolizes the steps the couple has taken together, and confirms that the one at the other end of the short walkway is the only one. The last thing any bride wants is to stumble through those few special moments.

One of many unique elements of an Oahu beach wedding is that the isle is a whole lot softer than most. The soft sand of Hawaiian shores sets the beautiful mix of color and contrast with the bright blue oceans of the pacific. It shimmers in the sunlight and lays smoothly for miles around the coastline of Oahu. Beautiful as it is, the sand is an inconvenience and frankly a hazard to beautiful brides in fancy high heels. The traditional heel or glass slipper is completely out of the question when getting married on the beach.

Many women as well as men choose to go barefoot in the sand, letting the moisture and cool temperature soothe their toes. There is a great sense of freedom to be this close to the Earth for such an important moment in life. However, for those brides who would like to keep their toes covered and accessorize their gowns, there are always other alternatives. Oahu Wedding has found some great, trendy ways to save your feet in the Hawaiian sand. Ditch those heels, girls. Charming flats and fancy sandals are in on the beaches of Oahu.


Madden Girl ballerina flats with bow - www.victoriassecret.com


"Bailee" flats by Report at Macy's stores or online www.macys.com


"Cassie" peep-toe flats by Report and Macy's stores and online www.macys.com (We recommend them in white)


"Konny" ballerina flats by Steve Madden at Macy's stores and online www.macys.com



Steve Madden beach slippers at Steve Madden online www.stevemadden.com


Add an antique colorful appeal with these "Cynthia" flats by Edelm at Macy's stores and online www.macys.com


Try these classic ballerina wedding slippers from www.bridalpeople.com! They are great for beach ceremonies and also a gift idea for bridesmaids to dance the night away. Best of all, they can be personalized with the date of your wedding and names of the bride and groom!

Hawaiian summer romance in yellow

In opposition to yesterday’s cool, blue palette, today we explore the tropical warmth of Hawaii in the color yellow! In a more traditional fashion, this inspiration board was made by Monica – an Oahu Wedding bride to be who envisions a wedding full of summer fun and warm, soft colors.

The picture is not perfectly clear, but it is full of that personal, homemade effect. Take a look:





Top Left: Resort Quest Hawaii Hotels on Kauai and Waikiki Beach. Top Right: Candlelit dinner for two on the beach by Sandals Resort, Carribean. Middle Left: Sophia Tolli 2007 Collection – “Gabriella” in Diamond White and Gold. Middle Right: Garden tent wedding with hanging lanterns and Chivari Chairs. Bottom Left: “Ivory and Gold Gateau” chocolate cake, Neiman Marcus. Bottom Center: Apiece of Modern Bride magazine’s own inspiration board featuring 2007 Vera Wang Collection. Bottom Right: A sophisticated summer treat – lemonade with fresh mint. Center: Ranunculas and orchid arrangements by Michelle Rego, Ltd. NYC.

Now is the perfect time to plan for next summer's weddings - while the summer season is still in full effect, do all of the research and planning possible and get an idea of what is to offer during the summer months.

Classic elegance in shades of blue

Planning a wedding is a creative process. There are millions of different ways to decorate a hall, thousands of different choices in flower arrangements, and endless bridesmaid dresses to choose from. Most couples have an idea of what they want for their special day, but organizing all of those ideas and thoughts can be difficult at times.

The best way to nourish your creativity is to utilize it! Inspiration boards are a way to put your thoughts into color and onto paper. Once you decide on a basic color scheme and/or theme for your wedding, you can make an inspiration board to illustrate your feeling and ideas on a small scale before you spend time and money to create them for real. Tear up a few bridal magazines, or find pictures online to find a look that is perfect for you! Here is an example from Oahu Wedding:




Top left: antique setting from Martha Stewart Living, topped with blue orchids (don't let them fool you - they're dyed). Center: Vera Wang Collection wedding gown, Top Right: Tiffany inspired wedding favors - place pictures of the happy couple inside the box, and appeal to your guests' sweet tooth with the bite-sized chocolate cake! Middle Right: Panoramic views of Oahu's Windward Coast. Bottom Right: Rows of covered ceremonial chairs with periwinkle sashes. Bottom Center: Unique hand-tie bouquet of Hyacinth blooms and sweet peas featured in Modern Bride magazine. Bottom Left: Chocolate cake with fondant frosting by the Cake Garden

We created this inspiration board for Diana and Mark's wedding here in Honolulu. She wanted an elegant and classic feeling on a soft, blue palette. Hawaii's natural setting compliments Diana's wishes quite nicely!

Stay tuned, more inspiration boards and colorful ideas to come from Oahu Wedding!

Hawaii is #2 on "Top 50 Honeymoon Locations!"

Oahu Wedding’s blog is here to provide valuable information for getting married and honeymooning here in the islands of Hawaii. We boast Hawaii’s beauty and perfect locations for romantic getaways, beach ceremonies, and honeymoon relaxation. Now, you don’t have to take our word for it! This month, “Modern Bride” magazine featured the “50 best honeymoon spots” and guess who came up as number two? Hawaii.

Directly under Italy and before Tahiti, Hawaii ranks as number two for honeymoons as well as destination weddings (as mentioned in statistics last week). “Modern Bride” brags about Hawaii’s versatility – each island has something to offer. They even mention Oahu’s Halekulani Hotel (featured in Oahu Wedding’s Thursday post “Hotel Recommendations”).

Here are a few other categories where Hawaii ranked for Modern Bride’s “Honeymoon Top-10s”:
-Romance – Hawaii #3
-Beaches – Hawaii #2
-Food – Hawaii #6
-Ultimate Honeymoon Suites – #5 Vera Wang Suite at the Halekulani Hotel, Oahu
-Ultimate Resorts for Seclusion - #3 Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa, Maui
-Resorts with the Best Beds - #1 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Big Island
-Resorts with the best service - #4 Halekulani Hotel, Oahu

Dove Releases

Dove releases during wedding ceremonies are not specific to the islands of Hawaii. Releasing doves at special events has been a sign of good fortune and blessing for hundreds of years. They represent peace, hope and love and it is said that the presence of a dove will provide happiness for the wedded couple.

Doves also have a biblical background through the story of Noah’s Ark in the book of Genesis. Noah sent a dove to find land and the dove brought back an olive branch. Not only does this story imply the dove as a symbol of hope, it also describes a relationship between the bird and man that has lasted thousands of years. Other ancient cultures and religions also used doves as a way of communication; Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Greeks all used these birds as messengers to convey important information.

Oahu Wedding offers dove releases to take place one hour before the sunset, which usually means before the ceremony. Many couples would like to wait until after they have said their vows to watch the birds fly away and ask to release them later. The reason behind this requirement is the safety of the birds. These doves are a special breed called Homing Pigeons. They are trained to fly back to their home after they are released from your ceremony. After they fly away and survey their surroundings, they are able to find their way home to Kaneohe Bay. This remarkable gift is what makes Dove releases so popular and available.

Look at Oahu Wedding’s packages page to add a dove release to your beach wedding ceremony. Dove releases are a beautiful and inexpensive way to symbolize the magnificence of your love for each other on your wedding day. Also choose a butterfly release to symbolize new love and birth. All of this is available at Oahu Wedding!


source: American White Dove Release Association

A bit of Hawaiian tradition: leis

A wedding is an extremely special day in a couple’s life. There are marriage traditions passed on through generations in every culture, and etiquette to be followed throughout every step of the process. When couples come to Hawaii, there are certain practices that are expected. What is commonly overlooked is the tradition and origin of the novelties only found in Hawaiian weddings.

A lei is a circle of flowers connected together on a string. Hawaii is known for its beautiful tropical flower leis. They have become a trademark of the islands and an economic success for Hawaii. In ancient Hawaii, leis were used as a symbol of feelings and occasion. The exchange of leis during a traditional Hawaiian ceremony carries similar meaning to that of a modern-day wedding ring. The lei’s circular shape represents the everlasting love and devotion of the couple, and the beauty of the flowers represent the delicacy of the celebration. Exchanging leis during your ceremony is a reminder of the natural beauty of the love between two people. Oahu Wedding’s packages include a variety of different leis to add culture and beauty to your ceremony.

Traditionally, the Kahuna Pule (Holy Man) would bind the bride and groom’s hands together with a maile lei. This was believed to ensure a long, healthy and happy marriage between the two. The maile leaves are very precious in Hawaiian Culture. They are a gentle, easily perishable plant indigenously found in the islands of Hawaii. The binding of the maile lei represents the binding of the two hearts of bride and groom. Today when a groom wears a maile lei, let it be a reminder of the rich Hawaiian culture and symbolism that remains alive hundreds of years later.

Hotel recommendations for vacation-goers on a budget

Here is a continuation of Oahu Wedding’s hotel recommendations for all of you planning weddings in Hawaii! Featured today is the family of Ohana hotels.

For those of you looking for a less-expensive hotel room with a Hawaiian-style setting, the Ohana hotels are a perfect choice. There are seven Ohana hotels in Waikiki, all with clean, simple and welcoming amenities and services, and all with convenient locations within walking distance of famous Waikiki landmarks including the International Market Place, Honolulu Zoo, Beach Walk, the Royal Hawaiian shopping center, Waikiki Aquarium, the Galleria, and many more.

The list of Ohana Hotels is as follows:

Ohana Waikiki East – 150 Kaiulani Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
The Ohana East is located directly behind the International Market Place in an extremely central location. It is a newer Ohana hotel with great amenities and tour services in the lobby.

Ohana Waikiki West – 2330 Kuhio Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
The Ohana West is located one block back from the beach in the middle of numerous restaurants and stores. It is directly across the street from pharmacy, grocery store, and numerous souvenir shops. Also across the street from the International Market Place.

Ohana Islander Waikiki – 270 Lewers Street. Honolulu, HI 96815
The newly renovated Ohana Islander Waikiki is located one block away from the beach access on Kalia road. This area is spectacularly redone with art galleries, new restaurants, and very close to the beach. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Planet Hollywood and the Galleria are also right across the street.

Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber – 2300 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
Previous home to the Don Ho show, the Ohana Beachcomber is a sort of historic landmark in Waikiki. Located directly across from the beach and featuring great ocean view rooms, the Ohana Beach comber has a wonderfully convenient location.

Ohana Maile Sky Court – 2058 Kuhio Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
The Ohana Maile Sky Court is the largest of the Ohana chain. It is located on the West end of Waikiki, two blocks from the beach and adjacent to Fort DeRussy and the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The West End of Waikiki is slightly quieter at night, yet also offers a variety of shopping venues, restaurants and attractions including the Fort DeRussy army museum, Beachwalk, Planet Hollywood, and the Ala Moana shopping center.

Ohana Malia – 2211 Kuhio Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
The Ohana Malia is located on Kuhio and Royal Hawaiian Avenues in the heart of Waikiki. It is one block back from the beach and on the same street as the Royal Hawaiian shopping center, Beachwalk, Planet Hollywood and the Galleria. The Ohana Malia is in a quieter area of Waikiki with short walking distance from the International Market place and all shopping venues.

Pacific Beach Hotel – 2490 Kalkaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
The Pacific Beach is a luxurious ocean-themed resort with a great location in Waikiki. Be forewarned that the Pacific Beach will be more expensive than some of the other Ohana hotels. Located directly across the street from the beach, its entrance is on the main ocean-front road in Honolulu. It is only a couple of blocks from the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki aquarium, and short walking distance from the International Market Place. The Pacific Beach is known for its large aquarium in the dining area of the hotel.

How to Give a Proper Wedding Toast

More Hotel Recommendations

Oahu Wedding has two more hotel recommendations for all of you potential Hawaiian vacation-goers and brides and grooms to-be!

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is located on the edge of Waikiki simply because of its size. It truly is a village all by itself. With six towers of luxury guest rooms and suites, four swimming pools, Mandara Spa and Salon, various wildlife exhibits, multiple shopping arcades, a wedding chapel, Hawaiian culture activity, and countless cuisine including Benihana Japanese grill, Sergio’s Italian restaurant, and Golden Dragon Chinese cuisine. This hotel has so much to offer that it is perfect for a family vacation, romantic getaway, honeymoon, or wedding location.

The Outrigger Waikiki on the beach is extremely centrally located on the Waikiki strip, and directly across the street from the International Market Place. It is famous for Duke’s Barefoot Bar and Grill which provides live Hawaiian music night and delicious buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Outrigger hotel chain is based in the Hawaiian islands and showcases culture and artifacts. Amenities include an oceanfront pool, whirlpool spa, Waikiki Plantation Spa, Outrigger Activity Center, and beach services.

Oahu Wedding's Hotel Recommendations

There are far too many hotels in Waikiki to be able to review them all before your Hawaiian vacation. Choosing a place to stay is always important when traveling. When you are traveling to your wedding and/or honeymoon destination, this decision is that much more important. This blog will discuss three of Oahu Wedding’s most recommended hotels in the Waikiki area. There will be more to come.

The Westin Moana Surfrider has recently received a makeover. It is now a Westin Resort – known worldwide for its modern luxury. It is a central landmark in Waikiki, directly across the street from the International Market Place. Commonly referred to as the “First Lady of Waikiki,” the Moana Surfrider was the first hotel to be built on Waikiki Beach. Its plantation-style architecture and elegant common areas are stunning at first glance, and you will not be disappointed if you look further. The Westin is a four star resort and is located directly on the beach. The Veranda bar and grill is a great place for drinks and entertainment and a romantic evening. The Westin also provides great amenities including an ocean-front pool and deck, Westin Kid’s Club, workout room, 24 hour room service, gifts upon arrival, and signature
Westin Spa.

The Hawaii Prince Hotel is known for its distinctive twin towers overlooking the Ala Wai Marina at the West end of Waikiki. Their height and location make the ocean views at the Hawaii Prince the ultimate choice for beautiful ocean views. Also affiliated is the Hawaii Prince Golf Club located on the Ewa plain of Oahu. Golfers will enjoy hundreds of acres of green and a first-class course. Amenities at the Hawaii Prince include 2 tennis courts, day spa, swimming pool and deck, Japanese and American cuisine, and over 500 ocean-view rooms. This hotel is ideal for weddings at Ala Moana Beach Park. It is walking distance from Oahu Wedding’s ceremony site on Magic Island.

The Halekulani Hotel is an oasis of five-star luxury and tranquility in the midst of busy Waikiki. Located on Kalia road, it is one block behind the fast-paced center of Waikiki, and still directly on the beach. The Halekulani boasts service unlike any other and is an excellent choice for a romantic getaway. The famous Vera Wang Suite is located here – designed by Ms. Wang herself. Halekulani is known for its outstanding dining opportunities and classic appeal. Amenities include ocean-front pool, Spa Halekulani, 24 hour room service, fitness center, shopping venues, and multiple restaurants.