Big Island Wedding FAQ

What is unique about weddings on Big Island?
What is a typical Big Island wedding like?
Are there high quality wedding vendors on Big Island?
Do you recommend I hire a Big Island wedding planner?
What types of group activities are available for my wedding party on Big Island?
How do I get group rates on Big Island for my wedding party?
How do I get to Big Island?
Do I need to rent a car when I get to Big Island?
How far in advance do I need to plan my wedding on Big Island?
Should I consider spending my honeymoon on another Hawaiian Island? 

What is unique about weddings on the Big Island?

Travel to the Big Island is a study in contrasts. From the austere beauty of the black lava fields, to the emerald green of the golf courses to the lush greenery of the Hilo side, the Big Island has it all.

Visit the Big Island Weddings Section of our site here.

What is a typical Big Island wedding like?

There truly is not a "typical" Big Island wedding, as the options on the island are so diverse. The primary wedding locations on the Big Island are either the grounds of a Big Island hotel or on the beach with an independent Big Island wedding planner. Finding a Big Island wedding coordinator that you trust and feel comfortable with is one of the keys to a successful wedding on the Big Island. The question to ask yourself when considering a wedding on the Big Island is "what is my dream wedding?". If you can articulate this vision to your Big Island Hawaii wedding planner, your chances of it becoming a reality become much better.

Are there high quality wedding vendors on the Big Island?

Though Big Island, Hawaii is a rural island, there is actually a wealth of high quality wedding vendors. Whether you are looking for a great photographer, a talented wedding videographer, a great catering company or the perfect florist, you can find it here.

Do you recommend I hire a Big Island wedding planner?

Yes, we do! Though Preview Hawaii is a very extensive resource in planning your wedding on the Big Island, we could never replace the personalized service of a wedding planner. Even if it just the two of you, you are probably planning the wedding from at least three thousand miles away (if not more!). If you work with a qualified Hawaii wedding planner, you will have all the little details of the wedding day covered. The most important thing is finding a wedding coordinator that you relate to and that you really like! This person will become a friend and confidente, and needs to be a personality you can relate to. There are two main types of wedding coordinators on the Big Island, the resort wedding planners and the independent wedding planners. Both has pros and cons. If you are planning a large, formal wedding on Hawaii, a resort wedding planner may be a good choice. If you would like to find a unique venue, or get married just the two of you on a deserted beach, an independent wedding coordinator may be a more logical choice. Go through our list of Big Island wedding planners below, and call us with any questions you may have.

Please review our list of Big Island wedding planners here.

What types of group activities are available for my wedding party on the Big Island?

The Big Island of Hawaii has an enormously diverse group of activities to choose from. Whether you are looking for an adventurous boat ride on the Hamakoa Coast, a helicopter tour of the volcano, a kayaking adventure in the open ocean or a beautiful hiking tour, the Big Island has numerous options. Please review our list of Big Island activities here.

We take care to select the most professional companies on each island in each category.

How do I get group rates on the Big Island for my wedding party?

The best way to negotiate a group rate for your wedding party coming to the Big Island is by contacting the activity company directly. Our Wedding Planner allows you to do this in a streamlined, electronic fashion. Please review the Preview Hawaii Planner here.


How do I get to the Big Island?

The two main airports on the Big Island of Hawaii are Kona International Airport and Hilo Airport. Kona receives flights daily from the mainland US as well as Japan. In addition, both Kona and Hilo receive many flights daily from the other major Hawaiian Islands.

Do I need to rent a car when I get to the Big Island?

It is strongly recommended you rent a car on the Big Island, because the public transportation is not very available, and hard to access. This is called the "big island" for a reason- it is larger than all the other Hawaiian Islands combined! It is huge!

How far in advance do I need to plan my wedding on the Big Island?

Some couples begin planning their Big Island wedding years in advance, some plan their Big Island, Hawaii wedding last minute. It really depends on a number of factors, such as the size of your wedding party, the budget for your wedding, the planning you want to do for your weddings guests traveling to the Big Island, and more. Here at Preview Hawaii, we recommend you begin planning your Big Island wedding, even if it is just the two of you, at least six months in advance.

Planning a destination Hawaii wedding can be a very challenging organizational task. Most members of the wedding party are traveling to Hawaii from at least three thousand miles away. All guests need to arrange airfare, lodging, car rental, activities and inter-island transportation. It is often the bride and groom became the de facto travel agent for everybody attending the wedding in Hawaii. This can be a very challenging job for the couple as they are planning the details of their rehearsal dinner, wedding day, reception and honeymoon in Hawaii. Even if a Big Island wedding coordinator has been hired to assist you in planning the details of the Big Island wedding, they often to not assist you with all of the travel details for your entire wedding guest list.

This planning process is what Preview Hawaii and our Hawaii Wedding Planner feature are designed for. Preview Hawaii can assist you with your entire procurement process for your destination wedding in Hawaii. We can aid you in the selection of your
Big Island wedding venue, Big Island wedding coordinator, Big Island wedding suppliers, Big Island lodging for your wedding party, and both individual and group activities in Hawaii for the enjoyment of your guests.

Should I consider spending my honeymoon on another Hawaiian Island?

This is a question we receive all the time. And the answer is unequivacably YES! The beauty of planning your wedding in Hawaii is that you then can combine your dream honeymoon into the experience! The various wedding options on each island are very diverse and unique. If you are not familiar with Hawaii, please take some time to learn about each island. Email us at info@previewhawaii.com with any questions you have about which island is best suited to your destination Hawaii wedding.

Once you have chosen the island in Hawaii for your wedding, you can then think about which other island(s) you would really like to see while you here. Or perhaps which of our fantastic Hawaii resorts you would love to steal away to with your beloved after your wedding in Hawaii. Preview Hawaii has a wide variety of fantastic Hawaii honeymoon itineraries available, and can assist you with every part of the honeymoon planning process.