Hawaii is a magical place. Not only does the year-round beautiful weather, rich culture, pristine beaches, and diverse scenery make it one of the top tourist destinations in the world, but also one of the number one wedding destinations. The burning question every couple planning their dream destination wedding wants to know is, what is the average cost of a wedding in Hawaii? This is a loaded question! While we can’t provide you with exact numbers as no two weddings are the same, we can break down the average costs for you to demystify the financials.

The cost of a wedding in Hawaii falls on a number of factors. The three main ones are:

The next biggest factor to consider is what type of wedding you are planning – [DIY/Budget], [Average/Stress-free with quality vendors], [Pinterest- worthy/Extravagant dream wedding], etc… For the local Hawaii gals/pals, we know that DIY/Budget is the name of the local-wedding game. The bigger guest count the better! But for the sake of this blog and anyone celebrating in the state, let’s talk, “Average” (aka booking/hiring professional vendors for everything)!

The average cost of a wedding for around 100 guests on Oahu is between $50,000- $80,000 – this does not include airfare, experiences, accommodations, or wedding attire. Before you completely check out of the conversation, this is about education and there are so many moving parts to a wedding and a variety of vendors are required to make it happen. We have budget breakdown examples below, but here to be the messenger, below is a simple overview and range of “average” costs for each vendor category.

**You will notice that categories such as DJ & MC, Entertainment, Officiant, Photographer & Videographer as well as Photo Booth do not typically vary too much based on guest count or the type of venue.**

Of course you can! Celebrations come in different shapes and sizes, and just because your budget is under the “average”, this only means you need to be educated and make smarter decisions about who you work with and the vendors you source. The figures above are purely estimates for a balanced event, based solely on guest count and industry averages. It does not imply a large elevation of style, nor keeping incredibly tight on budget, but rolls down the middle of the average pricing and being particular in quality vendor selections. It’s not implied that this cost can’t be adjusted, there are certainly more affordable options and considerations of what vendors will be applicable to your celebration! But this would mean that you are being incredibly particular about vendor choices and cutting excess costs wherever you can. It’s a balance of needs vs. wants, but a point to note based on your research as you WILL come across these prices and have to hunt a little deeper. Keep in mind: Your guest count is the biggest factor in how your budget is allocated. More people, higher prices! Less people, lower prices. You might want to think twice about inviting your family’s distant relative you barely know, afterall.

The couple used average industry vendors and had a balanced vision and slight elevation for their wedding celebration.

The couple used pared-back services and/or under-average (but quality) vendors.

The main difference in celebrating at a Hotel or Banquet-Supported-Establishment (i.e. Golf Course, Country Club, etc.) is that they often pose their costs under a Site Fee and Food & Beverage Minimums. This will assume the following categories will be under the “umbrella” of the establishment: Bar, Catering, Cake/Desserts + Standard Banquet Rentals.

A Hotel or Banquet-Supported-Establishment requires that Food & Beverages are run through their main catering team on-site! “Food & Beverage Costs” will normally have minimums (i.e. $20,000++ F&B Minimum), meaning that your event is required to hit a $20,000 food/beverage cost, plus taxes, plus fees (e.g. the ++ at the end of the total). Hawaii Tax is 4.7%, and average fees are 15-20%, so if you had a $20,000++ F&B minimum, you would be spending about $25,000.

For bar services, a flat-rate cost will be charged to have the bar open, and from there, you as the couple can determine if you will host the entire bar service for your guests, partially host (to a certain $ amount), or provide the option for guests to purchase their own drinks (cash bar).

Note that in establishments such as this, standard event rentals (tables, linens, chairs, dinnerware, glassware) are included in the costs.

The couple celebrated at a banquet-supported-establishment with an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception!

When it comes to a smaller guest count (50 people and under) vs. a larger guest count (over 100 people) it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s “half the cost” or “double the cost”. For example, for a group of 150 guests, costs will be higher by about 30-40% to account for vendors with guest-count ties (rentals, catering, florals, etc.) whereas a smaller group of 35 will often be only 20-30% cheaper. That’s because certain vendors (DJ, Photography) do not always base their prices directly on guest count. Whether it’s 20 of you or 220, there’s a foundation of costs. Is this specific math 100% accurate? NO. But in our experience, it’s basic averages you can rely on.

It is easy to overlook what may seem like minor additions when you are budgeting for your big day but we want to make note that these scenarios and estimates do NOT include taxes or tips for your vendors. Keep in mind that Hawaii has a high sales tax of around 4.7% that you should account for when planning. You also don’t want to forget about gratuity for your amazing vendors. Check out our How to Tip Your Vendors guide here!

These aren’t often included in your “wedding budget”, though travel and/or accomodations are a part of the bigger picture. Hawaii is an island in the middle of the Pacific, which means travel costs can add up. Between airfare, hotels, transportation and enjoying all the fun activities the island has to offer you will want to consider what this side budget looks like.

There you have it, an idea of what it will cost to get married on Oahu. Please reach out to our team to book a consultation for a more accurate quote based on your specific wedding details.

Photo Credit: Red Ring Studio

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