Hawai’i is a beautiful chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean and each island has its own personality, people, presence, pride, and power. Kauai being the eldest island of the chain has a sense of wisdom and history about its mountains and landscapes. We often get asked — “why should I get married on Kauai?“

One day, our owner Lauren and I were in the car together heading to a wedding at Sheraton Poipu and she asked me if I ever take this for granted. Confused, I asked what she was talking about. She was talking about the island, its beauty, and everything about it. I quickly and shamefully answered, yes, absolutely, ALL THE TIME! Being born and raised here (although I spent 7 years in Hilo) I have lived most of my life on Kaua’i surrounded by its red dirt, chickens, and country roads. I don’t travel out of state all that often so I forget that many sides of the world are filled with buildings, freeways, and cities that don’t sleep. This is home for me. Our quaint little island with its majestic mountains and humble oceans are daily normals for me. These are the exact reasons why people come here; To experience what its like to take it slow and live on Hawaiian time. 

More to the point of this note on why you should get married on Kauai? Our current Kauai team myself, Sherry, and Paulette have been born and raised here. If you ask any of us, we love that our communities are tight and our kama’aina care about one another. After being a part of the wedding industry on Kaua’i for 7 years, I can truly say that sense of community naturally lives among our wedding vendors also. Yes, your wedding venue is SUPER important for your vision. However, these vendors are the people who make the wedding day happen! 

The wedding community on Kauai is small but mighty! The island has a community of veteran vendors who have been in the industry for 20+ years (Lee’s Rentals and Kustom Sounds Kauai, and many many others). These vendors have paved the path of what it means to be a successful wedding business owner here. We also have, “the rookies”, who are new to weddings. They are eager to learn and bring modern ideas and practices to wedding days. The community treats them with respect in true Kauai fashion. I was one of those rookies back in 2016! I will forever be grateful for the relationships, support, and guidance everyone has offered, even to this day! In return, I have been able to collaborate with other vendors to boost their business with my knowledge and experience. You see it’s a life cycle that continues and is the backbone of our Kauai wedding industry!!  (quick plug… if you are a vendor reading this, come join us at KWPA 😉 ) 

Okay, fine, I’ll finally hit the point here! Getting married here is more than the gorgeous venue backdrop and the awesome vendors that help along the way, it’s a memory and an experience from landing till we say “a hui hou”, until we see each other again. Tip… when you fly over, sit on the left side of the plane, so you and your guests can enjoy the scenery from up above! From there, you get to absorb the laid-back vibes of our island and enjoy some much need time off to slow down and be present. Before and after your wedding day, you can fill your time with hikes, kayaking, and soaking up the sun on our white sandy beaches. Bringing all of your closest family and friends here to celebrate your day is absolutely the highlight of the trip but before and after that you will absolutely be surrounded by adventure, appreciation, and aloha.

There are many destination wedding locations in the Aloha State and even around the world. What makes Kauai special is its roots in all aspects! The actual roots of the native plants and animals, the roots of the people and communities. The roots of the small country stores that make spam musubis. Finally, the roots of the wedding vendors who are passionate about making your wedding dreams come true. This is my home and it has my heart. So, does this answer your question as to why you should get married on Kauai!?

I really could go on and on about how special this island is. There are many more big and small things that make Kauai unique, but I think you get the point. Come see for yourself, “Kaua’i as why!”

With Love & Aloha, Julie

Kauai Photos from Unsplash

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