If you’re looking to have an intimate wedding in a tropical getaway, the island of Oahu is home to SO many beautiful wedding venues! The island of Oahu is home to the Hawaiian capital Honolulu and is known for the diverse landscape on the island. Oahu offers an awesome variety of options in terms of wedding venues and locations, from the city of Honolulu to its many wide-ranging nature preserves. With all the amazing options to consider, I know it can be hard to know where to start when choosing a wedding venue. Knowing that you’re planning an intimate wedding, I went back and pulled some of my favorite venues on the islands. To help get you going on your search for the intimate wedding venue that fits you best, here are five that I am completely in love with.

What is an Intimate Wedding

Before we get into my top 5 favorite intimate wedding venues on Oahu, let’s talk about what exactly an intimate wedding is. As a Hawaii wedding photographer, intimate weddings are DEFINITELY my favorite. According to an updated Knot article from 2023, an intimate wedding is a wedding with around 50 people or fewer.  Intimate weddings have risen in popularity within the past couple of years for a number of reasons including costs, environmental impact, freedom for personalization, and overall less stress.  Intimate wedding days are by far one of my favorite ways to celebrate my couples and their love, and I am always BEYOND excited when I get an inquiry from a couple planning an intimate wedding. 

My Top 5 Intimate Wedding Venues on Oahu

1. Holomua Farms

Holomua Farms in Waialua is the perfect intimate wedding venue for those who want to embrace the natural beauty of Hawaii and the island of Oahu. It is a self-described eco-retreat located on a plot of land surrounded by mountain forests with a guest capacity of 50, making it perfect for intimate weddings. It offers overnight stays and is just a 45-minute drive to downtown Honolulu, making it easy to travel to for those that plan to stay in the capital city for the majority of the time. The land surrounding the venue is absolutely perfect for the setting of an intimate wedding, and will give us no shortage of incredible backdrops for your wedding portraits!

2. Male’ana Gardens

Male’ana Gardens is an event design, planning, and management service located in Kailua that also serves as a gorgeous wedding venue. It is located close to the beach and specializes in intimate events. They host elopements from January through March with a maximum capacity of 2-6 including the couple. Their maximum capacity increases to 20 including the couple from April through December though making it an ideal venue for intimate weddings on Oahu! The venue is one of my favorites for a number of reasons, but I especially love the secluded, serene, and tropical feelings the venue provides for your wedding day.

3. Kealohiwai + Pahalona Beach at Kualoa Ranch

If you’re looking to have your wedding on the beach, you should consider Kualoa Ranch in Kaneohe. Private events on their Secret Island Beach can hold up to 250 guests but are perfect for intimate gatherings as well. When at Kualoa Ranch, beautiful views of the water and mountains surround you. Kualoa Ranch is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Honolulu and is home to other beautiful wedding venues such as their Paliku and Moli’i Gardens. These intimate wedding venues are perfect for couples looking to experience the beauty of the beaches and ocean views that Oahu is known for! I LOVE documenting my couples’ day at this Hawaii wedding venue.

For more information on weddings hosted at Kualoa Ranch, you can check out my blog article here!

4. Oahu Wedding Villas & Venues

Oahu Wedding Villas & Venues in Hauula is an incredible getaway for your wedding! This intimate Hawaii wedding venue features an assortment of amenities that will make your stay in Oahu relaxing and comfortable. It features a tent, tables, chairs, a bar, and set up/tear down assistance as well as a variety of other amenities and add-ons for your wedding day. If you’re looking for a luxurious isolated location that can host your intimate wedding and house your closest friends and family members, then Oahu Wedding Villas & Venues is a great option for you.

5. The Kahala Hotel & Resort

The Kahala in Honolulu is a great option for you if you’re looking to have an intimate wedding without traveling to a remote destination. It offers multiple wedding packages which feature oceanfront ceremonies as well as multiple onsite locations for receptions. This luxury resort has a lot to offer like a pool and beach, a shopping center, as well as a fitness center, which means there’s plenty to keep your guests occupied after your wedding day. Since the intimate wedding venue is located in Honolulu, you won’t be far removed from plenty of other places in the city where you can celebrate and experience some of the beauty Oahu has to offer!

That covers my 5 favorite intimate wedding venues on Oahu! For more inspiration on how to plan your own intimate wedding day check out this beautiful boho wedding on the north shore of Oahu, and if you’re ready to book your photographer for your own Hawaiian wedding head to my contact page here.