A bride and groom hold hands as their guests watch during their intimate wedding ceremony at their venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

Wedding and Elopement

Oahu Wedding Venue Feature: Male’ana Gardens Kailua

March 14, 2024

It’s time for another venue feature! These articles are some of my favorites to put out as I feel they’re so beneficial to couples that are looking to have their wedding here on the islands of Hawaii. This next venue feature is from the island of Oahu, joining some of my other favorite venues on […]

Oahu Wedding Venue Feature: Male’ana Gardens Kailua
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It’s time for another venue feature! These articles are some of my favorites to put out as I feel they’re so beneficial to couples that are looking to have their wedding here on the islands of Hawaii. This next venue feature is from the island of Oahu, joining some of my other favorite venues on the island like the Four Seasons Resort at Ko Olina, and Lanikuhonua. Check out those wedding venues as well if you’re interested, but today we’re here to talk about the ever incredible Male’ana Gardens in Kailua!

A bride and groom smile while holding hands under a wooden archway decorated with florals during their wedding ceremony at their venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

What Makes Male’ana Gardens a Special Wedding Venue?

Those that have been keeping up on my blogs may recognize the Male’ana Gardens name, and that’s because it made my list of top 5 wedding venues on Oahu! The venue definitely earns its place on this list as they work to make their couples wedding days the best they can possibly be. Male’ana Gardens is the embodiment of a tropical paradise, and they know this. They know that the couples booking them are looking to have a wedding experience like none other, and that is exactly what they provide. In addition to the service and amenities the venue provides, which we’ll be covering here next, the venue is simply STUNNING as you’ll see from the photos throughout this article.

A bride and groom pose for a portrait photo at the ceremony space of Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
Portrait photo of a bride smiling while the groom hugs her from behind during their wedding at Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
A bride and groom kiss one another while standing at the ceremony space of Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
A wooden archway is decorated with pastel flowers at the wedding venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

Male’ana Gardens’ Amenities

There is a LOT that Male’ana Gardens offers as a wedding venue in terms of amenities, all in the effort to give their couples a one of a kind experience. To start things off are spaces available at the venue. The main building has a space available to be used as a bridal suite for getting ready to keep things as simple as possible. There’s also the scenic outdoor ceremony space, the covered outdoor dining area for an intimate reception, and of course beach access for your wedding day! In addition to all this, the venue also provides seating and tableware for your day, and will  help you to choose vendors for additional décor should you want any! Speaking of vendors…

Lounge chairs sit under a straw umbrella with palm trees around it, the space is a lounge area at the wedding venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
The ceremony space of the wedding venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu is set up with chairs and pastel flowers on the wooden archway

Vendors Requirements

One of my favorite aspects about Male’ana Gardens as a wedding venue is their approach to vendors. In an effort to make things as simple and streamlined as possible for their couples they require that all vendors for your wedding day are local. The only vendors that they require you to book through them are their coordinator, chef, his staff, and their bartender. Outside of that though you are able to choose any local vendors you would like! If making those decisions is a bit too much pressure though, fear not as they have a stellar preferred vendors list for you to choose from! With how much care the venue puts into their weddings, you can rest easy knowing that any vendor on this list is going to give their all in making your dream wedding day a reality!

A cocktail menu sits on a bar next to some other decorations for a wedding reception at the venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
Liquor bottles sit on a wooden bar top next to different garnishes
A bar set up for a wedding reception at Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
A bride and groom stand on a gravel pathway for a portrait photo at their wedding venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

Wedding Size

There are many things that make Male’ana Gardens a special wedding venue on the island of Oahu, and one of those is their focus on intimate weddings. The venue is only able to be booked by couples looking for an elopement, micro wedding, or an intimate wedding. The total cap of the celebration is 20 guests plus the couple. This specialization is what has lead Male’ana Gardens to become the top tier wedding venue that it is. By focusing on these smaller sized celebrations they have truly perfected their craft!

A bride and her father walk down the stairs of the main building at Male'ana Gardens as they enter the wedding ceremony space
A groom stands with his hands behind his back while other guests watch as the bride enters the ceremony space of Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
Guests of an intimate wedding at the venue Male'ana Gardens on Oahu sit and watch as the ceremony takes place
A bride and groom hold hands as their guests watch during their intimate wedding ceremony at their venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
Close up photo of a bride and groom smiling as they're about to kiss one another during their wedding at their venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

Travel and Stay

Another fantastic thing about Male’ana Gardens is that getting to it keeps things incredibly simple logistically for both you and your guests. For starters, the venue is only around 30 minutes away from Honolulu, and Honolulu’s International Airport. There is also an abundance of choices when it comes to places to stay. You can go with something nice and close like a local Airbnb, or make your way back to Honolulu to stay at a resort, among other options. I actually wrote a whole blog about where to stay on Oahu in relation to where you’re having an elopement that you can use as a resource!

The intimate reception space of the venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
A bride and groom kis sone another while walking on a path near Male'ana Gardens as they head to the beach for portrait photos
A bride and groom kiss one another while on a beach of Oahu near Male'ana Gardens with the ocean and some smaller islands in the background
A table is decorated with pastel flowers for an intimate wedding reception at the venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu

Other Things to Note 

There’s just a few more key elements that you should know when considering Male’ana Gardens to be the venue for your wedding day on Oahu. First is that they book up quickly! If you are looking to have your wedding here I recommend you reach out as early as possible to get your date in the books!

Next is that you have to hire their wedding coordinator in order to have your wedding here. This honestly is a benefit though as she is an invaluable member of the team. She’ll be the one that you have the most contact with when planning your day, and will do everything in her power to bring your vision to life. This of course includes vendor recommendations, day of coordination, and assisting the Male’ana Gardens crew and your vendors throughout the wedding.

Finally, it’s crucial to note that the venue is only open from April to Mid-November. Being closed from Mid-November through March allows the venue to avoid the island’s rainy season while also caring for and maintaining their grounds to ensure they’re ready come April!

A table is decorated with pastel flowers and sits under a wooden overhang and glass chandeliers, it is the reception space of Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
Close up photo of a plate on a table with pastel flowers in front of it, set up for a wedding reception at Male'ana Gardens on Oahu
A bride stands next to the reception space at Male'ana Gardens on Oahu and looks over her shoulder to smile at the camera
A bride and groom walk hand in hand on the grounds of Male'ana Gardens on Oahu after their ceremony

For any couple looking for a unique venue for their elopement, micro wedding, or intimate wedding, you really MUST consider Male’ana Gardens for your day. I’m sure from reading everything above you can see where I’m coming from, so be sure to check out their page if you are interested in booking them for your wedding day. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a photographer for your Oahu wedding then head over to my contact page to send me an inquiry!

Guests of an intimate wedding at the venue, Male'ana Gardens on Oahu raise their glasses together for a toast

Vendors of the Featured Gallery

Dress: Anthropologie Weddings

MUA: Reveal Hair & Makeup

Florist: Lulu’s Lei + Bouquets

Bar: Bar Coco

Chef: Private Dining Hawaii

Music: Jenna Keala

Officiant: Marry Me Hawaii

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