As elopements have risen in popularity over the years, more and more couples find themselves drawn to having a destination elopement on the island of Maui. It makes sense too, I mean who wouldn’t want to elope in a literal tropical paradise? As appealing as this is though, many couples still struggle with the planning aspect of their destination elopement on the island of Maui, which is what we’re here to discuss today. Let’s take a deep dive into everything you need to know in order to have THE best possible elopement experience here on Maui!

Why You Should Consider Maui for Your Elopement

Before we get into the details of planning your elopement, why should you choose the island of Maui in the first place? While you really can’t go wrong when choosing an island of Hawaii for your elopement, many couples are drawn to Maui for a few reasons. For starters, it is incredibly simple to access when compared to the smaller islands like Kauai thanks to their larger international airport on the island. Maui also has a more relaxed and laid back tempo when compared to the hustle and bustle you can find on Oahu. It’s the perfect combination of ease of access, R and R, and the beautiful Hawaiian landscapes and beaches you’d expect!

How to Plan Your Maui Elopement

There’s quite a bit of planning involved in making your elopement in Maui everything you’ve dreamt of, so let’s go through it step by step!

Find and Book Your Photographer

The very first thing I want to recommend for your elopement on Maui is to book your photographer, and this is for good reason! Here at Olson Productions, we offer all inclusive elopement packages. As the name suggests, these all inclusive packages take all the stress of planning off of your plate! From finding and booking your vendors, your elopement location, permit requirements, timeline creation, you name it! We work closely with our couples to understand their vision, and from there create an elopement experience that’s true to them, all while they get to relax and enjoy themselves in the lead up to their big day! We even offer add-on services and coverage like drone footage if that’s your thing!

For more information about our elopement packages and coverage check out this article. The reason I bring this up first is because this booking option can take pretty much ALL the planning off your plates! If you like some of the planning process, or want a little more control of the details though, let’s check out some of the other planning aspects you’ll want to keep track of. 

Take Care of the Legalities

The first big piece of planning your elopement on Maui is probably the least fun while simultaneously being the most important, the legalities. Thankfully eloping in Hawaii is relatively straightforward.

You’ll first want to apply for your marriage license ahead of time online and also pay the necessary fee for the license. Once you’ve applied you’ll then meet with an agent on the island within 30 days of your elopement ceremony. There you’ll receive your license, which is valid that same day, and you’ll then have 30 days to elope. Be sure to bring valid forms of ID along as well or you won’t receive your license!

The next step is to book an officiant for your ceremony. Officiants, or Marriage Performers as they’re known locally, are required to be registered and approved through the state’s department of health. You can book a local officiant for your ceremony, or have someone you know register to be your officiant, just be warned that it does take time to be approved. 

The last legal piece to consider is whether or not you need any witnesses for your elopement. This is an area where Hawaii keeps things simple as no additional witnesses are required outside of your officiant!

Choose Where You’re Eloping

The next step in planning your elopement on Maui is choosing where the elopement itself will take place! Thankfully, there are practically endless options to choose from on the island, though that can make it a little daunting in and of itself. Before looking into specific locations, I suggest you discuss with your partner what you both envision the elopement looking like. Do you see yourselves on a remote sandy beach? Cliffside as the waves of the ocean crash below? Atop a mountain looking out over the beautiful paradise that surrounds you? Whatever you choose, having an image in your mind of what you’re after will help you find the space that best fits your goal.

I recommend having already booked a photographer at this point as they’ll be able to then suggest locations that fit the vision you have in your head. We at Olson Productions also assist with things like permit requirements for your elopement to help keep things simple and stress free for your elopement day! Some of my favorite spots on the island for elopements include the Olinda Forest, Iao Valley, South Kihei, and Baldwin Beach, though there are a TON of others I like to keep secret for my couples!

Choose When to Elope

Maui, and the Hawaiian islands as a whole, are lucky in the sense that any time of year is fantastic for an elopement! The island remains a tropical paradise year round, though there are a couple things to consider when planning your elopement date, those are tourism and the rainy season.

Maui and the other Hawaiian islands are of course incredibly popular tourist destinations, though some seasons are busier than others. The winter months are the most popular, with summers close behind. This is due to many families traveling during this time thanks to their children having breaks from school. These seasons usually bring a higher travel cost, which can be avoided by having a spring or fall elopement. If you do intend to elope during these busier seasons, you can still avoid the crowds by opting for a sunrise elopement over one at sunset!

The other thing to consider is the rainy season of the islands, which takes place November through March. This isn’t a huge deal though, and in the grand scheme of things shouldn’t really impact your planning. That’s because rain showers rarely last long on the islands of Hawaii, and sometimes they only hit certain parts of the island while the rest stays sunny and dry. It’s more something to be aware of being a possibility, but I wouldn’t be too concerned with it!

Are Any Guests Attending?

Yes, you can have guests at your elopement! Simply Eloped considers an elopement to be anything under 20 guests, though most elopements usually fall between the 4 to 10 guests range. This is an incredible way to make your elopement on Maui that much more personal and special, though it does involve some additional planning. Talk with your partner to decide whether you want anyone else present for your day, and what parts of the elopement they’ll be present for (ceremony vs an intimate dinner reception). You’ll also need to figure out the logistics of their travel and where they’ll be staying, which is thankfully the next piece we’ll be looking at!

Plan Out the Logistics

The logistics of your travel and stay in Maui for your elopement is something that can’t be taken care of at the last minute. This is a crucial piece of the planning process, and if done correctly it can even make the experience more enjoyable! For your travels you’re most likely going to be flying in to Maui’s Kahului Airport, which starts things off simply enough. From there you’ll probably rent a car directly at the airport which will get you to where you’re staying.

For your stay, I strongly encourage you to choose a location that’s relatively close to where you’re eloping. This will keep things simple for your day-of preparations, and minimize your travel time on your big day! If you plan on staying at a resort you can also invite your guests to stay at the same resort to keep things stress free and make your stay that much more enjoyable!

Book Your Vendors

Finally, you’re going to want to book the other vendors needed to bring your Maui elopement to life. This is where the flexibility of elopements really shines, as you have a ton of freedom when it comes to the vendors you’ll need for the day. That’s because elopements can really look like anything you want them to be! You can pick and choose the vendors that will help to create the day you want, while not booking any that you feel aren’t necessary for your elopement. The most common vendors booked for elopements include:

• Photographer
• Videographer
• Hair and Makeup Artist(s)
• Catering
• Florist

There really is a LOT of planning that goes into creating the dream elopement experience on Maui, thankfully we’re here to make it that much easier! Check out this other article for more planning assistance, and if you’d like to book us to take some (or all!) of the planning off your plate head to our contact page to inquire today!