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Old 19-Jul-2004, 23:25
daniellelofton
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This is my edited version:

Planning a destination wedding may seem very difficult, especially being so far away. You can't exactly visit the Chamber of Commerce for more information. I recommend sitting down with each other and making a list of the things you want in the wedding, making a budget, and stick to this budget no matter what!
There are key things that you need to do as far as finding a location. Decide if you want to get married on the beach or in a private place? At almost every public beach in Hawaii you can get married for free. You cannot rope off the area or block the public from the location. If a beach wedding is not for you then you will have to find a private location. Fine hotels, botanical gardens, and private wedding locations are often abundant in tourist areas. The Internet is also a very useful tool when looking for a private place to get married. All you have to do is search for wedding locations in Hawaii. When you find a great place, get all their contact information together and call and ask what their charge is for a wedding. Be sure to ask how many people can be there? What sort of time frame will you have to get married, one hour or all day? Can you have a reception there? If not, what place would they recommend? Most places are eager to help and they can give you great insider information.
Next, make travel arrangements. How many people are coming to the wedding? Are you paying for the guest's travel accomodations or only yourselves? How much does the flight cost and is it at least a day before the wedding is scheduled? Be sure to give yourself a day before the wedding at the very least to get prepared, and find a place to get your hair and nails done. There are also great places online to find discount plane and hotel reservations. Decide how much you want to pay for a room and make an online reservation, they are usually half the walk-in price.
Then, choose attire for the wedding party and purchase or rent it at least a month before the wedding date. Decide if you want traditional wedding attire or beach theme clothing and flower leis. A full wedding dress is usually very hot, especially on the beach! Remember that heels are not an option in the sand. Wedding clothing of any kind can easily be found, especially in the summer months.
Think about the type of flowers you would like to see in your pictures. There are some great tropical flowers you can use in a bouquet and they are usually not that expensive. Decide if you want fresh or silk flowers. Look online for a florist near the wedding location. Tell them what you want and how much you want to spend. Normally they will work with you as much as possible to make the flowers according to your plans.
Think about the photography and video you want. Do you have a relative that may be coming to the wedding and would like to take the pictures or video? If not then you can easily find a wedding photographer in the Yellow Pages online. They often group a set of pictures together in a package and will give you a great deal.
Do you want a large or small reception? Cake and punch or a complete meal? I recommend ordering a cake from a Hawaiian bakery near the location at least a month in advance. For a complete meal you MUST have a caterer. If you are planning the reception at a private location ask who they recommend for this. They can also give you recommendations for florists, salons, bakeries, and the like.
For guests and wedding favors I recommend getting together with relatives and shopping for beach theme decorations. Any party supply store will have them and you can always check local department stores.
Remember you will be in a beautiful place and there will be plenty of recreational activities to do. Find out where they are, how much they cost, and if they will be open at the same time os year as your wedding. Evaluate which ones you would like to do first so that you don't miss out if other activities take longer than expected. Be sure to plan thoroughly and don't be afraid to call people and ask. Also if you plan your wedding during the "off season" it will cost much less to do anything. Good luck and congratulations on the upcoming marriage.
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