The Perfect Guide to Civil Unions on Kauai

Timory & Joel McDonald

Published by Timory & Joel McDonald on Smashwords

Copyright 2013

Published on Smashwords

Formatted by eBooksMade4You

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All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

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Books written by Timory & Joel McDonald can be obtained

either through the author’s official website:

www.alohaeverafter.com

or through select, online book retailers.

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Table of Contents

Civil Unions in the State of Hawaii and on Kauai – The Facts

The Supreme Court Ruling of June 26, 2013 and Your Kauai Civil Union

Why Choose Kauai?

The Basics: What You Need to Know to Get Married on Kauai

How to Choose Which Wedding Company to Hire

Where and Where Not to Get Married

The Importance of High-Quality Wedding Photos

Embellishments to Make Your Civil Union Memorable, from Music to Video to Hair and Makeup

Adding a Hawaiian Touch to Ceremonies

Times of Day and Sunset Civil Union Tips

Receptions

Bridal Hairdo Tips

What Happens if it Rains?

Tips to Save Money on Kauai

Wedding Planning Checklist

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Civil Unions in the State of Hawaii and on Kauai – The Facts

As of 2012, civil unions (and reciprocal beneficiary relationships) are now legal for same sex couples here on Kauai as well as in the entire state of Hawaii. As you know, civil unions grant the same rights, obligations and benefits of marriage at the state level. Rather shamefully, same-sex marriage is not yet legal in the state of Hawaii (although it did come rather close to passing in late 2012). We hope to be able to rewrite this chapter in the near future and announce that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, are treated with equal respect and legal benefits in the state of Hawaii. Sadly, not all the voters and politicians here have woken up to basic social equality yet (be patient; it's the next inevitable step forward!).

In appreciation of same sex couples, Aloha Ever After will be happy to offer you 15 minutes of free photography on any photography package, to show you how much we honor and respect same sex couples and the bravery they display by living true to their hearts, waiting patiently for the general populus to catch up.

So what does this mean for you as a same sex couple who want to have your special ceremony here on Kauai?

• Plan your special day just the same as any other couple. Aloha Ever After's prices, procedures and packages are no different for any couple with whom we are blessed to be sharing this intimate experience.

• Choose a wedding coordinator who will help you through the wedding details unique to Kauai. In order to save your date and reserve your vendors, you will need to put down a deposit and pay the remaining balance one month in advance.

• Don't worry about the legal end of things. We’ll coordinate the legal documents for you (no need for you to research this). Not only do we make the appointment for you but we also find out when and where you prefer your marriage license appointment and then give you all the information you need to arrive at their office prepared. By the way, everyone in the industry here still calls the legal document giving you permission to have the civil union your "marriage license” appointment, even if technically it is a “civil union license” appointment.

• Relax. We’ll create a unique wedding (and reception too) that meets and exceeds your vision! We’ll take care of the details such as where (public beaches, private beach coves, waterfalls, tropical gardens, etc.) and when (sunrise, noon, sunset). We’ll make sure you pay only for what you want and that your wedding is customized for you.

As the owner of Aloha Ever After I'd like to add a personal note. My father is a gay man who lives happily with his partner in San Diego. In order to feel in alignment with my deepest inner beliefs, I have almost exclusively stopped working with vendors who do not work with same sex couples. It is a pet peeve of mine to be asked by other companies who sometimes hire me to do photography (I'm Aloha Ever After’s house photographer as well) if I'm "willing to work with same sex couples". I feel strongly that the time for such segregating questions needs to be over.

I believe that sooner or later the tide will turn towards equality with all people in all situations. As a business owner I have chosen to eliminate any prejudice, even at nearly unperceiveable levels. So you can rest assured that in choosing Aloha Ever After you will be treated the same as any couple: with respect and generosity of help and time. In choosing Aloha Ever After you are also supporting a business that only supports vendors who share the same belief in equal rights for all.

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The Supreme Court Ruling of June 26, 2013 and Your Kauai Civil Union

Congratulations! After the striking down of Proposition 8 (no standing for the anti-gay challengers) by the US Supreme Court, Governor Brown thinks the Ninth Circuit Court should clear gay marriage in California. Just before the Prop 8 decision was given, the Supreme Court struck down DOMA (the Defense Of Marriage Act) as un-Constitutional. Now the Federal Government will recognize the marriage of gay couples as being equal to straight couples, carrying all of the privileges that the Federal Government affords straight married couples – social security survival benefits, tax benefits, Federal employee benefits to spouses, etc. There will be many more added to the list as the government sorts out the implications of the demise of DOMA. All this wonderful "stuff" is now happening fast!

Aloha Ever After joins in the celebration of the expanding rights of gay couples. You can easily come straight to Hawaii and have your legal civil union here without going anywhere first. It is a dream place to unite your love. Can you imagine how wonderful it will feel to stand in the sand near the crystal blue Pacific Ocean, feeling the warm trade winds blowing through your hair as you unite with the love of your life?

If you live in a state where you can legally get married you may be asking, “Why should you come to Kauai to celebrate?” If you live in the West Coast states of California or Washington, or any of the twelve states plus Washington DC which have gay marriage laws, you can arrive in Hawaii with your civil marriage completed at home, then have a beautiful public ceremony on the tropical island of Kauai. There is no doubt that having your Hawaiian beach wedding here on Kauai will be far more beautiful, romantic and exciting than having it anywhere on the mainland!

Aloha Ever After will work with each and every couple wanting a ceremony on the Island of Kauai. If you have children, you may well want an event which includes them in the ceremony (which we love doing). Everyone can partake in the ceremony of becoming one loving family, now legally recognized and governmentally protected.

You can have anything you desire! We can help you work creatively to stay within a budget to do so.

Finally, Aloha Ever After will stay abreast of the most recent interpretations of the laws and will work to make possible exactly what you want. If you want to also have a civil union recognition by the State of Hawaii, we can take care of all of the legal paper work for you. You have worked hard for this legal recognition. Now you can come to Kauai and enjoy the fruits of your labor with the gorgeous paradise ceremony you want – the flowers you want, the location you want, with the people you want, with the honeymoon in the place you want.

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Why Choose Kauai?

So, Why Get Married on Kauai?

To begin with, as a world traveler who has traveled to 45 countries, I consider Kauai to be the most beautiful place on earth. I could have chosen to get married and live anywhere in the world, but after traveling extensively and seeing much of the world, I chose to come back to Kauai and make her my home again (and get married here) – it's that gorgeous.

The Garden Island – Exotic, Picturesque and Gorgeous

Kauai is the hidden jewel of the Hawaiian Island chain. It’s called the garden island because of its vast lush tropical diversity. Kauai is the getaway from the chaotic main island of Oahu, where people from the Hawaiian city of Honolulu and beyond go to get away from the rat race.

Kauai is a perfect blend of activity and beauty. There are plenty of things to do, it’s an exotic and gorgeous place, and you can get away from the things that distract you from being who you really are and who you really want to be. What a perfect type of place to get married in!

Kauai is the perfect choice for a destination wedding because you have a very wide array of exotic places to choose from for the perfect civil union site (see locations). Beautiful long beaches, hidden jungle locations, private pieces of land overlooking the ocean, waterfalls, canyons adorned with rainbows, mountains, forests, jungles, cliffs, valleys, sand dunes … the choices go on and on. It is an idyllic place to get wedding or honeymoon pictures taken, containing one of the most beautiful settings in the world. All you need to do is decide what kind of scenery and backdrop you want, and you’re bound to have some sensational wedding photos.

Kauai is a very child friendly island. Beaches and children seem to go together. Regarless of your age there is something fun and exciting for everyone to do here!

A Magical Paradise

Most importantly Kauai is magical. It really is. Synchronistic things happen here more frequently here than most places on the planet, which makes exploring it such an adventure.

Weddings and honeymoons happen everywhere everyday, but on Kauai dreams really do come true. Sound corny? Come check it out and see for yourself. After all, why do you think for centuries this was the most sacred of all the islands to the native Hawaiians?

What it's Like to be Married Barefoot on a Warm, Sandy Beach

Getting married on a beach in Hawaii can be a dream come true for many people. The romantic combination of the ocean breeze, the swaying palm trees, the pink, purple and orange sunsets and the deep blue ocean is simply stunning. Click here to read the testimonial of one Aloha Ever After client.

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The Basics: What You Need to Know to Get Married on Kauai

Here are the basics of what you need to know about Kauai beach civil unions - and Hawaii beach civil unions in general:

1. Beach Permit

A beach civil union done through any company needs a beach permit from the State of Hawaii (DLNR or Department of Land and Natural Resources). Without this permit the State has the power to shut down any beach civil union on Kauai that did not obtain a permit (with proof of insurance which is generally provided by your wedding coordinator) before the ceremony.

2. All Kauai/Hawaii Beaches are Public Beaches

All Kauai and Hawaii beaches are public beaches, which means there is good news and bad news. The upside is that anyone can use any beach at any time (even in front of the nice resorts). The other side of the coin is that despite what any company says there is no way of 100% guaranteeing a private Kauai or Hawaii beach ceremony. Having lived here for a very long time we at Aloha Ever After can offer expert advice as to which beaches are usually deserted and what times are the best times to have your civil union, so if you really want the beach to yourself, we can help you create that.

There is at least one beach we know where there are not other people near us on the beach, nor even many people walking past. There are other beaches where lots of people take walks (with and without dogs) and use the beach for swimming, surfing, cliff diving and sun bathing. This does not need to be an inconvenience - it can really offer an authentic Kauai beach wedding flavor, and after all, that’s what people do on an exotic tropical island!

One thing to note if you are planning a civil union on a beach where you know there may be people is that people who walk past a wedding on a beach are always respectful and keep their distance, so it’s not like you really notice they are there most of the time anyway.

3. It’s Always at Least a Little Windy!

Trade winds are wonderful … just let them blow your dress and veil, not your hair! Brides, if you don’t want your hair to blow everywhere during the photography shoot and ceremony, get it put up or back and out of the way! It will look better back than being windblown or in front of your face.

4. Doing Hair and Makeup Always Takes Longer Than Expected

Plan 30-45 minutes minimum extra into whatever the hair/makeup person says she or he needs!

5. High Heel Shoes Are Awkward in the Sand

Don’t bother with them if they aren’t totally necessary whether you're the bride or just a guest. If you do, you’ll inevitably sink anyway. Some simple white sandals or even flip-flops will do just fine if you don’t want to go barefoot.

6. Getting Professional Wedding Photography is Worth the Money

Having a Kauai civil union will be one of the most memorable events of your life. It’s not scenery you could ever reproduce later on the mainland when you have more money … you don’t want to miss having the best possible photos and editing done that you can while you’re here. Having captured moments to treasure and share forever by utilizing our professional Kauai photography community is one of the most crucial steps in planning your big day, so don’t forget to set up your photographer early to assure getting the date you want!

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How to Choose Which Wedding Company to Hire

Who is the best coordination company for you to work with? Obviously you need to pick someone with whom you feel comfortable speaking and emailing – someone with whom you resonate. After you’ve siphoned off the “nos”, it’s far better to speak to your top coordinator candidates via phone than email! If you try to avoid this process in hopes of saving time or avoiding unwanted calls, you may end up wasting your time. In the end, you’ll likely be able to tell whom you resonate with best by using your intuition/gut feeling after making a brief personal connection. Check in and see: after speaking with a potential coordinator, do you feel more relaxed or anxious? If you feel more relaxed, that person/company is the right person/company. Of course you have to consider the packages/prices they offer too, but don’t discount how at ease (or not) you feel when you get off the phone – it may WELL be worth a little extra money if in the end it provides the most enjoyable and relaxed experience, which is what you want, right?

Another important point is to watch how long it takes for a company to get back to you, which should also give you a good indication of how responsive and helpful they will continue be to you down the line with the details of your own civil union. Also look for how committed a company is in their response; checking back repeatedly (as opposed to a one-time response) is a good indication that a given coordinator/company is going to provide quality coordination through and after your planning and ceremony. If someone takes the time to repeatedly contact you or express interest in speaking with you, it generally shows that they will continue to go the extra mile to not only provide you with the information you request, but also to help you have the best trip and wedding you can! You can often tell a quality company if it gives away free information and goes beyond the scope of your wedding questions to simply provide help for your overall trip.

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Where To Get Married and Where Not To Get Married

There’s no shortage of beaches on Kauai! This section takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of some of the more popular location choices.

Lydgate Beach (East Side)

Located near the sacred Wailua river, on the east side of Kauai (near Kapaa), Lydgate Beach is a hidden jewel and our personal favorite. It is not a popular choice of where to get married, which is why we like it so much! Since most visitors do not know about our private hidden area within the longer well-known beach, it is rare to see another wedding there (unlike the crowd of weddings at Shipwrecks!). This is the most likely of the beaches (with easy accessibility) to have a private ceremony. If someone is there, they will likely be at the other end of the beach, fishing or taking a walk. Because of its privacy, we recommend Lydgate Beach as the best beach location for a private wedding.

(Note: in the unlikely event of a rain plan being necessary, Lydgate beach has pavilions which provide a covered area to conduct the civil union free of charge.)

Anini Beach (North Shore)

Anini Beach is a thin, long beach with a lot of trees. It has almost no waves (shallow reef) but a lot of pavilions, a camping area and a general beach area. It is often quite populated near the camping area, but since the beach is so long, it is easy to find secluded sections for a more private ceremony.

Hanalei Bay (North Shore)

Hanalei Bay has a variety of beautiful backdrops: the pier, the large mountains and the long, wide beach, curving around the bay. It is a beautiful bay, calm in the summer and with large waves in the winter, and thus has many visitors. The two main places to get married at Hanalei Bay are by the pier and by the pine trees, but of course you can choose to get married wherever you like best.

Shipwrecks Beach (South Shore)

Shipwrecks Beach (aka Keoniloa Bay), located in Poipu, is a long, lovely beach. However, because of its proximity to large resorts, it is quite populated every day and you will never be alone on this beach. It’s the most popular wedding beach on Kauai, so depending on the day, you may be one of many ceremonies happening at the same. Understandably this is not preferable to most couples who would rather have a more private ceremony. For this reason, we generally recommend Shipwrecks as a back-up beach in case of rain because it’s normally sunny there, but not as a first choice unless being around a lot of people is not an issue for you.

Mahaulepu (South Shore)

Mahaulepu is located in Poipu, past Shipwrecks beach, at the end of a long, bumpy dirt road. It’s a beautiful beach off the beaten path. There are plenty of pine trees for shade, and often a monk seal may be seen resting on the sand along the beach. The beach has cliffs and mountain views. Visitors are allowed at this beach only until 6pm (there may be a possible extra travel fee for some vendors regardless of what company you book with).

Remember, with Aloha Ever After you can have your wedding anywhere you want it! Kauai’s beauty is definitely not just limited to beaches or vacation rentals. There are a variety of private grounds, gardens, waterfall locations or botanical gardens, all of which are stunningly beautiful and which would provide the perfect setting and backdrop for an intimate wedding. Kauai is an extremely diverse island, with terrain ranging from flowing, pristine rivers to eucalyptus forests to pine woodlands to bamboo groves and more ... too much beauty to list here. Just click here to tell us what your dream is and we’ll help you create it!

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The Importance of High-Quality Wedding Photos

Great wedding photography is often overlooked as an “extra” when it comes to your big day. Some people think they can just get by with one of the guests taking candid shots of the ceremony and the bride and groom, but the problem is: how many of those types of pictures would you blow up to an 8x10 and put on your mantel or keep many years to share with your grandkids as the picture that encapsulated your special day?

Let’s assume for a moment that a friend or relative has a semi professional camera and does indeed capture some good shots. To really have that amazing photo on your mantel, you’ll need a picture that contains some professional editing. Touching a photo up, whether it be enhancing it, altering it or actually removing or adding something, makes the difference between a nice photo included in an album of many nice photos, and that ‘must get enlarged and keep for posterity’ photo that become the photo from your sacred day.

Remember, the day itself will speed by. Once it’s over, having a keepsake to bring back the memories of that wonderful day will be priceless to you. Not only will professionally taken photos do that, they will also allow you to share some of the day with your friends, family and loved ones who could not make it through things like personalized web pages (Aloha Ever After offers them for free!).

It’s not only still photography that becomes a special keepsake (although it’s the most looked at) … but videography is something that gains value as time passes as well. Although people look at their still photos more than they do their videos, videos are a treasured keepsake to remember the feeling of the day after it passes. As a still photographer, I thought I only cared about the photos ... but each year on our anniversary my husband (who couldn’t care less about photos or videos) and I cherish taking out our gorgeous wedding video!

What Makes a Photo Great?

Is it just the editing? No, it’s much more than how a photograph is edited that makes it great. What makes a great photo is something that differs from person to person, but here are some generalities. Often times it takes much more than that just a classic smile and happy face. At Aloha Ever After we think that great photography captures a deep sentiment between people. Sometimes you can set that picture up, but often you can’t. It takes a keen eye for setting up and framing a great possible shot, as well as lots of experience and intuition to catch that special candid moment when two people in love give each other the glance that lets you see into their souls. When you can look at someone’s eyes and see into how they feel, that’s great photography. When you have a child or shy person let go of fear and open up for just a moment, that’s what makes a picture go from good to great. Add in some editing and you have the shot of the year you really do want to blow up and frame!

How High of a Priority Should Photography Be in my Wedding Budget?

Wedding photography is not only important now, but its value goes up as time goes by. That’s why we think it deserves to rate highly in your list of civil union priorities.

One last upside to hiring Aloha Ever After as your professional photographer are the FREE services you receive in addition to the photos. If you want something re-edited, cropped differently, or in any way altered, we'll do this for you at no extra charge – a service which is very rarely free. We also offer a free personalized web page of your photos so that you can easily email them and share them with loved ones, a must have for a modern civil union!

Save Money – Plan What Photo Shots You Want In Advance

If you have more than several guests, you may want to save money and daylight hours on your special day by giving your photographer and videographer a list of required shots. Your photographers do not know the names and relations of everyone in your family as well as you do. Plan out what family shots you want ahead of time if you are trying to keep your photo time down to save money. Give a list of whom you want in what group pictures to a trusted family member/friend and instruct that person to stand next to the photographer during the "after-ceremony" pictures. Have this person call out the names of the next group at least one picture before the photographer needs them. This way you will get all the shots you want plus extra pictures. It takes a lot of time to get people together and organized. If a photographer is not required to play group leader, he/she will have more time to take quality photos.

For great photography tips, check out the Top 10 Things to Check to Save an Otherwise Fabulous Wedding Photo as well as The Top 4 Kauai Wedding Photography Tips.

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Embellishments to Make Your Civil Union Memorable,

from Music to Video to Hair and Makeup

Some people just want the “bare bones” civil union or simply do not have the finances for extras, and that’s fine. However, a civil union can still be just as simple with a few well-chosen embellishments and adornments, which if done properly can lend a real touch of class to the ceremony. Not only is the feel of the wedding noticeably enhanced, but also often the photography is really altered by a few well-chosen “extras”. For example, a circle of flowers (or it can be made into a heart shape as in the photo) is one of the best ways to add color to photos while bringing a slight touch of Hawaiiana. Another way is to add a sacred rose altar but they are much more likely to blow away if there is much wind. Another simple add on to any of packages is a cider toast. It is a nice prop to add variety to the photos bringing a touch of a classic wedding to the more casual beach ceremony.

I don’t think that anything alters the mood of a wedding more than live music. Often clients want to play something they’ve brought on an iPod or CD player. We have tried and tried, but no one can ever hear it over the wind and it’s awkward for someone to keep holding it up in the air trying (plus the sound quality is so poor having the volume up so high). If you have the finances, I highly recommend at least an hour of a ukulele, guitar, harp or violin. If you don’t have the budget for it, I recommend not trying to have music at all.

I think video is one of the more underrated items at a civil union – so much so I hesitate to call it an embellishment. It should be a “must have” just as much as professional photography. I see people try and save money on this by bringing their own camera all the time … and I just know that after they watch it once upon returning home that they’ll probably rarely watch it again. Without the microphones that the professional videographers use, there is no way any viewer will ever hear the vows or anything but annoying wind, and it will be a chore to get anyone to watch a boring unedited video. On the other hand a professionally edited video will be short and simple with about 3 of your favorite songs (you can choose which ones) and so makes it fun and easy to watch with your friends and family.

Here are some links to weddings with videos we’ve done if you’d like to see an example:

http://www.takvid.com/video/2125

http://www.takvid.com/video/2827

The final thing I would recommend considering in your budget is professional hair and makeup. I would suggest at least having your hair done by a stylist, if not both hair and make up. People often underestimate the persistence of Hawaiian trade winds, and most people are simply not that used to doing a full up do in a dressy style that they would want to see in all their photos.

Bridal Flowers

Of course there is so much to be said about what flowers bring to any wedding, especially in a tropical paradise. Please see many Kauai bridal floral options here:

http://www.alohaeverafter.com/bridal-flowers

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Adding a Hawaiian Touch to Ceremonies

Some people want traditional ceremonies without a Hawaiian influence, but others yearn for Hawaiian touches in their wedding. It’s easy to have whatever amount of a Hawaiian touch added as suits your personal taste. Here are a few ideas ranging from a very subtle hint of Hawaiian to a real noticeable Hawaiian flavor. You can mix and match them or use all of the below:

• Lei Exchange during the ceremony

• Adding Ukulele or traditional Hawaiian music to your wedding

• Haku Head Lei for the women

• Fire Dancers

• Conch Blowing before and after the ceremony

• Upgrading Leis to the most traditional Hawaiian Leis (i.e. Maile Leis)

• Circle of Flowers to stand in during ceremony

• Hawaiian Words inserted into the ceremony (and then translated)

• Brief Hawaiian Chanting done by the minister as part of the ceremony

• Having the minister dress in more traditional Hawaiian clothing

• Hula Dancers and/or full Hawaiian show at any location with fire dancing and traditional drumming

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Times of Day and Sunset Civil Union Tips

Some people want to get married in the middle of the day or the morning and are surprised at how really hot it is in the sun. It’s a shame, because they are often uncomfortably hot and their photos frequently turn out poorly because they are hot and sweaty, something which could have easily been avoided if they just knew to do their civil union at a cooler time of day.

Pre-sunset is the best time to get married in my opinion, but generally people try to start too late and lose sunlight. Photos are done best around 60-90 minutes before the actual sunset (depending on the weather conditions). Despite our best efforts to start on time, sometimes civil unions start late due to guests or the brides being late. It’s best to plan on everything taking longer than expected so that you don’t lose precious natural light on your special day. Once the natural light is gone, it is very difficult to have natural looking photos with a flash. We at Aloha Ever After of course have professional equipment to help elongate the natural light … but the best photos happen when it’s light enough to have the photos taken primarily with natural light instead of only by flash. If you give your photographer a call they can help you calculate the best time to start, based on the number and type of photos you want and how many guests you have. Bottom line is it’s better to start too early than too late.

Click here to see what time the sun will set on the day of your civil union:

http://alohaisles.com/kauai/sunrise_sunset_schedule.html

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Receptions

We love to help you create your entire wedding dream, not just the ceremony and photos. Whether you’re having a small beach wedding with few or no guests, or a large gathering of friends and loved ones from the mainland, we can help you plan the perfect reception. Smaller receptions can be held in so many places ranging from restaurants, local wine testing shops (rented out for your group only), vacation rentals (outdoors with tents or inside) … all the way to private room in hotels. We can even rent you an adorable vintage trailer (near the ocean if you like) styled out with the most amazing European dishes and pastries you’ve ever tried.

If you are having a larger reception (30 or more people) then any of the above choices are possible. If you want to have a DJ or live music and dancing, then using a hotel ballroom (adjusted to fit the size of your specific party) or an outdoor private location (such as a vacation rental) with a see-through tent are two of many options.

No matter how large your reception is, or in what location, we will help you decorate for your special day with style, color and a touch of paradise. We have gorgeous vases for floating candles and tropical flowers you can rent, and we can transform any site into a place of beauty and magic in the style that you like best.

Receptions vary in size, location and other details so much that it’s best to speak with us for a free “no hassles” consultation, in order to get pricing and the best idea of what would suit your needs.

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Bridal Hairdo Tips

Without a doubt, the best hair do for a beach wedding is a full up do. Whether you do it yourself, or you hire a professional hair stylist, get all your hair up and use as much product as you need to plaster it back. It is always somewhat windy at the beach, since here on Kauai we are sitting in the middle of 12,000 plus miles of ocean, so the wind has plenty of space and time to pick up velocity.

Brides – as you well know, it doesn’t take much for most of us women to not like a photo of themselves (we can be so picky)! It only takes a few simple tips and some general awareness to avoid having your wedding photography (here on Kauai or elsewhere) dampened. Plan ahead and put your hair up so it’s not blowing all over the place during your wedding photos!

Important tips on having your bridal up do done by a wedding hairstylist:

1. Pick an Up do with a Beachy/Relaxed Look

Do not pick a perfectly polished hairstyle that will look obvious if it is blown out of place.

2. Pick Hair Styles that are Likely to Stay in Place Easily

Braids are popular right now at weddings (as are twists) – both are perfect for keeping your hair in place even if it’s windy (e.g. you could incorporate a little braid or twist on the side into another up do style that does not include braids. That way you have something stylish to do with those annoying little baby hairs that don't reach back into the rest of your style).

3. Get a Picture of What You Want that You Can Show to Your Stylist

Do not just rely on explaining it to your stylist in words or letting them come up with a style all by themselves.

4. Think About Hair Accessories or Hair Flowers Before You Get Your Hair Done

Kauai Hair stylists often say that brides only think of this right before or during having their hair done. Think ahead of what kind of flowers you want so they can be ordered and waiting for you.

5. Do Not Wash Your Hair Before It’s Styled!

If you’re having your hair done, do not wash your hair for 24-48 hours beforehand. If you want to enjoy your time here and swim, check with your hair care professional, but generally it is not recommended to swim at the beach or pool the day of your civil union, even if you do not wash your hair afterwards. It is recommended by professionals to enjoy a full swim the day before your civil union, but on the day of your ceremony, do not go in the water all the way to where your hair might get wet.

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What Happens if it Rains?

In our many years of doing Kauai weddings it rarely happens that there is rain during the actual ceremony – we have wonderful luck with the weather, and even if it does rain it’s normally so brief that it’s easy to step under a covered area and avoid it (tropical Kauai sprinkles pass in just a few minutes).

However, just in case, we have 2 extremely large all white wedding umbrellas that are yours to use as part of a back up plan for light showers or photo props.

We also encourage all of our clients to make a “Plan B” just in case of the unlikely event that there is more than just a passing sprinkle for a few minutes. Such plans range from free pavilions near the water, to hotels and restaurants with awnings overlooking a tropical garden, to places a hotel nearby offers. As a courtesy, we at Aloha Ever After will be happy to add this secondary location to your state permit at no extra charge.

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Tips to Save Money on Kauai

Kauai can be an expensive place to take a vacation. Here are some tips to save money on everything, from accommodation to car rental to food. Below are some deals that we use personally (please note that we do not profit from these but rather are just letting you know about the bargains, so you may find services for a cheaper price during your trip).

DISCLAIMER: These are informal recommendations and we cannot assume responsibility for any of these "deals" as they are all individuals operating on their own, not in affiliation with Aloha Ever After or Timory McDonald.

Accommodations

Poipu Getaway, owned by Ellie Knopf, is a small locally owned vacation rental company on Kauai’s sunny south side. They offer 5 fairly priced rentals. With rates starting at $95/night, booking an affordable Poipu vacation/honeymoon is an email or phone call away. There are wonderful restaurants, boutique shopping and 2 golf courses in the Poipu area. Poipu Beach is famous for its sunny, mild weather and features some of the best snorkeling and swimming on Kauai. Please call or email Ellie's Vacation Rentals, 800-779-8773, infokoloalanding@aol.com, with the website poipugetaway.com.

It’s hard to find a hotel under $80-$100 per night. If you’re looking for something in this price range our top 2 recommendations would be the Kauai Sands Hotel (Kapaa) which sometimes has rooms for $79+ per night, and is right near the ocean with good views. The Kauai Palms Hotel (near Lihue) sometimes has rooms from $85 per night. If you are coming with a larger group it often works out to be less expensive to share a vacation rental (and a lot nicer too!), plus then you have a beautiful private spot to hold your civil union (or a possible rain back up location if you’re planning a civil union during the wet season). We recommend you try using Vacation Rentals by Owner.

If price is not an issue then we could not recommend any place more than the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. It is our favorite place to stay by a long shot!

Car Rental

Kauai has all the big name car rental companies at the Lihue airport (Budget, Avis, Hertz, National, Alamo, etc.) so it is worth checking out their websites and calling in to see if they are running any specials.

However, if you are content with a functioning car without all the frills, try using one of the less expensive options. The following car rental people and businesses are in general significantly cheaper than the big companies:

• Chareena, 808-652-6435, chareenas@hotmail.com

• Rent A Car Kauai, 808-822-9272, www.rentacarkauai.com

• Island Cars, 800-246-6009, www.islandcars.net

• Island Car Rentals, 808-822-7772, www.islandrentalcarshawaii.com

All of these are offer airport pickup and dropoff.

Food

Kauai certainly has fine dining and exquisite food if you can afford it, but for those looking for cheaper alternatives, there are many great options.

To begin with, check out the local Farmers’ Markets located around the island to obtain fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and herbs, including fresh coconuts (cut open for you to drink the coconut water) and sweet, exotic tropical fruit such as lychees, mangoes and rambutan. Here is a list of the Farmers’ Markets taking place around Kauai:

There are also some great juice bars/health food stands worth mentioning. Banana Joe’s (Kilauea, North Shore) is mainly a smoothie and 'frosty' stand with produce from their farm and local farmers. Mango Mama’s (Kilauea, North Shore) is primarily a smoothie stand with sandwiches, sodas and snacks, but also has some produce for sale. It often has dried bananas and macadamia nuts. There are picnic tables outside for seating.

There are many affordable restaurants/food carts serving good food if you want to save a little money or are in a hurry.

North Shore

Try Tamarind Thai cuisine in Kilauea.

East Side

The best by far is “Paco’s Tacos” 808-631-7104. They have the BEST fish tacos ever (and I’ve been to Mexico over 20 times)! A plate of three fresh/local fish tacos is $13, and well worth it.

Mermaids has some great wraps and fish dishes around $8-$10 per plate (the food is good but the service is inconsistent).

Verde has Mexican for around $10 per plate.

Brick Oven Pizza in Wailua is the best pizza on the east side.

In Lihue

There’s slim pickings so it’s best to avoid eating there unless you go to Sweet Marie’s Gluten-free Restaurant/Bakery, at 3-3204 Kuhio Highway, Lihue, phone 808-823-0227.

Near Lihue is Nawiliwili. Try Dukes; downstairs is less expensive and more casual than upstairs, but both are good.

South Side (around Koloa and Poipu)

Try Merriman’s Downstairs Café ($10-$15 per plate) in the Kukuiula Shopping Center.

Try Keoki’s ($10-$15 per plate) at the Poipu shopping village.

There are also side stands in Koloa with Mexican food.

If you are on Waimea or Kekaha on the west side, forget finding anything good.

For fine dining, we highly recommend Naupaka Terrace Restaurant located in the Kauai Beach Resort near the airport. They have recently updated their menu to include some truly magnificent vegetarian options that would entice even the heaviest meat eater. Their Saturday seafood buffet is a must try!

We also recommend Postcards and Baracuda on the North Shore, Roys in Poipu and Café Portofino in Nawiliwili for a nice night out.

Massage/Spa

Structural bodywork that helps heal nearly any injury:

Mana 310-850-9900, www.sacredforms.com

Great massage without tourist prices (will come to you):

Thomas 808-346-3296, www.bodywyse.com

Manicure/Pedicure:

The Beauty Shop 808-821-2200

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Wedding Planning Checklist

Read our Wedding Planning Checklist so you know what to expect and can prepare yourself for the big day!

We truly hope that by taking such great lengths to create a helpful guide at no cost to you that you can see how we go out of our way to help our customers! We would be delighted if you would give us a chance to earn your business and trust. Please contact us to help you plan your special day!

Mahalo and good luck planning,

Timory and the Aloha Ever After Wedding Team

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