Beach Ceremony Permits

Every couple booking or considering booking, a beach ceremony in The State of Hawaii, please read and comprehend this important new information.

We must inform you of these new mandates, as they affect everyone involved. Please allow us to apologize for the length of this page in advance.

Beach ceremonies in Hawaii, have become a government regulated industry. 

On August 1, 2008, The Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, (a.k.a., the "D.L.N.R."), began a new program to require beach ceremony permits, and permit fees, for every ceremony held, on every beach, on every island, in The State of Hawaii. 

These permits may only be obtained by a qualifying company that fulfills a set of requirements, mandated by the D.L.N.R.. 

As part of the D.L.N.R. permit requirement, an exact count of all persons attending the ceremony must be given to the company applying for the beach ceremony permit. Because of this requirement, A Happy Maui Wedding LLC must and does, reserve the right to cancel, any ceremony, on the day of the ceremony, without refund, if a wedding party shows up with more people, than the attendant size indicated in writing, on our internet booking form. A Happy Maui Wedding LLC must reserve this right to cancel, without refund, in order to remain in good standing, with the D.L.N.R.. As yet, we have never had to cancel a ceremony for this reason, however we must retain this right, because of the new rules. 

Up to 20 people are allowed at a beach ceremony, (including the couple + all Happy Maui Wedding LLC authorized vendors + the couples guests). 

An example of a typical beach ceremony includes: the couple (2) + Authorized Officiant (1) + Authorized Photographer (1) + up to 16 of the couples invited guests = Up to 20. 

An example of a deluxe beach ceremony may include: the couple (2) + Authorized Officiant (1) + Authorized Photographer (1) + Authorized Videographer (1) + Authorized Musician (1) + up to 14 of the couples invited guests = Up to 20. The beach ceremony Permit & Processing Fee is $40 plus 4.167% Hawaii Sales Tax, for the above examples and for all ceremonies that include from 3 to 20 people total, on the beach. 

For ceremonies that include more than 20 people, PLEASE CONTACT US BY PHONE AT: 808-667-7007, BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS, for accommodation/ceremony location ideas that can save you hundreds, to thousands of dollars, in wedding site use fees.

In addition, no Unauthorized, outside vendors of any type, may be booked separately and added to a ceremony, without the knowledge of the company applying for the permit, from the D.L.N.R.. Unauthorized outside vendor examples include, (but are not limited to), separately booked Unauthorized officiants, Unauthorized photographers, Unauthorized videographers, Unauthorized musicians or Unauthorized outside wedding coordinators. Because of this requirement, A Happy Maui Wedding LLC must and does, reserve the right to cancel any ceremony, on the scheduled day of the ceremony, without refund, if a wedding party shows up with any Unauthorized, outside, vendors booked separately and added to, A Happy Maui Wedding LLC booking. Again, A Happy Maui Wedding LLC must reserve this right to cancel, without refund, in order to remain in good standing with the D.L.N.R.. As yet, we have never had to cancel a ceremony for this reason, however we must retain this right, due to the new rules. 

On October 22, 2008, the D.L.N.R. modified the terms and conditions, that must be agreed to, when a company applies for a beach ceremony permit. 

These modifications now greatly limit the range offerings, that all Hawaii wedding companies are able to provide to couples, (at beach ceremonies only) in The State of Hawaii. 

One way that these D.L.N.R. modified terms and conditions have affected our company, is that they outlawed, all of our large, beautiful flower arrangements, that we used to be able to offer at the beach. However, please note, that unless something changes, we now only offer these large, beautiful and very Hawaii feeling, flower arrangements, at private property locations. If you are interested in our large flower arrangements, this is another reason to call us at: 808-667-7007, BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS, so that we can make location suggestions. 

Our simple and affordable Happy Wedding Package or Happy Renewal Package, plus our digital ceremony photography package with one of our unique bridal bouquets, is a great way to celebrate your happy day with a simply beautiful, beach ceremony, on Maui! 

Please see our, (ideal for beach weddings), "Summer Special" being offered for a limited time only under our, "Specials" button.

We have been obtaining Maui beach ceremony permits for our couples since the requirement began and we would be happy to obtain a permit, for your special, Happy Maui beach ceremony too! 

"The intense happiness of our own union is derived in high degree from the perfect freedom with which we each follow and declare our own impressions."
George Eliot