Frequently Asked Questions ~ FAQ

What happens if it rains on my wedding day?

The Hawaiian Islands are located in the tropics. Because of this, each island and place is known for its varying microclimates. These variations can occur even from within a particular town or locale. Because of this, reading weather reports can be very misleading and cause undue concern. When you check the weather forecast for our location you might notice a 70% chance of rain during the week of your wedding. It usually rains up the mountain (mauka) and doesn’t rain at the beach (makai).

Most of our preferred locations are on the west side of Hawaii Island north of the airport. These beaches typically get very little rain per year. In the unlikely event that we have a storm that affects the entire island chain we do our best to reschedule your wedding. 

We also work with the Kona Sea Salt Farm, for those looking for a bit more weather security. Besides their beach location for the ceremonies, they also offer a covered area. If you want a guarantee against rainout, this is an ideal location. 

We find it’s better to be flexible with dates and/or locations in order to get the beach wedding that you have dreamed of. Many couples find that the joyful celebration is more important than the desired date. 

What if I need to cancel?

In the unlikely event that you have to postpone your wedding, we do our best to accommodate you and move your date. There might be additional cancellation charges from some vendors we use, or if certain rates have increased since the time the wedding was booked. All of this will need to be accounted for when we move the date. 

What if I have more guests than we expected?

Your final guest count is not due until 5 days before your wedding. It’s always helpful for our planning to know if numbers change. If you have more than 20 guests, we ask you to give us a call so we can discuss some options. 

Can I bring my own officiant?

Yes! We offer a team ceremony if you bring your own officiant. One of our Hawaiian Officiants will co-officiate the ceremony with your own officiant to bring in the Hawaiian elements and to make the marriage legal here in Hawaii. 

Can I use my own photographer?

All our packages include photography. We know our officiants so well that we don’t miss any important moments. We have photographed hundreds of weddings at the many beach locations, so we know exactly what the light will be like at that time of year and can ensure that we capture exceptional photos for you. We are experienced to get your family photos in a timely manner and we bring additional light to make sure we capture the sunset and are able to see your face. With all of this in mind, we do not recommend that you risk bringing your own photographer. 

Can I bring my own photographer for the Barefoot package?

Our officiant can take photos with your phone after the ceremony for you. Bringing your own photographer is no longer permitted under our insurance policy.

Can I bring my own cake? 

Beach Glass Weddings is a full-service wedding studio. We provide everything for your ceremony, this includes your cake. The pastry chef we work with understands that your wedding cake needs to hold up on a warm day at the beach. This requires the use of special ingredients to ensure your wedding cake doesn’t turn into a wedding ‘lake’. Our cake service includes a YETI cooler to transport the cake to the ceremony, along with everything that is needed to serve the cake, including an extra person to serve the cake for you. You are not just purchasing a cake - you are purchasing full service and a guarantee. 

Can I bring my own flowers? 

Beach Glass Weddings prides itself in taking care of every detail of your big day, and this includes your flowers. Our full service ensures that your flowers will be fresh and arrive safely and on time for your ceremony. We also ensure that the flowers chosen will comply with the agricultural regulations in Hawaii.  

We will always do our best to customize the flowers to your wishes. The price for the bouquets, leis and other floral includes our full service - the time it takes to discuss options with you, then with the florist, and then to coordinate delivery, keeping the flowers fresh and insuring safe transport to the ceremony site. 

How far in advance should we reserve the date? 

Most couples book 12 to 18 months in advance. We find that if you book 12 months in advance, we can most likely guarantee that you will get your first choice of a wedding date. However, some dates are very popular and book out two years in advance. If you are looking for one of those special dates (i.e.2/5/25), we recommend to book 24 months in advance. If your date is flexible, we recommend you book 6 months in advance.

Do we need a rehearsal?

We specialize in intimate custom beach weddings for up to 20 guests. A rehearsal is not necessary. Our officiants will meet with you on zoom up to 30 days before your wedding and you can discuss any questions then. If you have bridesmaids and groomsmen our officiants will guide them in them just before the ceremony begins so they know what to do. 

At what time should my ceremony start?

For sunset weddings we recommend a ceremony start time at about 90 minutes before sunset. This gives you about half an hour extra time in case you get delayed on your way to your wedding. Our favorite time for weddings are late afternoons. At this time the beaches feel more private and the light is beautiful and the temperatures are a little cooler. We also love early morning weddings, but keep in mind we need two hours to set up if you want a wedding arch and need chairs. Some beaches don’t allow us to set up before 7 a.m.