Newly engaged! Need any advice help with everything for a maui wedding!!

[mauibride2013]

It's only been a couple months, and I already am exhausted from just doing research for my wedding in 2013.  We don't have a big budget to work with, and I thought having a destination wedding would be way more cheaper, but seems like its more expensive.  I am thinking about using mauiwedding.net my friend used them for her wedding, and recommended it to me.  Her pictures were amazing!

Also we were going to stay at the Grand Wailea for 2 weeks, a week to get ready for the wedding, and a week after for honeymoon, so I wanted to have the reception there, but they are super expensive.  I need help for cheap hotel options close by for my guests who wont be able to afford to stay at the grand wailea.  Do you think it would help to get a wedding coordinator in Maui to help me with all of my concerns?

Thanks in advance

 

Overwhelmed Bride

[LSUHawaii]

Hi there!

I just returned from getting married on Maui, and I completely understand your feeling.  I have family on Maui, so I at least had the benefit of getting advice from them, but it's still a very overwhelming process.  I used Darren Keala with Bliss Wedding Design - http://www.blissmaui.com.  He's very conscious of budget and actually has a floral company too - Ku O Lani Floral - http://www.kuolanifloral.com.  Darren pulled together every last detail for me. Too be honest I don't think the pictures on his website do his work justice.  I can honestly say he pulled together the wedding of my dreams.  If you'd like to see some additional pictures from the wedding just let me know, and I can send you a link.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I'm not really on these forums very often, so feel free to email me directly if you want some more information.  [email protected]

 

Jenny

[LSUHawaii]

Also, we actually arranged a special rate for our guests at Hotel Wailea.  I've heard mixed reviews about them, but we had 10 rooms reserved there and all of our guests were very pleased with our choice of hotel.  It's more of a boutique style hotel - each room has a suite with a small kitchenette.  Also, the Grand Wailea is AMAZING!  We actually had a cocktail reception the night before the wedding at the Botero Bar, but there are definitely plenty of hotels that are gorgeous in Wailea and lots of lovely private estates that you can rent in Makena as well.  If you are truly working on a budget, I think you picked one of the top 3 most expensive resorts on Maui.  If you really want to have your wedding there, I would recommend that you stay there for a few nights right around the wedding, and maybe stay at less expensive (but still beautiful) hotel for the rest of your trip to cut costs.  Also, another option to give your guests would be hotels/condos in the Kihei area (about a 5 min drive from Wailea).  They aren't great resorts, but they are clean affordable condos to give people a less expensive option.

 

Allrighty...that's all I have for now..haha!

 

Aloha!

Jenny

[jeks]

I agree that Grand Wailea would be quite expensive.  Have you considered renting a condo through VRBO?  Some are quite exquisite and tend to be better deals in my opinion.

[MauiBrideToBe]

I agree MauiBride2013!!  There's just SO many options out there and it's making me wacko! 

 

I'm trying to nail down whether or not I even need a coordinator??  And then trying to connect with a caterer, photgrapher, etc...  Doing it from so far away, and having to put all our trust/money into these people is a very overwhelming thought! 

 

Our wedding will be on October 6, 2012 and we've rented a beautiful house off VRBO which is also where we'll be having the wedding- this at least has the venue issue dealt with, but all the other details are so tough to decide on... and I thought having a destination wedding would be so much easier!  I'm sure it will be once the important vendors are booked.  I can say that this site, as well as the lovely ladies that go along with it, have been so helpful  

 

I do agree with LSUHawaii and jeks about the Grand Wailea being pricey though... I'm also on a limited budget, so I feel your pain there lol.

 

If I can help, or if anyone can help us with feedback or suggestions, that would be amazing!

 

[aleedoc17]

this isn't so much of advice as it is the other side of things...

not to mention, this is a year after you posted this, so i'm sure you've already picked your locations & such.

 

my family & i always stay on the West side of Maui, in Ka'anapali, at the Westin. because of Lahaina & the hotel is amazing. The prices are better, more to do, more to see. 

 

 

BUTTTTT  

 

 

wedding things are done on the South side of the island, making me pick what to do. Originally, I was going to do my wedding on the West side, but after searching and picture stalking it just isn't the same or as beautiful as the South side is! So now, we're getting a deal at the Westin, in Ka'anapli & our wedding is in Wailea at Gannon's!

 

what did you decide!?

[MauiBrideToBe]

Hi Aleedoc17,

 

Congrats to you and your upcoming wedding!  Our wedding has come and gone now   it was last October and although we had an amazing time, and it was a lot of work, it's sad that it came and went so quickly!  As they say,all good things must come to an end...

 

We wound up having it at a house we rented near Lahaina which was stunning.  We rented the house for us and 18 guests (it was more of a mansion than a "house" lol), and there was plenty of room for all of us to stay there.  There was also additional family/friends staying close by and we had 35 guests total at the wedding.  It was really nice to have it on the property so we didn't have to worry about driving at the end of the night.  We just drove down to the beach at the bottom of the street for post ceremony pics and everything turned out better than I imagined!

 

The south side of Maui is beautiful too, so it's just a matter of what tickles your fancy!  I wanted to make things convenient and it really kept the cost down to be able to have the estate as our venue   Gannon's is a popular and gorgeous location, so I'm sure it will be a dream come true! 

 

If you need any other advice for contractors (hair, makeup, catering, etc) let me know and good luck with your planning!  Try to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!! 

[aleedoc17]

Originally Posted by MauiBrideToBe 

 

Hi Aleedoc17,

 

Congrats to you and your upcoming wedding!  Our wedding has come and gone now   it was last October and although we had an amazing time, and it was a lot of work, it's sad that it came and went so quickly!  As they say,all good things must come to an end...

 

We wound up having it at a house we rented near Lahaina which was stunning.  We rented the house for us and 18 guests (it was more of a mansion than a "house" lol), and there was plenty of room for all of us to stay there.  There was also additional family/friends staying close by and we had 35 guests total at the wedding.  It was really nice to have it on the property so we didn't have to worry about driving at the end of the night.  We just drove down to the beach at the bottom of the street for post ceremony pics and everything turned out better than I imagined!

 

The south side of Maui is beautiful too, so it's just a matter of what tickles your fancy!  I wanted to make things convenient and it really kept the cost down to be able to have the estate as our venue   Gannon's is a popular and gorgeous location, so I'm sure it will be a dream come true! 

 

If you need any other advice for contractors (hair, makeup, catering, etc) let me know and good luck with your planning!  Try to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!! 

thank you so much! advice, i'll take whatever you're willing to give!

[LizfromNZ]

Hi MauiBrideToBe,

I am looking at doing just what you said you did for your wedding in Maui: renting a large house for some people to stay in and having the wedding and reception on the grounds, probably for around 30 people (if we can get them there, from Australia, NZ, USA, Germany and Canada!). Could you tell me where you had your wedding and where you stayed? I have been looking on VRBO (and other vacation rental sites) and there seem to be a lot of options, just wanting to get some feedback on any.Were there many other accommodation options around where you were, for a variety of budgets?

Also, if you do have any advice on how to go about arranging catering, photographer, hair etc, that would be very welcome! 

thanks

[heidijo]

Hi!  This question is for anyone who has rented a house in Maui to have their wedding.  Would love to get the contact information and/or website for any house that will allow a wedding on the grounds.  Thank you so much!