Budget for Maui Wedding??

BayParkDream · January 24, 2013

My fiance and I got engaged on New Year's Eve (woohoo!) and we're in the early stages of planning our Maui beach wedding. I'm already overwhelmed by all of the information out there, and would love some advice from all of you.

We're expecting 30-40 people and want a sweet and simple ceremony/reception. Do you ladies recommend going through a resort (I fell in love with the Ritz Carlton on our last Maui vacation) or using a wedding coordinator for planning and booking wedding site/vendors?

Also, do you think it would be possible to do all of this for $15,000 or less?

Vikdeco · March 10, 2013

Congrats!!

The cost of your wedding really all depends on what you want to do and where you choose to do it.

If you just want to do a ceremony and reception, it can definitely be done for $15,000. At that point, it just depends where its done and who you go through.

If you choose to do more activities (a welcome reception, group activities, goodbye brunch...) it can add up quickly!

You can contact both the hotel and wedding coordinators, they should both give you free estimates and then decide from there. We started planning without a coordinator and wound up getting one with the venue that will coordinate the ceremony. In fact, I'm positive the Ritz has a team of coordinators that work on weddings, if you choose to use that hotel.

The simplest way, IMHO, is to go through a hotel. the downside, it won't be the cheapest and could be kind of "cookie-cutter". We started planning a hotel wedding for simplicity and now the only thing there is the goodbye brunch, and I'm not even set on that. We needed more flexibility and the hotel was not very responsive. Now I'm on my own for planning, other than the ceremony, but I don't mind because I'm a planner by nature.

aleedoc17 · March 14, 2013

Congrats!

I am getting married on Maui, in August of 2013...

IMHO here are my thoughts:

1. Ritz Carlton - pricey, in it's name alone, if this is where you thought of having it. I agree with Vikeco, "cookie cutter" at hotels, but some are very pretty. Ritz might be where you want to have your honeymoon but I'm not sure it would be resonable for your guests (unless your guests have a big budget or the Ritz gives good discounts)

2. Most wedding coordinators on the islands are also photographers & help you with ceremony, certificate, minister, flowers, cakes, your hair & make up, dresses, tuxs, whatever it is you need. ESPECIALLY when you are not on the islands, or visiting before hand.

3. A paradise dream wedding was pretty decent in price, I'm in love with the photographers & I have read many great reviews! Look on their site for ideas, for locations, prices, it might help (it helped me!)

4. My budget is more then yours, however, instead of the grooms' parents paying for a rehearsal dinner (because we have a coordinator the day of & do not need one) I am using some of my budget for a luau, which is a huge chunk of change, but that's not something you have to do. I just real that having my guests coming from the East Coast of USA & flying 7,000 miles in 12 hours for $thousand$ of dollars was a nice thank you gesture. (just a thought for you to do an excursion if budget allows it) or do a simple brunch the day after the wedding, as are we, or maybe a "pool party" for all your guests (don't forget your welcome bags!)

5. Weddings in Hawaii are not like the states, where it's $150-$200 a head for apps, dinner, alcohol, cakes & treats. it's "cheap" for dinner $40-$100 a head, but it's dinner. everything else is "alla carte" keep this in mind

6. One "mistake" I am doing, however, is having our hotel on one side of the island & the ceremony on the other, which means we pay for transportation (but my dad wanted to do that anyway so no one drinks & drives in a place they don't know, which I'm fortunate to have a father who thought about that on his own, rather then me being the needy bride! ha)

7. HECK YES DO IT! Even if you're hesitant, this is your day, YOURS! I worried & worried about my grandmothers not coming & friends & family, besides my grandmothers (because of extreme health issues) those who mean the most, are coming, because they know my obsession with Hawaii & know this is a once in a lifetime thing, at a place that is typically on everyone's bucket lit (not to mention, most people turn this into their vacation) If you & your FI want this, do it! Get a little overtime, pick up an extra bar shift (because I bartend at night that's what I'm doing to make sure I do this right) Eat out less...

8. GOOD LUCK

I have plenty other suggestions & "ideas" but I don't want to keep babbling if it's not helping you... LMK if you want more ideas or to pick my brain!

Keep us updated what you decide!

aleedoc17 · March 14, 2013

Congrats!

I am getting married on Maui, in August of 2013...

IMHO here are my thoughts:

1. Ritz Carlton - pricey, in it's name alone, if this is where you thought of having it. I agree with Vikeco, "cookie cutter" at hotels, but some are very pretty. Ritz might be where you want to have your honeymoon but I'm not sure it would be resonable for your guests (unless your guests have a big budget or the Ritz gives good discounts)

2. Most wedding coordinators on the islands are also photographers & help you with ceremony, certificate, minister, flowers, cakes, your hair & make up, dresses, tuxs, whatever it is you need. ESPECIALLY when you are not on the islands, or visiting before hand.

3. A paradise dream wedding was pretty decent in price, I'm in love with the photographers & I have read many great reviews! Look on their site for ideas, for locations, prices, it might help (it helped me!)

4. My budget is more then yours, however, instead of the grooms' parents paying for a rehearsal dinner (because we have a coordinator the day of & do not need one) I am using some of my budget for a luau, which is a huge chunk of change, but that's not something you have to do. I just real that having my guests coming from the East Coast of USA & flying 7,000 miles in 12 hours for $thousand$ of dollars was a nice thank you gesture. (just a thought for you to do an excursion if budget allows it) or do a simple brunch the day after the wedding, as are we, or maybe a "pool party" for all your guests (don't forget your welcome bags!)

5. Weddings in Hawaii are not like the states, where it's $150-$200 a head for apps, dinner, alcohol, cakes & treats. it's "cheap" for dinner $40-$100 a head, but it's dinner. everything else is "alla carte" keep this in mind

6. One "mistake" I am doing, however, is having our hotel on one side of the island & the ceremony on the other, which means we pay for transportation (but my dad wanted to do that anyway so no one drinks & drives in a place they don't know, which I'm fortunate to have a father who thought about that on his own, rather then me being the needy bride! ha)

7. HECK YES DO IT! Even if you're hesitant, this is your day, YOURS! I worried & worried about my grandmothers not coming & friends & family, besides my grandmothers (because of extreme health issues) those who mean the most, are coming, because they know my obsession with Hawaii & know this is a once in a lifetime thing, at a place that is typically on everyone's bucket lit (not to mention, most people turn this into their vacation) If you & your FI want this, do it! Get a little overtime, pick up an extra bar shift (because I bartend at night that's what I'm doing to make sure I do this right) Eat out less...

8. GOOD LUCK

I have plenty other suggestions & "ideas" but I don't want to keep babbling if it's not helping you... LMK if you want more ideas or to pick my brain!

Keep us updated what you decide!

aleedoc17 · March 14, 2013

Congrats!

I am getting married on Maui, in August of 2013...

IMHO here are my thoughts:

1. Ritz Carlton - pricey, in it's name alone, if this is where you thought of having it. I agree with Vikeco, "cookie cutter" at hotels, but some are very pretty. Ritz might be where you want to have your honeymoon but I'm not sure it would be resonable for your guests (unless your guests have a big budget or the Ritz gives good discounts)

2. Most wedding coordinators on the islands are also photographers & help you with ceremony, certificate, minister, flowers, cakes, your hair & make up, dresses, tuxs, whatever it is you need. ESPECIALLY when you are not on the islands, or visiting before hand.

3. A paradise dream wedding was pretty decent in price, I'm in love with the photographers & I have read many great reviews! Look on their site for ideas, for locations, prices, it might help (it helped me!)

4. My budget is more then yours, however, instead of the grooms' parents paying for a rehearsal dinner (because we have a coordinator the day of & do not need one) I am using some of my budget for a luau, which is a huge chunk of change, but that's not something you have to do. I just real that having my guests coming from the East Coast of USA & flying 7,000 miles in 12 hours for $thousand$ of dollars was a nice thank you gesture. (just a thought for you to do an excursion if budget allows it) or do a simple brunch the day after the wedding, as are we, or maybe a "pool party" for all your guests (don't forget your welcome bags!)

5. Weddings in Hawaii are not like the states, where it's $150-$200 a head for apps, dinner, alcohol, cakes & treats. it's "cheap" for dinner $40-$100 a head, but it's dinner. everything else is "alla carte" keep this in mind

6. One "mistake" I am doing, however, is having our hotel on one side of the island & the ceremony on the other, which means we pay for transportation (but my dad wanted to do that anyway so no one drinks & drives in a place they don't know, which I'm fortunate to have a father who thought about that on his own, rather then me being the needy bride! ha)

7. HECK YES DO IT! Even if you're hesitant, this is your day, YOURS! I worried & worried about my grandmothers not coming & friends & family, besides my grandmothers (because of extreme health issues) those who mean the most, are coming, because they know my obsession with Hawaii & know this is a once in a lifetime thing, at a place that is typically on everyone's bucket lit (not to mention, most people turn this into their vacation) If you & your FI want this, do it! Get a little overtime, pick up an extra bar shift (because I bartend at night that's what I'm doing to make sure I do this right) Eat out less...

8. GOOD LUCK

I have plenty other suggestions & "ideas" but I don't want to keep babbling if it's not helping you... LMK if you want more ideas or to pick my brain!

Keep us updated what you decide!