It’s Time for a Gay Wedding in Hawaii!

Congratulations to all the same sex couples that can finally celebrate a gay wedding in Hawaii!

Aloha aku nô, aloha mai nô
(I give my love to you, you give your love to me)

Hawaii is the 15th State to legalize same sex marriage.

We’ve had years of experience providing romantic, magical LGBT Civil Unions and we’re proud to extend the opportunity to all our LGBT clients wanting to be legally married in Hawaii. We understand the paperwork, the logistics and the requirements to be able to walk you through the entire process. We have great connections with local vendors to provide everything you will need for your wedding – from florists to cakes to thank-you-favors.

Being married by a member of your own community allows you the opportunity to stand proud with your partner and know that all the vendors that will be assisting with your gay wedding are all members of, or supporters, of the LGBT Community. Allow us to help you plan your dream wedding in Hawaii beginning December 2, 2013.

We can assist with beach weddings, private estates, country clubs, Haleakala weddings or remote Hana waterfall locations. Creating the best experience for you in the latest state to become a same sex wedding destination! We are no longer about supporting “gay weddings in Hawaii” but are now all about Equal Wedding Opportunities in Hawaii! What a proud moment we are grateful to share in. Let us help you start planning your wedding today!

Congratulations Hawaii on being the 15th State to celebrate the partnerships of all of its visitors equally!

Best Wedding Gift Ideas?

Aug26

So you’re invited to attend one of the coolest weddings of the year! Romance, sunsets, maybe sand between the toes… Oh yeah, we’re excited for the wedding… but then comes selecting the gift… Selecting the best wedding gift nowadays can be a bit difficult. Step back and think about the couple – really think about what makes them smile, how they spend their time or what makes them laugh!

There’s the tried-and-true gift cards, and gift registries. Keep in mind where they live – often we’ll give a gift card for somewhere we enjoy but they don’t have that store close enough to redeem it. Then there’s always money. Money is always appreciated but the presentation of the money or gift cards can be original – moving the emphasis from how much was spent to how thoughtful the delivery was!

Life gets busy again after the honeymoon and giving them a special night together can be a real treat for the newlyweds. Think about decorating a jar as a Date Night jar – inside include a couple movie passes, some money in an empty candy box… Being creative is the key!

Keep in mind their hobbies and styles. Do they both like the same activities, colors, decor? Try a basket for the bathroom with a couple colored hand towels, a great smelling soap and a gift card to a home store! For the athletic couple, how about an organizing container with massage oil, sport-specific items and a gift card to a sporting store.

If you want to go BIG, go in together. Partner up and treat the bride and groom to a spa day or activity on their honeymoon. Find a photographer where their honeymoon will be taking place and give them a photography session and the gift will last for a lifetime!

The couple is going to appreciate anything we do for them so avoid that nagging feeling of whether or not we’re doing enough and stay focused on being creative. Try to think of gifts that will last a long time or enhance their life in some way.

It is very true that “it’s the thought that counts”…

LGBT Civil Unions

Aug8

Being women comes with many roles and responsibilities. Among them, we can be Professionals, Moms, Wives and Best Friends. Being lesbians shouldn’t take away from those opportunities.

Being men comes with many roles and responsibilities. Among them, they can be Professionals, Dads, Husbands and Best Friends. Being gay shouldn’t take away from those opportunities.

I am a Professional, Mom, Wife, Best Friend and a Lesbian… and I’m proud to be all that and more.

My partner and I were blessed with the opportunity to be married years ago in California. We are now raising our daughter together in Maui. We were fortunate at the time to not get any hassle from the Social Security Office when my wife went in to change her last name. The three of us now all share the same family name which helps with that feeling of unity that heterosexual couples have always been able to enjoy.

Hawaii doesn’t yet allow marriage between same sex couples, but it does offer civil unions. We originally had our Maui ceremony prior to the civil union ruling. At the time it was simply our beautiful celebration of our commitment both to each other and to our family unit, in the presence of our loved ones. The feeling was so powerful with the Pacific Ocean as our backdrop and the sun dipping into the horizon as we said our vows to each other that we decided we wanted to offer this feeling to other same sex couples.

Being a same sex couple ourselves, we bring a feeling of familiarity and comfort to our ceremonies. I work with the couple personally to customize the ceremony because I believe a “canned ceremony” doesn’t represent why they’re making this commitment to each other. The ceremony should be beautiful, intimate and meaningful – just like the relationship itself.

My wife is a passionate, professional wedding photographer. She offers pre-ceremony pictures, ceremony coverage and trash-the-dress shoots which provides the intimate couples portraits, memories of the ceremony as well as fun-loving, engaging portraits. Working with same sex couples, we offer them the opportunity to feel at ease in their photos and the opportunity to embrace each other with all the passion that heterosexual couples are granted.

There are many Destination Wedding Locations. There are many Maui Civil Union Ministers. There are many Maui Wedding Photographers. We take pride in the quality of your overall ceremony experience – from start to finish your relationship should be celebrated. LGBT Civil Unions on Maui should be as personal and romantic as any other Wedding Ceremony and our personal touch will ensure that you have your dream wedding in Maui. We will plan and celebrate your ceremony on any of the Hawaiian Islands.

Please contact us to learn more. Email us directly at info@alohamauidreamweddings.

Mahalo nui loa!

Aloha Maui Dream Weddings

Penny Palmer Photography

Ohana, the blessings in Hawaii

Jul31

Ohana in Hawaii

There’s something about ohana in Hawaii that sets it apart from all the communities in which I’ve ever lived.

It’s a feeling.

And it feels good.

We live on an island more than 2500 miles from the Mainland. We really are isolated out here. Just me and my ohana. That’s right, my ohana. These folks may not have been born to the same parents, but they’re my community and my adoptive family, if you will.

Ohana… “belonging to a group of similarly-minded individuals, a family.”

We watch out for each other. We care about one another, as if we’re one large family. We have our squabbles and we have ho’oponopono to resolve them. You move on and let go of the little things. That’s the feeling we have when we live here. There’s no place in our knapsacks for grudges.

It’s the Ohana Feeling.

Being part of this ohana also comes with a level of responsibility. We call this our kuleana. If we want to truly belong in this ohana, then we have to accept the kuleana. We have to be good role models, set good examples, make an effort to care about each other’s well being, and try to make a positive difference with this land we are so blessed to call home. We work for the good of not only our own ohanas, but also for the community that embraces us.

We are blessed by the embracing feeling of our families and the empowering kuleana that goes into it. We share that aloha with all of you that come and visit. We welcome you to take part in a Maui vow renewal ceremony while you’re here, include your kids and have a family blessing.

Come and share in the feeling of Hawai’i. Share your love with a Maui Vow Renewal. Contact us for help planning your perfect Maui vacation.

Wedding Celebrant in Action!

Mar27

Picking your wedding celebrant for a wedding in Hawaii? Let us help!

With all the choices of wedding coordinators, wedding planners or wedding officiants, planning a paradise wedding can be an ominous task! With all the permits, regulations and licenses from the State of Hawaii, your efforts shouldn’t be spent trying to figure them out- they should be spent dreaming up how you want your celebration! At Aloha Maui Dream Weddings, we aim to simplify the process and let you stay focused on enjoying your special day.

We specialize in intimate weddings designed to focus on the wedding party. We listen to your desires, provide options and follow through promptly and effectively.

Meet James and Sarah. They fell in love and decided that getting married was what they wanted. They gave us the highlights of what a paradise wedding meant to them and let AMDW, the wedding planner, do the rest. They had a beautiful sunset wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean… from rose petals surrounding the lava rock to Tiffany rings and champagne toasts, they took their relationship to the next level – married March 24, 2013!

They provided the background on how they met and what their love means to them and we helped them write their vows and ceremony. They wanted a wedding in paradise and wanted it quickly – we can do that, no worries! Within a week we were able to do their wedding planning, and create their dream wedding. We have vendors that make leis, DJs that can provide music for the first dance, photographers to capture the moments, and private chefs that can make the best reception dinners on Maui! You tell us what you’d like and we’ll show you all your options!

With their new relationship blessed and a few friends standing by, we proceeded to their reception. But Aloha Maui Dream Weddings wanted to go one step further for the happy couple and finalized their Hawaii marriage license while they waited. We aim to always under promise and over deliver. That and the quality of care you receive with us makes us stand out from the rest. A wedding in paradise is affordable and you shouldn’t sacrifice quality to have it. Give us a call!

Mahalo nui loa – come get married with us!

What to do in Maui?

Feb22

Once again we’re getting calls from visitors with the main question. “What to do in Maui?”

OK – so the obvious favorites – beach, sun, snorkeling with turtles, whale watching and people watching. But what to do beyond that?

What to do in Maui?

EAT…

How about checking out a new little restaurant hidden in Kihei called Chez Meme? It’s out of the way, charming and has extremely good service. It’s one of those hidden treasures that will surely grow in popularity as folks find it – be one of the first to check it out.

What to do in Maui?

GET OUT ON THAT BEAUTIFUL BLUE WATER!

Take a sailboat tour or a private whale watching tour. Get out and enjoy the sun without 100 of your newest friends lurking around you. There are less expensive ways to enjoy the privacy out on the water than these large cruise lines. Email us for recommendations.

Have you wanted to try to surf, paddleboard or kayak? Why not try it now? There’s nothing like being out in the ocean, peacefully floating, watching marine life watch you! You can see all the way down to the ocean floor – turtles, fish, whales, dolphins… you’re in their home now and they welcome you with beautiful water ballet. Breathtaking!

What to do in Maui?

TOO HOT? GO UP!

Another favorite is going up to Kula and Haleakala… Kula has produce no ka oi and is definitely worth going up there to shop… Lavender Farms, fresh fruits and veggies… yum! Go a little further up and enjoy breathtaking views of the island from atop the clouds! Play king and queen for a day amongst the beautiful cloud covered land – enjoy that picnic you picked up in Kula and watch the sun go down. As the sun passes below the cloud cover, you realize just how small you are amongst the millions of stars that brighten the sky.

So again, you ask What to do in Maui?

SO VERY MUCH!

Maui Civil Unions

Oct16

Civil Unions on Maui became legal in January of this year. This is really significant for our local LGBT community. When you are picking your minister to officiate your gay wedding, don’t you want someone who understands, respects and associates with the honor of marrying your gay partner? We have waited a long time to be recognized legally and the ability to do that here in the beautiful aloha of Maui is breathtaking! Please allow me to preside over your gay wedding in Maui. I am part of your community and I recognize the overwhelming beauty of this relationship. I can offer vender services from within the LGBT community as well to facilitate all aspects of your gay and lesbian weddings in Maui.

I am excited to be able to offer the same high quality services for our LGBT community as have been offered in the past for weddings only. Mahalo!

Helpful Links:

The State of Hawaii has made this process fairly pain-free. The steps are listed here.

To register for your civil union, go to the State of Hawaii’s Department of Health website here.

Download your Civil Union Application here.

The Kincaids celebrate their Civil Union in Maui

Oct13

Gay weddings on Maui

After two years of living as husband and husband, these two wonderful young men decided to renew their vows and have a Civil Union Ceremony here on Maui. Gay weddings on Maui are becoming more and more popular. As their wedding coordinator/wedding minister, I wanted to be sure everything was perfect for their wedding ceremony. We incorporated their vows from their ceremony two years ago into a Traditional Hawaiian Wedding Ceremony. I work with each client to learn more about them prior to the ceremony so that your special Civil Union or Wedding is customized to mean something to you. I believe in my saying, Your wedding, Your Way.

In front of family and friends, Ben and Bob Kincaid said their vows, declared their love and respect for one another and reminded each other of the little things that get them through a typical day. These are the wonderful aspects that make getting married with Aloha Maui Dream Weddings so unique. I truly care about you and your special day. You are very important to me and I appreciate each of you!

Congratulations to these incredible guys – Welcome Mr. and Mr. Kincaid to your continued happy life!

Shupiens celebrate getting married on Maui

Oct5

We’re very excited about tomorrow’s Maui Beach Wedding. Aaron and Mimi will be saying their “I do’s” to each other in front of 15 of their closest friends and family with a beautiful Sunset backdrop. Penny Palmer Photography will be the photographer ( http://pennypalmerphotography.com ). We’d like to congratulate them and wish them much aloha during their stay on Maui.

As a State of Hawaii Certified Wedding Minister, I am proud to not only provide services for weddings on Maui, but also provide services for civil unions on Maui. Please contact me and allow me to make your planning effortless and your vacation a real dream!

Mahalo!

Lisa & Kim celebrate their Gay Marriage in Maui

Aug31

Beautiful Maui Sunset as a backdrop for a very special wedding.

We’d like to thank the happy couple and congratulate them on their special day.

We created a beautiful custom Hawaiian wedding that integrated not only their combined families, but also a Hawaiian ceremony to honor their loved ones that had passed and the ceremonial blowing of the Pu (conch shell). The sunset was spectacular as onlookers cheered and aloha was felt all around.

Celebrating gay marriage in Maui is a relatively new blessing! We can now legally unite LGBT couples and we are very excited about doing so. Please allow us to help make your ceremony on Maui no ka ‘oi! (the best)! Mahalo!

Check out this quick video that can be incorporated into your wedding package:

http://youtu.be/nQva7YtotXA

Many thanks to Penny Palmer Photography for covering the wedding! The pictures are amazing!

Aloha Maui Dream Weddings

Your Wedding, Your Way

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