A lot of couples dream of having a Hawaii beach wedding. And why not? The golden coasts, lush vegetation, and a populace known for its warmth and sense of jubilation all make for a vivid and stimulating destination wedding.

But like every great beach wedding idea, a Hawaii destination wedding needs careful thought and planning. Probably the best way to research your Hawaii beach wedding would be to use the internet. The beach theme wedding is so popular there are many websites devoted to Hawaiian ceremonies. You can also find info on a Caribbean beach wedding, Florida beach wedding, and other places that can offer you similarly stimulating venues for your ceremony.

The key word here is planning. The more you know what you want and the better you can visualize it, the more successful and memorable your big day will be.

The following steps will help you envision, plan, and organize a breathtaking Hawaii beach wedding.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #1 - Create Your Invitations

Create invitations that reflect the theme of your ceremony. Traditional card invitations that come in light sandy colors are great; alternatively, how about non traditional invites like small bottles with sand and a rolled sheet of paper inside (with your ceremony details printed on it)?

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #2 - Book Your Destination Wedding

Be sure to settle your venue quick; remember, you're not the only couple that wants to get married in Hawaii! Check places through travel agencies or online. Research the location, amenities, view, and other details of your Hawaii destination wedding. Also book your minister around this time as well as the all-important reception area.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #3 - Make Travel Arrangements

If you're not from Hawaii, book all plane tickets, island rides, and hotel accommodations well in advance so you don't have to worry about them later. Make sure your hotel is near the venue. The success of a destination wedding hinges on this crucial plan element.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #4 - Apply for a Marriage License

The application fee for a Hawaiian marriage license is $50. You have 30 days from the issuance of the license to get married in Hawaii. If it expires, your destination wedding will have to wait. It's easy enough to reapply but you'll have to spend $50 again!

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #5 - Choose Your Attire Well

The traditional garb is as follows: a white holoku (Hawaiian bridal dress) for the bride and a white shirt and pants with a colored sash for the groom. If it's going to be a full outdoor wedding, your attire shouldn't be too stifling. Arrange maile leis - woven garlands made out of fragrant green leaves - for the two of you to wear. As for a veil - most Hawaiian ceremonies do not require brides to wear veils. She might want to wear a special wreath of flowers on her head instead.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #6 - Decide On Ceremony Elements

After the ceremony, some couples follow the Chinese practice of lighting fireworks to scare off evil spirits and bestow good luck on the newlyweds; others engage in a Pandango, a Filipino tradition where guests use pins to attach money to the couple as they dance. You can do something similar or you can simply put on a new twist on old practices. For example, instead of a unity candle ceremony, you can try the unity SAND ceremony where the bride and groom mix two different shades of sand into a large glass, signifying their union in a fun and unique way.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #7 - Pick the Right Decorations

Select decor that go hand in hand with your overall theme and beach wedding elements. There's no need to go overboard with set pieces; minimalism is good as the venue itself is already quite a joy to the senses. But don't be too barren; just make sure to liven the place up with décor that befits your beach wedding ceremony and theme.

Hawaii Beach Wedding Tip #8 - Book Catering

Be sure your menu properly caters to your palette and those of your guests. If you know of any vegetarian guests, be sure to arrange some vegetarian dishes. Also, choose a menu that best reflects your ocean theme wedding - seafood is always great and heightens the ocean-side mood.

If you plan your destination wedding well and arrange many of these things in advance, your union will definitely be spectacular and memorable.