When it comes to getting married on the Big Island of Hawaii, there’s no shortage of beautiful beach locations to choose from! Whether you’re looking for a palm tree-dotted beach or a rugged coastline adorned with plenty of lava rocks, there are endless options for a Hawaii beach wedding. Nothing quite compares to tying the knot with your toes in the sand, surrounded by the natural beauty of Hawaii island!
We’ve scouted and rounded up the most picturesque views the Big Island has to offer for our excited couples. Each one is unique and special in its own way, yet one thing for sure is our couples are guaranteed to have amazing wedding photos in paradise!

‘Anaeho’omalu Beach or A-Bay (Waikoloa)

Located in the heart of Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast, Anaeho’omalu Beach (pronounced as “ā’-nāe-ho’o-mā’lu”), or A-Bay as the locals call it, is a stunner of a beach! It’s a perfect option for anyone staying at the Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, or Mauna Kea Resorts. It’s close and convenient for any dinner plans or reception you may have planned afterward. The crescent-shaped bay overlooks beautiful ancient fish ponds with a sweeping mountain view. It’s one of the longest stretches of white sand on the island too! There occasionally are a few boats in the distance, which add to the beachy atmosphere of our wedding photography. A-Bay has a variety of backdrops for newlywed portraits, too, from the coconut trees to the serenity of the Hawaiian fish ponds.

Besides being easily accessible, it has two large parking lots. Even though this is a popular beach, it’s large enough to find an open spot for a ceremony by the shoreline. If you’re after convenience and don’t want to travel far from your resort accommodation, this is the spot for you!

Kohanaiki Beach

Just a quick drive from Kailua-Kona, Kohanaiki Beach is a rustic and classic Hawaii Island beach. Locally known as Pine Trees, this is one of the Big Island’s newest state park beaches. Your ceremony will have a rustic and natural backdrop of a long stretch of white beach with tropical foliage and deep ocean blue at your feet. It has a quiet and private feel since it is generally not crowded and tourist-ridden. Like most beaches on the Big Island, natural lava rock formations are scattered across the long stretch of white sand. The beach also has several large trees that provide shade for guests’ comfort or a different portrait backdrop. In addition, numerous tide pools form at low tide, which can create an interesting background for your wedding photography.

There is ample parking, making it an excellent choice for couples who want an intimate Hawaii wedding ceremony. Most importantly, it has all the signature elements of the island’s natural beauty.

Old Kona Airport Beach

Another gem on the Western coastline is the Old Kona Airport Beach. Once home to the Kona airport, the landing strip is now used for parking, so finding a place to park certainly won’t be an issue! The Old Kona Airport Beach is made up of both sand and lava rock slabs, with the sand being primarily covered with pebbles and lava rock fragments. There are some patches of grass scattered along the beach too. The palm and coconut trees provide shade and add to the tropical ambiance as you exchange your vows. It has a long stretch of white sand and typically isn’t too busy. There is plenty of space to spread out with a larger group. Also, since the beach runs the length of a standard airport runway, you can be sure to find a quiet spot for your inimate ceremony and portraits!

This beach is a convenient option for those staying in the Kailua-Kona area. There is a flat walking trail parallel to the runway for easy access too.

Kukio Beach

Even though the beach is open to the public, to access the beach, you have to pass through a gated luxury resort community. Although this beach is typically very quiet with beachgoers, it is a VERY popular spot for weddings. So, unfortunately, you may not be the only wedding on the beach that day. Therefore, we only suggest this spot for a Big Island wedding if you stay in the resort area simply because of the accessibility.
The beach features a long sandy beach close to the Four Seasons Hualalai. It has all the distinguishable elements of the Big Island’s natural beauty! There are ample lava rock formations and tide pools, which are attractive natural features for your wedding ceremony and photography.

Puako Beach

This hidden gem is tucked away in an affluent, laidback neighborhood north of the Waikoloa and Mauna Loa resorts. The breathtaking views and tidepools are just a few reasons we love this location to say “I, do!” Its unspoiled beauty has a rustic feel and quiet charm due to the rocky shoreline. The lava rocks are a striking contrast to the deep ocean in the distance. However, it does have a small patch of sandy beach, offering a sense of privacy and seclusion. What’s more, you can generally have the beach to yourself since it’s primarily frequented by locals who live there. This makes it an ideal location if privacy is important to you both. It’s perfect for a romantic elopement or a smaller group.

Parking is limited, but since this is off the beaten path, street parking is available. It’s very private yet accessible, a beautiful option away from the more touristy spots.

Whether you’re looking for privacy or convenience, the Big Island has plenty of options for your vows! Not sure what would be the right location for you? (We know they all are stunning!) Don’t hesitate to reach out! Our knowledgeable team of wedding coordinators will be more than happy to help you find the right location for your special day! Send us an email at  aloha@simplehawaiiwedding.com to learn more!

BIG ISLAND BEACH WEDDING LOCATIONS – DETAILS

Big Island Wedding Photographer: Karma Hill Photography

Are you looking for an oceanfront and private Big Island wedding venue for your big day? Look no further than one of our newest venues, the Outrigger Kona!

Located on the stunning lava rock cliffs overlooking Keauhou Bay, this historic venue of 22 oceanfront acres is a true gem. Not only does it offer exquisite views of the ocean and surrounding landscape, but the property is also steeped in rich Hawaiian history. Imagine exchanging vows with your loved one in a place that was once a Hawaiian settlement, with parts of the original lava rock walls still standing as a testament to the island’s heritage!

We partnered with The events team at the Outrigger Hotel, Big Island Hawaii Hair and Makeup , local florist Maria’s Floral and of course, our sister company, Karma Hill Photography to showcase this amazing wedding venue in a fresh and tropical-styled shoot. Everything was just perfect, down to the very details, and we’re so excited to share these beautiful photos with you. We truly think it captures the natural beauty of a Hawaiian wedding! With its lush verdant setting, oceanfront view, and Hawaiian history, what’s not to love?

The Oceanfront Lawn

If you’re looking for a beautiful and unique spot to exchange your vows, look no further than the private grass lawn at Outrigger Kona. This stunning ceremony location offers breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding landscape, making it the perfect backdrop for your special moment.

Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate ceremony with just your closest loved ones or a grand affair with all your family and friends, the private grass lawn can accommodate your needs. But it’s not just the private seclusion that makes the lawn such a great choice! The lush greenery and rolling hills in the surrounding area create a serene and peaceful atmosphere, making it the picturesque location to say “I do.” Although there is no sandy beach access, there are plenty of little pockets for photo opportunities around the property. Maria’s Floral enhanced the tropical beauty of the setting by using a fresh white and green color palette for our styled shoot! It looked so modern and elegant with the orchids and pastel anthuriums…

The Chapel

The variety and flexibility of this Big Island wedding venue are just a few reasons why we love this venue. If you’re worried about unpredictable weather, the white chapel nearby provides a beautiful rain backup option. Moreover, it also offers a more traditional wedding ceremony setting. This beautifully designed chapel offers a quaint and intimate feel that is perfect for smaller weddings or elopements. Plus, the air conditioning will ensure that you and your guests stay cool and comfortable even on the hottest Hawaiian days!

The chapel is intimate yet with a bright and airy atmosphere that gives off a sense of calmness and serenity. The white walls and high ceilings create a stunning visual effect, adding to the overall beauty of the space. Even if it’s a rainy day, you still feel like you’re outside with the big windows overlooking the ocean. The chapel’s design and creamy white interiors make it a versatile location for any type of wedding theme or style.

The white and fresh tropical color palette used throughout this styled shoot only accentuated the airy nature of the chapel!

Natural Beauty

When it comes to beautiful and unique photo opportunities, the Outrigger Kona has got you covered! From the white gazebo overlooking the ocean to the towering travelers palms act like a natural archway for newlywed portraits!

The white gazebo is a stunning location that overlooks the ocean, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. This tranquil spot is perfect for romantic couples portraits or group shots with your wedding party. You’ll love how the white gazebo contrasts with the blue sky and ocean, creating a crisp and timeless look for your photos.

But if you’re looking for something more dramatic and adventurous, the lava rocks down by the water’s edge offer an unforgettable backdrop for your photos. These jagged rocks and crashing waves create a unique and unforgettable atmosphere that’s perfect for couples who want to capture the adventurous and raw spirit of Hawaii.

For this styled shoot, we took full advantage of many gorgeous photo opportunities throughout the property!

THINGS TO CONSIDER

One of the most unique features of this venue is the access to ocean cliffs for romantic couples’ photos. It’s important to note that in order to host a ceremony at the Outrigger Kona, there is a requirement for fa minimum two night stay for the wedding couple. But don’t worry, this is more of a perk as you want to be just steps away from your ceremony on the day of, and steps away from your honeymoon after your celebration!

From stunning oceanfront views to a range of ceremony locations, rich Hawaiian history, and access to amazing photo backdrops, this venue has it all! And with a dedicated team to help bring your vision to life, you can rest assured that your special day will be everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more! Mahalo to our wonderful team of creative partners who helped bring our styled shoot to life!

BIG ISLAND WEDDING VENUE – STYLED SHOOT DETAILS

Big Island Wedding Photographer: Karma Hill Photography

Florist: Maria’s Floral

Hair & Makeup: Big Island Hawaii Hair and Makeup

Big Island Wedding Venue: Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa

Curious to see our other beautiful wedding venues on the Big Island? Check these ones out!

We are thrilled to announce our newest wedding venue on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Royal Kona Resort, a classic historic oceanfront hotel in the heart of Kona! This gorgeous venue offers several beautiful private oceanfront ceremony locations where you can celebrate your love story in a stunning location with the mesmerizing sunset and crashing waves as your backdrop. Kona’s natural beauty provides a captivating setting for an unforgettable and inspired celebration, and this new venue has some of the most private ceremony locations for a hotel that we have seen!

We are thrilled to share our unforgettable styled shoot at our newest Big Island wedding venue! You’ll love the tropical variety of this venue, from the thatched ceremony altar to the swaying palm trees…

Nohea Point

Nohea Point is our personal favorite, and it features a thatched gazebo surrounded by lush foliage overlooking the Pacific blue ocean, a private lagoon, and sparkling Kailua Bay. It is totally separated from the main hotel walkways and protected by a gate for privacy. So you won’t have anyone besides your loved ones walking near your ceremony! The thatched hut truly gives off tropical vibes and provides an elevated landing to exchange your vows with the ocean in the distance. The towering palm trees add to the tropical magic of the setting. It will make you think, “Wow, we’re actually getting married in Hawaii!” It’s what tropical wedding dreams are made of…

Our amazing floral partner, Grace Flowers Hawaii, brought the wow factor with the vibrant tropical flowers for our styled shoot! We love to feature seasonal and local blooms, like ginger, anthuriums, heliconia, and bird of paradise with tropical greenery like monstera. Grace Flowers didn’t disappoint!

The floral sconces and arch arrangements were the perfect decor to frame the aisle! One of the benefits of using floral sconces to frame the aisle is that they create a stunning focal point that draws the eye toward the altar. They also provide a sense of symmetry and balance to the intimate ceremony space. Moreover, the versatility of this venue makes it ideal for including floral stunners as part of your wedding decor. And who are we kidding? We can never say no to more flowers!

Sunset Cove

Another ceremony option at this Big Island wedding venue is Sunset Cove, it’s an enchanting spot by the water’s edge on a cliffside location surrounded by white sand. The mesmerizing backdrop of lava rocks and striking sunset provides an idyllic atmosphere for one of our stress-free Hawaii wedding packages! It also provides an elevated stone landing for your vows and a beautiful backdrop with the ocean in the distance. Your guests can sit comfortably and literally have their toes in the sand while you walk up the sandy aisle!

For this styled shoot, we included a bamboo arch with coordinating tropical arrangements to beautifully frame the altar and our lovely model, Lakota, who is the epitome of a bohemian beachy bride, thanks to the talented beauty team at Indigo Grace. Simply stunning!

Convenience and Beauty

The affordability of accommodations for your guests and great options for a post-ceremony celebration right on-site make this venue even more appealing! You can add on a cocktail hour or catered dinner directly after your ceremony. Our team will connect you with the hotel food and beverage team for a seamless transition. If you’re looking for a Big Island venue that offers both convenience and tropical beauty, this is the one for you!

What’s more, there are lava rock formations fronting the sunset cove location that truly make for some incredibly gorgeous portraits, as you can see below! The lava rocks and tidal reflections create a truly unforgettable atmosphere for your wedding day. Couples can take advantage of these natural wonders by incorporating them into their ceremony decor. Or another idea is using them as stunning backdrops for newlywed wedding portraits!

We can’t stop gushings over this Big Island wedding venue! From the sandy aisle to the thatched ocean-side hut, it’s an idyllic and convenient location to tie the knot in paradise! Mahalo to Grace Flowers Hawaii, Indigo Grace, and of course, Royal Kona Resort for bringing this vibrant vision to life!

BIG ISLAND WEDDING VENUE – EVENT DETAILS

Big Island Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort

Wedding Florals: Grace Flowers Hawaii

Big Island Wedding Photographer: Karma Hill Photography

Hair & Makeup: Indigo Grace

Curious to see more beautiful Big Island wedding venue options? You’ll love these ones too!

Aloha! We are so happy you have found us! We are beyond excited to launch our newest brand in our lineup of simple, beautiful, and high-quality wedding planning brands across the state of Hawaii, Simple Hawaii Wedding.

Are you considering a small destination wedding in Hawaii? If so, GREAT CHOICE, you have come to the right place for planning a breathtaking intimate wedding in Hawaii!

Why We Love Intimate Weddings

A Simple Hawaii Wedding allows you to truly focus on what’s important: your love and commitment to each other. With a smaller guest list (or no guest list), you can spend more quality time with your loved ones and create meaningful memories that will last a lifetime. Fewer people at your wedding means you can focus on the relationships you hold dearest (sorry work friends). By choosing a small destination wedding in Hawaii with Simple Hawaii Wedding, you’re prioritizing your relationship with your partner and creating a special experience for your closest family and friends.

Our Story

Our founder, Karma Hill, was already a prominent figure in the wedding industry as a photographer when she recognized a need in the Maui wedding market for a brand offering a simple planning experience for couples booking a destination wedding from afar, paired with high-quality vendors and a professional team of planners.

Karma witnessed numerous planning brands adopting a “budget” approach when it came to small weddings. These brands resorted to lower-cost vendors, limited their options to only beach locations or free alternatives, and compromised on the elements that contribute to a beautiful and unique wedding experience. She recognized a sizable group of couples desiring a simple, well-planned wedding offering with superior location choices, the highest quality floral arrangements, photography, customer service, and overall experience.

The Evolution

Karma took this premium quality wedding concept and created Simple Maui Wedding. After planning over 1000 weddings on Maui, Karma, and her team knew the service they offered on Maui would benefit other Hawaiian Islands as well. In 2017, Simple Oahu Wedding was launched and has since offered the same simple planning experience for our Oahu-bound couples.

When it came time to choose the next island to expand this concept to, the Big Island was an obvious choice! With its amazing weather on the Kona/Kohala coast, incredible venue options, beautiful beaches, and amazingly talented wedding vendors it was a natural fit.

What Do We Offer?

We offer a planning experience that is SIMPLE! You are likely planning your wedding from thousands of miles and perhaps a few time zones away. We want to make your planning experience FUN and stress-free. By leaving the details to us, you can focus on enjoying your engagement and getting excited about your upcoming wedding and honeymoon in Hawaii!

Who Are We Best For?

We are experts in crafting intimate Hawaii wedding packages designed for up to 50 guests. We firmly believe smaller weddings create the ultimate wedding experience, especially when it comes to destination weddings. Weddings that are too large expand into a family reunion scenario where everyone vies for your attention, detracting from the magic of your special day. It can be hard curating a smaller guest list, but it is very much worth it!

Why We Like Intimate Ceremonies

Have you ever had a friend who was planning a large wedding (even locally) and heard how stressed they were basically adding a full-time job to their lives? We are the opposite of that! Our perfectly curated packages include everything you need to get married on the Big Island of Hawaii. We specialize in ceremony planning and all of our packages include one of our: Hawaii wedding venues or Hawaii Beach wedding venues, photography, officiant, floral, planning, and of course an amazing onsite coordinator to assist you on the big day-to-ensure everything goes smoothly.

Our Special Sauce

Photography

We believe our “special sauce” is creating the perfect ceremony accompanied by breathtaking photography that transports you back to the magic of your wedding day.

Each of our wedding packages starts with award-winning photography by our in-house brand, Karma Hill Photography. Founder Karma Hill hand-picked and personally trained each photography team member in the Karm Hill Photography signature style. Their style is characterized by ethereal, light-filled imagery and cinematic composition.

Floral

We have the privilege of working with the finest floral artists on the Big Island our esteemed partner, Grace Flowers Hawaii. Renowned as one of the most reputable and long-standing florists on the Big Island, Grace Flowers is responsible for crafting our exquisite custom bouquets. We offer a diverse selection of stunning fresh flowers, carefully chosen for your ceremony. While many couples opt for our thoughtfully curated bouquet offerings, we also provide the opportunity to create a personalized floral look exclusively for you. Whether you have a specific bouquet in mind or wish to enhance your ceremony with additional decorations like arches, arrangements, or bridal party florals. Our team will expertly guide you toward the best options that align with your budget and vision.

How We Do Things Different

When choosing a wedding planning company for your special day, it’s essential to be aware many packaged services cut corners. This is usually done by selecting photographers and florists based solely on their affordability not quality and skillful execution of their craft. We take a different approach. We only work with the best vendors in the business, carefully selecting renowned brand names to guarantee you the highest quality service and exceptional style. This guarantees you receive the utmost expertise and style for your wedding ceremony, leaving no room for uncertainty in terms of quality or aesthetics.

What Happens After the Ceremony?

Once you have finished your group and couples photography after your ceremony what comes next?

Most of our couples opt for a nice sit-down dinner after their ceremony with their closest family and friends. We offer recommendations for the best places to go that can accommodate your needs and desires. Whether you want to have a section in a restaurant or a totally private dinner oceanfront. We can help you find the perfect post-ceremony option.

While we don’t plan receptions, we can connect you with some great options from our hotel and restaurant partners who specialize in food and beverage and we can handle reception floral and photography. From a private dinner for two with toes in the sand, or a full reception with dancing and all the traditional elements after your ceremony it’s all possible. With guidance and recommendations from our team, you can make the best choice for your vision and budget.

Clients love the flexibility of creating their own after-wedding reception and avoiding the cost of having a full reception planner when there really isn’t a need for one. Our hotel and restaurant partners have full teams of great people who specialize in the food and beverage portion of your day.

Our Team

We have an amazing professional team of planners with thousands of weddings and decades of experience. We pride ourselves in great service with quick replies and honest answers to both easy and difficult questions. Our goal is to make the planning experience fun and stress-free, so you can enjoy your special day without any worries.

We can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your once-in-a-lifetime event!