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If you’re planning to elope in Hawaii, you may be wondering if there’s a certain type of dress you’re “supposed” to wear.

A lightweight dress? Barefoot? A flower crown? Aloha shirt? Something casual and beachy?

Here’s my answer as a Hawaii wedding planner: there is no right or wrong attire for a Hawaii elopement.

I’ve married couples who went all out with a traditional bridal gown, heels, and full suit and tie. I’ve also married couples where the bride wore cotton white dress she bought of Amazon the month prior and went barefoot while the groom wore an aloha button-down shirt and shorts.

Both were beautiful.

Your Hawaii elopement is still your wedding day. You should wear whatever makes you feel the most beautiful, special and like yourself.

In fact, after planning hundreds of Hawaii weddings, I think that is one of the most important things to remember when choosing what to wear.

You Don’t Have to Dress “Hawaiian” to Elope in Hawaii

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that there is a specific way a Hawaii bride or groom is supposed to dress.

There isn’t.

You don’t need a beachy dress because you’re getting married on a beach. You don’t need an aloha shirt because you’re getting married in Hawaii. And you certainly don’t need to give up the formal wedding attire you’ve always dreamed of wearing.

If you’ve always dreamed of walking down the aisle in a traditional wedding gown and heels, do it.

If you’d rather wear a simple white sundress and go barefoot, do that.

If your groom feels most like himself in a full suit and tie, that’s completely fine too.

Your attire should reflect you, not what you think a Hawaii elopement is supposed to look like.

My Favorite Hawaii Elopement Looks Are the Ones That Feel Like You

I’ve seen some really beautiful dresses over the years, but the ones I remember most aren’t necessarily the most expensive or elaborate.

They’re the ones where the bride looks completely comfortable in her own skin.

I had a bride from Australia who wore a beautiful, plunging, sexy floral dress that was nothing like the formal bridal gowns I was used to seeing.

And I absolutely loved it.

She wore it because it made her feel beautiful. She wore it because this was the wedding she wanted. There were no guests or family members to impress. She didn’t have to dress for anyone else’s expectations.

She chose something that was fun and completely her.

And it showed.

That’s one of the things I love about elopements. You have so much freedom to make the day yours.

I had another bride who wore a short white dress. Most brides I see wear long white dresses, so it was different and a little unexpected.

But she looked absolutely stunning.

The dress was comfortable, kept her cool, and showed off her long, beautiful legs. She looked incredible—and she wasn’t hot and sweaty underneath a heavy gown.

Those are some of my favorite looks because the bride is being completely true to herself.

You can see it in the photos.

And trust me, the grooms love it too.

What Should a Bride Wear for a Hawaii Elopement?

My personal preference is a lighter, comfortable, flowing dress rather than a huge, heavy ballgown.

Hawaii is tropical. It can be warm and humid, and many ceremonies take place outdoors.

That doesn’t mean you can’t wear your dream ballgown if that’s what you’ve always wanted. You absolutely can.

But if you’re deciding between a very heavy dress and something lighter and more comfortable, I would personally lean toward the lighter option.

You want to be able to move.

You want to be comfortable.

You want to be able to walk to your ceremony site without struggling with your dress.

And most importantly, you want to actually enjoy your wedding day.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a wedding dress if you don’t want to. Intimate smaller Hawaii weddings are just as beautiful.

The most important thing is that you find a beautiful dress that makes you feel amazing. This will always photograph better than a dress you’re uncomfortable wearing.

Do You Need a Long Wedding Dress in Hawaii?

Not at all.

Long wedding dresses are beautiful, but a short dress can be just as gorgeous—and sometimes even more unexpected and fun for an intimate Hawaii wedding or Hawaii Vow Renewal.

I’ve seen brides wear:

• Traditional full-length wedding gowns
• Simple, flowing white dresses
• Short white dresses
• Floral dresses
• Casual cotton dresses
• Sexy, modern dresses
• Barefoot beach dresses

There is no dress code for eloping in Hawaii.

Choose the dress that makes you look in the mirror and think, “Wow. I feel beautiful.”

That’s the dress I’d choose.

What Should the Groom Wear for a Hawaii Elopement?

This is where I tend to have a strong opinion because I have seen far too many grooms get incredibly hot before the ceremony even starts.

A full suit and tie can look fantastic, but it can also be a lot of clothing in the Hawaii heat.

If your groom tends to run hot, consider something simpler, such as a nice button-down collared shirt with dress slacks.

An aloha shirt with nice pants or shorts can also be a great choice for a more relaxed Hawaii wedding.

And if he really wants to wear the full suit and tie, go for it.

Just think about the time of day and ceremony location. Know which Hawaiian island you want to get married on and have a good idea of what the beach or venue is like.

If you’re standing in direct sun at noon wearing a full tuxedo, there’s a good chance you’re going to be sweating before you even say your vows.

And being sweaty isn’t just uncomfortable—it doesn’t exactly make for the best wedding photos.

Sometimes removing a few layers can make a huge difference.

What Shoes Should I Wear to Elope in Hawaii?

This is one of the areas where I recommend thinking about the location more than the look.

Hawaii wedding ceremonies are often outdoors, which means you may be walking on sand, grass, dirt, rocks or uneven ground.

Before choosing your shoes, find out exactly how far you’ll need to walk from your car to your ceremony location.

If it’s a short walk on a paved path, heels might be completely fine.

But if you’re walking 50 feet through sand to get to your ceremony site, I probably wouldn’t recommend stilettos.

Wedges or flats can be much easier to manage on grass and sand.

And if you’re considering going barefoot, that’s perfectly fine too.

Do a Practice Walk

One of the easiest things you can do is practice walking in your wedding shoes on a similar surface before your wedding.

If you’ll be walking through sand, practice walking in sand.

If you’ll be walking across grass, try your shoes on grass.

You may discover that the shoes you thought would be perfect aren’t actually comfortable or easy to walk in.

The most important question isn’t just, “Are these shoes beautiful?”

It’s “Can I comfortably walk in these shoes?”

The more comfortable you are, the less you have to worry about on your wedding day.

For grooms, nice dress shoes are usually pretty straightforward and work well.

Should I Wear a Veil for a Hawaii Elopement?

Absolutely—if you love the look.

Veils can be gorgeous in Hawaii, especially when you have a longer, picturesque walk to the ceremony.

But if you’re walking only a short distance down a small aisle, a veil can sometimes become more of a hassle than an enhancement.

I would consider the setting and the length of your walk.

A long veil flowing behind you during a beautiful walk can create incredible photographs.

But you don’t need a veil simply because you’re a bride.

If it’s not your style, skip it.

Consider Adding a Hawaiian Flower Lei

One of my favorite ways to incorporate Hawaii into your wedding day is with fresh flower leis.

Flower leis are handmade here in Hawaii, and they’re such a beautiful and meaningful addition to a wedding ceremony.

We include flower leis in all of our wedding packages, and many of our brides also choose to add a haku lei, which is a floral lei worn around the head.

Our florist custom-makes these to coordinate with the bride’s bouquet, and they are absolutely stunning.

A haku lei is a really beautiful way to add a Hawaiian touch to your bridal look without feeling like you’re wearing a costume or trying to dress a certain way because you’re getting married in Hawaii.

And they photograph beautifully.

What About Jewelry and Sunglasses?

Wear the jewelry that makes you feel like a bride.

You don’t need to change your personal style just because you’re getting married in Hawaii.

One thing I would skip, however, is sunglasses during the ceremony and your professional photos.

I know the Hawaii sun is bright, but you’ll be much happier looking back at your wedding photos and seeing your eyes rather than a pair of sunglasses.

Do I Need to Choose My Wedding Attire Based on the Weather?

Honestly, I don’t think you need to overthink this.

You can’t predict exactly what the weather will be on your wedding day, so I wouldn’t choose your entire wedding outfit based on the possibility of rain.

A little bit of rain shouldn’t determine which dress you buy.

In all of my experience, I’ve never had a bride and groom need to completely change their wedding attire because of the weather.

Instead, choose something that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable.

There is one weather-related thing I do pay attention to, though: the wind.

Depending on your ceremony location, I may recommend that the bride stand on a particular side so the wind isn’t blowing directly into her face and sending her hair flying around during the ceremony.

It doesn’t happen often, but it can happen.

This is one of those little details that a good Hawaii wedding planner should be watching for you.

We’ll look at the wind, your hairstyle and your ceremony location and help determine which direction will work best.

You shouldn’t have to think about that while you’re standing at the altar.

When Should I Buy My Wedding Dress and Groom’s Attire?

I recommend that most of my couples purchase their wedding attire before arriving in Hawaii.

There are simply more dress and suit options on the mainland U.S., and you want to have the opportunity to try everything on and make sure you absolutely love it.

Once you’ve found the dress, you can carry it onto the plane with you.

Don’t pack your wedding dress into your checked luggage if you can avoid it.

Once you arrive in Hawaii, most hotels can press your dress for you. You can also purchase a small handheld steamer locally for very little money if you need to get some wrinkles out.

The goal is to arrive in Hawaii with one less thing to worry about.

Can I Rent a Tux in Hawaii?

Yes.

If you’d prefer to rent a tux once you’re in Hawaii, we have a couple of places we recommend to our couples.

Our favorites are A Black Tie Affair and Lidia Hawaii.

A Black Tie Affair: https://www.blacktieaffairhawaii.com

Lidia Hawaii: https://www.hawaiidressrentals.com/

What Should I Wear to Elope in Hawaii? Wear What Makes You Feel Like You.

If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this:

There is no “Hawaii elopement outfit” you have to wear.

Your wedding doesn’t have to look a certain way just because you’re getting married on an island.

You can wear a ballgown.

You can wear a short white dress.

You can wear a floral dress.

You can wear an aloha shirt.

You can wear a suit and tie.

You can go barefoot.

You can wear heels.

You can wear a haku lei.

You can do whatever feels like you.

After all, one of the best things about eloping is that you get to strip away so many of the expectations that come with a traditional wedding.

You don’t have to dress for your extended family.

You don’t have to dress for your guests.

You don’t have to dress according to what you think a bride is “supposed” to look like.

You get to dress for the person you’re marrying—and for yourself.

So when you’re standing in front of the mirror trying on your wedding outfit, don’t ask yourself, “Is this appropriate for a Hawaii wedding?”

Ask yourself:

“Do I feel beautiful?”

“Do I feel comfortable?”

“Does this feel like me?”

If the answer is yes, I think you’ve found your perfect Hawaii wedding outfit.

Learn More about our Hawaii Wedding Packages if you’re not sure where to start.

Excited for you!
Nicole

Best Day Ever Hawaii Weddings

Photography by Crystal Chanel Photography & Hannah Beal Photography