Tropical flowers or other hints of the islands can help you create a Hawaiian-themed wedding anywhere.
Incorporate authentic Hawaiian touches into your Hawaiian-themed wedding, whether you're getting married on the islands, a local beach, a park or your own backyard. Create a laid-back island ambiance with your decorations, menu and favors. Your Hawaiian-themed wedding can be as formal or informal as you'd like, so create the mood that fits you and your future spouse.
Invitations
Send out invitations shaped like coconuts, palm trees, tropical fish, orchids, plumeria blooms or pineapples for a casual Hawaiian wedding. Traditional invitations can be imprinted or embossed with a floral design, such as orchids, for a formal wedding. Invitations with images of a beach sunset or waterfall can also work. Add Hawaiian phrases, words, poems or sayings on the invitation if you're partial to one.
Attire
Your attire can include a traditional wedding gown and full tuxedos for the men for a formal wedding with small Hawaiian touches, such as using orchids for your bouquets and boutonnieres. Hawaiian-style dresses and shirts work as well. For example, the bridesmaids can wear long flowing sundresses made with a Hawaiian print and the men can wear matching shirts with khaki shorts or pants. Invite your guests to come in Hawaiian attire as well to make it feel as though you are all enjoying a slice of paradise. Wear leis and give them out to your guests for a final touch. Fresh leis can be expensive but they will create an instant island ambiance. Silk or seashell leis can also add a festive touch and provide a keepsake for you and your guests.
Decorations
Decorate your reception area with tiki torches, tiki masks, palm trees (inflatable or 3D paper trees work) and fit your tables with grass skirts. Use coconut- or pineapple-shaped bowls to float candles or fill them with orchids or plumeria blooms. Clear fish bowls can hold flowers, candles or colorful fish that double as favors. Sprinkle tropical flower petals around the centerpieces. Use bright, tropical colors such as turquoise, fuchsia, orange, red and yellow.
Menu
Serve seafood shish kabobs or traditional luau pulled pork. Include fresh fruit, such as pineapples and mangoes, with your feast. Use large coconut shells or seashells, such as abalone or oyster shells, as serving dishes. Serve beverages in coconut-shaped glasses and include colorful drink umbrellas. Flavored shaved ice or pineapple fruit juice will provide a sweet, tropical treat for your guests. Your cake can be made to look like a tiki mask, sand castle or simply adorned with tropical flowers.
Favors
Give your guests traditional soaps, candles or candy as wedding favors, with a tropical twist. For example, orchid gel candles, seashell or palm tree candle holders, flip-flop candles, coconut scented and shaped soaps, seashell soaps or tropical flower soaps would make appropriate favors. Opt for seashell-shaped chocolate candies or chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Leis, coconut-shaped cups or themed luggage tags could also work. If your wedding is on the beach, consider filling small beach pails with sand toys or other goodies.
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