Eloping on Maui: A No-Nonsense Guide

About a third of the weddings we plan are elopements, and the number keeps going up. The appeal is obvious: you skip the logistics of coordinating 80 people across an ocean and focus on the actual marriage part. Here is what an elopement on Maui looks like in practice. You need four things: a marriage license, an officiant, two witnesses (we can provide them if needed), and a location. The marriage license costs $65 and you apply online through the Hawaii Department of Health. When you arrive on Maui, you do a quick appointment to get it finalized. No blood test, no waiting period, no residency requirement. It is one of the simplest processes in the country. For the location, most couples pick a beach. Makena Cove, Ironwoods Beach, and Kapalua Bay are popular because they are beautiful and relatively uncrowded. Beach ceremonies on public land require a permit from the county, which we handle. Cost is under $100. If you want something other than a beach, options include the Haiku Mill courtyard, a cliffside overlook in Kapalua, or the lavender fields upcountry. Our Sunset package is designed for elopements. It is $2,500 flat and covers planning, coordination, officiant, and a simple floral arrangement (bouquet and boutonniere). Photography is separate because couples have very different preferences on this, from an hour of candids to a full half-day adventure session across multiple locations. Timeline for a typical elopement day: hair and makeup in the morning if you want it, relax during the day, ceremony in the late afternoon when the light is best, then dinner at a restaurant we will reserve for you. The whole thing is low-stress by design. A few honest notes. Elopements are not free. Between our fee, a photographer, hair and makeup, flowers, and a nice dinner, you are looking at $5,000 to $10,000 total. It is a fraction of a full wedding, but it is not nothing. Also, telling your families can be its own thing. Some couples elope and tell people after. Some invite parents. Some do a reception back home later. There is no wrong answer, but think it through before you book. If you want to keep it simple and put all the focus on each other, an elopement on Maui is hard to beat.