Beautiful and Meaningful Hawaiian Wedding Traditions You Can Add Easily to Your Wedding Ceremony
Do you want to know what beautiful and meaningful Hawaiian Wedding traditions to you can easily incorporate into you Hawaiian Wedding Ceremony? Here are two that will be easy to add.
Did you know that Hawaii is one of the top five wedding destinations in the entire United States — attracting thousands of couples every single year who want to say “I do” with their toes in the sand and the sound of the Pacific in the background? I completely understand why. There’s something undeniably magical about the islands.
Hawaiian weddings aren’t just beautiful — they’re deeply meaningful. Rooted in ancient Polynesian culture and shaped by centuries of tradition, a Hawaiian wedding ceremony weaves together spirituality, nature, family, and love in a way that few other wedding styles can match. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding on Maui, a beachfront ceremony on the Big Island, or simply want to incorporate a touch of aloha spirit into your celebration, understanding Hawaii’s rich wedding customs will help you create an experience that’s truly unforgettable.
Here are two traditions that will be easy to incorporate into your wedding.
Lei Exchange
Lei is exchange is common in Hawaii. Lei are given for birthdays, graduation, or a promotion. It is given to show love, friendship, honor, and greeting.
A lei exchange between a couple is a symbol of love and respect. It is a beautiful tradition that can easily be incorporated into your wedding ceremony. Most officiants are familiar with the tradition and know how to add it to your ceremony seamlessly.
Now the fun part – picking a lei. Luckily you can get (or make) a lei with any budget. There are puka shell leis. These lei are inexpensive and will last lifetime. There are flower lei that run from $20-$200 depending on the type of flower, labor, and artistry. Flower lei are beautiful and add color to your day. Or you can chose to make your lei. All it takes is a needle, thread and flowers. DO NOT take flowers without permission! Most locals do not mind sharing their flowers, but you HAVE TO ASK!
Having a lei exchange during your ceremony will bring a beautiful Hawaiian touch to your ceremony.
Hawaiian Music
Hawaiian music can be incorporate in a few ways. You can choose to play a recording-this can be played during the ceremony, or during processional and recessional. For this you will need a way to play the music and someone to start and stop the music. Another option is to hire a musician that plays Hawaiian music. Most commonly it is a musician that plays the ukelele. The ukelele provides a beautiful sound and brings a beautiful Hawaiian touch to your ceremony.
The Lei Exchange and Hawaiian music are two beautiful Hawaiian traditions that will be easy to add to your wedding ceremony whether you have 2 guests or 100s.
