Need advice on planning! HELP!

[npak]

Hi I was recently engaged and we are starting to plan a wedding for next Aug. 2012.  We really want to wed on Maui preferably on the beach we have a small group of friends/family (probably less than 20) coming to join us.  We have contacted the Sheraton and Ritz-Carelton their wedding packages seem completly over priced for the simple wedding we want.   Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about finding a WC that wont rip us off or any other advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[greysgirl]

Hi and welcome!  We were married in Maui in April and used a great coordinator named Cherise with The Perfect Wedding Maui.  Here's her website:  http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectWeddingMaui

http://www.theperfectweddingmaui.com/

 

She was fairly inexpensive and was a pleasure to work with.  Best wishes!

[Glam-Girl]

Hey npak,

 

I am in the same boat as you.  I am looking at getting married in Wailea and the Fairmount has a good package.  The South seems to have nicer weather too! 

 

I am confused as I am eloping and the grand Wailea wanted $8500 for just the two of us for the cermony!  That didn't even enclude a sparkling wine!! 

[Jessica4LUXE]

Hi Ladies,

 

Hawaii tends to be a pretty expensive location to wed! There are planners outside of Maui that can help you and not charge extra for using the vendors the recommend. We have service fees but take no commissions from your wedding, there are others like us out there!

 Good Luck!

[Glam-Girl]

Hmmmm Luxe I am a little confused, say I stay at the Grand Wailea or any other hotel don't I have to use thier Wedding Planners? 

[Jessica4LUXE]

Hi Glam-girl, usually the services included in any hotel’s wedding package include the day of coordinator from the hotel. Although some brides choose to work with an outside dedicated wedding planner as well, especially if you’re considering an offsite location. Depending on the hotel, their onsite wedding planner can vary in degrees of expertise when it comes to wedding planning (i.e. sometimes their wedding planner is the catering manager or another hotel employee). So it’s worth finding out the role of the person at the hotel and then decide. Many of the hotel wedding team is used to working with a wedding coordinator in Hawaii. I hope that makes sense!

[LSUHawaii]

If you want to get married on a beach in Maui, I believe its a relatively low fee for the actual ceremony, then you'd have to do a reception somewhere else.  I highly recommend going with a wedding planner.  I used Darren with Bliss Wedding Designs - http://www.blissmaui.com.  He's also a florist and did an amazing job with all of our flowers - http://www.kuolanifloral.com .

 

Our wedding was on October 11th, and I can truly say that Darren created the wedding of my dreams.  We had approximately 45 guests with a buffet style dinner at a house in Makena. He can arrange everything for you, or just bits and pieces - he just charges a % of whatever vendors/services he arranges for you.

 

I am pretty sure that if you decide to have the wedding at one of the resorts, you will have to use their vendors and usually a wedding coordinator and/or planner will be included with your package. However, there are plenty of lovely estates in Wailea and Makena that you can also have your ceremony and reception at.  Just depends on your style.

 

Good luck with everything!!

 

Aloha!

Jenny