If you’re dreaming of having your Hawaii wedding in a true tropical paradise, look no further than Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch. It’s a highly sought-after wedding venue in Hawaii, and it’s easy to understand why, with mesmerizing panoramic views and lush green valleys right next to the ocean.
Keep reading to learn more about planning your wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch, and take a behind-the-lens look at Molly and Mark’s magical wedding here!
Your Guide to Planning a Wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch
Paliku Gardens is a gorgeous ceremony site at Kualoa Ranch. The venue is located at the base of the sacred Kanehoalani mountain peak. If you plan your wedding here, you’ll have picturesque views of Kane’ohe Bay, the Koʻolau mountain range, rolling green gardens, Mokoli’i Island, and the turquoise blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.
It’s a one-of-a-kind wedding venue that will take your breath away the moment you arrive, and it will feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. Paliku Gardens is private and reserved only for you and your group, so you can rest assured you won’t have to worry about tourists hanging around.
Something I want to quickly clarify, because it can be a bit confusing, is that you’ll be booking Paliku Gardens as your wedding venue, but you will then choose where you have your ceremony, either at the Water Tower ceremony site, which is featured in this blog, or at the Bowl, where Molly and Mark had their reception.
The covered pavilion at Paliku Gardens has a maximum seating capacity of 120 guests, and your rental includes tables and chairs for up to 150 guests. As this is a very popular wedding venue, most couples book 12–18 months in advance, especially for peak season dates, so you’ll definitely want to plan ahead if you want to have your wedding here.
Venue amenities
Because Kaneohe is known as the green side of the island of Oahu, it also means that there are occasional rain showers. The venue has a built-in tented pavilion for weather protection for you to use at no additional cost in case of inclement weather, so you won’t have to worry about having a backup plan. The tented pavilion even has traditional string lighting underneath, making the ambiance warm and cozy. Also, the pavilion is a great place to shelter from the occasional showers prior to the ceremony, and it also has a getting-ready suite.
Another reason I love this venue is its dedicated focus on environmental stewardship, preservation, and sustainable tourism. One of Kualoa Ranch’s guiding values is “mālama ʻāina,” which means “to care for the land,” and that’s exactly what they do.
Molly and Mark’s Enchanting Wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch
Here’s a behind-the-lens look into Molly and Mark’s wedding:
Getting ready and first looks
Molly got ready in the beautiful suite Kualoa Ranch provides, with just her maid of honor and her mom, while Mark got ready off-site. We had time to take solo portraits of Molly and to photograph her with her mom and her maid of honor.
I was obsessed with Molly’s gorgeous all-white orchid bouquet that elevated every photo we took. Once both Mark and Molly were ready, we walked down the stairs where Mark was waiting for Molly.
What I remember most about this special moment was the lightness between them, and each was so excited and joyful to see the other. When their first look happened, Molly was overcome with happy tears, which made Mark start crying too – this moment was so emotional and heartfelt!
Both of them then started giggling, wondering why they were crying on such a happy day, and it was clear these two were great complements for each other.
We then spent the next hour taking couples portraits and exploring the venue so Mark and Molly could spend more time with their guests during their cocktail hour.
The ceremony
Molly and Mark had their ceremony at the beautiful Water Tower ceremony site with gorgeous ocean views. Their ceremony was filled with more loving tears from Molly and Mark, as well as their parents, their friends, and even a few vendors.
Their vows moved everyone, and their promises were incredibly sweet and uplifting. By the end of the ceremony, there were so many wet faces and smiles. Even their entire group photo, which we took after their ceremony, was so cheerfully loud! You could feel how much love everyone had for these two!
Cocktail hour and reception
Once Molly and Mark joined their cocktail hour, the vibe was electric. Groups of people approached them at a time, and they hugged everyone, of course. Tight squeezes, lots of cheers, and selfies with Molly and Mark, and they squeezed everyone just as tightly.
They even took the time to walk around each table during dinner to greet every guest, which was something I loved that they did! They also wrote each person a handwritten thank-you letter, the sweetest touch to the most thoughtful day.
Molly and Mark’s Wedding Vendors
I wanted to give a special shout-out to the vendors who made this day possible:
Planning and Coordination: One and Only Hawaii
Photography: Sarah Jual Photography
Hair and Makeup: Mai Tokioka
Venue: Kualoa Ranch
Ready to Plan Your Wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch?
I hope this guide to planning your wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch was helpful. Also, if you want to check out another wedding I’ve photographed here with a more tropical, earthy vibe, go here!
And… if you’re still looking for a Hawaii wedding photographer, I’d love to connect! I’m for the couple who doesn’t need a checklist of photos crossed off, but space to feel and experience their day fully. If you love hard, feel deeply, and hope this day will be more than just a blur, I can’t wait to meet you!
You can head over here to learn more about my wedding services or get in touch with me here. Let’s talk about how to bring your dream wedding vision to life!
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