Waimea Valley is a sacred and special place on Oahu’s North Shore that you’ll find just before arriving at Pupukea Beach. It is a 1,800-acre nature preserve and cultural site that is truly a unique backdrop for your celebration. Waimea Valley authentically represents the beauty and culture of Hawaii. It offers you serenity and privacy for your celebration with the soothing sounds of nature as your backdrop.
Keep reading to learn more about planning your wedding at Waimea Valley. Plus, take a behind-the-lens look at G + S’s magical celebration here!
Your Guide to Planning Your Wedding at Waimea Valley
This wedding venue offers you an experience like no other. It’s a place you and your guests will fall in love with the moment you set foot on the grounds! Here’s a bit more info about what you can expect if you plan your celebration here:
Ceremony sites at Waimea Valley
Waimea Valley has three different ceremony sites you can choose from:
Palm Meadow
Palm Meadow has soaring palm trees, a natural stream, and an expansive lawn surrounded by vibrant greenery.
Upper Meadow
The Upper Meadow is another gorgeous garden venue space at Waimea Valley that is known for its lush greenery. It has vines, large shaded trees, and an abundance of gorgeous monstera plants.
The waterfall
Imagine getting married next to a natural 40-ft waterfall! You can say “I do” next to a beautiful waterfall in Waimea Valley’s magical botanical gardens. Here you’ll be surrounded on three sides by mountains and lush green foliage. This spot has capacity for up to 50 guests!
Additional important things to know about planning your celebration at Waimea Valley
No cell phone service
Something to note is that Waimea Valley is known for having pretty spotty service. Be aware that once you enter the valley you shouldn’t expect to have any cell service during your time there.
Distance from Waikiki
Waimea Valley is about an hour from Waikiki. Traffic on the way to this spot can be unpredictable, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
Getting ready
Waimea Valley has a wedding suite you can rent on site at the Proud Peacock venue for an additional charge.
Transportation
Guest transportation for your ceremony is not offered through Waimea Valley. What you’ll need to do is arrange for shuttle transportation through your wedding coordinator or through a rental company vendor. Make sure you budget for this additional cost!
G + S’s Stunning Wedding at Waimea Valley
G + S planned an unforgettable celebration at Waimea Valley – their day was full of sweet moments, tears, and lots of love!
Here’s a behind-the-lens look into more of their day:
Background on the couple
G + S were dating and regularly seeing each other until the pandemic happened. Then, because of the pandemic, they had to begin a long-distance relationship. All of their wedding guests spoke about on their wedding day how much love these two have for each other and that, despite the distance they originally had to endure, they all knew that these two were going to make it no matter what.
G + S love having outdoor adventures together, like hiking, camping, and spending time in nature. They recently moved to Oahu and decided it was the easiest option to get married there, and chose Waimea Valley as the spot they wanted to tie the knot.
They shared with me that they really loved the intimacy of Waimea Valley and how immersed and connected to nature you feel here. G + S also told me that they respect the land and Hawaiian culture that Waimea Valley works to preserve, and they knew that they wanted to support that.
The ceremony
G + S had an intimate ceremony that took place at Palm Meadow. G + S didn’t have a formal wedding party, but their chosen family and friends still brought the fun-loving energy that powered everyone through the day. Everyone felt like close friends who were let in on a special moment.
They started their ceremony with a simple meditation asking everyone to close their eyes and take a few deep breaths with them – something small and simple to ground them in the present moment. As they said their vows to each other, there was not a dry eye in sight.
They also had friends come up and perform readings, and thanked their family members for all the support and love up to that moment. Though the guest list was small, everyone had an immense amount of love for them, and it was incredibly special to be a part of their day.
After their ceremony, we finished their wedding portraits at Palm Meadow and then headed to Upper Meadow for some more tropical greenery.
The reception
After we wrapped up G + S’s couple portraits, we went to the Proud Peacock, where they had an intimate dinner at Ke Nui Kitchen. Ke Nui Kitchen provides catering and beverage services for all weddings held at Waimea Valley, and they serve tasty meals with fresh, local ingredients and artfully designed plates. I adore Ke Nui Kitchen as their food is always delicious!
At their ceremony, G + S’s family and friends took turns giving speeches, and it was another point in the day where everyone had tears in their eyes. G + S couldn’t have hoped for anything more than being loved, supported, and celebrated by their closest family and friends that day.
G + S’s Wedding Vendors
Planning and Coordination: One and Only Hawaii
Venue: Palm Meadow and Proud Peacock at Waimea Valley
Catering: Ke Nui Kitchen
Ready to Plan Your Wedding at Waimea Valley?
I hope this guide to planning your wedding at Waimea Valley was helpful. Waimea Valley is a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind backdrop for your wedding!
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!
Read these next:
Your Guide to Planning a Wedding at Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch
