When planning for weddings, some of us decide a certain theme or a location. Others may prefer to have a wedding that has different customs to those of ours. If you are one of them, you may have considered about a Hawaii wedding,
When you picture your wedding in Hawaii, you may be wondering if the wedding customs in Hawaii really differ from your own traditions. This article will share some of the wedding customs in Hawaii which will help you make a better decision.
Hawaii has many customs and an extravagant array of flowers for any wedding. One of the oldest traditions in Hawaii or wedding customs in Hawaii is the flower lei. The lei are one of the oldest flower arrangements you will find in any culture. Traditionally the lei are used around the neck, or head. The flowers that create the lei can also be used in the bouquet depending on your style.
Besides the traditional flower, you will have plenty of bouquets and other arrangements around the venues of the wedding. The bride and groom of course are wearing flowers to symbolize the love and respect they feel. The lei are usually 40 to 50 flowers in a string. In most traditional weddings in Hawaii the bride and groom are both dressed in pure white, with a red or black sash at the waist for the groom.
Other common wedding customs in Hawaii include the Hawaiian Wedding Song and the wedding bands. The wedding bands of the bride and groom are also supposed to be engraved with their Hawaiian names.
When speaking about the Hawaiian traditions, you will also find the customs dictate the outdoor weddings. These are usually on the beach or in a tropical garden. In some cases this can include sailing. For a Japanese American bride, custom states that 1,001 paper cranes must be folded by the bride prior to her wedding. It is for good luck. It is also customary for an offer of “banzai” which is a good luck toast to the bride and groom.
When you have a Hawaiian wedding a money dance may be included in the custom. The money dance or pandango is another way to send the bride and groom into their new life with a gift of money. Hawaii is filled with Asian influence from the Philippines and other Asian countries, which is why some of the customs are very similar to Asian customes.
A long ago wedding custom of Hawaii is the Ho’ao Aloha tradition. It literally means stay until the dawn. It was first only celebrated for the chiefly class of the Hawaiians as a wedding ceremony. The night of day was called Huna, which was the eleventh night of the month. On this day or night the nuptials were spoken and the festivities lasted until the next day.
Today this custom is offered a meshing of both the modern and ancient Hawaiian traditions in order to show the eternal bond of the couple. When you are considering taking your vows in Hawaii you may find the blend of cultural traditions fits within your feelings over some of the Western traditions. There are several venues for authentic Hawaiian wedding ceremonies and celebrations to have your perfect wedding.
Quick Hawaii Wedding Tip #1
If you are going to have your wedding on a beach, choose a wedding dress with a shorter train. It can be difficult to walk on the sand with a long train. Most of the Hawaii wedding dresses you will find will have a short train or no train and they usually come in the form of off the shoulder or spaghetti strap dresses. |
Quick Hawaii Wedding Tip #2
The internet offers a ready source of Hawaii wedding dresses. However, when choosing a wedding dress, you do need to shop in local shops to get a proper fit first. Purchasing a dress online is easier once you have determined your size and style. |
Quick Hawaii Wedding Tip #3
Be aware of Hawaii wedding traditions. For example, a Japanese American bride needs to have 1,001 paper cranes folded before her wedding. This practice is believed to bring luck to the bride. |