If you'd asked me a few years back whether more couples wanted a big wedding or a quiet elopement, I'd have guessed big wedding without much hesitation. Not anymore. Elopements have quietly become one of the most popular ways to get married on Oahu, and once you've been part of a few, it's easy to see why. No 200-person guest list to wrangle, just the two of you and a lot more room to actually enjoy your own day. Here's what I tell couples who are starting to think seriously about eloping in Hawaii.

WHY COUPLES CHOOSE TO ELOPE ON OAHU

I want to be clear about one thing: an elopement isn't a smaller wedding, it's its own thing entirely. You get to pick literally any spot on the island instead of being boxed into a venue, the cost is a fraction of a full wedding, and maybe most importantly, you actually get to be present. I've shot elopements with just the couple and nobody else, and I've shot ones with five or six of the closest people tagging along. Both work great. It really comes down to what you two want the day to feel like.

CHOOSING YOUR LOCATION

This is usually the fun part, and also where people get a little stuck. Oahu has an almost unfair number of good options: quiet beaches at sunrise, botanical gardens tucked into the valleys, cliffside lookouts that make your jaw drop the first time you see them in person. My honest advice is to think about the mood first, then the location. A sunrise beach ceremony feels intimate and calm. A dramatic lookout makes more of a statement. If you've already got somewhere in mind, tell me and I'll walk you through permits or timing. If you don't, that's fine too, I keep a running list of favorites I'm happy to share based on what you're going for.

PLANNING YOUR ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

Elopement days move differently than traditional wedding days: shorter, more relaxed, less on the clock. Under the Intimate Collection, a typical day looks like getting ready, the ceremony, then a portrait session right after so we can actually enjoy the location together instead of rushing off. I almost always push for sunrise or late afternoon. The light is simply better, and honestly, there are fewer tourists wandering through your shot.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

I'm not big on stiff, staged posing. My goal on an elopement day is for it to feel easy: a little direction here and there, but mostly just letting things happen naturally between the two of you while I stay out of the way and capture it. You'll get a private online gallery, full print rights, a sneak peek within 72 hours, and your full gallery in three to four weeks.

PERMITS AND LOGISTICS TO KNOW ABOUT

Some spots on Oahu, especially state parks and a handful of beaches, require a permit for ceremonies or professional photography. It's an easy thing to overlook until it becomes a problem on the actual day. I can help you figure out exactly what your location needs, or if you'd rather skip the process altogether, I can point you toward spots that don't require one.

MAKING IT OFFICIAL: ELOPEMENT VS SYMBOLIC CEREMONY

If you want the marriage to be legally recognized in Hawaii, you'll need a state marriage license, and it's a pretty quick process. Some couples go a different route: a symbolic ceremony here in Hawaii with the legal paperwork handled back home. That second option actually gives you more freedom with timing and location since you're not tied to license requirements. Neither one is more real than the other, it just depends on what makes sense for you.

Eloping is one of the most personal ways to get married, and the Intimate Collection is built for exactly this kind of day. Visit the Oahu wedding and elopement page to see full pricing and details, or reach out and I will help you start planning.