Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a marriage license before I can get married?
A: YES. You need to obtain one - FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII - before we meet for the big day! Note that there is NO waiting time in Hawaii after you obtain your license, so you can literally drive to the wedding location right from the licensing office or from your video call (as long as there is enough time to print it out and bring it with you), if you wish. Here is the information you'll need: Hawaii Marriage License Process Information *You can apply online for a Hawaii Marriage License HERE: https://emrs.ehawaii.gov/emrs/public/home.html *It is recommended that you leave the DATE of your marriage and the LOCATION blank on the application. This will make your license good for one year of application, and will allow for any last-minute changes due to weather or whatnot. Also, if you make any mistakes on your license, know that those can be corrected when you meet with the marriage license agent (scroll down for her information). * Hawaii Department of Health (overall information): http://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-licenses/ *How to Apply for a Hawaii Marriage License: http://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-licenses/#howto You will then set an appointment with a marriage license agent to meet in person, as a couple, to verify your information and to pick up your license, for after your arrival here in Kona (or in the state of Hawaii) and before your wedding. You will be provided with a list of marriage license agents once your application is complete. If you are one of our couples, I will help make this appointment for you and you will be given even more detailed instructions to make things totally stress-free! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: How far in advance can I (and should I) book you? A: Like many vendors here in Kona, we don't book more than a year in advance, so please contact us no sooner than a year prior to your wedding date, and since we are focusing on custom-created weddings, dates for the year are limited. Note that if you are looking for a special date or a holiday, those will want to be booked sooner rather than later, since those tend to fill up faster, as do popular vacation dates (i.e. spring break, around the holidays, over the summer), but even so, I always encourage you to check, even if it's last minute. You never know! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: With all of this Covid-19 stuff happening, what happens if I book, and then have to postpone or reschedule? A: Given all of the craziness in the world right now, we do allow our couples whose travel plans are stymied by the pandemic (travel or quarantine restrictions, inability of couple or guests to safely travel, etc.) to postpone and reschedule up to one year from their original wedding date, moving your non-refundable down payment forward with you! As per usual, you may also choose to cancel per our cancellation policy, and although you'd forfeit your non-refundable down payment, you would be free to reschedule without time or other restrictions, especially if your bigger event becomes a smaller one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Are Same-Sex Marriages Legal in the State of Hawaii, and, if so, do you Perform them? A: Same-sex marriages are now legal throughout the United States, and Yes! I am all about joining couples in love together, in a simple, elegant and meaningful way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Are you insured? A: Yes, Simple Kona Beach Weddings has full liability insurance, and has special coverage as required by certain locations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: What about professional photography? A: Professional photography is only included in one of our last-minute Pre-Designed Options, since we have found that most couples have a particular style and budget they are looking for, so we like to let you be free to choose who appeals to you! Certainly, we will provide you with a list of stellar recommendations, but whether you choose to have no photos, choose the small upgrade to have one of our staff members simply snap some photos during the service with your phone or camera (if not included in your package), or whether you choose a professional, we support your choices, and will offer guidance! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Do you do weddings at private homes or at non-beach locations? A: Yes! If you are renting a home, or you have some other sort of venue, we will generally be able to accommodate you, bringing our Hawaiian inspired wedding to your location here on the Big Island. Just ask! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: If I am coming from a cruise ship, is there enough time for a wedding or a vow renewal? A: Yes! We do it all the time (when cruise ships are running, of course). Typically, folks leave the ship around 8:30 or 9am, and get a rental car to take to the location of the service. We usually recommend a service at around 10 or 10:30am to make sure it's not too hot, and so that you can then have ample time for a celebratory lunch and some touring of Kona after the service is through, before you have to return to the ship. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Can you give me suggestions for what to do and where to eat on the Big Island? A: First, if you are one of our couples, you will be provided with a wonderful list of resources - including ideas on where to eat - and we are happy to provide travel ideas and guidance. Also, if you are one of our couples, you can give Uncle Dude a call! He is THE Big Island resource for real, honest (and fun) advice for what to do and where to dine on the Big Island. He is also my husband, and he CARES that you have a good trip. Just let me know and I'll set you up on a call with him! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: What are your safety protocols? A: We follow all of the local State and County safety guidelines for Covid-19, and we are happy to answer what this may mean for your wedding. As of April 2022, masks are no longer required in the State of Hawaii (although some locations may still require them), so that means no masks will be required at your wedding. Note, too, that both my husband and I (i.e. Matt and Becky) are fully vaccinated and boosted, in an effort to keep ourselves, our couples and our community safe and healthy. If you have anyone in your party who requires extra safety precautions, please let us know and we'll make sure to accommodate them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Don't see your question here? Just go to the Contact tab and ask away! NOTE: More FAQs and resources will be added soon... |