This Kauai Adventure Elopement features epic backdrops from Waimea Canyon and across the Napali Coast. Plus I share some tips about how to Elope in Kauai, including information about permits, marriage licenses and officiants.
After an especially busy couple of years, Stephanie & Alex decided that they wanted to get married in a way that would allow them to spend some quality time together and take a big trip. Stephanie is a lawyer and Alex was due to start his residency after finishing medical school. Safe to say, their 2020 was hectic and a beautiful holiday and intimate wedding both very well deserved. They decided to elope to Kauai, Hawaii’s fourth largest island, and what a way to celebrate! We started the day with a sunrise ceremony, took some beautiful photos in the Waimea Canyon with a view over Kauai’s famous Napali Coast, and even shared some traditional Hawaiian shaved ice.
INTIMATE KAUAI WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY | ELOPE IN KAUAI
Intimate Kauai Wedding Photography
Stephanie & Alex decided to start their Intimate Kauai Wedding Photography with a super sweet sunrise ceremony on the beach. They incorporated some elements of a traditional Hawaiian wedding into their ceremony, but it wasn’t totally Hawaiian either. Arriving at the beach before sunrise not only meant there was beautiful, soft light, but they were also the only people on the beach along with Stephanie’s immediate family. It was such a beautiful, intimate atmosphere and a joy to be a part of – especially as Stephanie & Alex went from laughing to crying as they shared vows and took in that epic moment together. Straight after the ceremony, the three of us decided to hike up the bluff that was the backdrop for their ceremony. We were able to take some beautiful portraits as the sun rose before we set off on a bit of an adventure.
Elope in Kauai
If you’re looking to plan an adventurous elopement in a location with epic scenery, you can’t go past Kauai. Kauai has everything from lush green forests to beautiful beaches and adventurous mountain hikes. Some of the spots we visited for Stephanie & Alex’s full-day Kauai elopement genuinely seemed out of this world!
Getting married legally on Kauai isn’t hard. To start, you’ll need to apply for a marriage license, which you can do through the Hawaiian Department of Health. The application fee is $60, plus a $5 administration fee. Across Hawaii, wedding celebrants are called “Performers”, and you’ll need a registered Wedding Performer to officiate your wedding. You can find a complete list, here, or feel free to ask me for a recommendation if you book me as your photographer!
One thing to be aware of if you Elope in Kauai is that it’s important that your wedding celebration is respectful of Kauai’s culture, environment, and laws – which really is true for any adventurous elopement! State and National Parks often have specific rules about where you can photograph and may require permits to protect the land and local culture. Any good elopement photographer will know and understand these rules though, and be able to help you plan beautiful, respectful Kauai Elopement Photography – including applying for permits!
Napali Coast Elopement Photos
The Napali Coast State Wilderness Park is one of Kauai’s iconic backdrops and is one of the locations where it’s important to apply for a permit. This sacred place is home to towering cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and epic views over the Pacific Ocean. There’s only a couple of hikes that you can do on Kauai with a view of the Napali Coast with a proper permit, which is exactly why Stephanie & Alex chose this particular hike!
We started by heading up to the Waimea Canyon – there’s a really cool spot with a waterfall, and then another spot along the side of the road that looks like Mars. It was crazy and so much fun to explore these spots together. Stephanie & Alex were such troopers hiking around in their wedding clothes, especially Stephanie who hiked all day in her wedding dress! After this, we continued on to the Napali Coast hike. It was really important to Stephanie & Alex that their Kauai Wedding Photography be respectful of the land and of the Hawaiian people. Finding a spot where we could get a permit was a big challenge of the day, but safe to say it was worth it! The scenery felt like the set of Jurassic Park and we had a great time, including a much-needed stop for refreshing Hawaiian shaved ice along the way.
It was really an epic day, filled with stunning locations, and I cannot wait for April 2022 when I’ll be heading back to Hawaii to photograph more adventurous elopements. Who knows, perhaps we can even meet each other there?
If you’d like an adventure session or you’re planning your own Intimate Kauai Wedding Photography, then get in touch! I’d love to document your day for you.
Did you love Stephanie & Alex’s epic Kauai elopement, or do you have any questions about how to Elope in Kauai? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!