When it comes to Hawaii weddings which are frequently held outdoors on the beach, in a tropical garden, or even on a boat sailing off beautiful Waikiki and a pair of a beautiful “Hawaiian Wedding Song” made famous by Elvis in the movie “Blue Hawaii” is usually sung at the ceremony. This song had originally been written in Hawaiian by Charles E. King in 1926. It had been given English lyrics by Hoffman and Mannin. Elvis’s version is a dual-language version of both songs. He sang it to his bride at his own wedding.

A wedding feast might include some of these regional favorites: sweet and sour pineapple country ribs, creamy portuguese grits with sauted shrimp, hirame sashimi with ponzu sauce, crabmeat stuffed hirame, moi poke, poached or fried moi with shoyu sauce, vegetable tofu, chicken salad, shrimp, crab cakes, lobster and salmon. 

There are also specific side dishes that people tend to choose for Hawaii weddings to get the flavor of the island. Poi one of the most common side dishes served in Hawaii. Adding island specific foods into Hawaii weddings allows your guests to be able to experience the food of Hawaii as well.

The bride wears a long, white formal version of the muumuu called a ‘holoku.’ Instead of a veil, a woven garland of island flowers, ‘haku lei’, is worn around her head. The groom wears a long sleeve white shirt and white pants. A long red, or colored sash, is worn wrapped about his waist. A lei of maile and ilima flowers adorn his neck.

The customary way to welcome or congratulate someone is to present him or her with a lei, a garland of flowers (or other decorative items) strung together and worn around the neck. Enjoy that once in a lifetime dream of enjoying this big day of your gay wedding Hawaii engagement.