OAHU ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

An easy five-step guide to help ensure your Oahu Elopement is legal!

Five Easy Steps to Elope Legally in Oahu

Congratulations on choosing to elope on the beautiful island of Oahu! It’s understandable that you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the legal requirements that come with getting married. But don’t worry, I’m here to help guide you through the process in five easy steps!

Step 1: Apply for a Hawaii Marriage License

If you’re planning your elopement in Oahu as a Destination Elopement and you don’t intend on getting married in your local courthouse prior to flying to Hawaii, then follow the easy steps below to apply for your Hawaii Marriage License!

If you are planning to get married in Hawaii, you must first apply for a marriage license through the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Vital Records Office. Keep in mind that both partners must be present to apply and provide valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. Non-U.S. citizens may be required to provide additional documentation, such as a birth certificate or visa.

It is important to note that there is a $65 application fee, which must be paid at the time of submission. Once the application is submitted, you will receive a receipt that you will need to bring with you when you pick up your marriage license. You will have 30 days from the date of submission to pick up your license from an authorized agent. You can apply for your marriage license here!

Step 2: Find an Agent to pick up your Marriage License

In order to pick up your license from an authorized agent, you must make an appointment first! I recommend scheduling your appointment to pick up your license 2-3 days prior to your elopement day! There are authorized agents all over the island so I recommend choosing one in the town you’re staying in. Here is the list of local authorized agents that will be able to help you! Remember you must meet with your agent no more than 30 days prior to your ceremony with your online receipt and photo identification.

Once you have your marriage license, you can proceed with your elopement ceremony. However, it is important to remember that you must have your elopement within a month of receiving the license since it is only valid for 30 days. If you don’t get married within this timeframe, you will need to reapply for a new marriage license.

Step 3: Find an Oahu Officiant/Performer

Once you have your marriage license, you will need to find an officiant to perform the ceremony. This can be a religious or non-religious figure, as long as they are licensed to perform marriages in the state of Hawaii. You can find a list of licensed officiants on the Hawaii Department of Health website here! After the ceremony, your officiant will sign the marriage license and submit it to the Department of Health for processing.

If you would like an Officiant who is not from Hawaii to lead the ceremony of your elopement or allow self-soleminization, your officiant can follow the step to register here and pay the $65 application fee: Your officiant can register here! Note, that it can take up to two weeks for your officiant’s registration to be processed and approved so get it done early!

Step 4: Apply for a Location Permit for your Oahu Elopement

If you’re planning to have a romantic elopement photo shoot in any of the beautiful public areas of Oahu, it’s crucial to obtain a photography location permit. This permit will allow you and your photographer to capture your special moments without any interruptions from the authorities. The permit can be easily obtained through either the Hawaii Film Office or Wiki Permits, both of which are reliable sources. Your photographer should be able to guide you through the process of obtaining the permit and ensure that all the necessary requirements are met. With the permit in hand, you’ll be able to enjoy your photo shoot without any worries and create some beautiful memories that you’ll cherish forever. Your photographer should be able to easily obtain their permit using one of the following links: Hawaii Film Office  or Wiki Permits.

Step 5: Get Married!

YAY!! We’ve arrived at the exciting part where we get to say “I do”! To have a legally recognized marriage in Oahu, all you need to do is have your officiant sign the marriage license after the ceremony. You or your officiant can then mail the license and receive your marriage certificate within six weeks. Alternatively, your officiant can submit it online and receive your certificate within a week!

That’s it!

I hope these five easy steps help you feel more at ease about eloping in Oahu. If you want more helpful tips for your elopement in Oahu, check out my How to Elope in Oahu Resource! If you would like an elopement photographer to guide you and capture your special day, I’m here to help! Please feel free to contact me anytime through my contact form here! I’m always happy to assist you in any way I can!