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Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Event Coordination
Guest Management
Understanding the Couple's Vision
Stress-free planning

About

Makena Weddings is a husband-and-wife wedding planning team based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Laurie and Al, the couple behind the business, have been married for over 30 years. This lovebird duo has helped couples from all over the world plan their big day. Laurie can tend to every detail of your wedding. Meanwhile, Al - an ordained minister -can unite you and your partner in a simple, touching ceremony on your wedding day. This dynamic twosome, with their years of experience, has a passion for bringing their clients' wedding visions to fruition.

Services Offered

When you choose Laurie and Al of Makena Weddings, you will receive access to their years of expertise and knowledge. In addition to this valuable advice, you will be able to avail of supplementary services. These essential planning tools and services include the following:

  • Budget analysis
  • Day-of coordination
  • Event design
  • Full planning
  • Guestlist creation
  • Partial planning
  • Timelines

Other Services

In addition to wedding planning, Makena Weddings offers many á la carte services. Laurie and Al have connections with a number of florists throughout the island of Hawaii. These preferred vendors can supply couples with beautiful leis, bouquets, centerpieces, and more. This team can also help couples to organize the following wedding services:

  • Musicians
  • Sound rentals
  • Videographers
  • Ceremony rentals
  • Cake
  • Hair and makeup
  • Transportation services
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Frequently asked questions

What is the starting price for day-of wedding coordination?

$2,350

Do you offer an hourly rate?

No

What wedding events do you provide services for?

Ceremony
Reception
Rehearsal Dinner

What wedding planning services do you offer?

Day-of Coordination
Full Planning
Partial Planning

What weddings do you have experience planning?

Destination
Non-Religious
Religious

How many planners are on your team?

2
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Any other questions?

Message vendor
4.9 out of 5 rating
146 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
96% Recommended by couples
M
Melanie G. Sent on 05/30/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Dream Wedding

I can not say enough good things about Cindy and Laurie. They made the entire wedding planning process so smooth and created our dream wedding. Everything was beyond perfect and we got so many compliments on our wedding and multiple people saying it was the best wedding they had ever been to. We had a very small wedding at the Kukahiko Estate (the prettiest venue I have ever seen) and finished with an amazing dinner at Gannon’s (best dessert I have ever had). Our officiant, Al, was also amazing, the ceremony was absolutely perfect and everyone loved him. I would definitely recommend Makena to anyone!
K
Klarisa R. Sent on 04/29/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Dream Wedding at Olowalu Plantation House

We had our absolute DREAM wedding at Olowalu Plantation House, and in large part thanks to Makena Weddings and working with Cindy throughout the planning process and day of. She always comforted me and reminded me they are there to make it "stress free". From my initial inquiry with Makena Weddings I knew it was a perfect fit with me as they provided some sample excel sheets with preliminary budgets from venues I was interested in (I love excel sheets for planning!). From there everything came together so seamlessly, especially planning from California. On wedding day, I felt stress free and was absolutely stunned how everything exceeded our expectations. The venue looked amazing and included all the special details and touches I requested from my pinterest inspiration and even MORE! Thanks to Laurie for getting me prepped and ready for my walk down the aisle with my dad and special thanks to Al for his very special ceremony. The whole day was amazing and magical! Thank you Makena Weddings for everything!!!
I
Isabelle G. Sent on 04/30/2020
5 out of 5 rating

The best!

Where do we begin… Cindy and Laurie made our wedding more than anything we could’ve ever dreamed of. We got married February 2020 at Maria Lanakila Catholic Church and had the reception at Olowalu Plantation. Throughout the year leading up to our wedding we were mostly in contact with Cindy and she made the process of finding the perfect vendors within our budget simple. I voiced to her multiple times that I felt like I wasn’t “stressed” enough because she was handling the details and making it so easy for me. We were pretty much hands off with the majority of the wedding planning and trusted both Cindy and Laurie as well as the vendors to use their creative talents …… they blew our expectations out of the water. Our wedding was a fairytale and they handled every tiny detail so we could enjoy our day and soak up every special moment without having to worry. Laurie had my back during the rehearsal when I wanted the ceremony to flow differently than normally done at the church and ensured it would work out how I wanted.

The vendors they work with are exceptional.. Marvin Tevaga & hula dancers, Angela Nelson Photography, Aloha Bars, and Café O Lei catering. The star of the reception were the floral arrangements. We worked with Dellables and gave her a look we were hoping for and let her take it away with designing the floral arrangements and bouquets however she wanted. It was like we walked into a floral jungle and our guests still to this day cannot stop raving about how breathtaking it was. Pictures just do not do justice to how well the entire reception was executed. She also made personalized bouquets for my sisters/bridesmaids based on their individual dresses.

Our day was absolutely perfect from start to finish (even complete with whales jumping off shore and rainbows!). Laurie and Cindy are truly the best at what they do. Trust me, these two will make your dreams for your wedding turn into reality!!
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Awards

146
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Real Weddings

Jerin & Valerie
18 photos · 09/21/2016

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