Planning Guide

How Much Does a Maui Wedding Cost? (2026 Breakdown)

Maui weddings can range from $3,000 to $150,000+ depending on guest count, venue, and choices. Here's an honest, category-by-category breakdown with real price ranges from local vendors.

Updated April 2026 · 12 min read

1. What's the Average Maui Wedding Cost?

The average destination wedding in Hawaii runs between $25,000 and $45,000 for a mid-size celebration of 50–80 guests. But that number hides a huge range — elopements can be done beautifully for under $5,000, while full resort weddings regularly exceed $100,000.

The single biggest driver of cost is guest count. More guests means more catering, more seating, more florals, more invitations, and often a larger venue. Every person you add to the guest list adds roughly $200–$400 to your total budget.

The second biggest driver is venue type. A public beach permit costs $100. A private resort venue with food and beverage minimums can start at $20,000 before you've paid a single vendor.

$3K–$8K
Elopement (2–10 guests)
$25K–$50K
Mid-size (30–80 guests)
$75K–$150K+
Large wedding (100+ guests)

2. Venue Costs

Venue is often the first and largest line item in a Maui wedding budget.

Public Beach (County Permit)

$50–$100

Most Maui beaches are public land. A county permit is all you need to hold a ceremony. Your wedding planner typically handles this. The beach itself is free — you're just paying for the permit.

Private Estate or Garden

$2,000–$15,000

Private venue rentals for weddings on Maui vary widely. Smaller gardens or residential estates start around $2,000–$5,000. Larger private estates with multiple acres and amenities run $8,000–$15,000+ for the day.

Resort Venue (Ceremony + Reception)

$10,000–$50,000+

Resorts in Wailea and Kaanapali typically charge a venue fee plus a food and beverage minimum. The F&B minimum alone at top-tier properties can run $15,000–$30,000. You get full infrastructure in return: tables, linens, AV, a dedicated coordinator, and on-property accommodations for guests.

3. Photography & Videography

Photography is the one vendor category where couples most often say they wish they'd spent more. Your photos and video are what you'll have for the rest of your life.

Service Budget Premium
Elopement photography (2–3 hrs)$1,500$4,000
Full wedding photography (8 hrs)$3,500$8,000+
Second shooter$500$1,200
Videography (highlight film)$2,500$6,000+
Drone footage (add-on)$300$800

Browse Maui wedding photographers and videographers in our directory.

4. Catering & Bar

Food and beverage is typically the second-largest expense for weddings with 30+ guests. Prices per head on Maui reflect the cost of everything being island-shipped.

Style Per Person Notes
Heavy appetizers / cocktail$60–$90No formal dinner
Buffet dinner$80–$120Most popular for mid-size weddings
Plated dinner (2–3 courses)$120–$200Formal sit-down service
Open bar (5 hrs)$40–$80Beer, wine, spirits
Service staff + rentals$20–$40Tables, linens, servers

For a 60-guest wedding with buffet dinner and open bar, budget roughly $10,000–$16,000 for food and beverage. Resort F&B minimums are typically higher than independent caterers.

Browse Maui wedding caterers.

5. Flowers & Décor

Maui's natural environment is a décor advantage — you don't need much to make a beach ceremony look stunning. But for receptions, florals can add up quickly.

Item Price Range
Bridal bouquet$200–$500
Bridesmaid bouquets (each)$80–$150
Boutonniere$40–$80
Ceremony arch / floral$400–$2,000
Table centerpieces (each)$150–$400
Full florals (50-person wedding)$3,000–$8,000

Tropical flowers — orchids, protea, anthuriums, bird of paradise — are locally grown and relatively affordable on Maui compared to the mainland. Roses and peonies are imported and cost more.

Browse Maui wedding florists.

6. All Other Vendor Costs

Vendor Typical Range
Wedding Planner$2,000–$6,000
Officiant$400–$800
Hair & Makeup (bride)$400–$700
Hair & Makeup (each additional)$150–$300
DJ (4–6 hrs)$1,000–$2,000
Live musicians (ceremony)$600–$2,000
Wedding cake$500–$2,000
Transportation$400–$1,500
Invitations & stationery$200–$800
Vendor tips (15–20%)$500–$2,000
Marriage license$65

7. Cost by Wedding Size

Elopement (2–10 guests)

$3,000 – $8,000

Officiant + photographer + hair/makeup + bouquet + beach permit. No catering, no venue fee. Can be done in 30 days with the right vendors.

Intimate Wedding (10–30 guests)

$12,000 – $25,000

Beach permit or small venue + photographer + caterer (light bites or dinner) + officiant + florist + hair/makeup. Often the sweet spot for couples who want some guests but not a full production.

Mid-Size Wedding (30–80 guests)

$25,000 – $55,000

Full vendor suite + estate or resort ceremony space + catering + bar + florals. Most Maui weddings fall in this range. Hiring a planner is strongly recommended here.

Large Wedding (80–200 guests)

$60,000 – $150,000+

Resort venue with F&B minimums, full vendor team, transportation, florals, entertainment. At this size, every additional guest adds $300–$500 to the total.

8. How to Save Money on a Maui Wedding

Get married on a weekday. Friday and Sunday weddings cost 10–20% less than Saturday. Tuesday–Thursday can save even more.
Choose shoulder season. September–November and January–March (excluding holidays) have lower vendor rates and better venue availability.
Use a public beach instead of a resort. A $100 county permit instead of a $15,000 resort venue saves you more than almost any other single decision.
Cut the guest list. Every person you remove saves $300–$500 in catering, seating, and logistics. Going from 80 to 50 guests can save $10,000+.
Lean into tropical flowers. Local orchids, protea, and anthuriums cost a fraction of imported roses. A skilled Maui florist can create stunning arrangements that feel authentically Hawaiian for less.
Skip the wedding cake. Many Maui caterers offer dessert bars with local shave ice, Hawaiian cookies, and fresh fruit — unique, delicious, and cheaper than a multi-tier cake.
Book early. Top vendors charge surge pricing when they're nearly booked. Booking 12+ months out often locks in better rates and better availability.

Find Vendors That Fit Your Budget

Browse 47+ Maui wedding vendors across every category, with price ranges listed on each profile.