lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2006
- Messages
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Ceremony Venues
When we first started planning, there were numerous wedding venues around Aulani that I was planning to document here. Then they realized they had to overhaul a bunch of stuff at the resort to meet guests needs, and suddenly almost half these venues were wiped out.
The biggest shocker is that Makaloa Gardenthe lawn with the gorgeous ocean view seen in all of Disneys Fairy Tale Weddings promotional materials and the site of the Dream Wedding they staged live on an episode of Live with Kellyis now a dirt patch, on its way to being consumed by the pool area expansion. This means that there are now no private venues with an ocean view, which is almost incomprehensible to me. I mean, whos going to go all the way to Hawaii to get married and not do it someplace with an ocean view? (I dunno, maybe locals are less cracked on the idea than we are.)
When the dust clears, there will be five ceremony venues left: two for Memories events and three for Wishes. Two of those are directly on the public beach, where theyll rope off a little area between the sunbathers; one is yards away from the diners at AMA AMA Restaurant; one is at the Jacuzzi in the main pool area; and one is on the lawn overlooked by the rooms of the Ewa tower. If youre hoping for absolute privacy, Aulani is not the place for you.
In addition to the Memories venues, Ill put in photos of the Wishes venues just so you can see all the options.
Memories Collection Venues
Alohi Point (a.k.a., The Jacuzzi)
I actually think Memories brides get the better deal here with access to Alohi Point because it is reasonably private, unlike either of the Wishes venues with ocean views. Initially I had nightmares of kids in water wings streaking between us as we tried to say our vows, while behind us lifeguards led guests in Pool Bingo as YMCA blared from the speakers. But if you can do your ceremony early enough in the morning (the official time is 9am, but we requested 8am), there really isnt anyone around, and of course they rope off the Jacuzzi area for you. We ended up having only one onlooker, a nosy lady who parked herself at the bottom of the stairs next to our photographers. Patrick didnt even notice her.
Deck area, where the ukulele player and officiant stand
Looking back at the pool area behind Alohi Point
Looking back at Alohi Point from the Beach
© Disney
© Disney
Memories Beach Location
I dont know what theyre going to call this one when its ready, or why its different from the beach location for the Wishes Collection, which is just a few yards away. Both are spots on a public beach that Disney will clear for you, but Id recommend doing an early-morning ceremony if you dont want a bunch of tourists in Speedos beached on either side of you.
You stand on the sand somewhere around here...
Looking back down the beach and the path that takes you to Aulani
...And thats it for Memories Collection ceremony locations.
When we first started planning, there were numerous wedding venues around Aulani that I was planning to document here. Then they realized they had to overhaul a bunch of stuff at the resort to meet guests needs, and suddenly almost half these venues were wiped out.
The biggest shocker is that Makaloa Gardenthe lawn with the gorgeous ocean view seen in all of Disneys Fairy Tale Weddings promotional materials and the site of the Dream Wedding they staged live on an episode of Live with Kellyis now a dirt patch, on its way to being consumed by the pool area expansion. This means that there are now no private venues with an ocean view, which is almost incomprehensible to me. I mean, whos going to go all the way to Hawaii to get married and not do it someplace with an ocean view? (I dunno, maybe locals are less cracked on the idea than we are.)
When the dust clears, there will be five ceremony venues left: two for Memories events and three for Wishes. Two of those are directly on the public beach, where theyll rope off a little area between the sunbathers; one is yards away from the diners at AMA AMA Restaurant; one is at the Jacuzzi in the main pool area; and one is on the lawn overlooked by the rooms of the Ewa tower. If youre hoping for absolute privacy, Aulani is not the place for you.
In addition to the Memories venues, Ill put in photos of the Wishes venues just so you can see all the options.
Memories Collection Venues
Alohi Point (a.k.a., The Jacuzzi)
I actually think Memories brides get the better deal here with access to Alohi Point because it is reasonably private, unlike either of the Wishes venues with ocean views. Initially I had nightmares of kids in water wings streaking between us as we tried to say our vows, while behind us lifeguards led guests in Pool Bingo as YMCA blared from the speakers. But if you can do your ceremony early enough in the morning (the official time is 9am, but we requested 8am), there really isnt anyone around, and of course they rope off the Jacuzzi area for you. We ended up having only one onlooker, a nosy lady who parked herself at the bottom of the stairs next to our photographers. Patrick didnt even notice her.
Deck area, where the ukulele player and officiant stand
Looking back at the pool area behind Alohi Point
Looking back at Alohi Point from the Beach
© Disney
© Disney
Memories Beach Location
I dont know what theyre going to call this one when its ready, or why its different from the beach location for the Wishes Collection, which is just a few yards away. Both are spots on a public beach that Disney will clear for you, but Id recommend doing an early-morning ceremony if you dont want a bunch of tourists in Speedos beached on either side of you.
You stand on the sand somewhere around here...
Looking back down the beach and the path that takes you to Aulani
...And thats it for Memories Collection ceremony locations.
