Your Own Personal Luau: Hawaiian Wedding Decoration Ideas

Having a Hawaiian theme wedding is the perfect idea for anyone who wants a casual, relaxed and easygoing wedding day. The following will discuss some Hawaiian wedding decoration ideas that you can use to spark up your Hawaiian themed wedding and make guests believe they've been transported to the “Big Island” for your celebration.

Eating The Hawaiian Way

Not all wedding decorations are created just to look at. Since food and drink play such a large role in wedding celebrations, they should also be considered part of the decor.

Begin by decorating the food tables Hawaiian style. Lay out rows of Hawaiian inspired flowers, such as orchids and anthuriums next to large trays of exotic, tropical fruit, like papaya and pineapple. The fruit will not only be reminiscent of Hawaii, but their colors will serve as a great Hawaiian wedding decoration.

Use the shells of melon and coconuts for bowls and put different nibblers in them, to create more of the tropical feeling on the tables.

Since Hawaiian cuisine includes lots of fresh fish, usually caught locally in the islands, be sure to include some fresh fish on your tables. Not only will be fish be tasty for the guests, but it will also serve as part of the Hawaiian wedding decoration theme.

Hawaiian Decor

In addition to the food that you put out for your guests, you also want to make sure that your reception area is filled with colorful, visually stimulating Hawaiian wedding decorations to really give meaning to your Hawaiian wedding theme.

Obtain several Bird of Paradise flowers (very typical in Hawaii) and place them around the reception area. These flowers grow everywhere in Hawaii and they are large, colorful and make great decorations! Additionally, if your wedding is outside, you can insert fire/flame torches along the exterior of the reception areas. These are often used in outdoor Hawaiian celebrations and parties and will add some nice lighting to your party.

Hawaiian culture also uses the lei as a way to greet guests or provide celebration on a special day. Purchase leis for all of your guests and have someone greet them at the door to the reception and provide each person with one to wear for the duration of the party. It's possible to order fresh Hawaiian flower leis, but if you're on a budget, you may also opt for pooka shell leis or artificial flower-leis, both of which are cheaper than the real thing.

No Hawaiian wedding decoration would be complete without the palm tree, the sun and the surf. All are typical of Hawaii and therefore, a bit of each is needed to make your Hawaiian decorating complete.

Place a small amount of sand (either in a bucket or a nicely colored dish) in the middle of each of your tables. Stick a miniature palm tree (either artificial or a small plant that resembles a palm) in the center and add a few shells. Not only is this a very Hawaiian wedding decoration, it's simple and relatively inexpensive to make.

Hawaiian Entertainment

Another original Hawaiian wedding decoration that is sure to be a crowd pleaser is a hula dancer. Nearly all Hawaiian celebrations have hula dancers that provide entertainment, and it's a great aspect of a Hawaiian themed wedding too.

In addition to the hula dancer, you can play traditional Hawaiian music in the background or even a hire a Hawaiian musical group to make it more authentic.

These Hawaiian wedding decorating ideas are a great way to add personality to your wedding. Whether you are from Hawaii or just want your guests to experience the laid-back, casual and easygoing culture that Hawaii represents, they are guaranteed to have a great time on your special day.