Bid Guests Aloha With A Luau Theme Wedding

If you have a special place in your heart for Hawaii and love the laid back culture and easy going nature of the locals on the islands, then a Luau theme wedding may be the perfect way to celebrate your marriage.

Having a Luau theme wedding is a great atmosphere for a couple who wants to have a casual, untraditional wedding. The following provides some information on how to plan for and decorate for a luau theme wedding.

Luau Attire

One of the best aspects of a Luau theme wedding is the casual attire that it brings. Not only will guests appreciate this, but it's the perfect chance for you to wear something untraditional and comfortable to your wedding.

The bride and groom need not wear hula skirts and bikini tops – after all, it's still a wedding! However, a luau theme wedding still provides the opportunity to dress in more casual attire. For example, instead of a corset-style white silk wedding dress, the bride could simply wear a lightweight white sun dress. Similarly, the groom can dress in a white or eggshell colored linen suit, which is cool, casual and still very hip.

Guests can wear anything from khaki pants and collared shirts (for men) to floral dresses (for women). Although this is a luau theme wedding and guests will know it's casual, it's still a good idea to outlaw jeans and tennis shoes.

How To Eat, Luau Style

A luau theme wedding is a great way to provide a variety of fresh food in a fun and creative way. Start by providing guests with a pupu platter (appetizer tray) of ahi sashimi, kim chee and fresh exotic fruit, such as pineapple, coconut, papaya and mango slices.

To really bring out the luau wedding theme (if your wedding will be held outdoors), roast a Kalua pig in the backyard. For guests who may not eat pork, you can serve luau chicken, which is a type of chicken cooked with spinach in coconut milk and sugar. Additionally, lomi lomi salmon is usually a hit at any luau (and will be at your wedding too!). Lomi lomi salmon is a cold dish made with onions and tomatoes.

For dessert, serve guests a taste of the islands with a guava, pineapple or coconut cake – these cakes are very popular in Hawaii and found at nearly every luau.

To quench the thirst of your guests, serve them ice cold mai tais and pina coladas. The great thing about these drinks is that you can easily prepare them “virgin-style” (without alcohol) for the younger guests.

Entertainment

No luau is complete with hula dancing and grass skirts! Invest in a professional hula dancing group who can perform during cocktail hour or dinner. Play music from the islands to get guests in the luau in the Hawaiian mood.

If you have a large wedding budget and a decent-sized space for your reception, it may also be nice to bring in real sand and a few palm trees to really bring out the luau wedding theme.

Greet each of your guests with fresh floral leis as they enter the reception area. This will provide a nice fragrance to the room as well as follow along nicely with the luau theme.

If you want a relaxed wedding day and one that you can celebrate casually with friends and family, while enjoying the smells, tastes and sounds of the Hawaiian islands, then a luau theme wedding may be the right choice for you.