We are committed to working very closely with you to share in your vision of your perfect Hawaiian wedding celebration. To accomplish these goals, we ask your cooperation in carefully reviewing and observing our ministry policies and procedures below which include important scheduling and fee information.

It is important to contact the ministry as soon as you have chosen your wedding date.

What We Offer:

Personalized, semi-custom marriage or reaffirmation ceremony with Kahu Wendell Kalanikapuaenui Silva or ministry officiant in a setting of your choice on O`ahu.

• Other ceremonies/wedding packages available.
  
• A fully customized Hawaiian ceremony may be arranged and requires advance planning. The fee for customization is negotiable based on your requests.

Excessive parking fees somtimes charged at certain Waikiki Hotels may also be the responsibility of the couple.

Kahu Silva offers several unique non-denominational ceremonies to please couples from around the world. Each is a beautiful blending of authentic ancient and modern island traditions performed according to proper cultural protocol, with the more familiar western or eastern wedding customs. Ceremonies can be further personalized with a choice of several options to satisfy the couple's personal, spiritual, or non-spiritual preferences which may include:

• Ceremonies conducted in English/Hawaiian, English/Japanese or English/Hawaiian/Japanese
  
• Ancient Hawaiian wedding, blessing and lei chants
  
• Presentation of leis honoring parents or special loved ones
  
• Integration of special people into the ceremony
  
• Single or dual lei weaving ceremony with ancient Hawaiian lei chant & blessing
  
• A moment to spontaneously express meaningful sentiments between bride and groom
  
• Integration of meaningful passages from couple's spirituality or other meaningful customs*
  
• A reading by family or friends
  
• Other cultural options also offered at an additional charge ie: conch shell, lion dance, music, etc.

At No Additional Charge:

• A personal consultation with the officiant or ministry representative to review the words and elements of the entire ceremony and to share in your vision. Appointments are based on the availability of the officiant. Please schedule early.
  
• Custom designed and personalized "Flowers of Paradise" keepsake wedding certificate
  
• Administrative processing of the official marriage certificate within 3 business days to state
  
• A matching keepsake of the "Sweet Nature of Aloha" taken from the ceremony.
  
  Long distance phone charges are the responsibility of the couple and will be billed at the conclusion of the wedding.

WEDDING REHEARSALS: Two types of wedding rehearsals are offered to ensure that everyone is comfortable with their roles and expectations.

Informal Wedding Rehearsal: This is suitable for the simple, casual or very intimate wedding with the couple alone or a small wedding party of 2 and held 30 (approx.) minutes immediately prior to the ceremony.

If you intend to observe the the tradition of not seeing each other prior to the ceremony and the officiant is required to meet with you separately.

Due to time constraints, it may be necessary to schedule your consultation together. Please schedule early and allow approximately an hour.

Formal Wedding Rehearsal: This is highly recommended since our Hawaiian ceremonies are unique - not the typical or standard ceremony most people expect and have attended. It is required for a customized ceremony and recommended for the more formal wedding with a larger wedding party and particularly for ceremonies in less conventional sites. This very comprehensive rehearsal includes the orchestration of the procession and recession and more. It is normally held a day prior to the ceremony and is subject to the availability of the minister. Due to time constraints, it may be necessary to schedule your personal consultation with the rehearsal to immediately follow. Please schedule early.

Confirmation Procedures:

• Step 1: Contact the ministry via e-mail: info@hawaiialohaspirit.com since it is often faster to contact us this way or call the ministry between 8am-3pm Hawai`i time to ensure that your date and time are available. If so, we will tentatively reserve your wedding date.
  
• Step 2: Your Most Important First Step to Wonderful Wedding Experience...
  Please complete our Wedding Information Form
  
• The Ministry offers a "first-come-first-served" reservation policy. This means that your wedding date and time are tentatively reserved on the ministry calendar until you have made a 50% deposit. When your deposit is received, the ministry will confirm your date in writing.
  
• The balance for your wedding should to be paid in full on or before the day of the ceremony.
  

Availability: Weddings and other appointments can generally be scheduled any day of the week from 9:30 am until 3 or 4pm.

Accepted Methods of Payment:
Please make your payment to the Wendell Silva Ministries. All payments should be made in US currency only and in the form of a cashier's check, bank check, money order, or traveler's check. Personal checks are accepted pending bank clearance before the confirmation of your date. We regret that we do not accept credit cards.

Refunds: We will gladly refund 100% of your deposit for emergencies and circumstances beyond your control. These are considered on a case-by -case basis, 50% of your deposit will be returned if your cancellation is made following the personal consultation or within 3 days of the wedding.

Ceremonies on the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai
Kahu Silva resides on the island of Oahu but frequently serves as officiant for weddings, blessings, dedications and other ceremonies throughout the islands. Ceremonies requested on neighboring islands, the continental US or any other locations will require additional costs to cover transportation (R/T air fare (prevailing rates at time of reservation), travel time, car rental, and accommodations, if necessary, and related out-of-pocket expenses.

Answers to Your Questions: Please be sure to review our onsite information on obtaining your Hawai`i Marriage License . This large website is very detailed and most of the answers to your questions can be found within it. If after reviewing the site your questions are still unanswered, please e-mail the ministry administrator.