South Maui Weddings

Sun, Sand, Romance and Some of Maui’s Most Beautiful Coastline

If you’re dreaming about getting married in Maui, South Maui is one of the first areas worth exploring.

Stretching along Maui’s southwestern coast, South Maui encompasses the communities and coastal areas around Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena. The region is known for its beaches, resorts, ocean views and generally sunny, dry coastal environment.  

And the three areas have very different personalities.

Kīhei is relaxed and casual.

Wailea is polished and resort-oriented.

Mākena feels more rugged, open and connected to the natural coastline.

Together, they give couples an enormous range of possibilities for a Maui wedding.

Why Get Married in South Maui?

South Maui is particularly appealing for couples who want a combination of:

• Beautiful beaches

• Oceanfront resorts

• Intimate wedding locations

• Elopement options

• Destination weddings

• Sunset photography

• Restaurants and accommodations

• Easy access to beaches and activities

• Views toward neighboring islands

• A generally sunny coastal environment

The region also gives couples something incredibly useful:

Choice.

You can have a luxury resort wedding in Wailea, a relaxed beach celebration in Kīhei or a more dramatic coastal experience around Mākena.

And all three are part of the same broader South Maui wedding destination.

The Three Faces of South Maui

Wailea Weddings

Wailea is South Maui’s luxury resort community.

Go Hawaiʻi describes Wailea as a 1,500-acre resort community with five crescent-shaped beaches, luxury resorts and extensive ocean views.  

It’s particularly suited to couples imagining:

• Luxury resort weddings

• Elegant destination weddings

• Oceanfront ceremonies

• Large wedding celebrations

• Intimate resort weddings

• Fine dining

• Golf and spa experiences

• Sophisticated wedding photography

Explore our complete [Wailea Weddings] guide.

Kihei Weddings

Kīhei has a much more relaxed personality.

The community runs along South Maui’s coastline and offers a long sequence of beaches, parks, restaurants and vacation accommodations.

Maui County describes the Kīhei coast as a southwest-opening coastline whose beach conditions can change with seasonal swell and wind.  

Popular coastal areas include:

• Kamaʻole Beach Park I

• Kamaʻole Beach Park II

• Kamaʻole Beach Park III

• Charley Young Beach

• Keawakapu Beach

Kamaʻole Beach Park I, for example, has broad sandy shoreline, ocean views, restrooms, showers and lifeguard services.  

Charley Young Beach offers a more intimate beach setting at the northern end of Kamaʻole Beach Park I.  

Explore [Kihei Weddings] for the complete guide.

Makena Weddings

Then South Maui starts feeling wild.

Mākena lies farther south and is known for dramatic beaches, volcanic landscape, open ocean views and a more natural atmosphere.

It’s a particularly interesting choice for couples looking for:

• Elopements

• Small weddings

• Dramatic wedding photography

• Sunset portraits

• Private estates

• Natural scenery

• Less-developed coastal surroundings

South Maui also includes Mākena Beach State Park and the coastline around Mākena. State Parks has specific rules and permitting requirements for weddings and other special uses, so couples should verify the current requirements before planning a ceremony in a State Park.  

Explore [Makena Weddings] for more.

South Maui Beaches for Weddings

South Maui has an enormous variety of beaches.

Some are broad and open.

Some are small and intimate.

Some are backed by resorts.

Others feel much more natural.

A few locations couples may encounter when researching South Maui include:

Kamaʻole Beach

A series of beaches in Kīhei with broad sandy areas, ocean views and sunset scenery.

Keawakapu Beach

Located near the Kīhei–Wailea boundary, Keawakapu has a long stretch of white sand and views toward Kahoʻolawe, Molokini and Lānaʻi.  

Pōʻolenalena Beach

Also known as Chang’s Beach, this South Maui beach offers golden sand, clear water and panoramic views toward the neighboring islands.  

Palauea Beach

Also known as White Rock, Palauea has a quieter character along the South Maui coast between Kīhei and Wailea. Maui County describes it as a peaceful oceanfront destination with golden sand and views toward Kahoʻolawe, Molokini and Lānaʻi.  

Mākena Coast

Farther south, the landscape becomes more dramatic, with larger beaches, lava rock and the slopes of Haleakalā rising behind the coastline.

South Maui Resort Weddings

If you’re planning a larger destination wedding, Wailea is likely to be the part of South Maui you’ll explore first.

The resort environment can make a wedding easier to organize because accommodations, ceremony spaces, restaurants, catering and event services can all be concentrated within the same general area.

That can be particularly useful when you’re bringing guests from:

• California

• The mainland U.S.

• Canada

• Europe

• Asia

• Other Hawaiian islands

Instead of asking everyone to drive all over Maui, you can create a wedding experience around one area.

South Maui Elopements

South Maui is also fantastic for couples who don’t want a traditional large wedding.

An elopement could be as simple as:

Wake up → get dressed → ceremony → photographs → sunset → dinner

That’s the beauty of an intimate Maui wedding.

You don’t necessarily need a reception ballroom, elaborate decorations or 150 chairs.

Sometimes you just need the person you love, a beautiful location and a photographer who knows how to use the light.

Explore [Maui Elopements].

Small & Intimate Weddings in South Maui

South Maui works particularly well for small weddings because couples can choose between different types of environments.

Resort

Elegant and convenient.

Beach

Relaxed and tropical.

Private property

More personal and secluded.

Restaurant

Great for combining the celebration and dinner.

A small wedding might include 6 people.

Or 20.

Or 40.

The important thing is choosing a location that actually works for the number of people attending.

See [Small & Intimate Maui Weddings] for more.

South Maui Destination Weddings

For couples bringing guests to Maui, South Maui can function almost like a wedding village.

Guests can stay nearby.

They can spend the day at the beach.

They can go snorkeling.

They can play golf.

They can explore Wailea.

They can relax by the pool.

Then everyone gets together for the wedding.

Go Hawaiʻi highlights South Maui’s beaches, Wailea resorts, golf, dining and ocean activities as major features of the region.  

That makes it possible to turn a wedding into a multi-day family vacation.

South Maui Wedding Photography

This is one of the biggest advantages of choosing South Maui.

The region provides a huge range of visual environments.

Kīhei

Relaxed beaches and colorful sunsets.

Wailea

Elegant resorts, tropical gardens and polished architecture.

Mākena

Lava rock, dramatic coastline and more natural scenery.

That means your wedding photographs don’t have to look like every other Maui wedding.

A photographer can use the personality of the location to shape the photographs.

For example:

Wailea resort → beach → ocean → sunset

or

Kīhei beach → palms → shoreline → golden hour

or

Mākena coastline → lava rock → ocean → sunset

Explore [Maui Wedding Photography].

South Maui Sunset Weddings

Sunset is one of South Maui’s greatest natural assets.

The southwestern coastline gives couples beautiful evening views across the Pacific, often with neighboring islands visible in the distance.

But sunset photography requires timing.

If the sun sets at 6:20 PM, you don’t want to begin your couple’s portraits at 6:18.

A good wedding photography timeline might be:

4:00 PM — Ceremony

4:30 PM — Family photographs

5:00 PM — Couple’s portraits

5:30 PM — Golden hour

6:00 PM — Sunset

The actual times should always be calculated for your specific wedding date.

What Should You Wear for a South Maui Wedding?

South Maui gives you plenty of flexibility.

For a luxury Wailea wedding, formal attire can look spectacular.

For a Kīhei beach ceremony, lightweight island attire may feel more natural.

For Mākena, relaxed beach clothing can work beautifully with the landscape.

Consider:

• Lightweight fabrics

• Breathable clothing

• Linen

• Comfortable footwear

• Sand-friendly shoes

• Tropical accessories

• Hawaiian leis

And if you’re getting married outdoors, remember:

Maui is warm.

You want to look fantastic.

You also want to remain conscious during the ceremony. 😂

See [Maui Wedding Attire].

South Maui Wedding Flowers

Tropical flowers naturally fit the region.

Couples may choose:

• Orchids

• Anthuriums

• Protea

• Tropical greenery

• Palms

• Hawaiian leis

• Local foliage

Your floral design can also reflect the location.

A sophisticated Wailea wedding might use a more structured floral design.

A beach elopement might need only a bouquet and lei.

A larger destination wedding could incorporate tropical flowers throughout the ceremony and reception.

South Maui Weather

South Maui is known for its relatively sunny, dry coastal conditions, but that doesn’t mean every day is identical.

Maui County notes that Kīhei’s coastline can be affected by seasonal swell, trade winds and other weather patterns, which can change beach conditions.  

For a beach wedding, consider:

• Wind

• Heat

• Ocean conditions

• Cloud cover

• Seasonal rainfall

• Sunset time

• Guest comfort

And don’t forget that conditions can differ between Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena.

For more seasonal planning information, visit [The Best Time for a Maui Wedding].

Do You Need a Permit for a South Maui Wedding?

This is a very important section for the regional page.

The answer depends on the exact location and what you’re doing there.

Hawaiʻi DLNR explains that commercial beach weddings on unencumbered State shorelines can require a Right-of-Entry permit through Wiki Permits. DLNR also makes an important distinction: even when a beach is associated with a county park, the sandy shoreline may still fall under State jurisdiction.  

So:

County park ≠ automatically county-controlled beach.

That’s an easy assumption to make—and one worth explaining clearly on this website.

For State Parks, separate special-use rules apply. Weddings may require a special-use permit, and State Parks says requests should generally be submitted at least 45 days before the requested date. Groups of 26 or more require a group-use permit regardless of the activity.  

For commercial activities, additional approval requirements can sometimes apply, so couples should verify the current rules for their exact location and event.  

Our [Maui Wedding Permits] page goes into the subject in much more detail.

How Much Does a South Maui Wedding Cost?

There isn’t one standard South Maui wedding price.

Your budget can change substantially depending on whether you’re planning:

Elopement

Two people, simple ceremony and photography.

Small Beach Wedding

A handful of guests, ceremony, photography and dinner.

Wailea Resort Wedding

Venue, catering, décor, coordination and reception.

Destination Wedding

Larger guest count with accommodations and multiple wedding events.

Your expenses may include:

• Venue

• Photography

• Officiant

• Flowers

• Wedding attire

• Hair and makeup

• Catering

• Reception

• Entertainment

• Transportation

• Accommodation

• Permits

• Décor

For the broader picture, see [How Much Does a Maui Wedding Cost?]

South Maui Wedding Planning

A great South Maui wedding starts by choosing the right part of South Maui.

Ask yourself:

Do we want luxury?

Look at Wailea.

Do we want relaxed beach vibes?

Look at Kīhei.

Do we want dramatic natural scenery?

Look toward Mākena.

Do we want a large destination wedding?

Explore the Wailea resort area.

Do we want a simple elopement?

Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena can all offer possibilities depending on the location and current permissions.

Then build your wedding around the location.

Not the other way around.

South Maui Wedding Day Example

Here’s an example of how a South Maui wedding could flow:

1:00 PM — Getting ready

2:30 PM — First look

3:00 PM — Couple’s portraits

4:00 PM — Ceremony

4:30 PM — Family photographs

5:00 PM — Wedding party photographs

5:30 PM — Golden hour

6:00 PM — Sunset

6:30 PM — Cocktails

7:00 PM — Dinner

Of course, the actual schedule should be based on the wedding date, location and sunset time.

South Maui vs. West Maui

Since we’re building a full Maui wedding resource, this comparison is useful.

South Maui

Wailea • Kīhei • Mākena

• Sunny, dry coastal environment

• Long stretches of beach

• Luxury resorts

• Relaxed beach communities

• Dramatic southern coastline

• Views toward Molokini, Kahoʻolawe and Lānaʻi

West Maui

Kāʻanapali • Kapalua • Napili

• Major resort destinations

• Dramatic West Maui Mountains

• Beautiful bays

• Long beaches

• Luxury accommodations

• Famous West Maui sunsets

Neither area needs to be reduced to “good beach wedding.”

They offer different experiences.

Why Choose South Maui?

South Maui gives couples something incredibly valuable:

Options.

You can have a sophisticated resort wedding.

A relaxed beach ceremony.

A private intimate celebration.

A simple elopement.

A destination wedding surrounded by family.

Or something completely your own.

And the three major South Maui wedding areas each have their own personality:

Wailea — elegant and luxurious

Kīhei — relaxed and casual

Mākena — natural and dramatic

That’s what makes South Maui such an interesting wedding destination.

Plan Your South Maui Wedding

Start by choosing your corner of South Maui.

Then choose your people.

Then choose your ceremony.

Then let the coastline, mountains, ocean and sunset take care of the rest.

Because sometimes the most beautiful wedding decoration in the world is simply:

the Pacific Ocean behind you.

Explore South Maui Weddings