Hawaiian Wedding Customs

There are many wedding customs that are specific to the Hawaiian islands. One of the most well-known of these is the use of the lei, or Hawaiian flower strands, that are looped around the bride and groom's neck and head. In old Hawaiian custom, maile leis were bound about the hands of the bride and groom to symbolize commitment, and the maile lei is still worn today, usually by the groom. Another way to make your wedding uniquely Hawaiian is to wear the right clothing. For a traditional wedding in Hawaii, the bride usually wears a white holoku (high-necked wedding dress) and the groom wears white pants and a white shirt with a colored sash. If you're looking to add a bit of Hawaii to your reception, the Filipino custom of the money dance (where money is wrapped around, or otherwise affixed to, the bride and groom) is also a tradition worth using.