Romantic Charcuterie Picnic Elopement With Views of Koko Crater, HI

Ava and Dawson wanted to have an intimate and intentional day that was truly theirs. They decided to plan a Koko Head elopement with a romantic charcuterie board picnic. Check out the details of their adventure below!

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About This Charcuterie Elopement Near Koko Head

We love how simple these two kept their elopement adventure in gorgeous Oahu. This elopement is the perfect example of how relaxing and romantic your wedding day can be, even if you don’t have a ton of vendors involved! These two simply brought along a charcuterie picnic with them and plenty of snuggles in between their time admiring the view near Koko Head.

“I mean, the scenery! You can’t beat the location; it was absolutely stunning. I also can’t help but laugh about both of them forgetting proper shoes and wearing slides the entire hike. They were total troopers about it.” [Lauren, the photographer]

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Permit Information for an Oahu Elopement

“You’ll have to obtain a permit through the state for anything that isn’t solely for personal use. The photographer will have to apply for a film permit as well as a special use permit for state parks. You can get permits from the Department of Land and Natural Resources or through the Hawaii Film Office, depending on location.

Its’ so important to always practice the 7 Leave No Trace principles. This helps to preserve and protect what we love so much about these locations. Take what you came with and don’t leave with anything you didn’t. As tempting as it may be to take a souvenir from your adventure, leave natures treasures where they belong. The biggest thing for me is leaving wildlife alone. Respect the land and wildlife so that it can be enjoyed by many more generations to come.” [Lauren, the photographer]

Top Elopement Tips For This Location

“A major thing to remember is to bring sunscreen (reef safe!!), water – lots of water, and bug spray. Hiking out to that perfect spot to say your i-dos can take some time and you want to prepare as best you can. Pack light – less is more in this case. Always respect the land that you’re on.” [Lauren, the photographer]

Planning Process During This Elopement

“We wanted to keep everything fairly simple so the planning process was pretty easy. We knew what location we wanted because it was a special place for Dawson growing up. Finding the perfect photographer was the most time-consuming part. We wanted someone that would be able to document our day the way that it happened and capture who we truly are as a couple. Our photographer was super helpful in assisting in the planning and making the day go smoothly.

Dawson and I live on Oahu, so lodging and travel weren’t a factor. Our biggest expense was our photographer. In my opinion, this was a super important piece; finding someone to document our day the way that we want to look back on it. Lauren didn’t include any extra travel fees in her photography package so that was also a plus. I did my own hair and makeup and put together my bouquet with flowers bought from a local grocery store.” [The Couple]

Photographer – $6000

Wedding attire – $400

Flowers – $25

Snacks and champagne – $50

Total ~ $6,475

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Memorable Moments During This Elopement

From the photographer:

“Just watching the way that they interacted with each other and the way that Dawson looked at Ava was so special; it’s like he never wanted to take his eyes off her. They were so naturally romantic and photogenic, a dream for a photographer.”

From the couple:

“The best part was getting to our location and being able to sit and enjoy our picnic together while taking in the incredible view of Koko Head.”

Final Words of Advice

“Do whatever makes you happy and be present. Really take time to think about what’s important to you and your partner and what you want to get out of your wedding day. Don’t sell yourself short because you’re not having a traditional wedding. It’s still your day and you deserve for it to be special and meaningful. Also, I can’t stress enough to pack light if you plan on hiking to your location. This is going to make your day that much more enjoyable. Only bring the things that are important for the ceremony. Keep it simple.” [Lauren, the photographer]

Photos From This Elopement