need help with Kauai / HANALEI BAY ceremony and reception ideas...

Silke7374

I've been working with a wedding planner in Kauai for the past couple of months but she just isn't as responsive as I would like her to be....and she can't come up with ideas what kind of restaurants we could have our receptions at... maybe there are none... not sure... our plan was to rent a house in Hanalei Bay with a lawn and ocean view that would sleep 5-7 couples and have everything there... April 16th is our date...what I did not know is, that you have to have permission, they charge you an event fee and with all the fees that we have to pay on top of that (tent etc) our wedding would end up being a +$20K wedding which is exactly what we did not want...I know that having a cermony at the beach, we can't have chairs and things like that - which would be fine.... but does anyone have experience, ideas or recommendations for a restaurant we could have the reception at?I'm getting desperate and really, really nervous...

lmydogally

I'm having my reception at Plantation Gardens but it's only about 20 people.  Not sure if that's any help.  I choose them because of great reviews, and they have been great to work with.

carrieoz_76

Go to yelp.com then search for a restaurant in princeville, HI (or Kapaa or Lihue - you may need to expand your search) then sort by highest rated. I don't know how/if these restaurants can all accomodate a reception dinner, but I'm sure some can. Bali Hai [url]http://www.yelp.com/biz/bali-hai-restaurant-princeville[/url] Cafe Hanalei [url]http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-hanalei-hanalei[/url] Also, search through the knottie bio list here for brides who got married on Kauai and see where they did their reception dinners. [url]http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/default.aspx?UserName=HawaiiBrides&m=1[/url]

BoBride28

If you aren't having too many guests and your ceremony isn't long, possibly everyone can stand during your reception at the beach. Then you can go to Bar Acuda in Hanalei for your reception dinner. I loved the food there when I was in Kauai. You can also look into the Hanalei Colony Resort (maybe that is where you are looking already?) to have your ceremony and reception. Good luck!

pueo

I did some research on Hanalei myself, but I think our wedding will be too big and the wrong season for such a small town. Here are my suggestions: For just a restaurant, Bar Acuda is supposed to have good food. You can have private parties on the lanai: http://www.restaurantbaracuda.com/parties.html Or maybe the restaurant at the new St. Regis Princeville? Past Hanalei town in Haena is the Hanalei Colony Resort. Their restaurant offers mediterranean food. They also offer beach ceremonies and condos with kitchens. Maybe instead of a house you can all stay there and do everything in one spot as you hoped. I know that they offer group rates on the condos. http://www.hcr.com/mediterranean_gourmet/restaurant.html A beautiful beachfront home is the Hanalei Faye Estate. The house sleeps 16 and cottage behind it sleeps 3. There is a large lawn where you can hold events but only if there are less than 35 people. Since Hanalei is a residential community, the options for weddings are limited. http://hanalei-house.com/hanalei-faye-estate.php They are managed by the same people who manage the Waimea Plantation Cottages. If you are willing to go to the other side of Kauai, you might want to check those out as well for an all-in-one-place experience by the beach. http://www.waimea-plantation.com/ Hope that helps!

pueo

I believe the Bali Hai restaurant is still closed with no expected date to re-open.

giggler55

I second the Plantation Garden idea, I'm having my reception there 8/15/10.  Mona has been great to work with there, very responsive and informative.   They can accomodate a larger group (or smaller, I just happen to have a larger one), we have a the South Lanai reserved, their website says that will hold 60 people.

fia214

I just came back from Kauai and for a post wedding dinner I would say Bar Acuda. Just remember that it is tapas and wine.I absolutely loved it!Also I noticed The Dolphin had a little private dining room near thee Lanai. Postcards is pretty inside as well.

Lisa&Don909

We had our wedding at Hanalei Bay Resort up on the Bluff that overlooks Hanalei Bay. It was such a beautiful view. We didn't have any chairs because we only had 6 people. But the you can rent them. You can also have the ceremony down on the St Regis beach. You definately can't have chairs or decorations down there though.The coordinator there will recommend you go to Bar Acuda for dinner . Her husband is the chef there. We had our dinner at The Westin, which is just down the road from Hanalei Bay Resort. The food was great. Their Rosemary bread and garlic butter, Sooo yummy! They were very nice and helpful. When I was planning to have more people they were going to set up a separate location outside for us for like $250. Which included all tables ,a bar, and even flowers scattered on the tables. The resort is very pretty. I would recommend them.I hope that helps. If you need anything else, please let me know. GL

fia214

FYI- I just came from the St. Regis beacha week ago and did not like how it was set up right now. Looks like they are still doing lots of work. They had tractors on there beach front. They have chairs right on the beach to enjoy cocktails and the whole time we were there these forklifts and tractors were doing work.It was a little annoying. The Westin in Princeville is where we stayed for our Honeymoon and the grounds are gorgeous! I did not eat there once, so I can not comment on food. Looked and smelled great.

onc25027

Your post could have been written by me! I went through the exact same thing a month ago.  I didn't realize that if you rent a property you have to pay all these extra fees for a reception either.  Check out Kalihiwai Oceanview estates.  It's not in Hanalei, but close.  It is 2 houses with guest cottages on a huge estate.  THey allow receptions, or they did at one point.  I am renting these properties for my wedding in Feb 2010.  I also am struggling with where to have a reception as I decided against having it on the property because I didn't want to deal with finding tables, tents, etc.  YOu can do a buyout of the Happy Talk Lounge at Hanalei Bay resort for 5k.  I've heard the views are very pretty.  Someone else suggested the Hanalei Colony Resort, but after reading a review on Trip Advisor, i ruled that one out.  And of course, the St. Regis.  It's beautiful, but so expensive and the wedding coordinator is always on vacation I swear.  Can I ask what coordinator you are using?  Don't stress though - there are options- you just have to do a LOT of research.  Please let me know what your thoughts are.