Sugarman's or Olowalu

kanvis

Hey ladies,
     I know this has been asked before but please share your thought. Also, how do they compare budget wise? thanks knotties

tiggy5555

I'm an Olowalu bride and yes it's expensive   We opted for a long engagement to help save up for our day. We do not want any debt from our wedding so our engagement is just over 18mos. It goes by fast!!! I'm just under a year now!

Budget really depends on each bride. Do you want canopies, the best lighting package, gourmet meals, open bar all night, full day video and photography, etc. Those are the items that cost a lot of money. Most estates offer short day packages where you cut things off at sunset. You can save a lot by going that route. Also weekends cost a lot more that weekdays. Both places offer simular amenties but it's really up to you on how much everything ends up costing based on all the must-haves. If you have over 50 guests at Olowalu you must have a coordinator. Thats another cost to consider.
 
I'd sit down and make a list of what you have to have and go from there. Call vendors and get pricing. Lighting packages range from $625-$1100++, catering is a lot, rentals, etc. I think an older post had a bunch of totals and most girls were paying around $16,000-$20,000 for the typical wedding day stuff (ranging from 30-100 guests). I don't belive that included honeymoon, rings, or dress for a lot of them. Hope that helps!

lyssalou89

When I first started my planning process I was determined that I would either get married at Gannon's or Sugarman's, just because our family tends to stay in the south side of Maui, and it is what I'm most familiar with. However, during our scouting trip this July I visited all three venues and Olowalu captured our hearts!

When visiting Sugarman's we learned that is was a little harder to find (with a narrow road) with not much parking, therefore it seems like Sugarman's would be best if you are going to have shuttles which would be of added cost. Olowalu was a little easier with what seemed plentiful parking (at least enough for my guests), which means you can deduct a guest shuttle to fit your budget.

Sugarman's was beautiful, but it seemed like the lawn was too expensive for my number of guests. I didn't ask whether it is common to have a reception dinner without tents, but considering I'm likely only having four white tables- I feel like it would have looked empty without them. My coordinator told me that at Olowalu tents aren't really necessary (unless you want them for the look) because they can easily string lights from the banyan trees. However, we may still have backup tents in case it showers, but those are of lower costs. Therefore, at least for me, Olowalu also deducted the prices of tents.

Lastly, Olowalu has a "built in dance floor" which my planner told me would have been worth a grand or so to rent at Sugarman's, which for me, deducted another cost. Sugarman's, as I have read, will only allow you to book through a planner, which you made need to consider.

One more thing that we had to consider was at Sugarman's, the lawn was very expansive and there were a few short stairs to get to the bathroom. However, we have a few close family members who have limited walking capabilities and therefore, we felt like it would be difficult for them to get around on their wheelchairs or canes. At Olowalu however, the bathrooms and parking were only a short walk from the reception area and the bathrooms had a ramp leading to them.

I think Sugarman's had also a slightly higher rental fee for the night, so when considering all these things, Olowalu was best for us.

Here are my scouting pics I took at Sugarman's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67085850@N02/

Here are my scouting pics from Olowalu:
http://s1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa412/missalyssa89/Scouting%20Olowalu%20Estate/

motoLyn

I think cost wise between the two venues isn't terribly different.  So with that I think it is more of what ambiance each venue offers you and what you want to go with.  AKwinterbride and Kaesha got married at Olowalu and Tanq had her wedding at Sugarman's.  I'm sure other wills chime in.  I went with Olowalu over Sugarman's because a friend of mine was married there last year and she spoke highly of it. 

Tiggy in her response covered the basic costs that you will have to think about.  I have less than 50 people attending, and keeping the wedding simple.  What don't you tell us more about what you envision so that we can help you better. 

Welcome to the board, you'll find lots of helpful ladies here.

dianalynm

I agree with Tiggy about everything she said about Olowalu. You do need a coordinator for 50+ guests, but you'll only need a day-of coordinator not a full-on wedding planner. 

Like Tiggy and Lyssa, I am also an Olowalu bride. This was mainly determined by the fact that most of my family stay in West Maui. Unlike Lyssa, we didn't check out the other venues just because proximity was a huge factor for us. We went to Olowalu and fell in love with it! Even my FI was convinced. 

If you do your research, you can definitely have a budget-conscious wedding at either venues, but keep in mind that you must bring EVERYTHING in. I knew that from the beginning, but it didn't really hit me until my WC brought up this and that, so just keep that in mind. Tiggy did mention things like lighting, catering, and rentals. You can also do your best to research videographers and photographers who will fit in your budget.

My FI and I also have a long engagement (since July 2011, wedding in Dec 2012), so at least we won't be in debt for our wedding (or so I hope). 

Hope that helps and happy planning!

Tanq&Tonic

Ok, let me see if I can chime in with a few more points:

- Definitely consider where you and your guests want to stay.  It takes about an hour to get to Sugarman from Kaanapali on some curvy roads.  I would recommend shuttles if you wanted to stay in West Maui but get married in South.

- Consider your guest list size and number of cars.  As PPs mentioned, Sugarman's parking lot is pretty small.  It can fit 10-12 cars max.  There is street parking, but it is not advised due to some vandalism problems in the past.  Olowalu's parking lot can fit TONS of cars.

- The houses are also quite different.  I think the house at Olowalu is much cuter / quainter / prettier for getting ready.  Olowalu also has a giant porch where you can seat up to 30 for dinner as a backup plan if there is weather.  Sugarman's house is really nothing special, and no backup space so you would require a tent.  Sugarman does have AC, I think.  Something to consider if you want to get dressed on site, versus at your hotel.

- Both venues have kitchens that are catering friendly.

-  The feel of the properties is very different.  Olowalu is beautiful, and somehow more "Hawaiian" and cozy to me.  Sugarman is a really big, grand lawn, but I agree with lyssa, probably a bit empty for a smaller affair. 

- I love the giant tree on the Olowalu property.

- Sugarman is slightly more secluded.  Olowalu is adjacent to a popular public beach area.  However, I haven't heard of any brides having issues here.

- Olowalu is more expensive than Sugarman for peak hours -- Fri, Sat, Sun all day events.  However, Olowalu also offers more flexible pricing options for week days, early birds, etc.  Rates:
http://www.olowaluplantationhouse.com/rates.aspx
http://mauiisland.com/galleryHonua/honua.html

- Rentals for tents / catering / entertainment will cost you the same at either venue.  Some vendors will charge $25 or $50 difference in the delivery fee on your part of the island, but it varies from store to store.

- Sugarman used to require renting of port-a-potties but have since finished construction on guest bathrooms in the parking lot.

It really comes down to what fits your event best.  I chose Sugarman & would make the same choice a hundred times over.  However, it's also pretty clear to me why Olowalu is hands down the most popular venue on this board -- because it's amazing too!

AKWinterBride

Hi!

I had to choose between Sugarman's and Olowalu as well and was leaning towards Sugarman's because we always stay in Kihei.  I ended up choosing Olowalu and I could not have been happier! 

First, I love the setting.  The house is beautiful, the lawns are beautiful, everything is just perfect.  It felt Hawaiian and was just amazing. 

Second, port a potties.  I was soooo adamently against having my wedding guests have to use a port a potty, Sugarman's was instantly out.  Add to that no parking (and buses are expensive) and the Miami Vice-esque feeling of the house at Sugarman's and I no  longer had any interest in using the property.  The grounds are beautiful (check out JackCody's bio) and all, but the port a potty just totally turned me off.  

Something to think about though is the drive regardless of where you pick.   At first I was worried about serving alcohol and then having people drive, but everyone was well aware and planned accordingly and it was not a problem at all.  If you have a large group of rowdy friends make sure they are aware that they will have to arrange for transportation as you don't want anyone driving drunk but since we mainly had older family members it was no big deal. 

Good luck, either way you can't go wrong!!

kanvis

OMG thank you guys so much. I want something small and intimate and vintage Hawaiian, so from the pics I'm think Olowalu. My fiance is concerned that if we have a destination wedding and have to pick vendors sight unseen, that we may end up dissapointed.

I think in his mind he always wanted to do cake tastings and such, and is affraid he wont like the food. Everytime I look at Olowalu I am drawn to that gorgeous tree I agree that Sugarman's might feel a little sparse with the maybe 30 guests we think will attend.

We have been so conflicted with trying to find a venue, and are now between Olowalu in maui and a little place called puakea ranch on the big island. The big island is not as popular as maui, but the activities seem adventurous and just plain awesom. So my questions girls:

How did you decide on a destination wedding?
How did you come to terms with the fact that some people you really care about might not be there?
If you couldn't do a scouting trip, were you disappointed with the vendors you ended up choosing?
If you could do it all over again, what piece or pieces of advice do you wish you'd had?


Thanks girls, without this board we'd be buying hula skirts and coconut bras and having something in the backyard

Tanq&Tonic

How did you decide on a destination wedding?
This was the only option for us.  Our AHR had 450 guests, and I know if I had tried to go local, I would have been pressured to have a huge wedding.  DH and are simple, we love Hawaii, and our parents were so offended at our choice of venue they ended up refusing to invite any guests out of fear of imposing.  LOL it was perfect.  In seriousness, most of our guests would have to fly somewhere to begin with, so Hawaii didn't seem like such a bad place to ask them to go.

How did you come to terms with the fact that some people you really care about might not be there?
You kind of have to define your list of "must have" attendees and work around them.  You socialize the idea, you confirm with their schedules, and realize everyone else is icing on the cake.  You really have to get your head around this quickly, or else every RSVP = No will break your heart and make you cry.

If you couldn't do a scouting trip, were you disappointed with the vendors you ended up choosing?
We actually did do a scounting trip, and ended up really disappointed with a few vendors we did choose, and pleasantly surprised with vendors we didn't meet.  I think everyone has their good days & bad days, and frankly one of our biggest failures was one of the most trusted vendors on the island, so you just have to take it with a grain of salt.  As with all weddings, not everything will work perfectly.  Pick some partners you trust (WC, caterer, theKnotties!) and go from there.

If you could do it all over again, what piece or pieces of advice do you wish you'd had?
A destination wedding was 100% the right choice for us.  I would do it again in a heartbeat, this time with less anxiety about how everyone else would react to it.  Try to schedule some extra events - we made our wedding celebration 3 full days, and while it cost a little more, it really gave us a chance to celebrate and spend quality time with our best friends.

You might also want to check out the destination wedding board:
http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-theme-boards_destination-weddings

jackcody

I chose Sugarman's--it was a no-brainer for us because we didn't want Hawaiian.  But, if you want a Hawaiian feel to your wedding, Olowalu is lovely and the best pick!  Here were some of our points:
1) We liked Olowalu, but compared to Sugarman's it seemed, as Tanq said, quaint and VERY Hawaiian.  It has more of a unique style to it than Sugarman's does. It is a ranch style home, with rattan furniture, etc.  I was adamant about having nothing Hawaiian in our wedding except for the necessity of it being a destination wedding.  2) Our friends are keen to drink, so we knew shuttles would be part of our budget no matter what.  Keep in mind how many of your guests will rent cars and where they will be staying, too.  3) Olowalu didn't seem as private, with two homes on the lot, and the possibility of the other home being rented our to vacationers. 4) I wasn't a fan of the bathhouse--reminded me of a camp. Although, some brides have taken it upon themselves to decorate the bathrooms with nice soaps and cloth towels, which is a nice touch.  5) I wasn't a fan of the concrete dance floor.  I always dreamed of the white glossy floor.  But, in pictures, the dance floor under the stars is gorgeous, like AKwinterbride's.  
How did you decide on a destination wedding?

I'm from Alaska, my husband is from Australia.  It was the "meet in the middle" point for all of our guests.  My parents also live seasonally in South Maui, so it was convenient to have Mom there to run around for me  And, like Tanq, there was less pressure to invite everyone you know, and cousins that you've never met or only see once in a blue moon, etc. 

How did you come to terms with the fact that some people you really care about might not be there? 

I completely agree with Tanq.  You have to make a list of your must-have guests, and work it out with them.  If they weren't a must, though, and couldn't make it, we thanked them for their well wishes and had a great day anyway.  

If you couldn't do a scouting trip, were you disappointed with the vendors you ended up choosing?

I agree with Tanq, again, we were more disappointed by a vendor that we met and chose on our own than those that were recommended to us by word of mouth.  

If you could do it all over again, what piece or pieces of advice do you wish you'd had? Some of this I had, and was so thankful for!

1) It's their vacation too--don't worry about planning every minute.  Your guests will absolutely enjoy just being on Maui without your holding their hand.  

2) Any form of communication needs to be sent out at least in two forms--i.e. email and snail mail.  

3) Allow down time in your plans.  We loved our few spare hours just lounging by the pool with our friends.  

4) Try to be done with everything, even seating plans, a month before the wedding.  

5) Like Tanq, we made our "wedding weekend" last from Thursday to Monday with at least one event a day (Sunday wedding).  One of the biggest complaints I've heard is "all that planning, and it's gone in the blink of an eye." It was wonderful that it seemed to go on and on! We had a lot of time to visit with friends and family.  

kanvis

Much thanks to you two. After I read tanq's response I called my "must be there" and told them our plans and asked about their schedules. I feel like choosing between these two is like choosing between cheesecake and ice-cream (both good in their own way).

Does anyone have pictures of the drive up to these homes? Also, what vendors worked for you and which ones let you down?

Has anyone every brought their cake on the plane with them? (crazy idea I know)


Ty knottie angels

tiggy5555

Hi Kanvis!

Have you ever been to Maui? If not, don't fret. I took my first trip a few weeks ago and all my worries were gone. Re: Olowalu...From Lahaina the drive is short (10min) and easy with the ocean on the right of you. From the south its just as cool, a little hilly but awesome views. They have look-outs all along that road because you really want to stop and take photos.

The grounds are better then any photo I've seen or took. If you want to chat more you can email me at tiggy85 @ gmail.com

I check my email more than the board. Budget is a huge thing to consider with these homes. With 30 people, a normal sit down meal or buffet, bar, dj or musician, officiant, etc. you need to be ready for the costs and deposits. There are many ways to save if you are up to some projects.