Are you searching for the best beach wedding locations in Maui? As Maui wedding planners, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best seaside locations that the island has to offer. We’ve included secret hidden coves, locations by Maui’s most popular resorts, and beach wedding locations that are loved by the locals. Keep reading for more!
1. Ironwoods Beach
Located on Maui’s Westside, Ironwoods Beach in Kapalua is one of the most stunning beach wedding locations that Maui has to offer. The beach is tucked away among the major resorts in the area and features a curved coastline. Ironwoods Beach is quiet, and romantic, and often gets easily overlooked by tourists. Making it the perfect location to plan your wedding in Maui. Ironwoods Beach features coastal sand dunes that protect the natural habitat and beauty of the area. Foot traffic is not allowed on the sand dunes for this reason. However, the sand dunes can still be pictured in the backdrop of your wedding photos.
2. Kapalua Bay Beach
Also located on Maui’s west side is Kapalua Bay Beach. This particular beach is crescent-shaped and is renowned for its crystal-clear water. It is easily accessible with a parking lot on site. Kapalua Bay Beach is the vision of a quintessential beach in Maui. It features rows of larger-than-life swaying palm trees and the softest beach sand that will ever touch your toes. However, it is important to note that Kapalua Bay Beach is not only a family-friendly beach, but it attracts more foot traffic than Ironwoods Beach. If you’d like to plan an intimate, private wedding at Kapalua Bay Beach it will take the work of a skilled Maui wedding planner. One who can provide you with the best season and time of day to create an unforgettable experience.
3. Napili Bay
Number three on our list of the best Maui beach wedding locations is Napili Bay. As we continue our tour of Maui’s westside we would be remiss if we didn’t mention Napili Bay Beach. In fact, Napili Bay is known the world over as a popular location for hosting a beach wedding in Maui. What makes Napili Bay so special is its rocky coastline and the sweeping views it provides of the outer Hawaiian islands. Additionally, Napili Bay offers picture-perfect white sand for that feet-in-the-sand wedding ceremony experience. This particular beach is also known for its quiet waves. During your vows, you’ll experience the peaceful sound of the water lapping against the shore as you are joined in marriage.
4. D.T. Fleming Beach
D.T. Fleming Beach is the final beach on the west side of Maui that we highly recommend when searching for beach wedding locations. This particular beach is grand in scale and well known and loved by tourists and newlyweds alike. Its popularity is due in part to being the beachfront view from the Maui Ritz Carlton. The luxury hotel is just a stone’s throw away from D.T. Fleming Beach, which makes it a wonderful all-in-one location to host your wedding in Maui.
5. Makena Cove
Known as Maui’s ‘secret cove’ Makena Cove is a stunning beach located on the south side of the island. It’s an incredibly beautiful little pocket of sand along the shore that has gone from secret to fun to find. Due to its growth in popularity, we highly recommend planning your Maui beach wedding at Makena Cove for sunrise or sunset. Each of these timeframes will ensure less foot traffic and a more private experience for your wedding ceremony. If you choose a wedding at Makena Cove, your wedding photos will feature an idyllic framing of the shore dotted by rock formations, greenery, and palm trees off in the distance. The views of a Makena Cove wedding are nothing short of picturesque. But the shoreline is something to behold. It is only visible when the sea makes a gentle appearance as it washes up over the beach.
6. Po‘olenalena Beach
There are few beaches on the south side of Maui that are so pristine and unoccupied. But that is exactly what you’ll find at Po‘olenalena Beach. The blissful shores of Po‘olenalena slope directly into the water. If you are staying at one of the many exquisite resorts in Wailea, Po‘olenalena Beach would be the most ideal of the Maui beach wedding locations due to its proximity to the resorts. You will find some palm trees at Po‘olenalena Beach, but mostly, your view will be of the sandy beach with Kiawe trees off in the distance. Po‘olenalena Beach has the ability to host a wedding with a larger-sized guest list. However, it is important to note that there are no restrooms or facilities on site.
7. Charley Young Beach
Well-loved by the locals, Charley Young Beach is nestled along Maui’s south side and provides over three acres of gorgeous coastline for a private wedding day experience. The shoreline of Charley Young Beach lies between residential homes which can make parking a challenge. If you are planning a wedding with several guests, Charley Young may not be the best choice because of its accessibility, or lack there of. However, if you are searching for Maui beach wedding locations that are private and intimate this stunning beach with cloistered lava rock formations is truly unforgettable.
8. Wailea Beach
Without a doubt, one of the most popular beaches in Maui is Wailea Beach. This crescent-shaped beach features easy access to Wailea Resort and the Four Seasons which are perched on either end of this stretch of oceanfront. Wailea Beach features a wide stretch of sand allowing couples to find their own space to hold their wedding ceremony away from beachgoers. Wailea Beach is known as a hot spot for water sports and enjoying Maui’s stunning coastal views. But, in the wintertime, you might just hear the sound of the humpback whales off in the distance.
9. Kuau Cove
Scenic, small, and covered in white sand, Kuau Cove features a coconut grove and an endless amount of tidepools. When it comes to Maui beach wedding locations that provide a sense of intimacy & privacy Kuau Cove is unrivaled. Parking for Kuau Cove is at the entry to Mama’s Fish House, a locally loved restaurant that features freshly caught fish on the menu, daily. However, patronage of Mama’s Fish House is not required in order to gain access to Kuau Cove. There are several spots dedicated to those who wish to experience Kuau Cove, whether for their wedding or just to visit. This stunning beach with its charming size is perfect for planning a wedding in Maui that is a ‘just the two of us’ experience.
10. Baldwin Beach
Last on our list of the best Maui beach wedding locations is Baldwin Beach, which is nestled against Maui’s north shore. There are no nearby resorts or hotels for Baldwin Beach. However, the beach itself provides a bucolic experience. Baldwin Beach also offers easy access and plenty of available parking, which is perfect if you plan on inviting guests. We will say that Baldwin Beach does tend to get pretty windy which you’ll want to consider when it comes to styling your hair. Undoubtedly, Baldwin Beach provides the most glorious stream of sunlight which makes for stunning wedding day portraits whether you choose to get married at sunrise or sunset.
If you need more resources on planning your wedding in Maui, check out these articles.
- Optimizing the Timeline for Your Maui Wedding
- Wedding Trends to Incorporate Into Your Maui Wedding
- 5 Things to Splurge on for Your Wedding in Maui
- 5 Must Have Intimate Moments to Experience on Your Wedding Day
- Current Wedding Trends!
- The Importance of Creating a Wedding Website