Outdoor weddings in Hawaii are lovely - except when the weather is not. Here are some things to consider when preparing your outdoor wedding ceremony (on or near the beach).

1)Get a backup plan in case it rains. Scattered showers are normal in the islands and thought to be a blessing. But heavy rain make for a more logistically challenging ceremony and/or reception - so, if you are able, have an alternative. Possibilities are renting a enclosure or scheduling an indoor area. Another idea is having your ceremony at an oceanfront location with indoor facilities such as a resort or estate.

2) If you're planning your ceremony literally on the beach, don't put chairs directly on the sand if at all possible. The sand is uneven and unstable, and many of your guests may not be dressed appropriately for being on the sand. Look for a grassy knoll to place chairs for guests. If you do want your ceremony on the sand, discuss renting some type of flooring for the chairs to be placed on.

3)Don�t forget the glare of the sun for you and your guests. Attempt to position everyone where there is minimal time where the sun is shining directly into their eyes. The glory of the ocean view gets lost when people can�t even open their eyes.

4)If it's a daytime ceremony, consider having bottled water available for guests as they arrive. Hawaii's sun can be very hot; and people can dehydrate quickly in the afternoon sun.

5) Think about hand-held fans to give to guests as wedding favors or as a nice gesture to help keep the sun out of their eyes and provide a cool wind.

6) Check with the local weather service with regard to tide and sunset times. And bear those things in mind when appointing your marriage time.

7) Don�t neglect to find out all the laws and regulations for the beach or park you are "Renting." Some rules to look for are restrictions on number of guests; use or availability of electricity; use of amplified music; time allotted. Usually public beaches and parks will only allow smaller gatherings.

John has been a licensed and ordained minister for 41 years. He and his wife have served as Maui Wedding Planners for more than 1,000 Maui Weddings with his wedding planning business, Maui Me Inc. All of his ceremonies are original and he performed his first wedding 35 years ago. John has written almost 50 Christian books (which have been translated into eight languages). In addition to performing wedding ceremonies, he shoots most of the photography.