Fewer couples marrying in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) - Some 60,100 couples came to Hawaii to get married last year, down 16 percent from a year earlier - a bigger decline than the 11 percent drop in overall tourism.

Tim Clark of Hawaiian Island Weddings, a wedding planning company serving four islands, said many weddings are also being scaled down in these tough economic times, with more couples opting for small-scale ceremonies rather than complete wedding packages.

Clark handled 111 weddings last year, down from 160 in 2007. He blamed high fuel costs and air fares in early 2008 for causing couples to look elsewhere.

"We had people already scheduled to do weddings, and some canceled and many downsized," he said. "Instead of 20 guests, they ended up bringing three guests."

For January, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, there was a 20 percent drop in visitors from January 2008 who said they were coming to Hawaii to participate in or attend weddings.

Since many couples become engaged over the winter holidays, January is a key booking month for wedding planners.

But Clark said interest in Hawaii weddings has declined, noting his company's Web site logged only 400 visits a day during the month, down from the usual 600 to 700 daily hits.

Many couples that do come are scaling back their plans, Clark said.

"Rather than buying a complete wedding package, they are buying minister-only ceremonies," he said.

Larry Mischle, president of the Maui Wedding Association, attributed some of the drop in his industry's business to state rules that went into effect last year requiring permits and placing restrictions on beach weddings.

Mischle also cited Maui County's crackdown on transient vacation rentals, which often are favored by family groups traveling for weddings.

"The message has gone out that Maui is not a friendly island to mainland brides," he said.

Weddings are important to Hawaii's top industry because they mean more spending than other market segments, said Eugene Tian, research and statistical officer with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

"Wedding visitors usually spend more than regular visitors because of their activities," he said. "They rent luxury cars, eat at high-end restaurants and stay in high-end hotels, so they have much higher spending."

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Information from: The Honolulu Advertiser, http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com