FAQ

After your marriage has been filed with the State of Hawaii, you will be able to look up your marriage record with the LOCATOR ID (found on the receipt emailed to you when you applied for the marriage license). Using the ID #, you will be able to print a PDF of your temporary license. Your official marriage license will be mailed to you by the State of Hawaii in about four to six weeks. However, if you want to obtain the official certificate sooner, you may personally go back to the Health Department (after the paperwork has been processed) to request a print out (a small fee will apply). If you need additional copies, you may order them online at the Hawaii Vital Records website.

Yes you can.  Please consult with the State licensing office for details.  They are very friendly and will answer your quesitons by phone.

Yes.  I am able to obtain a beach permit for you.  I would handle all the necessary paperwork and I would also put the ceremony under the umbrella of my insurance. My fee for this would be $150.

If you wish to be responsible for securing the permit through the State of Hawaii, I would then simply perform the ceremony for you.  Before you can obtain a permit, you will need to purchase “special event insurance”.  A google search will provide you with a list of companies that provide the coverage…for about $150.  Once you have the coverage, you will be able to obtain a permit from the State.  The cost for the permit is $20.  It is also important to remember that you must provide copies of the state permit to all working parties while at the ceremony.  I will be required to have a copy of your permit on my person while at the event.  Here is the link to the form and further information:

HAWAII DEPT OF LAND // FORMS

Yes, that is possible, but I recommend that in order to save everyone’s time, first review the information available on this site. This will give you a insight to my personality and you will know immediately if you feel a connection with me or not. As well, please take the time to read through the “about” page of this website where I talk about myself and my belief system. This should give you enough information to know if we are a good fit. 

Please browse through this site. You will find options for poems and scriptures.  After booking,  I also send you a  questionnaire that you will need to fill out.  The questionnaire will provide me with all the information I need regarding your wedding ceremony.  If you have other elements you want to incorporate, I am happy to do so

I expect your ceremony to begin on time, yet am happy to wait a few minutes for last minute details to come together and have allowed some time for that. My ceremonies are about 15-20 minutes long and I have committed about an 45-60 minutes for you on the day of your ceremony from the time I arrive. Sometimes, depending on the day and schedule I am not able to perform a full ceremony for you if we start more than 5 -10 minutes late. Therefore, it is important to hold the intent to start the ceremony on time by having a time line that supports your start time.

I generally arrive 15-30 minutes before the ceremony.  This give everyone enough time to get situated.  I will also make myself available to your photographer or videographer to go over the best place for everyone to stand during the ceremony.

A ceremony can be anywhere from 15-25 minutes from start to end depending on the elements you select to include and the size of your wedding party. The more segments (sand ceremony, solo, poem, reading, lei ceremony, etc.) the longer the ceremony. Signing the license takes about five minutes.

For some packages, I will provide the leis (please check the package you chose).

For all other tradition options, I do not provide any props. There are many styles and choices and you would be the ones to purchase the sand, containers, candles or any other props and have them set up before the ceremony. I would then incorporate these rituals into the ceremony.

No. If you want the ceremony amplified so your guests can hear, you would need to arrange for sound amplification to be provided either by the ceremony site or your deejay/musician if they happened to have an extra microphone. Some locations will have sound for the officiant provided as part of the service and others will charge and extra fee. I do not have speakers or a microphone that I am able to provide.

Yes, please let me know your schedule when you are in town and with enough advance notice, I’ll be happy to meet with you and have your consultation then if I am in town.  For the interest of saving time, I also meet many of my couples via video chat.

One 30 min consultation (via phone, skype or in person) is included with my ceremony fee. This is all that is necessary to ensure you have a smooth ceremony as all of the information I need is be on the questionnaire you fill out that we go over during the consultation. If you have questions, I’m happy to go over anything you need after that by phone. If you have a more intricate ceremony and feel you need to meet again there is a $50 per 30 minute fee.

We will meet with me at my office in Honolulu, talk on the phone or video chat. 

After we have received the questionnaire and booking fee from you, we will send you a invoice for the balance via email.  Within the email, you will have the option to pay via credit card.  If you prefer, you are welcome to send a cashier’s check to James Chun and send it via mail. Please include your invoice in the envelope. Cash is also accepted.

Yes.  I would require payment to hold the day. We take reservations up to a year in advance. If I am not able to confirm, I will offer you a list of my recommended colleagues to help you find a minister.

Yes, of course. I am able to accommodate any type of ceremony and special requests. We can talk about this at your consultation to make your ceremony exactly how you envision it to be.

It is not, especially if it’s just the two of you, or a very small wedding party (one bridesmaid and one groomsman) or if you have a coordinator that will run the entire rehearsal. If you have a wedding party, and no experienced wedding coordinator, I will be happy to help at the rehearsal as to who walks when, who stands where, timing, etc. However, the main advantage of having me there is that I will go through the entire flow of the ceremony with you which will take away much of the stress as you won’t need to wonder what to do, how to turn, where to look etc. This causes ease of mind and eases the stress levels for many if that is something you may have.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you do not have me at the rehearsal, it is MANDATORY that you take care of all the walking details of the wedding party and how you get in front of me for the ceremony. I will expect your appointed person, or your wedding coordinator to just tell me where I am to line up on the day of the ceremony and the bride and groom must make their own way in front of me. I will not coordinate your ceremony on the day of your ceremony. I will only perform the ceremony. Once you are in front of me, even without a rehearsal, I can lead you through the ceremony.

No, I would be honored to be a guest but it is not customary or necessary to send me an invitation.