A wedding is arguably the biggest event in a woman's life.
Among these, "resort weddings" (hereinafter referred to as "resort weddings"), where the wedding ceremony is held in resort areas such as Hawaii or Guam, are particularly popular among brides-to-be.
However, many people give up on the idea of ​​getting married overseas because travel is difficult and, above all, the cost is exorbitant. For such couples, we recommend a wedding in Okinawa, a tropical resort that you can visit without a passport!

Okinawa boasts some of the world's most beautiful scenery, and the more you learn about it, the more you realize how incredibly affordable a resort wedding in Okinawa can be, considering factors like the variety of chapels available, travel costs, and other expenses.
Recently, many couples are opting for a quick "photo wedding" in Okinawa, saying things like, "We're not having a ceremony, but we still want to have photos of me in a wedding dress!"

So, this time, with the cooperation of the "RizoRepo" research team (hereinafter referred to as "RizoRepo") from " ainowa Resort Wedding ," a website specializing in Okinawan weddings, we'll thoroughly dissect Okinawa resort weddings, including costs and how to find a wedding venue in Okinawa!

<Table of Contents>
1. Okinawa Weddings: Real Stories from Word-of-Mouth Reviews
1-1. How many guests were invited, and how much did it cost?
1-2. How did you arrange it?
1-3. How long did the preparation take?
2. You'll sigh in admiration. We'll tell you about Okinawa's most popular chapels.
2-1. Art Grace Oceanfront Garden Chapel Okinawa
2-2. The Ginoza Resort Chura Church
2-3. Lasole Gardens Alivila Christia Church
2-4. Blue Moon Chapel
2-5. Allamanda Chapel (located within the grounds of Shigira Bayside Suite Allamanda)
3. Okinawa weddings aren't just about chapels.
3-1. Photo Wedding
3-2. Beach Wedding
4. Advantages and disadvantages of having a wedding in Okinawa
4-1. [Advantages] You can carefully select your guests.
4-2. [Disadvantages] Typhoons: The cost per person is relatively high.
5. Don't forget to be considerate of your guests.
6. Summary of weddings in Okinawa

1. Okinawa Weddings: Real Stories from Word-of-Mouth Reviews

1-1. How many guests were invited, and how much did it cost?

Let's start by looking at the number of guests and the associated costs. (Here, "cost" includes not only the wedding ceremony and reception expenses, but also the transportation and accommodation costs for all guests.)
Generally, destination weddings primarily invite close relatives (yourself, parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.). The average number of guests is said to be around 19.

Furthermore, the average cost for the wedding ceremony alone is 400,000 yen, while the average cost including the ceremony, reception, and travel expenses is 1.8 to 2.3 million yen. Compared to the average total cost of a typical wedding reception of 3.6 million yen, a destination wedding can be done for roughly half that amount.
Furthermore, if the wedding is attended only by the families of both sides, or just by the bride and groom, the costs can be reduced even further. Destination weddings can be surprisingly affordable!

1-2. How did you arrange it?

Now, for those of you who have decided to get married but don't know how to make the arrangements, there are two main types of wedding arrangements, which I will explain.

① Arrange through a bridal agent

【merit】
This method involves entrusting all arrangements, from dresses and venues to reception details and settlements, to a professional company. Even if you haven't decided on specifics yet, you can communicate your budget and wishes, and they will proceed in a way that closely matches your ideal. It's also hassle-free and convenient!

【Demerit】
It's often difficult to stay within the basic fee initially quoted, and the cost can unexpectedly increase due to options (sigh). Also, if you want to wear a dress from a shop other than the affiliated dress shops, or if you decide on paper items or wedding favors independently, there may be a "bring-your-own fee."
Therefore, to avoid situations where you think, "This isn't what I expected!" as the actual event approaches, it's essential to have a thorough discussion about what's included in the wedding package and the details of any optional services.

② Individual arrangements

【merit】
Since you can cut out items you don't think are necessary, you can save money compared to hiring an agent. Plus, you can have the wedding of your dreams, so the satisfaction level is high!
If you arrange everything yourself, you'll generally have to buy a wedding dress, but recently there are lots of cute and affordable dresses and accessories available♪ Also, you can sometimes find popular brands at a lower price through secondhand sales. (You can find secondhand items on Instagram, Mercari, etc.) If you make good use of these options, it's often cheaper than renting.

【Demerit】
It takes far more effort than preparing for a regular wedding, and it also requires a good sense of coordination. Furthermore, wedding preparations involve more than just clothing, so if you're doing it in between work, you need to be prepared for a considerable amount of work. I've heard quite a few stories of couples getting frustrated with uncooperative husbands (sob).

The more money you spend on a wedding, the more extravagant it becomes, and the easier the preparations will be. However, you can have a wonderful wedding without spending a lot of money.
Please take the time to discuss with your partner where to spend money and what to cut back on within your limited budget, and create a wedding that you are both happy with!

1-3. How long did the preparation take?

Next, let's talk about the preparation period. How far in advance should you start making arrangements for a destination wedding?
It might seem like there are a lot of things to do if the wedding is far away, but actually, the preparations themselves are no different from when you have a regular wedding. In fact, with fewer guests, it might even be easier than a regular wedding! According to Rizorepo, the average time for brides who have already had their weddings was about six months to a year from deciding to get married until the wedding ceremony.
You can find a detailed schedule here, so please take a look ♡

Rizorepo: "A Complete Guide to Your Wedding Schedule"
https://www.e-bridal.tv/manual/shikijousagashi_schedule

Some plans even offered a preparation period of just three months!
This plan is often used by couples who have to get married suddenly due to various circumstances such as pregnancy, job transfers, or parental wishes. It might seem like it would involve hectic preparations, but in reality, no matter how early you choose a venue, meetings with the venue staff only begin about three months before the wedding. If you start working on the invitations to send out to guests two months before the wedding three months in advance, you'll have plenty of time to prepare.

Rizorepo: "It's not too late! Special feature on upcoming weddings"
https://www.e-bridal.tv/special/tokushu_chikatoku

However, considering the availability of venues, accommodations, and flights, it's still best to apply 4 to 6 months in advance.
Popular wedding venues often fill up very early, so it's best to make tentative reservations or inquiries as soon as possible.
A wedding is a major event for both the couple and the guests, so it's a good idea to have some leeway to handle everything smoothly.

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Next page 2. You'll sigh in admiration. We'll tell you about Okinawa's most popular chapels.