Before their beach wedding, Montse got ready at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, the Pink Palace of the Pacific, then had bridal photos all around the historic hotel. Back to Keith & Montse’s story · See the wedding at Waialae Beach
Getting ready
Getting Ready at the Royal Hawaiian
Montse got ready in her room, with pink damask wallpaper and a round mirror that caught every glance. Her gown was a white lace mermaid dress with a cascade of ruffles and a long train, and she carried a bouquet of pink roses, orchids and white hydrangea. The girls joined her in lavender with flower crowns.
Morning light at the Pink Palace, and a gown made of waves
Tap any photo to see it full size.
The colonnade
Under the White Columns
The long open-air colonnade, with its white columns and pink carpet, made a graceful frame for Montse and her ruffled train.
Down the colonnade, where generations of brides have walked
Tap any photo to see it full size.
The gardens
In the Hotel Gardens
Behind the hotel, the tropical gardens are full of palms, red ti leaves and big green leaves, a quiet green world in the middle of Waikiki.
Red ti leaves for luck, and a bride who needs none
Tap any photo to see it full size.
The Pink Palace
At the Pink Front Entrance
Out front, Montse posed below the Royal Hawaiian sign, on the checkered steps and on the lawn before the famous pink towers, her train spilling down the stairs.
Under the famous sign, a new chapter written in pink
Tap any photo to see it full size.
The Pink Palace
A Little Royal Hawaiian History
The Royal Hawaiian opened on February 1, 1927, with a black-tie gala for more than 1,200 guests. It was built by the Matson Navigation Company and designed by the New York architects Warren and Wetmore in a Spanish and Moorish style, and its pink stucco walls soon earned it the name “Pink Palace of the Pacific.”
Over the years it welcomed movie stars and presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. During World War II the military used it as a rest and recreation center. Today it is a member of Historic Hotels of America, right on Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head down the shore.
Staying at a Waikiki resort like this is part of the dream for many couples, and part of the budget too. See our post on what Oahu and Waikiki hotels really cost.
Plan your stay
What It Costs to Stay at the Royal Hawaiian
Room rates change every day with the season and the room. You can choose the Historic Wing, where most rooms look out over the gardens, or the Mailani Tower, where every room has an ocean view and a balcony. To give you an idea, Oahu’s luxury hotels averaged about $751 a night in 2025, and about $993 in December.
- Resort fee: about $61 a night per room, on top of the room rate.
- Parking: self parking $55 a day ($7.50 an hour), valet $65 a day.
- Hotel taxes on Oahu: 11% state Transient Accommodations Tax, 3% Honolulu Transient Accommodations Tax and 4.712% General Excise Tax, about 18.7% in all.
- Check-in is at 3:00 pm and check-out at noon.
An estimate for 5 nights: at about $751 a night plus the $61 resort fee, that is about $4,060 before tax and about $4,820 with tax. Add valet parking and it comes to about $5,150. Your real price depends on your dates and room, so always ask the hotel for the total.
Many of our couples stay at a Waikiki resort and marry on a public beach, with no venue fee and no catering minimum. Read more about what Oahu and Waikiki hotels really cost, or see our wedding prices.
Sources: parking and check-in times from the hotel’s Marriott page and resort fee from ResortFeeChecker (February 2026), both checked November 2026; average room rates from the Hawaii DBEDT Hotel Performance Report, December 2025; tax rates from the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Prices can change.
Royal Hawaiian Questions
Can we take wedding photos at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel?
Yes. Montse had her bridal photos in her room, along the white colonnade, in the tropical gardens and at the pink front entrance of the Royal Hawaiian before her beach ceremony.
When did the Royal Hawaiian Hotel open?
The Royal Hawaiian opened on February 1, 1927. It was designed by Warren and Wetmore in a Spanish and Moorish style, and its pink stucco walls earned it the name “Pink Palace of the Pacific.”
How much is parking at the Royal Hawaiian?
Self parking is $55 a day ($7.50 an hour) and valet parking is $65 a day, according to the hotel’s Marriott page in November 2026. There is also a resort fee of about $61 a night per room.
What are the hotel taxes in Waikiki?
On Oahu, hotel rooms carry an 11% state Transient Accommodations Tax, a 3% Honolulu Transient Accommodations Tax and up to 4.712% General Excise Tax, about 18.7% in all.
Can we stay in Waikiki and get married on a quieter beach?
Yes. Keith and Montse stayed at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki and held their ceremony at Waialae Beach Park in Kahala, about 10 to 15 minutes away on the far side of Diamond Head.
