IT’S OFFICIALLY BOOKING SEASON!
2022 is finally here, and it’s time to move forward. 2020 sucked, and 2021 didn’t suck as much, but it still sucked because you really didn’t know, if our government was going to shut us down, or not. Now, 2022 is here, and it looks as though Hawaii is finally open for good! Just for the record, though, our Governor never really did shut down tourism for a second time, he just asked if tourists could stay home, when we went through our Delta surge.
So, let’s talk 2022, and what’s new…
PRICES AND INFLATION
As of now, I’m not raising prices for photography, video, minister, travel charges, or the wedding singer. I did bump up the price of leis. The Maile Lei went from $50 to $75…and the Bridal Lei from $35 to $60. Yup, that’s how crazy it’s been. If lei prices come down, I promise, I’ll drop the prices. Just to let you know, gas prices here in Hawaii are hovering just below $5 for the cheap stuff. A gallon of milk is $7 to $8!!! Brisket is $5.99 a pound (usually $2.49). What does this mean for you? Well, everything will just be more expensive, especially if you’re planning a reception. A healthy market, low cost of living, and competition, will always drive prices down. I honestly want prices to go down as much as you! Living in Hawaii is expensive!
OMICRON? LOCKDOWN? COVID RULES? VAX CARDS?
As I write this, Omicron is spreading through the United States quickly. It hit our islands hard right before Christmas, but numbers are leveling off. After record cases of 4500 a day, we are now seeing a dramatic decline to 2600. Omicron hits hard, then disappears as quickly as it arrived. But very few were hospitalized because of COVID, most were hospitalized with COVID. The great thing is that in a study from South Africa, the antibodies produced by Omicron neutralized all other variants. That’s pretty good news. It could actually mean that COVID is coming to an end, and governments can stop ruining our lives in the name of “safety.” I’m an optimist. In 2022, I expect no lockdowns, no Covid rules, after the Omicron variant cases begin to take a nosedive.
Now, cases are going up. Yet when I went to the movies yesterday, the entire theater was packed to 100%, there was no social distancing whatsoever! And there is no threat from our government to install any more restrictions.
So, let’s talk weddings, covid, and travel:
- IN ORDER TO GET MARRIED IN HAWAII, YOU NEED TO BE VACCINATED – Isn’t that a stupid rule. But, if you want to have a bbq on the beach, with the same people, no one needs to be vaccinated. Does this make any sense? Will I enforce this mandate, which is not a law? Hmmmm.
- IF YOU’RE INDOORS YOU NEED TO BE MASKED – I’m a rebel. It’s a rule that I rarely follow.
- IF YOU WANT TO DINE AT A RESTAURANT, GO TO THE MOVIES, OR HAVE FUN INDOORS, YOU NEED TO BE VAXED OR HAVE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST ON HAND – If you’re vaccinated, you just need to show a picture on your phone of your vax card, plus your ID, and you’re good to go
- IF YOU WANT TO FLY TO HAWAII, YOU NEED TO BE VAXED, OR PRODUCE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST – If you don’t have either, you will be required to quarantine for five days (down from ten)
- RIGHT NOW, I’M ONLY DOING WEDDINGS ON OAHU – The other islands just have too many crazy regulations.
INTERESTED IN A HAWAII WEDDING?
Yeah, so getting married in Hawaii, let alone vacationing in Hawaii, comes with some rules thanks to our rather liberal and stupid government. I’m sorry, I can’t do anything about most rules, but I can make your wedding as normal as possible. In other words, I won’t be a mask nazi.
To get started, fill out my little form, so we can start a very candid dialogue:
Steve Young
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