A lei exchange highlight, with every lei and the people who received them
The lei exchange is one of the best-known moments of a Hawaiian wedding. The couple place lei around each other's necks as a sign of love and respect, and in many weddings they then give lei to parents, grandparents and others who matter to them. Grooms commonly wear an open-ended maile lei and brides a lei of fragrant flowers. Because the moment is short, close and emotional, it often makes a film of its own. Upload the lei exchange as its own WeddingEditor project, name the lei and the people in the preference questions, and WeddingEditor's AI editing makes a Highlight Reel of about 5 minutes or a Social Teaser.
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Last updated October 2026
How to get a highlight of the lei exchange
- 1
Upload the lei exchange as its own project
Create a project and upload the footage of the exchange from every camera, including close shots of the lei and wide shots of the families.
- 2
Name the lei and who received them
Describe each lei (maile, pīkake, orchid or another flower), who gave it, who received it and what they wore, and any words the kahu spoke about the lei.
- 3
Receive and revise
For this Hawaiian lei exchange film, buy One Wedding or use a plan credit and start processing; it typically takes 24 to 72 hours. Watch the edit in the app, download the 1080p MP4, and send up to two rounds of notes by email.
Moments of the lei exchange to list
The kahu's words
The kahu explaining what the lei mean, if they did.
The groom's maile
The bride placing the open maile lei over the groom's shoulders.
The bride's lei
The groom placing her flower lei, and the kiss on the cheek that often follows.
Lei for parents
The couple giving lei to each set of parents.
Lei for grandparents
A lei for a grandparent, often the most emotional moment.
Lei for the wedding party
Lei for the best man, maid of honor or a child in the wedding.
What happens at a lei exchange, in order
The order and the people vary by family and kahu. Follow the ceremony you filmed.
1. The meaning is spoken
In many ceremonies the kahu or officiant speaks about the lei as a symbol of love, respect and connection before the exchange.
2. The couple exchange lei
The couple place lei around each other's necks, often with a kiss on the cheek. Grooms often wear an open-ended maile lei, made from a fragrant vine and worn hanging open.
3. Lei for family
Many couples then give lei to their parents, grandparents and others, as thanks and as a way of joining the families.
4. The ceremony continues
The exchange may come before or after the vows, depending on the kahu and the couple.
Close, quiet footage
The edit depends on your close shots of the lei going on; the AI editing can only use what you filmed.
A separate edit
A lei exchange film is one project with one edit, apart from your highlight of the full wedding.
Parts of the lei exchange and what to note in the preferences
| Part of the exchange | What it looks or sounds like | What to note in the preferences |
|---|---|---|
| Kahu's words | A short explanation, in Hawaiian and English | "Keep the kahu's words about the maile." |
| Groom's lei | Maile lei placed over shoulders | "Close shot from camera B." |
| Bride's lei | Flower lei, a kiss on the cheek | "Keep the kiss after." |
| Parents | Lei for both mothers and fathers | "Name both sets of parents." |
| Grandparents | Lei for a grandparent | "Tūtū in white muʻumuʻu, must include." |
What is a Hawaiian lei exchange?
A lei exchange is the moment in a Hawaiian wedding when the couple place lei, garlands of flowers, leaves or other natural materials, around each other's necks as a sign of love and respect, often followed by lei for family members.
A lei given to arriving guests or visitors is a greeting, not the wedding exchange. If you filmed both, say which one you want in this edit.
Lei exchange highlight questions
Can the AI editing tell a maile lei from a flower lei?
Only from your description. Say which lei each person wore and what it looked like, and they use that to choose clips.
The exchange was only a minute long. Is there enough for a highlight?
Upload everything around it too, such as the kahu's words and the family receiving lei. The more of the moment you filmed, the more the AI editing has to work with.
Can it include lei for the whole wedding party?
Yes, if it is in your footage. Rank the people so the most important ones get the most time.
Is the lei exchange in my main highlight as well?
Only if you upload it there and ask for it. A lei-only film is a separate project.
Does WeddingEditor deliver the film to the family?
No. The edit arrives in your project; you decide when and how the couple receives it.
Does WeddingEditor decide which lei and protocol to follow on screen?
No. Lei protocol, such as who gives a lei to whom and in what order, is the family's and the kahu's to set. WeddingEditor edits from your footage and follows the order you write in the preferences.
The lei, and the people they honored, on film
Upload the lei exchange as its own project and name every lei and who received it.
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