HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT QUEENSTOWN ELOPEMENT
If you’re wondering how to plan your perfect Queenstown Elopement, then we’re here to help you in ten easy steps to make sure your day is stress free!
Planning an elopement around the Queenstown area is such a thrilling process! The day is planned around what you love doing together and there are endless possibilities of what you can include on your day. There are some essential items that you have to organise before the day so we have put together this adventure elopement checklist to make the planning process a little easier so you can focus on the excitement!
01 | Choose a location
Helping our couples research and choose a location around Queenstown is one of our favourite parts of our job.
Finding the perfect spot that suits who you are and what you love doing together will make your day so special. First off, we have a few ground locations where it only involves a stress-free drive to the location. These are great if you are looking for something simple and affordable.
If you are looking to knock it out of the park, then your next option is a helicopter landing. We have a massive list of numerous landing sites - Check them out here
02 | Decide on what time of year and date
Each season in Queenstown brings a unique beauty to a place (and sometimes some challenges!). Start your research based on your favourite season and see what would be accessible at that time of year. The good thing about elopements is that we offer flexibility with dates - ie. we offer x1 backup date incase of bad weather.
Our personal favourite is April as the weather is most consistent around this time.
03 | Book your Photographer
This might be the most important step in planning your elopement! Your photographer will have the best local knowledge of the area. They will help you plan your day and help suggest possible locations for your elopement. Choose a photographer that fits the style you are after. Some offer a more personalised serviced where you are dealing with the photographer, whereas others offer a large team of different photographers.
04 | Book your Vendors
A lot of the Queenstown elopement photographers offer all-inclusive Elopement Packages where all you need to organise is your suit & gown and we take care of the rest! This takes all the stress out of the elopement so you can truly relax and enjoy the experience.
Of course, you can book everything yourself too! There are a large list of local hair & makeup, celebrants, florists etc around the area. Your photographer should be able to point you in the direction of top vendors in the area if you are having any trouble.
05 | Apply for your marriage license and any permits you might need
Your celebrant will help guide you through the process of the marriage license. Make sure you do your research on what you need to legally get married in your desired location. Ground locations such as Deer Park Heights, require an additional permit fee which often your photographer will make you aware of during the booking process.
06 | Decide who your witnesses will be
We are more than happy to be your witnesses! You can also invite along family members or friends to sign the paperwork. If you are booking a helicopter, obviously this makes things a little trickier if you want your family and/or friends to join you. You can always add on a second helicopter ride so the extra people travel in their own heli to your ceremony spot.
07 | Book Travel Arrangement
You may need to look into flights, accommodation, car rentals, and other activities for your elopement! Things tend to book up early during the summer months in Queenstown. To have your top choices for accommodation it would be a good idea to book at least a few months out. Car rentals are a must in the area as there isn’t reliable public transport around Queenstown and a lot of the attractions require a vehicle to visit.
There is also a host of relaxing or thrilling tourist activities around Queenstown you can join in on! Below are some of our favourites!
Top Activities in Queenstown
Shotover Jet
Mountain bike adventures
Helicopter tours
Wine Tasting tours
Steamboat trip
Gondola & Luge
Onsen Hot Pools (this books us very far in advance!)
08 | Order and prepare your elopement essentials
Your wedding dress, suit, rings, vow books, and adventure attitude! Think about how you will be spending your day while choosing your wedding dress and suit. If you plan on spending the day in the mountains it might be beneficial to have a dress that allows you to move a bit more freely as well as shoes suitable for walking.
Consider the weather for your elopement, if you are getting married in the colder months (May to September), then make sure you have appropriate jackets and layers! Swap out those heels for boots too as we don’t want little frozen toes!
09 | Plan your timeline for the day
There are so many different ways you can set up your day and it should be based around what’s important to you both. As photographers, the time of day is always important to us to ensure we can take the best photos possible for you. Sunrise and Sunset are the ideal times to shoot and we will always recommend structuring your day around these ideal lighting conditions.
As part of our all-inclusive packages, we will give our couples a suggested time for their ceremony depending on the package they booked. If you have multiple helicopter landings, then often the ceremony will need to be earlier. Also with helicopters, then are restricted by their own operational requirements for our late they can fly on the day.
10 | Create a packing list for your amazing adventure!
Make sure you don’t miss anything and that you are prepared for your day!
And there you have it! Now you are both all set to plan an amazing elopement of your dreams. If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out to us anytime! We are always here to help and love hearing about your unique story and plans!
QUEENSTOWN ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER