After deciding they wanted to tie the knot in a remote location where neither of them had been before, Elizabeth and Peter planned a New Zealand elopement that was as romantic as it was adventurous! They exchanged vows surrounded by nothing but mountains and a handful of loved ones at Rees Valley Farm, where a pretty ceremony backdrop covered in vibrant florals designed by Orange Blossom was all they needed. Once it was official, the couple hopped on a helicopter with Ana Galloway Photography for an epic newlywed session in the mountains followed by a dinner-party style reception at Akarua Wines & Kitchen! We can hardly contain our obsession with every bit of this elopement, especially the bride’s self-designed gown made by Olga Koloskovo.

The Couple:

Elizabeth and Peter

The Wedding:

Rees Valley Farm and Akarua Wines & Kitchen, Queenstown, New Zealand

Peter and I met camping while I was studying abroad in Adelaide, South Australia. He followed me back to Texas where we spent the next two years creating adventures- backcountry hiking, throwing up in Cuba, eating cheese in Holland and a west coast road trip that ended in a hot air balloon proposal! We knew we wanted an adventurous wedding.

Since we have a very worldwide family we decided we wanted to get married somewhere that wasn’t home to anyone. We asked ourselves, “Where is the most beautiful place on earth that we haven’t visited before?” The answer was simply Queenstown, New Zealand. It wasn’t until I visited that I realized it couldn’t just be in the city of Queenstown; it had to be somewhere completely rural and off the wedding grid. 

We wanted a complete adventure, that was also incredibly stunning but where our elderly guests would have no issues getting to. That is actually quite hard to find in Queenstown surprisingly. It was only because of the friendliness of our florist that we chose this location.

Our ceremony was a reflection of our relationship with Christ and family. We incorporated prayer, scripture readings, moments of worship through song and personal statements along with traditional vows.

We didn’t really have a distinct color, but we asked guests to wear colors that mirrored the native plant life.

My dress was designed by me and locally made with Australian satin. It was light and elegant to match the simple touches of the wedding. I wore my family crescent ring, my engagement ring, a minimal gold cross necklace and hoop earrings that added a little touch of elegance. Around my bouquet, I hung a pearl necklace that was owned by Peter‘s late grandmother. 

It was amazing working with our photographer! Ana Galloway Photography was such a trooper and she was up for the adventure. She was great at managing the timeline and making sure everyone was moving in the right direction, but was also very supportive and laid back.

We gave our guests customized camping mugs. They had our “logo” on it- mountains, the wedding date, and our names. These gifts were a simple thank you for coming so far to celebrate our wedding.

Processional – “Bittersweet Symphony” by (acoustic version)
First Dance – “Miracle Love” by Matt Corby

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Peter, and a special thanks to Junebug member Ana Galloway Photography for sharing this incredible New Zealand elopement! Want to see more elopement magic? This Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach elopement is beyond our wildest dreams!