New Zealand Elopement & Heli Wedding Specialists
Creating Unforgettable Elopements in Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo & Mt Cook for Nearly 30 Years
As New Zealand’s most experienced elopement planner, New Zealand Dream Weddings has been creating intimate, meaningful weddings across Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook for nearly 30 years.
Every elopement is personally planned by Donna, from your ceremony location and helicopter landings through to photography, celebrant and legal requirements – ensuring your wedding day is calm, seamless and truly unforgettable.
Who We Are
New Zealand’s Most Experienced Elopement Planning Service
For nearly three decades, New Zealand Dream Weddings has been helping couples from around the world celebrate their love across Aotearoa’s most beautiful landscapes.
As the longest-standing original owner of a New Zealand wedding company, I bring unmatched local knowledge, long-standing vendor relationships, and a deeply personal approach to every ceremony I plan.
Whether you imagine a helicopter wedding on a remote alpine peak or an intimate lakeside elopement, we handle every detail with care, from legal paperwork and celebrant to professional photography and scenic locations that take your breath away.
Our Elopement Planning Services
We offer complete elopement planning services and customisable wedding packages across New Zealand’s most stunning regions:
Every NZDW package includes: Licensed Marriage Celebrant, Professional Elopement Photography, Legal Documentation Assistance, Location Co-ordination and Permits, Personal Planning Support from Start to Finish
Queenstown Elopements
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s top elopement destinations, known for its alpine beauty and world-class helicopter wedding locations. Say your vows high above the lake at The Ledge, beside the blue ice of Earnslaw Burn, or on a private mountain ridge with no one else around. I work with trusted local pilots and plan every detail around the light, weather, and what matters most to you.
Lake Tekapo Ceremonies
Famous for its turquoise lake, snow-capped mountains, and soft alpine light, Lake Tekapo is one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking elopement destinations. From mid-November to late December, the lupins bloom in pink, purple, and blue, perfect for wildflower wedding photos. I’ll help you choose the best spot and plan a day that feels relaxed, romantic, and completely yours.
Wanaka Weddings
Lake Wanaka offers one of the most diverse elopement landscapes in New Zealand — from lakeside vows to glacier landings deep in Mount Aspiring National Park. Say “I do” at iconic Coromandel Peak, by a waterfall, on a snowy alpine ridge, or beneath golden autumn trees. I’ll help you choose the perfect season, location, and team to make it all seamless.
Mt Cook / Aoraki Elopements
Experience the majesty of Aoraki / Mt Cook – New Zealand’s highest peak and one of the most awe-inspiring wedding settings in the world. New Zealand Dream Weddings has been planning elopements and small mountain weddings for nearly thirty years, helping couples exchange vows beneath the pure alpine skies of this sacred landscape.
Heli Wedding Experiences
Experience the ultimate adventure with our helicopter wedding packages, taking you to exclusive mountain-top and glacier ceremony sites only accessible by air — creating once-in-a-lifetime wedding memories.
Iconic Heli Wedding Locations
Cecil Peak – The Ledge – Queenstown’s most dramatic heli sites.
Earnslaw Burn – Queenstown’s waterfall and glacier valley, surrounded by alpine peaks.
Coromandel Peak – Wanaka’s famous alpine summit overlooking Lake Wanaka.
Fog Peak – Remote mountain-top serenity with golden light.
Lookout Hill – A private Wanaka high-country location with sweeping lake and mountain views.
Tyndall Glacier – Spectacular ice formations and panoramic alpine backdrops.
Lake Lochnagar – Hidden turquoise alpine lake in Wanaka’s remote high country
Other Signature Ground Locations
Chapel by the Lake - Queenstown
A serene lakeside chapel framed by mountain peaks, perfect for intimate elopements and small ceremonies.
Lake Tekapo Lupin Blooms and Lakeside Ceremonies
Ground-access locations surrounded by turquoise waters and vibrant seasonal lupins.
Why Couples Choose New Zealand Dream Weddings
Nearly 30 Years of Creating Dream Elopements
Most Experienced – New Zealand’s longest-standing elopement specialist
Stress-Free Planning – We handle everything from paperwork to photography
Local Expertise – Deep connections with celebrants, pilots & photographers
Customisable Packages – Tailored to your vision and budget
Unforgettable Locations – Access to New Zealand’s most iconic scenic sites
From Donna...
After nearly 30 years of helping couples elope across New Zealand, what I’ve learnt is this, no couple is ever the same, no wedding is ever the same, and no one’s dreams are ever the same. That’s why I don’t send off an instant quote or invoice. Your wedding day isn’t just another booking to tick off; it’s one of the most special days of your life together, and that deserves time, care, and understanding.
Before I can plan your wedding, I want to hear from you, what you imagine, how you picture the day, and what matters most to you both. Because for me to be the right planner for you, I need to understand what you want, not what a planner thinks you should have. That’s how every wedding becomes its own story, shaped by you, not by a template.
If you feel that what I offer is right for you, please get in touch, let’s get to know one another and start this journey together.
Warm regards,
Donna-Louise Dohi
Founder and Personal Planner, New Zealand Dream Weddings
Kind Words from Our Couples...
We feel so incredibly blessed and excited to have begun this new chapter of our lives with New Zealand Dream Weddings by our side. Thank you for being such an integral part of our story.
We have no doubt that with your dedication and passion, New Zealand Dream Weddings will continue to flourish and bring the same magic to many more couples.
Wishing you continued success and all the best! :)”
— Karry & Kunitoyo
DOC Concession Assurance
All NZDW heli landings and scenic wedding locations are fully approved and permitted by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC), the government branch responsible for protecting Aotearoa’s national parks and conservation lands.
We also obtain written permission for all private land ceremonies, ensuring every NZDW wedding is planned legally and environmentally responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I plan an elopement in Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo or Mt Cook?
We provide complete elopement planning services, from assistant with marriage licenses and celebrant coordination to photography and location bookings. Simply contact us and we’ll guide you through every step.
What’s included in your heli wedding packages?
Helicopter flights to stunning alpine destinations such as Cecil Peak, Coromandel Peak, Tyndall Glacier, or Fog Peak, plus celebrant, photographer, and complete planning support.
Do you assist with marriage licenses and legal requirements?
Yes, we guide you through the legal process to make everything simple and stress-free.
All couples apply directly online for their New Zealand marriage licence through Births, Deaths & Marriages (Department of Internal Affairs)
For international couples, New Zealand Dream Weddings assists with the next steps after your ceremony, including applying for your official marriage certificate and arranging any extra documentation required by your home country, such as an Apostille or Authentication certificate.
We then courier these documents securely to you once processing is complete.
(An Apostille or Authentication is an official government certification that confirms your New Zealand marriage certificate is genuine, allowing it to be legally recognised in another country.)
Can we customise our package?
Absolutely. Every NZDW elopement package can be tailored to reflect your vision, from the location and timing to special touches like hair and makeup, videography, or extra photo time.
Each package includes all the essential elements needed for a legal and beautifully coordinated ceremony, your licensed marriage celebrant, professional photographer, permits, and full on-the-day coordination, so everything runs perfectly from start to finish.
When is the best time for a heli wedding or mountain elopement?
Each season in New Zealand offers its own kind of magic, summer for clear skies and long daylight, autumn for soft golden tones, winter for snowy alpine peaks, and spring for vibrant, blooming landscapes.
We don’t take bookings in June, as the weather that month is often too unpredictable, with frequent rain and strong winds that make helicopter flights unsafe and viewing conditions poor. Our priority is to give you the most reliable, enjoyable, and beautifully photographed experience possible, so we’ll always help you choose a date and season that suit your vision and ensure the best conditions for your day.
How far in advance should we book?
While most couples book 3–6 months in advance, we’ve also created beautiful weddings in as little as two weeks, proving that when love is ready, so are we.
Start Planning Your New Zealand Elopement
Ready to say “I Do” in one of the world’s most spectacular destinations?
Contact New Zealand Dream Weddings today to explore our elopement packages and heli wedding options across Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.