New Zealand Dream Weddings is led by Donna-Louise Dohi, an experienced New Zealand wedding and elopement planner who personally guides every couple from the very first email through to the moment they say “I do.”
For nearly 30 years, Donna has specialised in destination, elopement, and heli wedding planning services across Aotearoa New Zealand – creating beautiful, stress-free weddings that are fully legal, seamless, and tailored to each couple’s dream.
From choosing your perfect ceremony location to arranging your celebrant, photographer, and flowers, Donna plans every detail herself to ensure a truly personal and heartfelt experience. Her calm, caring approach and deep local knowledge make planning from overseas effortless, allowing you to simply arrive, breathe, and enjoy your New Zealand elopement day, knowing everything has been taken care of for you.
Recognised by Google
New Zealand Dream Weddings has been highlighted by Google as a trusted leader in destination wedding planning – appearing at the top of search results for terms like New Zealand elopement wedding locations, Queenstown weddings, and Lake Tekapo weddings.
We’re also proudly listed on NewZealand.com and ChristchurchNZ.com, New Zealand’s official tourism sites – a reflection of our long-standing reputation, legal compliance, and genuine commitment to couples from around the world.
Department of Conservation - Concession Assurance:
At New Zealand Dream Weddings, we’re honoured to hold official Department of Conservation (DOC) concessions for the beautiful heli-landing and ceremony sites we use on New Zealand’s treasured public conservation land.
We also offer weddings at select privately owned scenic locations, where access is specially arranged through our trusted helicopter partners, who hold the required permissions and landing rights.
Every location we share with our couples is fully approved and responsibly managed, so your wedding experience is not only unforgettable, but also created with care and respect for Aotearoa – New Zealand’s natural environment.
As part of DOC’s permit requirements, New Zealand Dream Weddings holds full Public Liability Insurance and an approved Safety Management Audit, covering land-use, operational safety, and environmental protection for all authorised wedding sites.
This ensures every ceremony is planned and carried out in full compliance with DOC’s safety and environmental standards.
(DOC Concession renewed for another 10 years – 2025 to 2035)
Learn more about DOC’s conservation mission at doc.govt.nz
Your Wedding Planner
Hi, I’m Donna-Louise Dohi, though everyone just calls me Donna (if I hear “Donna-Louise,” I still half-expect to see my mum standing there with that look 😅).
For nearly 30 years I’ve been helping couples from all over the world plan their dream elopements and destination weddings here in Aotearoa New Zealand. From your very first email, it’s me you’ll be talking to, and it’s still me behind the scenes making sure every single detail flows exactly as it should on your wedding day.
I may not be there in person, but I’m always in the loop. I check in with your crew, follow your day as it unfolds, and make sure everything runs smoothly according to the timeline I personally type up just for you.
Every wedding I plan is handled the same way I’d plan my own, organised, calm, and full of heart. My goal is for you to simply arrive, breathe, and know everything’s been taken care of beautifully.
After all these years, I still pinch myself that I get to do this, helping couples create weddings that are joyful, real, and completely “them.”
Warmly,
Donna x
New Zealand’s Trusted Elopement Specialist – Nearly 30 Years, One Focus.
I've been a wedding planner since way back
When I started New Zealand Dream Weddings back in 1999, there were only a handful of wedding planners in the whole country, and yes, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one left from those original New Zealand wedding planner days!
Back then, everything was done the old-fashioned way – handwritten notes, faxes, and phone calls that crossed time zones. I still remember sitting at my kitchen table late at night with folders full of plans, helping couples who dreamed of saying “I do” surrounded by the beauty of New Zealand.
What began as a simple idea, making it easy for international couples to plan a legal, stress-free New Zealand elopement or destination wedding – soon became my life’s work.
All these years later, I still personally plan every elopement and destination wedding. From your first email to when you receive your marriage certificate by courier, I’m there, listening, guiding, and making sure every detail falls perfectly into place. I personally type up your timeline, work directly with your team, and stay in touch on your wedding day to make sure everything runs smoothly.
I’ve had the joy of helping couples from all over the world say “I do” in some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking elopement locations – from mountaintops and glaciers to lakesides and gardens. I’ve seen trends, styles, and websites change, but the heart of it all has always stayed the same: real love, real people, and moments that truly matter.
I’m deeply proud of what New Zealand Dream Weddings has become, a trusted name built on care, honesty, and genuine connection. After nearly 30 years, my passion hasn’t faded one bit. I still feel honoured every single time a couple chooses me to plan one of the most important days of their lives.
Love Has No Borders & Neither Do the Weddings I Plan
Over the years, I’ve had the joy of helping couples from all over the world come to New Zealand to say “I do.” Whether your ceremony blends cultures, follows a faith tradition, or simply celebrates your love story your own way, it’s always personal, meaningful, and created with care.
I understand how important cultural and family traditions can be. My own husband is Japanese, so I know first-hand how beautifully love can bridge two worlds. It’s why I take such care to make sure every couple feels seen, respected, and understood, no matter where they come from.
From your very first email, I’m here to listen and gently guide you through each step, from your marriage licence paperwork and planning to the coordination with trusted local professionals. I’ll make sure your elopement or wedding day flows effortlessly so you can simply arrive, relax, and enjoy your moment.
No matter who you are or where you come from, your wedding deserves to feel genuine, joyful, and stress-free. My role is to make sure your love shines through every moment, beautifully, naturally, and without borders.
Every Detail Planned with Care, So You Can Simply Be Present
It’s not just me, I’m lucky to work with the most amazing team of celebrants, photographers, stylists, videographers, florists, and more. Together, we make sure every New Zealand Dream Wedding unfolds exactly as it should: relaxed, beautiful, and filled with heart.
From your very first email to the moment you’re standing together saying “I do,” I’m right there behind the scenes, bringing everything and everyone together so your day flows effortlessly, true to who you are.
Because when your elopement or destination wedding is planned with genuine care, every moment feels effortless, every photo looks natural, and every memory lasts a lifetime.
My commitment to you - and a personal note from Donna-Louise
At New Zealand Dream Weddings, I’m committed to planning every wedding with honesty, warmth, and heart. Your wedding day should feel joyful, never stressful, and a touch of humour along the way always helps.
After nearly 30 years of planning elopements and weddings across New Zealand, I’ve learned something simple but true:
a beautiful wedding isn’t about how big it is, it’s about how deeply you care for the people you’re planning it for.
I don’t accept every enquiry, not because I’m selective for the sake of it, but because every couple deserves my full attention, my trusted crew, and the time to do things properly.
When I take on a wedding, I commit to it completely, from your first email to the moment you’re holding your marriage certificate in your hands.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place.
If you’re simply comparing prices, I might not be the best fit, and that’s perfectly okay too.
What I offer is something rarer: experience you can feel, trust you can lean on, and a wedding day that flows effortlessly because every detail has been cared for with intention.
Because to me, every wedding is a promise, one I hold with the same care and heart as if it were my own.
– Donna-Louise Dohi
Founder, New Zealand Dream Weddings
Nearly 30 Years of Heart-Led Experience
New Zealand Dream Weddings - Personally Planned by Donna-Louise Dohi
Your wedding day should feel like you – natural, relaxed, and deeply meaningful. For nearly 30 years I’ve been helping couples from all around the world create heartfelt elopements and intimate weddings across Aotearoa New Zealand, each one personally planned by me, Donna-Louise Dohi.
From breathtaking heli-landings to peaceful lakeside ceremonies, I make sure every couple’s day unfolds seamlessly, beautifully organised, filled with care, and free from stress. My role is to handle every detail behind the scenes so you can simply arrive, breathe, and take it all in.
Some of my favourite wedding locations include Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Wanaka, and Mt Cook, each offering its own kind of magic, from mountain peaks to crystal-clear lakes and soft alpine light.
If your dream location isn’t listed, just share your ideas with me, I’ll guide you toward what’s possible and what’s permitted. Together we’ll find the setting that captures everything you’re hoping for. No two couples are the same, and neither are their weddings. Every celebration I plan is built around what feels right for you, personal, effortless, and unforgettable.
My Trusted Wedding Partners
No wedding day happens in isolation, it’s woven together by a handful of people I trust deeply, each bringing their own quiet brilliance and heart to your day.
Over the years, I’ve been privileged to work alongside some of New Zealand’s most talented wedding professionals – people who share my standards of care, calmness, and creativity.
These are the trusted partners I know will make your day seamless and unforgettable.
Photography
• Simon Darby Photography
Videography
• Tetsuya Yamamoto – Instagram
• Euraka Films
• Films by Puckey
Celebrants
• Phillipa Cook
• Caroll Simcox
• Glennys Logan
Floristry
• Studio 24
Helicopter Companies
• Aspiring Helicopters
• Wanaka Helicopters
• Heliworks Queenstown
• The Helicopter Line – Mt Cook
Hair & Makeup
• Tussocks Hair & Makeup
• Georgie Henderson Hair & Makeup
• Janine Joseph
• Simply Stunning Tekapo
• Road to Beauty
My trusted partners operate across Queenstown, Wanaka, Tekapo, and Mount Cook, ensuring every elopement is handled with professionalism, heart, and care.
Learn more about our Queenstown, Wanaka, Mt Cook, and Lake Tekapo wedding experiences.
Make an Enquiry
We’d love to support you on your very special day. Let us know the details of your wedding and we’ll be in touch shortly.