Wedding style
Helicopter & Mountain Weddings
Fly to a private mountain top or glacier and marry with the whole of the Southern Alps to yourselves.
Marry where no one else can
A helicopter wedding is the signature New Zealand elopement — and my favourite to plan. We lift off from the valley floor and, minutes later, set down on a mountain top or glacier that simply can’t be reached any other way. Up there, it’s just you, your celebrant and your photographer, with the Southern Alps stretching to the horizon.
Where you can go
Around Queenstown, legendary landings include The Ledge on Cecil Peak and The Remarkables. From Wānaka, Coromandel Peak, Lookout Hill, Tyndall Glacier, Lake Lochnagar, Alta Tarns and Fog Peak await. And near Aoraki / Mount Cook, you can land on a glacier ringed by New Zealand’s highest peaks.
Safe hands, always
I work only with trusted local pilots who meet New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority standards, on landings approved through DOC concessions and private-land permissions. The pilot always has the final say on the day; if the weather turns, we move to an alternative landing or a ground ceremony, and the helicopter cost is refunded. You can read more in Heli Weddings Explained.
Where you can marry
Queenstown
New Zealand's most spectacular alpine playground — dramatic peaks, deep blue lakes, and private helicopter landings all to yourselves.
Wānaka
Queenstown's quieter neighbour — a serene lake, open alpine landscapes, and some of New Zealand's most beautiful helicopter landings.
Mount Cook / Aoraki
New Zealand's highest mountain — glaciers, alpine valleys and a sense of scale that takes your breath away.
Packages for this style of day
Earnslaw Burn Heli Wedding
A helicopter elopement in a hidden valley of cascading waterfalls near Glenorchy — pure New Zealand magic.
The Ledge — Cecil Peak Heli Wedding
A dramatic shelf high above Lake Wakatipu, reached by a ten-minute flight — one of Queenstown's most iconic heli landings.
Coromandel Peak Heli Wedding
A ridgeline over Lake Wānaka on the Mt Roy range — among the most beautiful heli landings in New Zealand.
The Remarkables Heli Wedding
Exchange your vows high in The Remarkables, surrounded by breathtaking alpine views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
Fog Peak Heli Wedding
A spectacular alpine wedding location overlooking the Matukituki Valley and the Southern Alps.
Liebig Dome Heli Wedding
Exchange your vows surrounded by snow-covered alpine landscapes with breathtaking views across Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
Richardson Glacier Heli Wedding
Exchange your vows beside a breathtaking glacier, surrounded by snow-covered peaks in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a helicopter wedding in New Zealand cost?
A helicopter wedding costs more than a ground ceremony because of the flight itself, but it remains one of the most extraordinary things you'll ever do. Packages typically start from around NZ$9,300 depending on the location, flight time and landings. I'll give you a clear, honest quote once I know what you have in mind.
How long is the helicopter flight?
Most flights are short — often ten to twenty minutes each way — but the pilot lands and waits while you marry, so you have your mountain top entirely to yourselves. The whole experience usually takes two to three hours.
Which season is best for a helicopter wedding?
October to May offers the most reliable flying, with peak conditions from November to April. May and September add snow-dusted peaks. Winter flights from June to August are weather-dependent and subject to pilot approval.
Do we have to fly to marry in the mountains?
No — the helicopter is optional. You can hold your ceremony at a beautiful ground-accessible spot and add a helicopter photo flight afterwards, or skip flying entirely. I'll shape the day around what feels right for you.
With love, from New Zealand
Let’s plan your New Zealand wedding
Tell me your story and what you have in mind. I’ll personally guide you every step of the way — the same as I have for couples from around the world since 1999.
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