What is an Elopement?
With “traditional” concepts of what an elopement is, forever changing and modernising with the current times, the definition of an elopement seems to be completely up to wherever you are in the world or your own opinions!
What an elopement USED to be - A wedding conducted in secretive and suddenly, without parents consent or approval. What an elopement is NOW - A wedding in a beautiful location with fewer than 15 guests.
With costs of weddings sky rocketing, many couples now look to plan weddings of the least stress on themselves and their wallets as possible.
Image by Kathryn Louise Weddings
Legalities of a Wedding
Before you look to plan your elopement, there’s a couple things to bare in mind when you set everything in motion. Depending on where you go for your elopement, you will need to check that countries laws of marriage.
New Zealand Marriages require the following for legal marriage that would apply to an elopement here.
That both parties are over 18 years of age (or otherwise 16/17 with a judge approval
A marriage license must be applied for prior to the wedding. This can be applied for online or via a “notice of intended marriage” form. Your license will need to be applied for AT LEAST 3 working days before your wedding, and it expires 3 months after being received.
You NEED to have two witnesses to sign the documentation. These people need to be over 18.
Your ceremony must include - declaration of marriage, vows, and signing of the documents and be officiated by a Registered Celebrant.
If you do not intend to have any guests, I have signed as a witness before being the photographer, and I have known of wedding venue owners or management to sign. In the case of a helicopter wedding, I believe the pilot can be used as a witness too.
Because Rarotonga is a popular destination wedding, I’ll pop the Cook Island legalities below
Both parties must be over 21 years old. If between 16-21, then you will require parental consent.
The Islands’ current Marriage Act prohibits those of the same gender getting married - this is your gender by birth. So, not LBGTQA+ friendly.*
Much like NZ, a marriage license can only be issued 3 days after notice intending to wed is given. Then the license expires after 3 months.
These are just some rules that apply for weddings - make sure to do your own research and talk with your chosen celebrant to rule out any sudden hiccups!
Before you just consider a registry wedding - NZ changed our laws recently so that you can no longer go to the office and get married! Your registry wedding will now be the SAME as if you were eloping. Some celebrants won’t go more than 10 minutes to a registry location (i.e. your home), so please discuss locations and their T&Cs with your favourite celebrants first!
*For a list of countries that DO legalize same-sex marriage, check outthis article- the map is a real representation of modern vs traditional values!
Image by Kathryn Louise Weddings - Corsair Bay Elopement
Why Elope?
Eloping is a great idea if you want to completely minimize stress. While it’s a bit heftier on the wallet if you want a luxurious elopement, you have access to some of the most stunning locations on offer.
Eloping on a budget is also possible though. So if you’re a bit worried that an elopement may be just as much as a more traditional wedding… hold tight. I’ll save that for later!
Modern elopements are much more planned than they used to be and are chosen for some of the following different reasons
Family unable to attend
Wanting to get married at an intimate location - somewhere off the grid that is special.
Avoiding family politics
For the awesome photos
The experience
Popular Places to Elope in New Zealand.
Queenstown is generally the most popular place to elope in New Zealand. With it’s breath-taking views and incredible landscapes, it’s the tourist gem of the South Island. It’s also a pretty good starting point for any honeymoon that wishes to travel the South, or the whole of New Zealand.
The most popular way to get married in Queenstown is of course the “heli-wedding”.
If you’re afraid of heights, this might take some courage!
A heli-wedding, or helicopter wedding involves taking a helicopter flight up to some of the most remote places in around Central Otago. Some packages have their own spots and locations they go to, with others sharing different locations.
These elopements would cost roughly $10k or more. Roughly half of what a traditional wedding would cost - and includes generally the celebrant, 3.5 hours worth of time, potential of two different locations (landing points), licensing and other small details for your day.
My personal favourite has always been Earnslaw Burn as a location 😉 The link I’ve attached there is to one of my favourite Queenstown Elopement package providers.
The most INCLUSIVE WEDDING ELOPEMENT PACKAGE FOR QUEENSTOWN would be this site here… basically, they include EVERYTHING with the exception of the dresses or suits.
The Newest Elopement Package in the South Island - Wild Union Co.
Chaznel Photography has recently created the newest elopement packages in Canterbury along with many of the finest vendors the region has seen. Wild Union Co was created to truly give couples an amazing adventure elopement experience, where couples can honest-to-god have their wedding planned in 15 minutes!
Mouse Point, Loch Stock Lodge and Starling Homestead are the current bases for the packages, with Chaznel dreaming big to work with venues and vendors in Kaikoura and the deep south
Check out more about Wild Union Co here.
Wild Union Co - Adventure Elopements
Elopement Bridal Photograph on Port Hills of Christchurch by Kathryn Louise Weddings
Eloping on a Budget.
Some photographers and celebrants work together to provide elopement packages at affordable rates for couples considering eloping. If you aren’t wanting to travel very far from your home in North Canterbury, I can suggest getting in touch with Chaznel.
I had a chat with Chaznel recently about her photography work and her elopements.
How long have you been photographing elopements?
I have been photographing elopements since early 2022 so this upcoming season will be my 4th elopement season which I am overly excited about!
How did you get into photographing weddings?
…I started my photography journey with landscapes and youth events - my love for photography has always been rooted in capturing life as it happens, and when it happens, and nature just always provided that with its ever growing beauty and changes in seasons and scenery …Friends of mine asked me to do their family portraits and I just fell in love with expressions of joy and utter love and seeing how beautiful family interaction was on camera… My "business" started in 2019 although I didn't officially launch to the wider world in 2020. I then had a couple approach me in 2021 asking me to photograph their wedding which was actually a DIY, home, backyard, rustic and just absolutely beautiful wedding for a local Amberley couple. That day I did their wedding I just fell in love with being a part of something that is so special that many will treasure for generations to come… my love for weddings grew and blossomed from there into what it is today.
What is your favourite thing about elopement weddings?
My favourite thing about photographing elopements is how intimate they are and how special you can keep them without needing all the bells and whistles as you do with traditional weddings. Elopements have become such a beautiful way to escape tradition and to do lists and focus on why couples really are choosing to get married in the first place.
Where has been your favourite elopement location so far?
It's actually really hard to choose my favourite location… I really truly believe that every location I have been at offers such unique scenery that just seems to blow my mind every time, but if I had to narrow it down to two of my favourite locations it would be the rolling hills of Amberley and the views in Hamner Springs... those two just bring out an excitement in me like a child with a lollipop!
What is the TOP or best piece of advice you give your couples before their elopement?
…Just relax, and to trust me as their photographer. As humans we typically like to be in control over everything every second of every minute, but on your wedding day or elopement day, that would be the one day I say needs to be the day that you let go of the control. Let it happen the way that it happens! It might not be 100% how you pictured it but when we focus on what truly matters in that moment and why we're there that's when the magic happens!
Image by Chaznel Steenkamp Elopement Photographer
Last but not least, what do you want to see for the future of elopement weddings and the wedding industry?
I'm torn with what I would love to see for the future of elopements because I really believe that they are special and a unique and beautiful way for getting married. In one aspect I would love to see more acceptance and support from family and friends towards couples who choose to elope…. Getting married should be done in the way that the specific couple would prefer, not what socials and reels tell them is the next big hype… Eloping is for the couple who want something a little outside of the box, who only want a handful of guests, or no guests at all, and who truly just want something a little more adventurous than your traditional wedding!
Chaznel would definitely be your go-to gal for an inclusive package in Canterbury! A romantic at heart, she’ll capture your day how she sees it x
Kathryn Louise Weddings Elopements
I WILL travel for love. Growing up in North Canterbury gave me a true sense of romanticism for the flat. Yup, you read that right. Canterbury and the South Island is built of either high, or low. None of this North Island hilly and mountainous terrain. It’s so different, and there is no place like home.
A romantic at heart, much like Chaz, I fall in love with the way the light touches everything. To see the earth that way is very much a photographer thing! I photographed a wedding in Pleasant Point at a family farm and immediately was in awe of the way the cloud hugged the hilltops. Of course, labelled a “townie” haha. But I believe sometimes we lose an appreciation for what’s around us.
And that’s why elopements are special.
That intimate and special place in your mind, is more special than you give it credit. Whether it be that favourite camping spot, the stunning location where your proposal was accepted, or a favourite 4wd or hiking location.
As a keen 4wd’er I’ve been privy to some of the most incredible spots and tracks in the South Island. The kind of places which just make you feel… “home”. Those are the kinds of places you want to elope to.
Nevis Road View