How to elope in New Zealand.

More couples are skipping the 120-guest reception & doing something small instead. A mountain, a lake, a beach, a celebrant & each other. New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to do it, & the paperwork is easier than most people think.

What counts as an elopement?

There's no rulebook! Some couples are just the two of them & a celebrant. Some bring their ten closest people. The common thread is that the day is small & built around the two of you.

What do you need to get married in New Zealand?

A marriage licence, a celebrant & two witnesses:

• A marriage licence. Apply online through Births, Deaths & Marriages at least 3 working days before the day. It's valid for 3 months, & you'll need your celebrant's name & the location when you apply.
• A celebrant to marry you.
• Two witnesses. If it's genuinely just the two of you, ask your celebrant how they usually handle witnesses.

Check the current requirements & fee on govt.nz when you apply, as they do change.

Do you need a permit to elope somewhere public?

Sometimes. A lot of New Zealand's best spots are on Department of Conservation land or council reserves, & some of them need a permit for a wedding, even a tiny one. Queenstown Lakes District Council runs its own permit process for its reserves. Check with DOC or the local council for your spot before you lock anything in.

Where can you elope in New Zealand?

This is the fun part. Queenstown & Wānaka for mountains & lakes. Tongariro for waterfalls & volcanic country. A wild West Coast beach. A quiet spot on the Manawatū ranges. Or somewhere that already means something to you two.

Dennis & Andrea, Taranaki Falls, Tongariro.

When is the best time to elope?

Work around the light. An elopement lives on golden hour, the hour before sunset. In a New Zealand December sunset is close to 9pm, & in June it's around 5pm.

Winter is underrated. Sunset is around 5pm, so the whole shoot fits in a relaxed afternoon, & a weekday or a May to August date opens up options a peak summer Saturday can't. Our Elopement collection is made for exactly that: up to 3 hours, on weekdays or any day from May to the end of August.

What does an elopement photographer actually do?

At a big wedding we document. At an elopement we're often the only other people there, so it's a bit different:

• We help you plan the timing around the best light.
• We know where the good spots are, & where the crowds aren't.
• We guide you when you're not sure what to do with your hands, so it never feels awkward.
• Then we get out of the way & let it happen.

Real Super 8 film is perfect for elopements too. It looks like an old home movie of the two of you.