Real Elopement — Queenstown, Glenorchy & Cecil Peak

Sharlene + Andrew

Region: Queenstown, Glenorchy & Cecil Peak
Season: Summer
Package: Just-us elopement
Landings: Two landings
Who was there: Just the two of them

Sharlene and Andrew travelled from the USA and Hawaii for a deeply personal Queenstown helicopter elopement filled with emotion, beautiful scenery and quiet moments that felt entirely their own. A remote Glenorchy getting-ready, a tearful first look and private gift exchange, a Lake Erskine ceremony with celebrant Jason Medina, sunset photos at Cecil Peak and a champagne spray in the mountains, every part of their summer elopement was designed to feel intimate, meaningful and focused on the two of them.

A Just-Us Queenstown Elopement, Designed Around Emotion

Sharlene and Andrew chose a just-us elopement in Queenstown: no large guest list, no pressure, and a day built entirely around the moments they wanted to remember forever. Their wedding became one of those days where every part of the experience carried emotion, the getting ready, the first look, the gift exchange, the helicopter flight, the ceremony tears, the sunset photos and the champagne spray at Cecil Peak.

For couples dreaming of a destination elopement in New Zealand, this style of day is exactly the appeal, a wedding that feels personal and unhurried, with space to be fully present in every moment.

Getting Ready at a Remote Mansion Near Glenorchy

The day began with a peaceful getting-ready experience at their accommodation, a remote mansion near Glenorchy, Queenstown. The location gave the morning a private, cinematic feeling, with space to slow down, breathe and take in the significance of the day.

The Heli Elopements team captured the small details and quiet moments that made the morning special, the final touches, the anticipation, the nervous smiles, and the feeling of knowing that everything was about to become real.

An Emotional First Look and Private Gift Exchange

Before heading to the helicopter base, Sharlene and Andrew shared an emotional first look at their accommodation. The moment they saw each other, the emotion came through immediately, and tears could not be held back.

After the first look, they exchanged gifts, adding another deeply personal layer to the day. For couples eloping just the two of them, these quiet private moments often become the heart of the entire experience. There was no rush. The day had space for them to feel everything, and that is one of the reasons their Queenstown elopement felt so powerful.

Flying Into the Mountains for a Lake Erskine Ceremony

After the first look and gift exchange, the Heli Elopements planning team took Sharlene and Andrew to the helicopter base. From there, they lifted off into the mountains for their ceremony at Lake Erskine, one of the most breathtaking alpine ceremony locations in the Queenstown / Fiordland region.

Surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and remote wilderness, Lake Erskine creates the feeling of being completely removed from the rest of the world. Their celebrant, Jason Medina, led a heartfelt ceremony that matched the intimacy of the location. During the vows, Sharlene and Andrew had tears in their eyes, making the moment even sweeter and more meaningful.

Wedding Photos at Lake Erskine

After they said "I do" and shared their first kiss, Lake Erskine became the backdrop for their first portraits as a married couple. The mountains, lake and summer light created an incredible setting for Lake Erskine elopement photos that felt both grand and intimate.

Because they eloped just the two of them, the experience stayed relaxed and personal, with time to walk, laugh, breathe and simply enjoy being married in one of New Zealand's most beautiful alpine locations.

A Second Helicopter Landing at Cecil Peak for Sunset Photos

Their second helicopter landing took them to Cecil Peak, one of Queenstown's most iconic mountain locations. This part of the day gave them a completely different look and feeling, with open views, golden summer light and the perfect setting for Cecil Peak wedding photos.

Cecil Peak was also where they celebrated with a champagne spray, adding a fun and joyful ending to an emotional day. After the quiet tears of the ceremony, the champagne spray brought energy, laughter and that perfect sense of celebration in the mountains.

A Summer Elopement That Felt Completely Personal

Sharlene and Andrew's day is a beautiful example of what a summer elopement in New Zealand can feel like when every part of the experience is intentional, the privacy of a remote accommodation, the emotion of a first look and gift exchange, the adventure of a helicopter ceremony, the beauty of Lake Erskine, the sunset drama of Cecil Peak and the joy of a champagne celebration in the alpine air.

They could not have been happier with the experience, and their day shows exactly why couples travel from around the world to elope in Queenstown.