Tom + Lorena

A Secret Wedding Planned Just for Two

From the start, Tom and Lorena wanted their wedding to feel like a secret, a moment held privately between them before being shared with the world. A secret elopement in New Zealand is one of the most romantic ways to get married, and Wanaka is one of the most extraordinary places on earth to do it.

Our role at Heli Elopements was to make sure the day felt effortless: discreet planning, a calm timeline, and a small trusted team handling every detail behind the scenes so the couple could simply be present with each other.

Getting Ready & a Private First Look in Wanaka

The morning began at their Wanaka accommodation with an unhurried getting-ready experience. Before heading into the mountains, Tom and Lorena shared a private first look, a quiet, emotional moment together before the helicopter adventure began.

A first look is one of the most beautiful ways to start an elopement day. It gives the couple space to slow down, breathe, and connect before the ceremony. For Tom and Lorena, it was the perfect prelude to a wedding designed entirely around how they feel about each other.

From Accommodation to the Wanaka Helipad

After the first look, the Heli Elopements team drove Tom and Lorena to the Wanaka airport, keeping the morning relaxed and stress-free. With everything handled, timing, transport, celebrant coordination, helicopter logistics, the couple could focus entirely on the experience.

This is one of the biggest reasons couples choose to plan their private elopement in New Zealand with us. The wedding day is so much more than the ceremony itself: it's the morning calm, the transport, the helicopter flow, the photography rhythm, and the on-the-day support that holds it all together.

A Coromandel Peak Wedding Ceremony

Their first helicopter landing took them to Coromandel Peak, one of the most iconic and breathtaking ceremony locations in the Wanaka region, a dramatic alpine ridgeline overlooking Lake Wanaka, Roy's Peak and the Mount Aspiring range.

Surrounded by sweeping mountain views and the deep stillness only a remote helicopter landing can create, Tom and Lorena exchanged vows with their celebrant, Liz. It was just the two of them, exactly as they wanted it.

There is something quietly powerful about a private Coromandel Peak wedding ceremony. With no crowd, no expectations, and no distractions, the focus stays entirely on the couple and the commitment they're making to each other.

A Second Alpine Landing at Lake Alta

After their ceremony, Tom and Lorena continued their helicopter adventure with a second landing at Lake Alta, a hidden alpine lake tucked into the Remarkables range. The second landing gave them a completely different backdrop, still water, sharp ridgelines, and the kind of cinematic alpine scale that makes a Wanaka helicopter elopement feel like another world.

Their portraits from Lake Alta reflected the feeling of the whole day: peaceful, romantic, adventurous, and full of joy.

A Wedding That Was Completely Their Own

One of the most special parts of Tom and Lorena's elopement was how private it felt. Their wedding was a secret, shared only between the two of them and the small team helping bring it to life.

That privacy made the day feel even more meaningful. There was no need to impress anyone, follow a traditional timeline, or worry about expectations. Their elopement was simply about the two of them, their vows, and the start of their next chapter together.

Why Tom & Lorena Chose Wanaka

Wanaka is one of the most extraordinary places in the world to elope. It offers the same alpine scenery as Queenstown but with a quieter, slower energy, perfect for couples who want their wedding to feel intimate rather than busy. Helicopter access opens up locations like Coromandel Peak and Lake Alta that simply aren't possible to reach on foot in a single day.

For couples deciding between regions, we wrote a planning guide on Queenstown vs Wanaka heli elopements that breaks down the differences in feel, weather windows, and landing sites.

A Wedding Experience They Loved

Tom and Lorena were extremely happy with their day and with the Heli Elopements team. Their elopement was simple in the best possible way: no stress, no unnecessary pressure, and no need to perform. Instead, they had a private first look, a scenic helicopter flight, a Coromandel Peak ceremony, a second alpine landing at Lake Alta, and beautiful photographs to remember it all.

For couples dreaming of a two-person elopement in New Zealand, Tom and Lorena's wedding is a quiet, perfect example of what's possible when the day is designed entirely around the couple rather than tradition.