Do you do weddings outside of Wanaka & Queenstown?

Absolutely! We would love to hear from you to discuss details of your wedding, wherever in New Zealand it may be.

What does the rehearsal cover?

The rehearsal will be a full run-through of what will happen on your big day. Typically, a rehearsal takes around 30 minutes, although we often ask that you allow an hour. 

The rehearsal will cover:
* Who is involved and what role they will play (where to sit if they are speaking, etc)
* The order of service
* Where we all stand
* A brief practice of all ceremonial elements
* Cheeky hints, like what to do with your engagement ring, where to look during the ceremony, the best place for each of your nearest and dearest to sit, when to take your sunglasses off to avoid squinting and what to do if you need to quickly steam your dress before the big day!

How long does it take to get a marriage licence, and can you help us?

If approved, the licence will be issued three working days after it is submitted to a Registrar of Marriages. The licence is valid for three months from the date of issue.

Let's touch base first, and I can walk you through the options - for most, including international couples, it is easiest to apply online, and I am more than happy to assist with this.

Can you write my vows for me?

Vows are very personal, so we can have a chat about whether you would like to use generic vows. We do recommended that you either amend these slightly or write your own. We have plenty of tips, tricks, and resources. We are more than happy to assist with this process, as it’s very easy for it to feel overwhelming.

What is included in your fee for our wedding ceremony?

Contrary to popular belief, we don’t just ‘stand up the front and talk for 20 minutes’, when we sign on together, we spend an average of 20 hours on your elopement or wedding. The legal paperwork, the face-to-face or phone meetings, the creative writing for your ceremony, the rehearsal and the hours of communication with you all adds up.

If you choose a Married by Friends celebrant, we will do whatever it takes to ensure you have the BEST ceremony and to calm your nerves on the day. We are all warm and friendly, will welcome and engage with your guests; and we will ensure your future husband (or wife) is up front, your guests are seated, and ready for your ceremony to begin (on time)!

In the lead up to your big day, we will work collaboratively with you to perfect your ceremony. We will attend and run the rehearsal (usually the day before) with you and your wedding party. Then, of course, the ceremony on your wedding day.

Plus we will answer any questions you may have - including recommendations of other vendors, locations or random Wanaka / Queenstown questions you may have.. (We have all lived here for a long time - so definitely know the best swimming holes, hiking trails and where to get great coffee)!

We will also take care of the legal registration post-ceremony, so you can walk away on your wedding day worry-free!

What else can you do?

Good question! We also offer MC, on-the-day co-ordination & planning services.

We know all of the vendors, and can most certainly assist with recommendations. Some of the larger venues offer an on-the-day co-ordinator as part of your package, these people are lovely and oh-so capable. In these situations, we are still able to offer MC services + of course assist you with vendor recommendations.

MC, on-the-day co-ordination & planning services are $POA.

What if we need to change the date or cancel?

If you would like to change the date (due to weather, or other unforeseen circumstances), we will do our absolute best to accommodate this. If you are eloping, this is not an uncommon scenario and all vendors are generally pretty good at trying to make this work…

If for some reason you have a change of plans and decide to cancel - if you cancel more than two months out, we will hold on to a cancellation fee. If you cancel less than two months prior to your wedding, your full fee is non-refundable.

Full terms & conditions are available on request.

Where did the photos on your website come from?

All images on this site, are from weddings we have had the pleasure of officiating. They are from a range of vendors including: Miles at Miles Holden, Andy at Andy Brown, Charlotte at Charlotte Kiri Photography, Simon at Wanaka Photography, the team at Hide + Seek Elopement Co, the team at Mountain Weddings, Kate at Kate Roberge, Kate at Kate Alexandra Photography, Michael from Kouki Photography, Mickey at Mic Image Weddings, Warren at Williams Photography, and the team at Alpine Images.