Neve and Hamish in Queenstown

Moke Lake

Neve and Hamish with a white Orange Blossom bouquet and flowing cape above Lake Wakatipu, Pig Island and Pigeon Island, with views towards Glenorchy, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A love that takes you high above the mountain peaks.

Neve and Hamish’s Queenstown elopement began at their Airbnb in Fernhill, moved to the quiet shores of Moke Lake, then took to the sky. After their ceremony, we all climbed into a helicopter at the lake and flew to Big Geordie for portraits at 3,600 feet, with Lake Wakatipu and its islands spread out below.

It was a day with two very different perspectives: close to the water for the promises, and high above it for the photographs. Through it all, the focus stayed on Neve and Hamish and the people sharing it with them.

A first look in Fernhill

The day started in the hills above Queenstown. At their Fernhill Airbnb, Hamish put on his black suit and Neve stepped into a simple white dress with a long, sheer cape. Her flowers by Orange Blossom Designs brought white blooms and trailing greenery into the preparations.

On the timber terrace, Neve walked towards Hamish for their first look. George Bowden photographed his smile as he turned to see her, with the mountain landscape already part of the scene. Those little moments at the house were as much a part of the day as the views waiting beyond it.

Getting married at Moke Lake

Moke Lake gave their ceremony a setting of still water, golden grass and mountain slopes. Their guests gathered by the shore as Josh Withers led the ceremony. Neve and Hamish read their vows, laughed together and held each other close, with the hills reflected in the lake behind them.

This is one of the lovely things about eloping in Queenstown: a landscape that feels enormous can still hold a very personal moment. The mountains were there, but the ceremony belonged to the two people standing in front of each other.

Afterwards, Neve shared a hug with Josh, and the newlyweds celebrated in the grass with their helicopter waiting nearby.

Helicopter portraits at 3,600 feet

From Moke Lake, we flew to Big Geordie, a mountain landing spot above Lake Wakatipu. At 3,600 feet, the outlook opens towards Glenorchy, with Pig Island and Pigeon Island visible on the lake below and ridgelines reaching away in every direction.

Neve and Hamish walked through the golden tussock together. Her cape moved across the grass as George photographed them against the lake and mountains, sometimes close enough to catch a smile, sometimes stepping back to show just how much landscape surrounded them. The white Orange Blossom bouquet came along for the flight and the portraits, a small detail carried from the house to the mountain.

A Queenstown helicopter elopement can give you that sense of adventure alongside the intimacy of a lakeside ceremony. For Neve and Hamish, getting married at Moke Lake and then flying up for portraits let each part of the day have its own setting.

Better than they had dreamed

After their elopement, Neve and Hamish told us:

“We loved having you at our ceremony, it turned out so much better than either of us could have dreamed. So thank you so much for everything!”

That means a great deal to us at The Elopement Collective. The views are beautiful, and the helicopter ride is a wonderful part of the experience. What we care about is bringing those things together around a ceremony and a day that feel right for you.

Watch their Queenstown elopement reel below, or explore eloping in Queenstown, New Zealand. If a lake, a mountain and a small celebration sound like your kind of day, tell us what you’re imagining.

White bridal shoes, rings, earrings and perfume beside a white bouquet by Orange Blossom, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A close-up of the Orange Blossom bouquet with white daisy-like flowers, pale blooms and trailing greenery, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Wedding and engagement rings resting inside an open wooden backgammon board, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish smiling as he puts on his black suit jacket over a white shirt, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve having her white wedding dress fastened, with a sheer cape draped from her shoulders, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve approaching Hamish on a timber terrace for their first look, with mountains beyond the house, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish smiling as he turns to see Neve during their first look on the terrace, at their Airbnb in Fernhill, Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A gravel road winding beside a mountain lake and golden hills on the journey to the ceremony, in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Celebrant Josh Withers looking across the still water towards the surrounding mountains, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Guests gathered beside the still lake for Neve and Hamish’s ceremony, with golden mountain slopes reflected in the water, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish smiling at Neve as she reads from her vow pages beside the lake, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Celebrant Josh Withers leading Neve and Hamish’s lakeside ceremony, with Neve’s white cape trailing behind her, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish facing each other during their vows, framed by guests and mountains reflected in the lake, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish reading his vows to Neve beneath an open sky, with golden hills behind them, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish laughing with Neve and celebrant Josh Withers during their outdoor ceremony, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish kissing after their vows beside the lake, with mountains reflected behind them, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish smiling and embracing beside the lake after their ceremony, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve hugging celebrant Josh Withers after the ceremony beside the lake, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve holding her white Orange Blossom bouquet as she stands with Hamish in the grass, with their helicopter behind them, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A black and white portrait of Neve and Hamish raising their arms in celebration, with Neve holding her Orange Blossom bouquet and a helicopter behind them, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish walking arm in arm across the grass towards their helicopter for mountain portraits, at Moke Lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A mountain lake, winding track and golden slopes seen through the helicopter window during the flight to their alpine portraits, above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A close-up of Neve and Hamish’s hands and wedding rings inside the helicopter, with part of the white Orange Blossom bouquet visible, above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish wearing headsets and holding hands inside the helicopter, with Neve’s Orange Blossom bouquet on her lap, above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish walking through alpine tussock, with Neve carrying her Orange Blossom bouquet and her sheer cape flowing behind her, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Hamish holding Neve around the waist as she carries her white Orange Blossom bouquet, with her sheer cape moving across the mountain grass, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish walking together through golden tussock high above Lake Wakatipu, with mountains stretching into the distance, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish standing arm in arm beneath a broad sky, looking towards the mountain ridges, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish kissing among alpine tussock with rugged mountain peaks rising behind them, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A black and white portrait of Neve leaning against Hamish, with her sheer cape draped across the tussock and mountains behind them, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve resting a hand on Hamish’s neck as they kiss against a mountain backdrop, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish holding hands on the mountain ridge, with her cape sweeping across the grass and a lake visible beyond the hills, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve smiling in her white wedding dress and flowing sheer cape, surrounded by golden tussock and mountain peaks, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A black and white portrait of Neve and Hamish embracing, with her long cape stretching across the mountain grass, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A wide view of Neve and Hamish standing on a tussock-covered ridge beneath an open sky and jagged mountain peaks, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

The helicopter resting on an alpine landing site among golden tussock, with mountain ridges beyond, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

An aerial view of Queenstown’s lakefront, wooded peninsula and hillside neighbourhoods beside Lake Wakatipu, in Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Neve and Hamish smiling with a guest among the golden grasses, with a mountain ridge behind them, on Big Geordie above Queenstown, New Zealand, for an Elopement Collective Queenstown elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

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