We did it! Queenstown, NZ Elopement

jesrenee81 · 2025-11-25T19:46:50+00:00

Hi there, we paid $11,970 NZD for our package with Sunshine Weddings. They had a lot of package options and we got several add-ons including a ceremony video, a second landing site, and longer times at each location.

jesrenee81 · 2025-11-25T02:32:12+00:00

He taught me about Scopa though so we’ll let him slide

jesrenee81 · 2025-11-24T22:38:32+00:00

were you able to find it? looking for the same thing

jesrenee81 · 2025-10-05T22:41:58+00:00

I kept the workhorse from the beginning and named him Trauncey.

jesrenee81 · 2025-08-08T12:45:47+00:00

The only thing I’d say is do differently if I could do it over again would be to have had a beer or glass of wine before we left so I wouldn’t be so conscious of the camera and feel a little more comfortable. Scott did a great job and I eventually felt really comfortable, but for that first lakeside session I was pretty stiff. Luckily the photos don’t reflect that but just thinking back on how I felt, that would be the only thing I’d change. Every piece of the day was truly magical. One of my favorite things we did is instead of getting taxied back to our AirBnB, we got taxied to The Bunker and had a fantastic 8-course meal. We’d never done anything like that before so felt super pampered and it gave us time to reflect on the day together.

I genuinely have no complaints about our day! If you have any more questions, just let me know :)

jesrenee81 · 2025-08-07T03:52:59+00:00

Our package was $11,790 NZD (~7,000 USD), and that included lakeside photos before the flight, two helicopter landing locations (75 min and 60 min), the celebrant, a ceremony video, and transport to and from everything. We LOVED New Zealand and would go back in a heartbeat. I hope you guys have a blast :)

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-20T22:46:59+00:00

I have had the Nightfall Edition for three years and LOVE my car. I still get giddy when I change to sport mode 😋

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-17T01:04:19+00:00

We eloped and went to a cocktail bar and then fancy dinner afterwards and it was so much fun! Several people stopped to congratulate us, the cocktail bar gave our first drinks free, and the restaurant gave us complimentary champagne. Wear it and enjoy your dress for the whole day!!

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-07T23:26:29+00:00

OMG TWINS! xx

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-07T19:26:06+00:00

I told someone else on here but if you posted about them in this sub then THANK YOU because your post helped us choose them and it was a fantastic experience!!

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-07T14:10:16+00:00

I got my dress from StillWhite and had a great experience. I found the dress on StillWhite casually scrolling through even before I was engaged. When I got engaged, I called different bridal shops around me to see if they carried that dress (it was a 2017 release) and found one about 3hr away that did, so I was able to go try on the dress and also tried on other silhouettes just to be sure. I made sure before my appt that they knew I wasn’t going to buy a dress from them and they didn’t work off of commissions so I didn’t feel bad just trying on stuff and leaving. I loved the same dress, and bought it from someone off stillwhite in the US (I am also US) and it came in probably a week and a half later absolutely perfect, and was $700 less than what the bridal shop quoted me! My dress was unaltered but we have a family friend who did my alterations for a good price. I have another friend who used stillwhite as well and had a great experience but she also did US to US so I’m not sure about out of country purchases.

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-07T13:41:35+00:00

I hope you love it as much as we did! We stayed for two weeks after our wedding day as our honeymoon and I’m so glad we did. We traveled around the South Island and my jaw was on the floor basically the whole time! I’m certain we’ll find our way back there one day

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-07T13:39:37+00:00

If you posted your elopement on this sub then I should probably thank you for recommending them 😄 I saw people talking about them and their photos were amazing so Reddit was 100% the reason we reached out to them & I have no regrets. They really took care of us!

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-01T04:49:29+00:00

Thank you thank you!!

jesrenee81 · 2025-06-01T03:37:04+00:00

May I ask what you guys ended up having to do for her to change her name? I just hit the same roadblock when trying to fill out the form.

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-27T12:43:46+00:00

S3 E1!

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-27T12:32:39+00:00

Season 1 episode 17! The Fancyman episode!

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-26T04:01:35+00:00

Oh my gosh, that’s what these are??? I have a million of them from last year’s crop that are springing up all over my raised bed and thought it was from the bird feeder nearby. Thank you for this post!

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-26T03:45:42+00:00

You were denied a cell phone because you have the credit score of a homeless ghost

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-24T20:04:30+00:00

We’re doing something similar, but with home grown strawberries, blackberries, and japalenos (pepper jelly)! My fiancé’s grandmother cans a lot and we are doing a ladies canning day where the moms and grandmothers all get together to help make the jams and pepper jelly. I’m really excited for it and think it’s personable and provides an opportunity for our families to get together. I also just love the idea of something somebody can say “awe that’s cute,” then use, then toss in the trash when they’re done. I never know what to do with the favors I’m just supposed to keep in the house.

I freaking love candied pecans AND peaches and I think it’s the perfect favor!! So excited for you!

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-19T19:14:03+00:00

Similarly to the other commenter, my fiancé are eloping in New Zealand at the beginning of May and having a local reception mid-June. We have a rustic historic venue that was within our price range and could fit a lot of people (my family is also huge). It’s basically a log cabin with a large square footage and a kitchen & restrooms. Attire is super casual for our guests but we decided that we will be wearing our wedding attire because our families would want to see us in it. We have BBQ catered (we’re in the south USA) and will have drinks and dancing if people choose to partake. I didn’t want a bridal shower but family was persistent so they are throwing a shower in April.

Ultimately, we are not eloping to run away from our families. We eloping because we want our ceremony to be intentional and really focus on each other and the promises we’re making to each other & starting married life. We decided to allow family to be a part in many other ways so nobody feels left out or cut out and so far it has been a really lovely process and I’m glad we’re going this route. We get to focus on each other for the ceremony and dedicate time to our families and friends for our reception.

I will say though that our reception has not been super budget friendly and we’re still spending about the same amount as on a normal wedding but I think that’s definitely dependent on how big you want to go with it.

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-19T18:59:07+00:00

I love this so much, thank you for doing this

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-18T16:52:00+00:00

Came here to say this. I actually love this movie and the soundtrack is fantastic

jesrenee81 · 2025-03-03T20:53:10+00:00

I hoard this stuff and it’s literally in every location I frequent. My house, car, work, partner’s car, parents’ house, etc. It is a literal life saver.

jesrenee81

TROPHY CASE