We love elopements! Especially a Kineta Booker elopement package where we get to hang out with our favourite celebrant (Kineta married us!) and meet lovely couples like Melanie + Mike. These guys flew in from California to get hitched in New Zealand on Friday 13th on top of Mt Sunday in Canterbury aka Edoras - a Lord of the Rings film location. Of course we jumped at the chance to go on a little Middle Earth adventure!

We suggested a sunrise elopement, as we wanted the most magical light. When we pulled up to the Mt Sunday carpark to meet our couple at 6am we couldn’t believe that a glowing ring appeared in the morning sky! Right over Edoras our Lord of the Rings elopement location. It was just a bit freaky, but so worth getting up early for!

We headed off on our wee hike to the top of Edoras as the sun was starting to rise. It’s a fairly easy 30 minute hike UP with a good track. We were very happy to be Mel + Mike’s offical witnesses to their marriage and their photography + videography team!

When we got to the top of Mt Sunday, we discovered it was exceptionally windy. Gale force! The wind made it quite difficult to hear each other at times and as for Mel, Kineta + Andie’s blow-drys… well, their hair turned to rat’s nest central with the first gust! This did make for some incredible documentary style photography which perfectly captures exactly what it was like up there!! Windy af, but so SO fun!

Did you know, LOTR film director Peter Jackson had to spend millions of dollars on this film set location to try and block out the noise of the wind? As usual, we also worked around the crazy Canterbury wind and just embraced it. There’s something about the wind that adds an extra layer of fun and excitement to an elopement. It’s almost like you believe that you can fly if you wanted to… and we almost did!

After rings were exchanged, Mel + Mike officially became husband and wife! To be married in New Zealand was their dream and they made it happen.

These two crazy cats wanted to get married on Friday the 13th as it’s a lucky day for them and one of their favourites… right up there with Halloween! They are all about the goth vibes, so a black wedding dress from Foxblood was a great choice for Mel. We also loved her coffin shaped engagement ring and cobweb wedding band from Coffin Gems.

Just married high fives!

With the marriage paperwork all officially signed at the top of the mountain, we headed off with our couple to do some elopement portraits around Edoras. What an epic backdrop for their NZ elopement photos!

New Zealand really is the most stunning location for an elopement. It’s no wonder hundreds of people fly in from all over the world every year to helicopter up our Southern Alps to tie the knot. The good thing about our Edoras elopement is that no helicopter expense is required! It’s just a short walk to the top!

We had the whole place to ourselves. Another reward for getting up early!

Mike’s suit and bat shaped bow tie was everything! We really love it when our couples incorporate their style and personalities into their wedding day. Our clients are a bit batty and so are we ;)

A fun first dance in the mountains was followed by a few ‘usies’ to share with family back home in America. “Hey, we’re married!”

After portraits we headed back to Mel + Mike’s gorgeous honeymoon accommodation to do a couple of quick portraits outside their very cute love shack - ‘Somers Luxury Cottage.’ We cracked open the champers and recorded their personal vows for our highlights video. Needless to say… we had a blast! You can check it out below.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien.

Melanie + Mike: “It was so lovely to have Robin + Andie as our memory making team and witnesses on our special day. The photos are beautiful!! So amazing 🖤 Can’t wait to get some printed and framed.”

Elopement Photographers + Video: Robin + Andie

Elopement Package + Celebrant: Kineta Booker https://kinetabooker.com/videoelopement/

Mt Sunday Land Owners: Mt Potts Lodge https://www.mtpotts.co.nz

Drone Permission: DOC https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/hakatere-conservation-park/things-to-do/tracks/mount-sunday-track/

Black Wedding Dress: Foxblood https://foxblood.com

Rings: Coffin Gems https://www.coffingems.com

Honeymoon Accommodation: Somers Luxury Cottage https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/21001215?source_impression_id=p3_1704764497_KvJJjoQZsypylcJQ