Did we just shoot the ultimate elopement day?
Maggie and Tom joined me for a styled elopement shoot that I have been wanting to put together for a full year – we just had to wait for the lupins to come out again!
Big shout out to the awesome team who made this happen:
Female Model: Maggie Watts
Male Model: Thomas Lacombe
Florals: The Stemery
Starting off in Lake Tekapo at sunrise. The whole area down here is covered with lupins (they only flower from mid Nov – mid December, so to get them in full bloom took a bit of planning).
The Church of the Good Shepard sits just down by the lakefront too, it is now fully enclosed with a fence but still looks gorgeous perched in front of the turquoise water and mountains.
We took some photos down at the lake and then ventured off to another spot closer to Lake Alexandrina. There is a lookout on the side of the road that was full of lupins and gave us a great view out over Lake Tekapo. If you wanted to say your vows at sunrise, this is stunning location! Perfect if you want to have guests who are less able as this location is completely accessible for anyone.
We went out for breakfast after this – there is a nice café in the little village called the Greedy Cow, who make amazing pancakes & eggs!
A 30 - minute drive away is Lake Pukaki which is known for its almost fake looking blue water. I never fail to be amazed when it first comes into view.
We found a nice spot in the grass to have a picnic. You can pack all your favourite food and enjoy just relaxing and taking in the views of Mount Cook in the distance.
An hour away in Omarama you will find the Clay Cliffs.
It doesn’t sound all that interesting when you just see the big brown sign off the main highway, so is quite easy to just drive on past.
Turn off onto the gravel road and only a 10 - minute drive later you reach these stunning cliffs. It won’t even feel like you are in New Zealand!
Cost: $5 per vehicle put into an honesty box at the gate
With a river running by and the wild - flowers in full bloom, this was a dramatic and beautiful spot to explore.
To finished up we booked a tub at Hot Tubs Omarama. The private outdoor hot pools are the ultimate way to relax and unwind. On a clear night you can look up at a canopy of stars.
Cost: $98 for two people for 1.5hrs
As a next day excursion, a trip into Mount Cook is a must! You can hike the Hooker Valley Track which is 2-3hrs return. You get amazing views of the surrounding mountains and a big glacial lake at the base of Mount Cook.
A full day elopement day can be made up of all your favourite activities and exploring multiple locations. It is a day where you and your partner get to celebrate doing life together, in a way that is meaningful and true to you!
Enjoy this session? Check out some more elopement days here: