Real Wedding: Kylie and Chris

Posted on 26 June, 2017

A dramatic cloudscape formed the backdrop to Kylie and Chris’ New Zealand elopement.

As Kylie explains, their marriage started with an exotic destination.

“Chris proposed while we were on holiday in Santorini, Greece,” Kylie explains. “He took me out on a personal sunset cruise where we swam in the Mediterranean and had dinner cooked for us. After a rather rocky ride to where we sat to watch the sunset, he pulled out the ring.”

WHY ELOPE?

We had been together for seven years and our first holiday was in New Zealand, and we absolutely loved Queenstown, so decided to go back there. We also have a lot of family spread around Victoria and the logistics of having a big wedding at home frightened us.

GETTING READY

We got ready together at the Hilton Hotel, Queenstown. I had my make-up and hair done, and Chris helped me get into my dress.

THE DRESS

The dress is a Georgia Couture gown that I managed to get second hand [from] a website called Still White. The girl that sold it to me no longer had a need for it, and I absolutely loved everything about it. I travelled to Melbourne to purchase it.

The gown is a lace overlay dress with gorgeous pewter beading. It weighs 6kg, and I don’t think I would have been able to find anything so unique without paying a small fortune, so I was so lucky to have found it.

It’s one of a kind and can’t believe I got to wear it on my wedding day.

THE CEREMONY

It’s so hard to put into words how it felt to marry my best friend. It felt completely natural and special. We had not planned on getting married so soon after getting engaged, but I am glad we did.

The day went tremendously well, we had such a good team helping us, and the photographer/organiser we had was amazing.

We joked around a lot, and generally just had a great time.

We took some photos of our family that were not there on the day, and had photos taken with them, which we were able to surprise them with once we got our photos back, so even though they weren’t there on the day, they were with us in “photo”.

The highlights:

• Getting a helicopter to our ceremony location
• Amazing scenery
• Spectacular anti-crepuscular rays that shone during our second landing
• Throwing around the photos of our family/friends

Your absolute favourite part of the day?

Strutting around in fabulous outfits on top of a mountain.

Reception

We booked a private room at a local Queenstown restaurant, Gantleys.

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR FUTURE COUPLES?

• Make it your day, and don’t worry about what others may or may not think- it is your day in the end
• Spend money on a good photographer/videographer, as they are the ones who create permanent memories of your day.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D DO DIFFERENTLY?

Definitely not, we got everything we wanted and more. We would recommend eloping to anyone, as to us we definitely found it to be less stressful and more personal.

THE LITTLE DETAILS

PHOTOGRAPHER Williams Photography, New Zealand

VIDEOGRAPHER Shotover Wedding Films

CELEBRANT Charlotte from Your Big Day, Queenstown

DRESS + VEIL Georgia Young Couture

ALTERATIONS Lynette from Jerrabomberra Clothing Alterations

BRIDE’S SHOES Ebay

BRIDE’S JEWELLERY Personalised Bangle engraved with our pet names, from Etsy store BecauseYoureAdored. Earrings are vintage and were a birthday present.

GROOM’S SUIT Vest and Jacket from Walker Slater. Pants and Shirt from Connor

BRIDE’S HAIR Beautiful Bridal Hair, Queenstown, New Zealand

MAKEUP I Am Makeup, Queenstown, New Zealand

RECEPTION Gantleys, Queenstown

FLOWERS The Flower Room, Queenstown, New Zealand

HELICOPTER Heli Tours, Queenstown