Aoraki Mt Cook Elopement on the South Island of NZ
Friends. I am so so so excited to share this Mt Cook elopement from this past December. S + W wanted a true adventure elopement- picking the most epic place they culd think of: New Zealand. And from the first zoom call we hit it off right away, bonding over mutual stoke, nerd references. We planned their international elopement in 8 months (proving you don’t need a full year to plan an elopement abroad!) From the onset they were committed to making choices that were the most fun. We tossed around a few different location options, but after falling in love with a few places, S + W decided to elope in Aoraki Mt Cook National park, but also make Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park part of their elopement adventure, turning their one day elopement into a three day once in a lifetime adventure.
We started the adventure in Milford Sound- a place close to my heart (it’s the inspiration for my logo and the origin of “Peak Existence“). Milford is a true stunner- but the weather there is always something of a gamble. It’s one of the rainiest places in the world (something I’m always super clear with when I discuss it as a location option). But S + W *wanted* it to rain- hoping to see the waterfall count shoot through the roof- something that only happens when it rains. They were stoked and down for any weather. So at the true bottom of the world, surrounded by over 200 waterfalls (that’s not a typo!) S + W got ready in their chalet and had their first look along the Cleddau River. It was sprinkling on us during the first look, then truly started to rain while S + W exchanged personal gifts and wrote their vows together. The weather cleared to a sprinkle and we headed out to the sound. We adventured around the beach, encountering Wekas and Oyster Catchers. It’s hard to describe the beauty and S + W were in awe and having a blast the entire time.
After a break for dinner, we met up again for a classic wacky Aimee Flynn Photo idea. Lantern photos, in the near dark, in the sound. I remember running around, absolutely gleeful at the magic, nearly slipping on the slick rocks dozens of times. Totally worth it.
Then we headed out of Fiordland to Mt Cook, where their Mt Cook elopement could continue. We met up in the park for sunrise… where the weather called for rain. I’d been keeping an eagle eye on the forecast, and had a deep hunch that based on the specifics of the weather moving in, there was a chance for some real magic.
Well. As I drove into the park and the sky started to glow pink, knew my hunch was about to pay off in a big way. Please believe when I say the morning that followed was the string of the most banana pants weather conditions I’ve ever shot in and a true example of why you should never write off bad weather. From a shocking pink sunrise, to glitter rain, to three separate rainbows… it was unreal. We adventured around, took in the sights, and all collectively lost our minds.
The next day, we drove down a dirt road for an evening adventure. Starting in the famous lupines of the area, S + W enjoyed champagne, cake, and a charcuterie before heading out to say their vows along a braided river. River terns shrieked behind them and clouds clung to the distant mountains. They laughed and danced as the sunset, before we finished the day in a lupine field and heading back to their airbnb for some sweet photos with their Christmas tree.
I have to give S + W credit. During every aspect of their elopement, there was a moment where I said “I know this seems wild but trust me!”…and they totally did. Even at the start, when they picked New Zealand on my recommendation and then again at the end, when they didn’t even know their ceremony spot- they just trusted me to take them somewhere beautiful.
Trusted me when it was pouring rain in Milford Sound, but had a feeling we’d have a window right before dinner time and during lantern photos. Trusted me when it was also raining in Mt Cook at sunrise, but I didn’t delay our start time because of the possibility of magic (and… well you’ll see those sunrise photos in this post).
W said something I loved in his elopement announcement post: “She can literally talk to New Zealand, at least I swear she can because our pictures were at all the most perfect moments in weather / conditions in my eyes.”
The weather wasn’t perfect. We had torrential rain, mist, wind… and yet it *was* totally perfect. In part because S + W leaned into it, and in part because.
Well.
Because I can talk to New Zealand 🙂
Enjoy these photos y’all. I’m so proud to share them. And endless congrats to S+W. Thank you for the trust.
Love this elopement? Want to learn more about eloping in Mt Cook or New Zealand? Check out my blog post on how to elope in New Zealand.
S + W’s take on their Mt Cook Elopement
We chose to elope on the beautiful south island of New Zealand and it was the most epic thing we have ever experienced. I cannot recommend Aimee enough. She is the sweetest, most genuine hype woman and the perfect choice for an elopement.
We found Aimee on a Facebook group, where she posted about eloping in New Zealand. We tried to consider other locations and other other photographers, and even other photographers that are based in New Zealand, but after meeting with Aimee, we were sold. We fell in love with the idea of New Zealand, the pictures Aimee had shown us, and Aimee’s personality. We signed a contract with her that day.
During the planning process, she set up a number of video calls, sent out questionnaires, a list of location options, a list of potential vendors, and made sure that we were excited throughout the entire process. We couldn’t decide on just one location, so we chose two! Who said your elopement had to just be one day? Aimee put together the perfect timeline that encompassed everything that we had wanted from the lantern photos to flower fields, while including plenty of time for things to go wrong.
When we finally got to meet up in person, it felt like we were meeting up with an old friend because she was her genuine self in all of our video calls and just has the kind of personality that dissolves any awkwardness. We kept joking about how she could speak New Zealand, because even though the weather wasn’t exactly ideal, the skies seemed to part in the most perfect ways and Aimee was able to capture the magic of it all. I’m now a believer when they say that rainy pictures can be some of the most romantic. We adore our clear umbrella pictures.
These photos changed the perception that many of our family and friends had on elopements and even convinced some that they now want to elope themselves. In my completely unbiased opinion, we have the most epic wedding photos compared to everyone else we know. We are literally obsessed and can’t wait to get the rest of the pictures!
— Ryan + Styhiln
I’m also a storyteller. Your storyteller. And while I'm here for the epic, magazine-cover-worthy, totally bananas moments, I'm also here (and to be totally honest, live for) those goofy, silly, unexpected moments that adventure always seems to bring. I'm here to tell your story in the honest and epic fashion it deserves.
