Chris & Rory’s Romantic Adventure Elopement at Coromandel Peak

In the heart of New Zealand’s stunning mountains, Rory and Chris celebrated their love with an intimate elopement that felt both personal and breathtaking. From a ceremony atop Coromandel Peak to the picnic complete with games, every detail captured the spirit of adventure and intimacy that defines their relationship. Photographer and planner Kellie from Shaken & Stirred Weddings perfectly documented (and curated) their magical day!

After matching on Hinge, Rory and Chris agreed to meet up at a brewery nearby. It was only when Chris said he couldn’t find Rory (even though it was pretty empty) that they realised they’d gone to different venues. “He had gone to CityWORKS, and I had gone to WORKhorse. I texted him a selfie of me with the Workhorse menu and told him I’d be over to the correct location in 10 minutes. The bartender comped my beer because he thought the mix-up was hilarious. Chris was waiting for me outside of Cityworks, and it actually was a really nice icebreaker to get past the first date awkwardness. We spent three hours there until they closed, and then another hour talking outside by the public fireplaces. Our second date was only three days later. We went to a park with live music, put out a blanket, played card games, and had Indian food delivered. I wore dinosaur leggings,” she recounted.

“Over the next two years, we have travelled a lot and played about a million more board/card/dice games. We went rock climbing on Otter Cliffs in Acadia National Park, brewery-hopping in Asheville, North Carolina, and floating down a river in Mexico, among other adventures. We combined our game collections and have game nights with friends whenever we can.”

In the rugged beauty of Scotland, where misty peaks meet endless skies, Christopher chose the most breathtaking place to ask the most important question. “We went to Scotland to celebrate Christopher’s birthday and our anniversary. We travelled throughout the country over two weeks and hiked up to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye halfway through the trip. Chris proposed at the top with a beautiful rose gold and moss agate ring, and the whole thing couldn’t have been more perfect,” Rory shared.

To tie the knot, Rory and Chris decided to forgo a formal wedding and instead eloped in Queenstown with their two friends who live locally. “Kate and Rory have been friends for over 15 years, and she and her husband Dave were our witnesses.”

Coromandel Peak was the perfect location for their ceremony, and with the help of Heliworks, it was a quick flight up the mountain before they were ready. “We chose Coromandel Peak because of the phenomenal views and privacy. We love hiking and being outside, and wanted our ceremony to be in someplace breathtaking,” shared Rory.

Rory walked down the mountainside towards Chris as “The Mountain Song” by Tophouse floated through the fresh air.

Emily Flemming from Your Big Day was the perfect officiant for this duo, writing a lovely ceremony for Chris and Rory that incorporated all of their favourite things. “It was short and sweet, and we also chose to write our own vows (Rory forgot hers and had to wing it from memory, though).”

For Rory and Chris, the top five things that made their romantic adventure elopement theirs were:

“1. Starting the day completely stress-free in a hot tub, watching the sunrise over the mountains.

2. The helicopter ride through the beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers.

3. Having our “first look” on a mountain with spectacular views, but still somehow only looking at each other.

4. Playing games and sharing a midday picnic at Earnslaw Burn with our two friends.

5. Wandering around Queenstown after dinner in our wedding attire, eating gelato, and being congratulated by strangers.”

When it came to her flowers, Rory asked the team at Bespoke Wedding & Events to create a bouquet that looked straight out of a patch of wildflowers. “It complemented the floral embroidery on my dress – they did an unbelievable job.”

Kellie from Shaken & Stirred was more than just a photographer for Rory and Chris; she was also their planner and all-around lifesaver! “She helped us plan our perfect day from the other side of the world and made every single thing perfect. From finding Rory’s hair and makeup artist and florist, to helping us choose our locations and match us with our officiant, Emily, to bringing us a beard trimmer and fabric steamer the night before the wedding. She was so fun and really helped us relax into the day, and kept us warm with hot chocolate during our astro photos. She was a blast to work with, and I think we would have become fast friends if we were local!”

After the ceremony was finished, the wedding party moved over to Earnslaw Burn, with dramatic blue ice from the glacier and waterfalls. It was the perfect space for more portraits, and for Rory to don her green velvet cape.

They set up their picnic from Rosie’s Plate, and between bites they broke out the classics – Trivial Pursuit, Pass the Pigs and shared the kind of laughs reserved for those longtime friends who’ve seen multiple seasons of your life.

The advice Chris and Rory want to leave for couples planning their own weddings (and elopements!) is this: “Do what you want to do and don’t worry about what your family or friends want. This is YOUR day and no one else’s.”