# Fantail Weddings: Full Content

Boutique, founder-led wedding planning for elopements and intimate weddings across the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Founder: Rebecca Brosnahan (15+ years). Contact: rebecca@fantailweddings.com, +64 274 672 126.

## Services

### ELOPEMENTS
For couples coming to Aotearoa, New Zealand, to disappear into a landscape together.
Just the two of you. Maybe a witness or two. Maybe a celebrant whose voice feels like home. Maybe a single photographer who knows when to step back. A Fiordland scree at the end of a long walk. A tarn above Wānaka in late autumn. A Mackenzie ridgeline at first light. The place chooses you as much as you choose it. It is not about doing less. It is about doing exactly the right things and doing them well.
- Marriage licence and overseas paperwork sorted with care.
- Curated location options across the South Island.
- A celebrant matched to your energy.
- Photographer (and optional videographer) from a network built over fifteen years.
- Florals, hair and makeup, transport, dinner reservation.
- Any cultural element you want woven in is treated with the same care as everything else.
- A wet-weather backup you can actually use.
- Voice notes, Loom videos, and personal calls throughout the planning months, along with a personal online portal to keep all planning information safe and easy to view.
- Me on the day, quietly present.
Investment: Planning starts from [ NZD $3,800 ]. Vendors and on-the-day costs are quoted separately, so the budget stays transparent.

### INTIMATE WEDDINGS
For couples bringing their favourite people to Aotearoa, New Zealand, for a weekend that begins as a wedding day and becomes something more.
Twenty people. Thirty. Forty, sometimes sixty. The number sits within that range. The spirit stays the same. Where the welcome dinner becomes a moment of its own. Where the ceremony is held in a Central Otago valley at six o'clock, when the light goes long, and the air softens. Where the dance floor is the size it needs to be, and not one inch bigger.
- Full-service, concierge-style planning from your first enquiry to the time we say our fairwells.
- Venue scouting and booking, including the slightly hidden ones I know from years on the ground.
- Vendor curation.
- Multi-day weekend design.
- Guest experience design, the auntie's chair with arms for her comfort, the gluten-free cake, the welcome notes in every room.
- Wet weather plan, wind plan, sun plan, yes, all three.
- A private planning portal where everything lives in one calm place.
- Me on the day, with Meghan alongside when the size calls for her.
Investment: Planning starts from [ NZD $8,800 ]. Most couples invest a total of [ NZD $65,000 to $230,000] across vendors and the celebration itself. For reference, exclusive South Island wedding venues alone typically range from NZD $10,000 to $25,000+, depending on season and inclusions.

### DESIGN & DAY OF MANAGEMENT
For couples capable of doing the bulk of their planning but wise to engage expertise for the details and design.
The best pairing for a couple who have their venue and some vendors but need the guiding eye of a designer and logistics expert. I will help you pull your vision together into a cohesive overall wedding design, coordinate the details and take care of the day-of management so you can simply enjoy.
- Styling consultation and creative direction.
- Mood boards, colour palettes, layout suggestions, and styling concepts.
- Sourcing of speciality rentals, floral concept collaboration, and visual flow recommendations.
- Review of existing plans and enhancements to bring aesthetic cohesion.
- Wedding day timeline finalisation and distribution.
- Vendor reconfirmation and coordination.
- Management of ceremony rehearsal (if applicable).
- Complete management on the wedding day - setup, styling, cueing, and flow management.
- Troubleshooting behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and elevated guest experience.
Investment: Planning starts from [ NZD $3,800 ], with all design elements quoted separately to help with budget transparency.

## Frequently asked questions

Q: How far in advance should we book?
A: For elopements and intimate weddings, most couples reach out 12 to 18 months ahead. Peak season (late February through April) tends to fill 18 months out. For the Wedding Navigator, most couples book 9 to 14 months out, though the toolkit works whether you have eighteen months or six.

Q: Where in New Zealand do you work?
A: Wānaka, Queenstown, and the wider Central Otago region are where I work most. I also plan elopements in the Mackenzie Country (including Aoraki/Mt Cook), the Marlborough Sounds, Banks Peninsula, and occasionally Fiordland. The Wedding Navigator is available NZ-wide.

Q: Can overseas couples legally marry in New Zealand?
A: Yes. You will need a marriage licence (NZD $150, valid 3 months, approved at least 3 working days before the ceremony), a registered celebrant, two witnesses, and to be physically present. I walk every overseas couple through the paperwork in detail.

Q: How many couples do you take on each year?
A: A small handful. Four to six weddings per year, plus a number of elopements and Wedding Navigator engagements. The number is deliberate.

Q: Can you accommodate cultural and religious traditions?
A: Yes, with care and respect. Tea ceremonies, mehndi, karakia, multi-faith ceremonies, and other family or cultural traditions are welcome. I work closely with celebrants and vendors across many cultures.

Q: How do you handle the time zone difference for overseas couples?
A: Most of my couples are 11 to 18 hours behind New Zealand. It is often an advantage. I am awake when you sleep, doing the work, sending vendor follow-ups, sorting paperwork. You wake up to progress. Communication runs on voice notes, Loom videos, and scheduled calls at a time that suits you.

Q: What does a Wānaka or Queenstown wedding venue typically cost?
A: Exclusive South Island wedding venues generally range from NZD $10,000 to $25,000+, depending on the season, the inclusions, and the size of your guest count.

Q: Are LGBTQIA+ couples and rainbow families welcome?
A: Always. Every kind of love belongs here. Every shape of family. Every faith. Every story. This is non-negotiable for me.

Q: How is the Wedding Navigator different from full planning?
A: Full planning is a year of voice notes, vendor management, design, and on-the-day coordination, with me running the wedding for you. The Wedding Navigator is three calls, a personalised toolkit, and a roadmap. You do the planning. I give you the map and check in twice.

Q: What happens on the day if something goes wrong?
A: Something usually shifts. Weather, timing, a flight, a flower delivery. Rarely something dramatic. The reason a Fantail day feels calm is that the wet weather plan, the wind plan, and the contingency plan have all been built before you arrive. You may never know what got adjusted.

Q: Can you bring in our own vendors, or do you work only with your preferred suppliers?
A: Both. I have a vendor network built one coffee at a time over fifteen years, and I will usually recommend from within it. If you have a photographer or stylist you want to fly in from your home country, that is also welcome. I will work alongside them and handle the local logistics.

Q: Will I actually hear back from Rebecca personally?
A: Yes. There is no inbox monitored by an assistant. I read every enquiry myself, usually with a cup of Earl Grey in the morning before the day gets busy. You will hear back within two working days.

## Location guides

### Queenstown Wedding Venues & Destination Weddings | Fantail Weddings
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/queenstown-wedding-planner/
A guide to Queenstown weddings: iconic venues, the four seasons, and boutique planning for couples marrying in New Zealand's most cinematic alpine destination.

Queenstown is the postcard: sharp peaks, a lake that goes on, and the kind of light photographers plan their year around. It's also the easiest place in the South Island for guests to reach, which matters more than people expect when half of them are flying in from the other side of the world. What I love most is knowing where the quiet is, the estate down a private road, the tarn that holds the mountains still before the day-trippers arrive.

- Thurlby Domain: A private estate with the whole sweep of mountain and lake in front of you; refined without trying too hard.
- Moke Lake: A still, hidden lake a short drive from town. Made for an elopement, or a ceremony for a handful of people who don't mind a little gravel road.
- Sherwood: A design-led hotel with a relaxed, lived-in feel and a view back over the lake. Good food, good energy, nothing stiff.
- Lake Hayes Pavilion: An easy waterfront spot for a relaxed reception, with Lake Hayes doing all the decorating for you.

Q: Can you plan a full wedding here, or only elopements?
A: All of it: full-service planning and production, design-and-coordinate for couples who have the bones in place and want my eye on the day, and elopements. Whatever the size, the care is the same.

Q: How do guests get to Queenstown?
A: Straight in. The airport connects directly to Auckland, Christchurch, and several Australian cities, so most guests land within reach of a coffee and a mountain view.

Q: When should we start planning?
A: For a full wedding in peak season, nine to fourteen months gives us room to breathe and first pick of the good venues. Elopements can come together faster.

Q: We're planning from overseas and haven't seen the venues. Is that a problem?
A: Not at all; it's most of what I do. I'm your eyes and feet on the ground, sending voice notes and short films so you can picture it from your kitchen table.

### Wānaka Wedding Venues & Destination Weddings | Fantail Weddings
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/nz-wanaka-wedding-planner/
A guide to Wānaka weddings: lakeside and high-country venues, the four seasons, and boutique planning in the quieter heart of New Zealand's Southern Lakes.

Wānaka is Queenstown's quieter sibling, an hour up the road, and a different pace entirely. The lake is stiller, the town smaller, the evenings longer and more golden. Couples come here when they want the mountains without the crowds and space to actually feel the day happening. Push on to Lake Hāwea, ten minutes further, and it gets quieter still.

- Horseshoe Bend Estate: A private riverside estate ten minutes from town, with room for everyone to stay and settle in. They ask for a planner on the day, which is exactly where I come in.
- Dublin Bay: A quiet, tree-lined stretch of Lake Wānaka's shore. Beautiful for an intimate ceremony with your feet more or less in the water.
- Lake Hāwea View: Sweeping mountain-and-lake panoramas, ten minutes farther out where the crowds thin to almost none.
- Lake Hāwea Station: A working high-country station with dramatic scenery and secluded corners, for couples who want space and a little adventure.

Q: Do you only do small weddings and elopements in Wānaka?
A: I do all three: full-service, design-and-coordinate, and elopements. Intimate is where I'm happiest, but "intimate" can still mean fifty of your favourite people.

Q: How do guests get here?
A: Most fly into Queenstown and drive the hour over the Crown Range, which is a beautiful arrival in itself. I can arrange private transfers so no one has to navigate an alpine pass in a hire car after a long-haul flight.

Q: Is Wānaka really quieter than Queenstown?
A: Noticeably. Same mountains, fewer people. If your guest list is small and you want room to breathe, this is often where I steer couples.

Q: Can everything be arranged from overseas?
A: Yes. Many of my couples marry here, having never set foot in Wānaka until the week of the wedding. That's my job: to make the unseen feel known in voice notes and calls that fit your time zone.

### Banks Peninsula Weddings & Elopements | Fantail Weddings
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/banks-peninsula-weddings/
A guide to marrying on Banks Peninsula: Akaroa's harbours, coastal luxury villas, and boutique planning an hour from Christchurch, for intimate South Island weddings and elopements.

Most couples arrive in New Zealand thinking mountains. Banks Peninsula is the surprise: a set of old volcanic harbours an hour from Christchurch, where green-and-gold farmland tips straight into turquoise water and Hector's dolphins, the smallest in the world, turn up uninvited. Akaroa, the little French settlement at its heart, still has its street names in French and a harbour you'll want to eat every meal beside. It feels like a secret, and for now it mostly is.

- Annandale: A collection of private villas across a 4,000-acre coastal farm at Pigeon Bay, reached by farm track or, if you like, by helicopter. About as secluded and romantic as New Zealand gets, and made for elopements and very small gatherings.
- Otahuna Lodge: An 1895 homestead in thirty acres of heritage gardens at the base of the peninsula, twenty minutes from Christchurch. Grand, warm, and one of the country's finest lodges.
- Akaroa & the Harbour: The French village and its working harbour: a ceremony at the water's edge, then dinner where the boats come in. A whole region's charm in one small bay.

Q: Where exactly is Banks Peninsula?
A: Just east of Christchurch: the hilly, harbour-cut headland you fly over on the way in. The first bays are under an hour from the airport, which makes it one of the gentlest South Island arrivals for overseas guests.

Q: What can you plan here, elopements only?
A: All three: full-service, design-and-coordinate, and elopements. The peninsula suits intimate and private settings especially well.

Q: Is it very different from Queenstown or Wānaka?
A: Completely. This is coast, not alpine: harbours and dolphins instead of peaks and tussock. If you want somewhere unexpected and largely undiscovered, this is where I'd point you.

Q: Can we plan it from overseas without visiting first?
A: Yes. I'll be your eyes on the ground, walking the bays, checking the light at the time of day you'll marry, and sending it all back to you in voice notes and short films.

### Mackenzie & Aoraki/Mt Cook Weddings & Elopements | Fantail Weddings
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/mackenzie-country-weddings/
A guide to Mackenzie Country weddings: Lake Pūkaki, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and the world's clearest night skies, with boutique planning for elopements and intimate high-country weddings.

The Mackenzie is where the South Island opens right out: a high, wide basin of golden tussock, impossibly turquoise glacial lakes, and Aoraki/Mount Cook standing over all of it. At night, it becomes something else again. This is an International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the largest in the world, and the stars here are the kind most people have never actually seen. It's remote, it's elemental, and it rewards couples who want scale and silence over polish for its own sake.

- Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat: Private villas on the shores of Lake Pūkaki, looking straight up at Aoraki across the water, within the Dark Sky Reserve. It handles everything from an elopement for two to a small wedding beautifully; my first call in this region.
- Lakestone Lodge: An off-grid lodge high on Lake Pūkaki's southern shore, every window framing the lake and the Alps. Quiet luxury in the truest sense.
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park: For couples who want to marry in the mountains themselves: a ceremony among the peaks, arranged properly and with the right permits. Raw and unforgettable.

Q: Can we actually get married inside Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park?
A: Yes, with the right permissions. The national park requires a permit for ceremonies, and sorting that is part of what I do. It's worth it; there are few places on earth like it.

Q: What can you plan here?
A: All three: full-service, design-and-coordinate, and elopements, though the Mackenzie is at its best for elopements and very small, very intentional gatherings.

Q: How remote is it, honestly?
A: Genuinely remote: two to three hours from Queenstown, and the nearest town, Twizel, is small. That's the point. It does mean planning matters more here, not less. I plan for the weather rather than hope past it.

Q: Is it good for stargazing at the wedding?
A: It's one of the darkest skies in the world. A night ceremony, or a guided look through a telescope after dinner, is something your guests will never forget, and something almost nowhere else can offer.

## Journal

### You Don't Have to Do All of This
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/blog/you-dont-have-to-do-all-of-this/
A quiet permission slip for couples planning a New Zealand wedding from across the world
A quiet permission slip for couples planning from across the world. You do not have to do all of this, not by yourself, not at midnight on a Wednesday with a half-cold cup of tea.

### Why the South Island Doesn't Need You to Decorate It
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/blog/why-the-south-island-doesnt-need-decorating/
An honest love letter to Aotearoa for couples choosing it for their wedding day
An honest love letter to Aotearoa: the South Island regions worth choosing, when to come season by season, and why this land needs noticing rather than decorating.

### The Most Romantic Thing You Can Do for Your Wedding Guests
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/blog/most-romantic-thing-for-your-guests/
A manifesto for hospitality at the modern, intimate wedding
A manifesto for hospitality at the modern, intimate wedding, and twelve quiet decisions that make the people who flew across the world to be there feel truly held.

### What I Wish Every Couple Knew Before Booking a Wedding Planner in New Zealand
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/blog/before-booking-a-wedding-planner-nz/
Quiet, honest expertise from a planner who has been doing this for fifteen years
Whether you actually need a planner, the four types you'll meet in New Zealand, the eight questions to ask before you book, and an honest take on pricing, from a planner of fifteen years.

### Why Your NZ Wedding Planner's Vendor Relationships Matter More Than You Think
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/lifestyle/why-your-nz-wedding-planners-vendor-relationships-matter-more-than-you-think/
When couples first start exploring the idea of a New Zealand destination wedding, most of the early conversations are about the what. What venue? What date? What style? What budget? But there’s an often-overlooked question that has ju

### How We Keep You in the Loop: Behind the Scenes of Fantail Weddings
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/event-design/keep-you-in-loop/
Planning a wedding from the other side of the world is a leap of faith. You’re trusting someone you may have never met in person to bring your vision to life, in a country you may have only seen in photos. So one of the first question

### How to Plan a Destination Wedding in New Zealand From the United States
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destination-wedding/destination-wedding-newzealand-usa/
Planning a wedding from the other side of the world is a leap of faith. You’re trusting someone you may have never met in person to bring your vision to life, in a country you may have only seen in photos. So one of the first question

### How to get a marriage licence in New Zealand as a foreign couple and what you need for your elopement
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/travel/how-to-get-a-marriage-licence/
Planning an elopement in New Zealand can feel simple on paper, then real life shows up: time zones, travel days, weather, and the small legal details that matter.This post is the clear version. No drama. Just the steps that make your marria

### Queenstown & Wanaka wedding logistics Google doesn’t tell you
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destination-wedding/central-otago-wedding-logistics/
Central Otago is one of those places that makes people exhale. Wānaka. Queenstown. Long views, clean light, and a sense that you can do less and it will still feel complete. But planning here, especially from overseas, is not just about pic

### Why planning a New Zealand destination wedding feels hard from overseas
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/travel/why-planning-a-new-zealand-destination-wedding-feels-hard-from-overseas/
Most couples come to New Zealand for the same reason. They want space. Clean air. A landscape that does not need much explaining.A celebration that feels grounded, not performative. And then the planning starts. Suddenly, you’re juggling ti

### Why Wanaka Works So Well for Overseas Couples Planning a Wedding
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destination-wedding/planning-a-wedding-in-wanaka/
For couples planning from abroad, choosing a wedding destination isn’t just about scenery. It’s about trust, logistics, guest experience, and the quiet confidence that everything will be taken care of, without the process becoming overwhelm

### How Do You Want This Day to Feel?
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/event-design/your-wedding-day-feeling/
Before venues, before menus, before guest lists and timelines, there is a quieter question that matters far more than any other: How do you want this day to feel? Not how it should look.Not what it should impress.But how it should feel to

### A Curated Guide to Wanaka’s Most Breathtaking Wedding Venues
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destination-wedding/wanaka-wedding-venues-guide/
The vision is usually clear from the outset: a deeply personal celebration, anchored by extraordinary scenery, shared with the people who matter most. What’s less clear,especially when planning from overseas, is how to choose the right sett

### Is a Destination Wedding Right for You? How to Make the Big Decision
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destinations/is-a-destination-wedding-right-for-you-how-to-make-the-big-decision/
Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting milestones in life, and one of the most significant decisions you’ll face is whether to celebrate close to home or embark on an unforgettable destination wedding adventure. If you’ve been dr

### The Ultimate New Zealand Destination Wedding Packing List: 11 Must-Have Essentials
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destinations/the-ultimate-new-zealand-destination-wedding-packing-list-11-must-have-essentials/
Planning a destination wedding in New Zealand is an exciting adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, intimate moments, and unforgettable memories. As you embark on this journey, having a well-thought-out packing list is essential to

### Crafting the Perfect Wedding Guest List: Balancing Budget and Relationships
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/destination-wedding/perfect-wedding-guest-list/
Have you ever wondered how to strike the perfect balance between your wedding budget and the guest list? It’s a common dilemma for many couples planning their big day. In a recent episode of our YouTube podcast, we explored this topic in-de

### Creating a Luxury Sustainable Wedding in New Zealand: 5 Essential Areas for a Memorable, Eco-Friendly Celebration
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/event-design/sustainable-eco-friendly-wedding/
When it comes to creating a luxury wedding in New Zealand, sustainability is no longer just a trend, it’s a promise to the planet and future generations. For couples who value both elegance and environmental responsibility, planning a sustai

### Seasonal Weddings: The Best Times of Year to Say "I Do" in New Zealand
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/celebration/seasonal-weddings-new-zealand/
Planning a wedding in New Zealand isn’t just about picking a venue, it’s about choosing the perfect season to highlight everything this incredible country offers. With weather that flips the script for our friends in the Northern Hemisphere,

### Mastering Wedding Budgets: Your Essential Guide to Financial Planning
https://fantailweddings.co.nz/wedding-budget/wedding-planning-budget/
Have you ever wondered why so many couples find themselves financially strained after their wedding day? In our latest episode of the “Get Wed Plan” YouTube podcast, we delve into the crucial topic of wedding budgeting. While it might not b