Trevor + Sharyn's Waipara Winery Elopement

Chaznel Steenkamp
Apr 14, 2022
2 min read

Updated: May 4

Waipara, NEw Zealand

The story of Trevor + Sharyn's Winery Elopement in Waipara:

Trevor and Sharyn knew they wanted something intimate and relaxed for just the two of them. No guests, no eyes, just them and the autumnal colours of the Waipara Springs vines around them.

Their reason for eloping was simple, they didn't want the attention on them, as their daughter was soon to be married and they didn't want the spotlight taken away from her, so they decided to elope, just the two of them.

They had just recently moved to Christchurch and with Waipara only being a 45 minute drive from the CBD they chose to elope somewhere close to home and then head off on their honeymoon straight after. Trevor and Sharyn chose to elope at a Winery in Waipara so they would have a place to come back to over the years as a memory of their special day.

In choosing to elope they wanted something as easy as showing up and eloping in beautiful scenery, sharing their private vows, and signing the paperwork. Followed by adventuring in between the unending rows of colourful grapevines and sharing a celebratory bubbly and lunch together. They had the most romantic, intimate elopement they could've ever dreamed of all the while enjoying the autumnal season of New Zealand.

They didn't have any guests at their elopement which meant I had the honour of signing their paperwork as one of their witnesses.

A couple on their elopement day walking in a winery during autumn in Waipara, New Zealand

A gif of a groom twirling his bride in a winery in autumn on their elopement day in Waipara, New Zealand

How it all came to be:

It wasn't all as smooth sailing for these two love birds when it came to the lead up with their elopement experience. Their original photographer fell ill with Covid two days before they were set to say "I do" and so their celebrant (Kineta Booker) reached out to see if I would be available to save the day! And boy am I glad I had their date available, as this was the start to my journey as an elopement photographer.

I fell in love with helping couples elope in intimate ways, away from all the family drama's that weddings tend to bring along with them and instead allowing them to fully be present in the moment, enjoying nature in all it's glory.

Since then I have had the pleasure of photographing many elopements throughout the South Island of New Zealand, small and extravagant...