Pre-wedding
shoot packages.
Ground level to mountain top. Lakes, forests, alpine meadows, glacier access. Relaxed, unhurried, and properly planned.
Your photos,
before the ceremony.
A pre-wedding shoot, also known as an engagement shoot or pre-shoot, is a dedicated photo session before your wedding day. It is common in East Asian wedding culture and increasingly popular with couples from around the world who want to separate their portrait work from the ceremony itself.
In Queenstown, this means access to every landscape the South Island offers: lakeside reflections at golden hour, ancient beech forest, alpine meadows, and helicopter access to private mountain zones that most visitors never reach.
You do not need to be getting married in New Zealand to book a pre-wedding shoot here. Many of our clients are visiting from Japan, Australia, the United States, and Europe specifically for the location. We handle all logistics, permits, and vendor coordination.
- Photoshoot planning, coordination and vendor management
- 3.5 hours of wedding photography (standard) or 4 to 6 hours (heli packages)
- Ground transport for two from Queenstown accommodation
- Location scouting and seasonal timing advice
- All editing, gallery delivery within 6 to 8 weeks
- GST where applicable
- Optional: hair and makeup, videography, bouquet and buttonhole
Most international couples book 3 to 12 months in advance. The enquiry process is entirely remote.
Queenstown at
ground level.
No helicopter required. These packages cover Queenstown’s most scenic accessible locations: lakeshores, alpine meadows, historic Arrowtown, and Deer Park Heights where The Lord of the Rings was filmed.
Essentials
Package
Simple and grounded. Queenstown is beautiful at lake level. Coronet Peak, Moke Lake, or Lake Johnson. Perfect for couples who want a relaxed, unhurried session without logistics overhead.
- Pre-Wedding Shoot planning and vendor management
- Ceremony at Coronet Peak, Moke Lake, or Lake Johnson
- Registered celebrant
- 3.5 hours of wedding photography
- Ground transport for 2
- GST where applicable
Deer Park
Heights
The Lord of the Rings was filmed here. Stunning mountain-top views, reflective lakes, and roaming animals. A private permit provides less time pressure and greater freedom than a public location.
- Pre-Wedding Shoot planning and vendor management
- Pre-Wedding Shoot permit for Deer Park Heights
- Registered celebrant
- 3.5 hours of wedding photography
- Ground transport for 2
- GST where applicable
Mountain access by
helicopter.
Private landings at locations only reachable by air. AS350 helicopter departing Queenstown or Wanaka Airport. Each package includes 60 minutes at your chosen location, 3.5 hours of photography, and full planning coordination.
Queenstown
Local Mountain
The base heli option. Cecil Peak or The Remarkables. Iconic mountain scenery via a short flight from Queenstown Airport.
Earnslaw
Burn
An epic Lord of the Rings filming location in Glenorchy. A hanging glacier at the summit of Mt Earnslaw cascades as stunning waterfalls into the burn below.
Lake
Lochnagar
A remote alpine lake above the tree line. Still water, raw mountain terrain, and dramatic scale. Accessible only by helicopter from Queenstown Airport.
Lake
Erskine
A glacial lake in the remote mountains of Northern Fiordland. Frozen over winter, shimmering baby blue in summer. One of the most distinctive backdrops in the South Island.
Coromandel
Peak
Also known as Roy’s Peak, with New Zealand’s most recognised alpine view. A private, fenced-off section of Mt Roy accessible only by helicopter. Departure from Wanaka saves considerably on price.
Best of
New Zealand
The full experience. Four helicopter landings at Lake Erskine, Earnslaw Burn, The Glaciers, and Coromandel Peak. 195 minutes total landing time. Hair and makeup, luxe bouquet, and six hours of photography included.
Two landings,
one day.
+ Glacier
+ Glacier
+ Lake Lochnagar
+ Lake Erskine
Add-on
services.
- Bridal hair and makeup (1 set)
- Full day bridal hair and makeup
- Groom hair and makeup
- Seasonal bouquet and buttonhole
- Luxe bouquet and buttonhole
- Portable arch and 3 floral arrangements
- Videography: full ceremony + 3 to 5 min highlight film, 4K, drone shots where permissible
- Additional photography hour
- Helicopter fly-by (hovering in background)
- Additional helicopters for guests
What couples
say.
“Tomomi, Ayaka and Josh made it one of the most unforgettable memories for both my wife and me. They did their best to do everything possible for us. I’m 120% sure you can make a special day with Nomad Weddings.”
“James and Tomomi are solid professionals with an impressive body of work. They gave us great direction and managed their roles with ease. We barely noticed them taking pictures half the time. And wow, those pictures. Simply stunning. Don’t walk, RUN to these guys.”
“On the day, James and Tomomi were incredible. They made us feel so special and comfortable. We were both so nervous going in, but they put us completely at ease. Our photos have well and truly exceeded our expectations.”
“Adventure-led shoots across Queenstown, Wanaka, and the South Island. Relaxed, unhurried, and properly planned.”
Nomad Weddings NZ
Common
questions.
No. Many of our clients travel to Queenstown specifically for the shoot and are getting married elsewhere. A pre-wedding shoot is a standalone photography session. No marriage certificate, legal process, or ceremony is required unless you want one. We can also include a symbolic ceremony if you would like the full experience without the legal component.
Book your
shoot today.
Tell us your dates and we will confirm availability within 48 hours.
Summer and autumn heli slots fill months in advance.
Start planning
your shoot.
Tell us your date and we will confirm availability, answer any questions, and send a full pricing overview within 48 hours. Most couples book months in advance from overseas. The process is straightforward and entirely remote.
