Cassondra & Joe
“The Luxe Package”
Love Story
Some love stories fall into place effortlessly — just like Cass and Joe’s.
They first met at a floating bar where Joe was performing with his band. The moment Cass walked in, he was so smitten that he stopped singing mid-song to flirt with her over the microphone. Years later, fate stepped in again when Joe came across her profile on a dating app. One super swipe led to a dinner date, and they connected instantly. That first date stretched into three days.
When it came to planning their wedding, they knew a big traditional celebration wasn’t for them. The idea of eloping in New Zealand, just the two of them surrounded by breathtaking mountains and endless skies, felt exactly right.
“Running off on a wild adventure to get married is romantic and exciting.”
They wanted their day to be stress-free, intimate, and focused purely on them, and that’s exactly what they got.
For Cass and Joe, eloping meant freedom. No timelines, no crowds, just genuine connection and laughter. Their day was about celebrating their love in the most authentic way possible, spontaneous, joyful, and full of adventure.
When they’re not off exploring, these two love spending time outdoors, seeing live music, playing with their dogs, and laughing endlessly together. Whether it’s brunch with mimosas or cosy nights in, they make the ordinary feel special.
Accommodation: Lake Hayes Estate
Ceremony: Coromandel Peak
Couple’s Photos: Lake Lochnagar
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On the Day
We met Cass and Joe at their Lake Hayes Airbnb, and honestly, this place was one for the books. It had a spa, a plunge pool, and even a secret bookcase door that opened into the rest of the house. Getting ready there felt straight out of a movie. Full of laughter, excitement, and a string of “wow” moments as we uncovered all the quirky details of the space.
When their wedding car (a stunning Daimler Conquest!) arrived, the snow was already starting to fall. It was the first real snowfall of the season, something completely unexpected. It made everything feel so magical! The ground was dusted white, the mountains shimmered in the distance, and Cass and Joe just couldn’t stop smiling.
We headed to Heliworks for the next part of their adventure, a helicopter ride up to Coromandel Peak. The conditions were perfect: calm skies, soft snowflakes drifting through the air, and the kind of thick, untouched snow that looks like something out of a fairytale. It was hands down one of the most incredible views we’ve ever seen up there.
Their celebrant, Emily O’Leary, led a beautiful, intimate ceremony surrounded by the mountains. Cass and Joe brought such a fun, easygoing energy to the day, even packing tiny joke hands for a few cheeky photos that had everyone laughing mid-ceremony.
After exchanging their vows, we flew over to Lochnagar Lake, which was completely surrounded in snow. It was the perfect spot for a luxury picnic, complete with cake cutting and a first dance that could’ve rivalled something from Dancing With the Stars. These two had clearly been practising, and they absolutely nailed the dip kiss.
Every part of the day felt so personal and full of joy, from the quiet moments in the snow to the big, laughter-filled ones. Cass and Joe’s elopement was the perfect reminder that sometimes the best wedding days aren’t the ones planned down to the minute, but the ones where you just let the magic of Queenstown and a little surprise snowfall do its thing.
Vendors:
Planner: Lost in Love | @lostinlove
Photographer: Kate | @lostinlove
Celebrant: Emily O’Leary | @emily_oleary_celebrant
Hair Stylist: Beautiful Bridal Hair | @beautifulbridalhair
MUA: Paige Shipstone | @paigeshipstonemakeup
Cake + Picnic: Picnique QT | @picniquenz
Heli Hire: Heli Hire: Heliworks | @heliworks
