Amanda & Maulid
“The Adventure Package (Photo + Film)”
Love Story
Amanda and Maulid’s story began with a chance encounter in an elevator…
Their mutual best friend Hannah, Amanda’s castmate on the film Pulau Hantu (Ghost Island, 2024), had picked Maulid up from work early and brought him along to hang out at a friend’s apartment. Amanda and a few other cast members were already there, winding down after a script reading session before a movie premiere that evening. And as the group made their way up from the basement carpark, Maulid stepped into the elevator and saw Amanda for the first time. Sunglasses on indoors, boots adding to an already impressive height advantage of five centimetres. His first thought? Who are you? You look really cool.
It took a little while for the conversation to spark, but when it did, it really did. Amanda mentioned Salatiga (a city in Central Java and her family’s hometown), and it turned out Maulid had lived there for three years. That was all it took. From there, they were off talking, laughing, exchanging Instagram handles before the night was out. Amanda thought Maulid was a personal trainer based on how he was dressed. He is, in fact, a Product Manager.)
Two months later, Maulid finally asked her out. A bowling night. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, they’ve built a life together. Travelling, working out as a pair, cooking and dining out, and doing everything as a team. When it came time to get engaged, Maulid took Amanda to Sydney, a city that’s part of her story, having been born there but never returned. That’s where he proposed.
And as for their wedding, it only ever made sense for it to be in New Zealand. Amanda is half Indonesian, half Kiwi, and has never once set foot in the country that’s part of her roots. Queenstown, with its jaw-dropping landscapes, its timeless beauty, and — not insignificantly its very strong Lord of the Rings energy (Maulid’s words), was always the destination.
Eloping felt completely true to who they are. Intimate, intentional, and grounded in something real.
Accommodation: Central Private Hotel
Ceremony: Lake Erskine
Couple’s Photos: Remarkables (ground location)
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On the day
Emma & Kaleb met Amanda and Maulid at the Central Private Hotel in downtown Queenstown and what a fun starting point it was. Their room had the most wonderful Kiwiana character to it, full of personality and charm, which made for some really unique getting ready photos before the adventure began.
From there, Emma drove them to Heliworks, where they checked in for their winter flight out to Lake Erskine. And honestly, what awaited them was straight out of a dream.
Every mountain was blanketed in snow, the sky was a deep, brilliant blue, and everything was just sparkling. One of those days where you genuinely can’t believe how beautiful Queenstown can really be.
Amanda and Maulid wore matching black and white capes for the ceremony, which were absolutely stunning against the snow-covered landscape. With snow underfoot and those majestic peaks all around them, Philippa Thomas officiated the most beautiful, intimate ceremony at Lake Erskine. Just the two of them, surrounded by the kind of scenery that you’ll never forget.
After flying back down, the day wasn’t done just yet. They drove to the Remarkables to pop champagne and capture a few more couple’s photos with those iconic views as their backdrop. The perfect way to end an unforgettable day.
Vendors:
Planner: Ella | @lostinlove
Photographer: Emma | @lostinlove
Videographer: Kaleb | @lostinlove
Celebrant: Philippa Thomas | @weddingcelebrantnz
Heli Hire: Heliworks | @heliworks
