An elopement isn't a compromise — it's a deliberate choice to do your wedding exactly the way you want it. Whether that means two witnesses and a beach at New Brighton, a handful of friends on the slopes above Akaroa, or a quiet Tuesday at your favourite Canterbury spot, Hayley makes it happen. Elopements can be booked at short notice, and the ceremony is still just as personal and meaningful as any full wedding. There's nothing small about the love — just the guest list.
Hayley is a registered New Zealand marriage and civil union celebrant based in New Brighton, Christchurch. She takes one ceremony per day — which means when you work with her, her complete attention is yours.
What's included
- Flexible locations across Canterbury — beach, vineyard, garden, mountain
- Short-notice bookings accommodated where possible
- Small guest lists (even just two witnesses)
- Fully personalised ceremony — never a rushed script
- Full legal paperwork handled
- Available weekdays, evenings, and weekends
Pricing: Custom — contact Hayley for a quote
Talk to Hayley About Your CeremonyThe Process
How It Works
Quick connection
Hayley is responsive for elopement enquiries. A quick call or message is usually all it takes to confirm availability and start planning.
Location and logistics
Choose your spot — or Hayley can suggest beautiful Canterbury locations that suit your vision and guest numbers.
Ceremony planning
Even elopements deserve a ceremony that means something. Hayley works with you to create something genuine and personal, even on a short timeline.
Legal requirements
The Notice of Intended Marriage must be filed at least three days before the ceremony — Hayley helps you meet this requirement and handles everything else.
Your elopement day
Hayley shows up, fully present. She brings everything you need. You just need to bring yourselves.
Canterbury Areas
Serving Couples Across Canterbury
Hayley travels to you — wherever in Canterbury you want your ceremony to be.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about elopements.
At minimum, three working days — because that's the legal requirement for filing the Notice of Intended Marriage with Births, Deaths and Marriages NZ. Beyond that, Hayley can often accommodate short-notice elopements with just a week or two of lead time, depending on her schedule. If you're considering eloping soon, reach out straight away and she'll tell you honestly what's possible.
Almost anywhere that means something to you. Popular Arohanui elopement locations include New Brighton and Sumner beaches, the Akaroa harbour on Banks Peninsula, private Canterbury gardens, Waipara vineyard landscapes, and mountain settings with Southern Alps backdrops. Hayley is happy to travel to the right spot — and she knows Canterbury well enough to suggest locations you might not have thought of.
Legally, you only need two witnesses. Beyond that, there's no upper limit — though the spirit of an elopement is usually a smaller, more intimate gathering. Some couples elope with just their two witnesses; others bring a small group of twenty. Hayley will design the ceremony to suit your exact setting and guest count.
It doesn't have to be. Even a short elopement ceremony can be deeply personal. Hayley takes time to understand your story and write something that feels genuinely yours — not a one-size-fits-all template. The ceremony may be shorter, but it can be every bit as meaningful.
An elopement can be as brief or as full as you want. Some couples choose a focused ten-minute ceremony — the essential words and a moment that's entirely theirs. Others want personal vows, a reading, and a slower pace — just without the large guest list. Hayley writes the ceremony to fit your vision, not a template. There's no rule that an elopement has to be brief; it just means doing it on your own terms.
Yes. Even a simple elopement can include music — a playlist through a Bluetooth speaker, a friend playing guitar, or a live musician if you want something more considered. For beach or outdoor elopements, Hayley helps you think through what works practically for the setting and guest count. She's conducted elopements ranging from complete natural silence — which can be extraordinarily powerful — to full acoustic setups. Whatever feels right for you is what she'll help you achieve.
Also Available
Related Ceremonies
Ready to talk about your elopements?
Hayley takes one ceremony per day and personally responds to every enquiry.
Enquire About Your Elopements