Elopements, Designed for Intimacy.
wairarapa & beyond
All-inclusive, one-of-a-kind elopements
August & Vine plans and photographs private elopements across Wairarapa and New Zealand.
I bring together exclusive properties, exceptional creatives and composed leadership to shape a day that feels powerful in its simplicity.
The guest list may be small.
The experience is not.
Freedom, beautifully executed
An August & Vine elopement begins with possibility.
It might unfold beside a river at sunset, at a luxury estate, or somewhere unexpected. It might include music, colour, movement, or a table set for two. It might be quiet and restrained, or expressive and full of energy.
What matters is that it reflects you.
My role is to take your vision and shape it with taste, so it feels cohesive, distinctive and worthy of the occasion.
It’s about creating a day that feels unmistakably yours.
Elevated, always.
Creative freedom needs leadership.
Understanding which celebrant brings energy and which steadies nerves, which florist works with structure and who is more organic. Knowing the venues' qualities like how the light hits at different times of the day and how the weather affects what each space can truly hold.
August & Vine brings your vision to life seamlessly, so you don't have to.
It comes together as one.
Full-service elopements
I design and deliver elopements across Wairarapa and throughout New Zealand, including:
Heli-elopements
Full-day elopements
Engagements and proposals
Exclusive private properties
Rural, mountain, river, coastal and forest settings
Every elopement is fully managed from the outset. This includes:
Planning and timeline design
Photography and film
Accommodation and transport
Celebrant
Floral design and styling
Hair and makeup
Catering
All logistics are arranged, coordinated and overseen under one direction.
Client Words
"Sam chose amazing people to work with to put this day together perfectly. We are so grateful we got an experience this beautiful and heartfelt."
- angel and conall
Investment
Elopements (just the two of you or up to 8 guests)
Typically $9,000 – $15,000
Intimate weddings (9 - 30 guests)
Typically $15,000 – $30,000
Final investment reflects location, guest numbers and vendor selection.
Detailed vendor sourcing and full cost confirmation takes place once your booking is secured.
The approach
Where It Begins
We begin with a conversation about what this day means to you, the atmosphere, the setting, the experience and the people beside you.
If it feels aligned, your date is secured and planning begins.
As It Takes Shape
I confirm the location, bring together the right team and shape the timing so the day moves naturally.
You’re guided through decisions that define the experience.
Before It Arrives
Once the direction is clear, everything is confirmed and coordinated.
By the time the day comes, it feels effortless because it's been carefully crafted in advance.
Why Wairarapa
Wairarapa is defined by space. Space for a ceremony on a private ridge, long-table lunches at vineyards, or a helicopter landing without spectacle.
Within a small region, there is remarkable range. Untamed coastlines, rivers and valleys, farmland that stretches quietly, vineyards and homesteads tucked into the landscape.
Because I work closely with landowners, venues and creatives here, you’re not limited to public viewpoints or obvious spaces. You have access to places that feel entirely your own.
Understated, grounded and wildly beautiful. This is not a region built for performance. It’s built for atmosphere.
"Joys come from simple and natural things:
mists over meadows, sunlight on leaves, the path of the moon over water."
Sigurd F. Olson
FOUNDER, PHOTOGRAPHER & PLANNER
I'm Sam.
I created August & Vine because elopements should feel extraordinary.
Before working exclusively in weddings, I led large-scale events and international productions across New Zealand and overseas. That experience shapes how I approach elopements now, with perspective, composure and an instinct for bringing people and ideas together seamlessly.
I work closely with a select group of creatives across Wairarapa and Wellington, bringing together the right people for each couple and holding the vision from beginning to end.
client words
"Better than we could ever imagine."
"You are amazing! We are blown away by the beautiful photos.
We really enjoyed our special day, it was better than we could ever imagine. Thank you for arranging everything, we are also so grateful for all the wonderful people involved."
Paul & ElliS - HELI-ELOPEMENT
If you're going to elope, make it exceptional