An intimate Rippon Wanaka wedding ceremony

Gigi + Matt | Rippon Hall, Wanaka | January, 2025

Standing in front of Lake Wanaka with the majestic Rippon vines behind them, Gigi and Matt created a wedding ceremony that was personal, intimate, and entirely focused on their connection.

When you make it about what matters most

When you picture a wedding at Rippon in Wanaka, you already know the views will be breathtaking. But what makes a wedding truly unforgettable isn’t the location (though let’s be honest, that lake, vineyard, and mountain combo is hard to beat), it’s how the couple chooses to tell their story. And that’s exactly what Gigi and Matt did. They ditched the rulebook and created a ceremony that felt completely, unapologetically them.

As their celebrant, I had the privilege of guiding them through a process that wasn’t about ticking boxes or following traditions for the sake of it. Instead, we crafted a ceremony that reflected who they are, how they love, and what they wanted to feel as they stood together at the front of their loved ones.

The magic of Rippon in Wanaka

It’s easy to see why Rippon is one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Wanaka. Sitting high above Lake Wanaka, surrounded by vineyards and framed by snow-capped peaks, it offers a kind of natural drama that doesn’t need much else to feel utterly spectacular.

The ceremony space overlooks the lake with panoramic views that make you pause and take a deep breath. The perfect setting for a couple choosing to make their ceremony deeply personal. Nature becomes your backdrop. And the location gives you permission to strip everything else away and just focus on the moment.

How they created a personalised Rippon Wanaka wedding ceremony

When I first met with Gigi and Matt, it was clear they weren’t here to recreate a version of a wedding they’d seen on Pinterest or follow traditions that didn’t speak to them. What they wanted most was a ceremony that allowed them to be fully present with one another. And for their guests to witness that real connection.

Their words capture it perfectly:

“The ceremony. It was spectacular and in an incredible location – but for each of us there was only the other. Locked eyes the whole time with a real intimacy that can be hard to achieve in front of so many people. From the moment first seeing each other through the whole ceremony we were entirely present with each other.”

But connection didn’t just stop with the two of them. They found a beautiful way to include their community as well.

“The ceremony included our friends and brought people together in a way that was very much us. We had a friend of ours, Liam, deliver our love story in the ceremony. Not only this, but Liam had collected reflections and quotes on our relationship from our many friends in attendance beforehand when writing his section. Intentionally, this was from people not in the bridal party but to draw in the others in attendance so that everyone felt a part of the celebration.”

This is what modern wedding ceremonies can look like. Not stiff or performative. Not weighed down by outdated expectations. Just two people, entirely in their moment. And a community who feels deeply included in a way that reflects who they are. Their Rippon Wanaka wedding ceremony wasn’t about following tradition. It was about building an experience that felt completely natural for them.

The vibe on the day

The atmosphere at Rippon that afternoon was electric but grounded. Excitement in the air, but also a real sense of calm. The wind was gentle (a small miracle for Wanaka), the sun bright in the sky, and the energy was pure joy without pressure.

The guests felt it too — you could see it in their faces. There was laughter, a few happy tears, and that beautiful hush that falls when everyone is caught in a moment they know they’ll remember for a long time.

And if you’re looking through the photos and wondering where I am… you won’t spot me in many of them. I promise I was there! But as we planned their ceremony, it became clear they wanted that breath-taking moment to feel like it was just the two of them. Nestled in their gorgeous nest of florals with the mountains and lake as their witnesses. No celebrant standing in the middle — just connection, intimacy, and that epic Wanaka backdrop doing its thing.

It was the ultimate combination: the intimacy of an elopement, wrapped inside the energy of a grand celebration.

Private, but shared.

Personal, but full of joy.

As a Wanaka wedding celebrant, it’s exactly the kind of ceremony I love to create: light where it should be light, meaningful where it should be meaningful, and a true reflection of the couple standing before me.

My favourite moment

As a celebrant, there’s always one moment that sticks with me — and for Gigi and Matt, it was right at the very start.

After Gigi walked down the aisle, instead of jumping straight into the ceremony, they simply paused.

They hugged.

Kissed.

Then looked at each other with that incredible we’re really here energy.

It was small, unscripted, and completely theirs — a moment to connect before the ceremony unfolded. In a setting as grand as Rippon, it made everything feel even more intimate.

These tiny pauses are often the most powerful — a beautiful reminder that your wedding ceremony doesn’t need to rush. You can slow down.

Take it all in.

Be present.

Why personalised ceremonies matter

One of the best parts of being a New Zealand celebrant is watching couples realise they have complete freedom to make their ceremony whatever they want it to be. You don’t need to follow a template or meet anyone’s expectations but your own.

For Gigi and Matt, that freedom meant simplicity, real presence, and intentional inclusion of their friends. It wasn’t about having the “perfect” words — it was about allowing space for authentic voices, shared memories, and creating a ceremony that brought everyone closer.

As they put it afterward:

“You were very receptive to our ideas, and blended in the great insight of knowing the logistics of a ceremony and the various burdens of reality to deliver a version of a ceremony that was ours, but also practical and with gravitas.”

That’s the balance I always aim for as a celebrant — personal, but also thoughtful about the flow of the day, the experience for guests, and the little moments that make the whole ceremony feel effortless.

“You explained everything and pointed out key details, moments or feelings to help demystify the ceremony (and before). Great communication and presence at the various points of interaction!”

When your celebrant helps make the process calm, clear and enjoyable, it gives you the space to focus on what matters most: standing up there, completely present, with your person.

Vendor Team

• Venue: Rippon Hall
• Celebrant: Kirsty Ussher (myself!)
• Photographer: Alpine Image co. (Jen)
• Florist: Flore Studios (Asta)
• Food & Beverage: Raspberry Creek Food co.
• Audio & Visual: Visual Events (Mike)
• Content Creation: @wed.content.nz (Joicy)
• HMU: Alarna Taylor
• Furniture: Wanaka Marquee Party Hire

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Ready to create your own ceremony?

If you’re planning your own Wanaka wedding and want a ceremony that feels like you, let’s chat. As a New Zealand celebrant, I love working with couples to create modern, personal ceremonies that ditch the rulebook and celebrate what matters most — your connection.