Pros And Cons of Having a Winter Wedding in New Zealand
Winter is a bit of a wildcard when it comes to weddings — and if you’re considering a winter wedding (June-August), you’re definitely a non-conventional couple! (We’d be great friends.)
If I’m right, you don’t like to go with the crowd, and you’re looking for something different for your wedding day. A winter wedding would be unique and memorable for sure.
If you’re worried about the downsides of having your wedding in winter, no worries — no season is perfect anyways. With some season-specific planning, a winter wedding can be just as beautiful (if not more) than a summer one.
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How to Know if a Winter Wedding is For You
The truth: planning a wedding can feel overwhelming. Where on earth do you even start to narrow things down to create your perfect day?
Below is a quick visualization exercise that I often share with my couples to help get them started on envisioning their ideal wedding day.
Take a deep breath, relax, and maybe even close your eyes. Now imagine that we’ve jumped into the future to your wedding day. You’re there, standing in front of the love of your life:
Is the air crisp and fresh in your lungs? Can you see your breath in the air? Are you warm and cozy under wools and furs? Is there a fire blazing nearby? Are you surrounded by a frosty landscape, or maybe a blanket of snow?
How many people are with you, sharing in this intimate, magical moment with you and your love?
What is the scene of a wedding day where you feel the most at ease, in love, and full of joy?
How did it go? Did that vision come to life for you? Whoo!
Now, as you read through the rest of this article, just keep that image in mind and see if it aligns with what winter has to offer. Easy peasy.
Winter Weather in NZ: Temperature Averages & Rainfall
Winter is probably when the temperature difference between North Island and South Island is the most drastic. Snow is usually expected down South and sub-zero temperatures are the norm (mid-winter Christmas, anyone?)
The climate data below is sourced from the regional historical averages recorded by the MetService.
Note: When it comes to rainfall — less than 20mm per day is considered a “low” amount of rain or showers. 20mm-40mm is moderate to high, and more than 40mm is high rainfall. What’s shown below is rainfall per month, so factor that into your wedding day plans, my friends.
Upper North Island (Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hamilton)
Region
Whangarei (W)
Auckland (A)
Tauranga (T)
Rotorua (R)
Hamilton (H)
Highs
W: 18.9°C-20°C
A: 17.5°C-18.6°C
T: 17.2°C-18.2°C
R: 14.9°C-16.3°C
H: 17.0°C-18.0°C
Lows
W: 2.6°C-3.6°C
A: 2.4°C-3.4°C
T: 1.6°C-2.3°C
R: -2.6°C- -2.3°C
H: -3.0°C- -1.7°C
Rainfall per month
W: 130.0mm-173.9mm
A: 96.5mm-121.1mm
T: 99.3mm-114.6mm
R: 124.2mm-136.3mm
H: 119.3mm-137.9mm
East of the North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington)
Region
New Plymouth (N)
Palmerston North (P)
Wellington (W)
Highs
N: 15.8°C-16.8°C
P: 16.7°C-17.7°C
W: 15.2°C-16.3°C
Lows
N: 0.4°C-0.9°C
P: -1.9°C- -1.2°C
W: 2.5°C-2.9°C
Rainfall per month
N: 115.7mm-128.6mm
P: 83.5mm-95.5mm
W: 126.0mm-143.5mm
West of the North Island (Gisborne, Napier, Masterton)
Region
Gisborne (G)
Napier (N)
Masterton (M)
Highs
G: 18.4°C-19.7°C
N: 18.5°C-19.9°C
M: 17.5°C-18.7°C
Lows
G: 0.5°C-0.8°C
N: -0.7°C- -0.6°C
M: -3.5°C- -3.2°C
Rainfall per month
G: 76.5mm-117.0mm
N: 50.9mm-90.3mm
M: 87.8mm-111.8mm
Upper South Island (Nelson, Blenheim)
Region
Nelson (N)
Blenheim (B)
Highs
N: 15.4°C-16.8°C
B: 16.8°C-18.6°C
Lows
N: -1.3°C- -0.5°C
B: -3.8°C- -3.3°C
Rainfall per month
N: 68.9mm-84.4mm
B: 64.9mm-74.4mm
East of the South Island (Christchurch, Mount Cook, Timaru, Dunedin)
Region
Christchurch (C)
Mount Cook (M)
Timaru (T)
Dunedin (D)
Highs
C: 18.0°C-19.4°C
M: 14.2°C-15.3°C
T: 17.7°C-19.7°C
D: 17.2°C-18.5°C
Lows
C: -4.5°C- -3.5°C
M: -8.4°C- -6.8°C
T: -5.3°C- -4.1°C
D: -1.3°C- -0.5°C
Rainfall per month
C: 51.1mm-65.7mm
M: 250.0mm-290.0mm
T: 32.3mm-39.1mm
D: 51.2mm-56.9mm
West of the South Island (Wanaka, Queenstown, Invercargill)
Region
Wanaka (W)
Queenstown (Q)
Invercargill (I)
Highs
W: 13.9°C-15.7°C
Q: 13.7°C-15.4°C
I: 14.9°C-16.5°C
Lows
W: -5.0°C- -3.8°C
Q: -6.0°C- -4.3°C
I: -4.1°C- -3.1°C
Rainfall per month
W: 44.8mm-54.9mm
Q: 43.2mm-51.1mm
I: 64.6mm-78.9mm
Why it’s important:
The weather conditions would help you determine whether you hold your wedding ceremony or have your wedding activities outdoors or indoors, and the time of day you’d want to have them for peak comfort. Besides rain, be sure to keep the possibility of snow in mind as well.
If you're in North Island (in my case, Auckland) you could definitely still get away with just a light jacket on your wedding day, and popping it off from time to time for photos.
Sunrise & Sunset Times in Winter NZ
Ahh golden hour, that personal spotlight provided by mother nature. It’s so easy to create those dreamy, cinematic moments during those magical times of the day.
With the seasons changing, the days gradually get shorter, meaning sunrise happens later and sunset falls earlier. This of course shifts the timing of golden hour, so it’s worth having that in mind as you plan out your wedding day.
And here’s a little pro tip: don’t forget about moonrise! While everybody knows about golden hour, moonrise could be something you look into as well, especially if you want to capture the moon in your photos. The best part is the moon often rises while there’s still daylight, so you can get those shots with the moon without waiting until nightfall.
Why it’s important:
The light right before sunrise and sunset is softer, warmer, and has this incredible ability to make everything and everyone look absolutely stunning (it’s lowkey cheating). And you definitely deserve to look absolutely stunning on your big day.
Taking note of when golden hour (or even blue hour) is will help you decide the order of activities of the day. Because sunset happens relatively earlier in winter, you might want to have your ceremony earlier in the day (or even during sunset!). Knowing the best lighting of the day will help you shape your vision out of the endless possibilities.
Sunrise and sunset times winter 2024
Auckland
Sunrise
June 2025 — 7:24am-7:34am
July 2025 — 7:34am-7:20am
August 2025 — 7:19am-6:43am
Sunset
June 2025 — 5:12pm-5:14pm
July 2025 — 5:14-5:34pm
August 2025 — 5:35pm-5:59pm
Wellington
Sunrise
June 2025 — 7:36am-7:47am
July 2025 — 7:47am-7:30am
August 2025 — 7:28am-6:47am
Sunset
June 2025 — 5:00pm-5:01pm
July 2025 — 5:01pm-5:25pm
August 2025 — 5:25pm-5:55pm
Christchurch
Sunrise
June 2025 — 7:52am-8:03am
July 2025 — 8:03am-7:44am
August 2025 — 7:42am-6:58am
Sunset
June 2025 — 5:01pm-5:02pm
July 2025 — 5:03pm-5:28pm
August 2025 — 5:29pm-6:01pm
Queenstown
Sunrise
June 2025 — 8:13am-8:24am
July 2025 — 8:24am-8:03am
August 2025 — 8:02am-7:16am
Sunset
June 2025 — 5:12pm-5:13pm
July 2025 — 5:13pm-5:40pm
August 2025 — 5:41pm-6:15pm
Venue and Vendor Availability & Costs
Winter is very much off-peak season.
Lots of venues offer off-peak packages that are much cheaper than their peak season prices. However, quite a few venues also close for the winter season for maintenance. If they are up and running, you might also only be able to book them during the week instead of a weekend.
Availability-wise, you won’t have to compete with many other couples, which means you’d most likely be able to book in your dream date.
You also don’t have to rush in reaching out to venues and vendors as they’ll likely still be available close to your desired date, but as always, it’s best to book them in as soon as you’re able!
Winter Holiday Season & Tourism
Winter is shoulder season for tourism, and good news is, there’s essentially no crowds at all if you’re up in North Island.
Bad news is there aren’t that many public holidays in winter — only two long weekends in June. Although that can be a good thing too as long weekends make the roads a lot busier.
NZ School holidays Winter Dates (End of Term 2) 2024
Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July
Winter 2025 Public Holidays
King’s Birthday — Monday 2 June
Matariki — Friday 20 June
Scenery Options, Flowers & Nature
For those who love dramatic, snow-capped mountains, a winter mountain wedding could be everything you’re looking for. Whether you’re at a ski resort or at the base of the mountains, the sweeping views will leave you and your guests in awe.
If cozy and rustic is more your style, a barn wedding or a charming country lodge could be perfect for you —picture a warm, intimate setting with roaring fireplaces, candlelight, and twinkling fairy lights.
For a lakeside or riverside wedding, you might have mist rising off the lake in the cool morning air, or a glassy, still surface reflecting the winter sky. The bare trees and quiet surroundings create a minimalist, almost meditative backdrop for your day.
For nature-loving couples who are thinking of eloping, winter opens up some incredibly unique options. You could elope on a mountaintop and ski down afterward or take a helicopter to a remote alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered wilderness.
Now, let’s talk flowers! You might think winter means a lack of fresh flowers, but there are actually still lots of options in season, like hellebores (also known as the winter rose), camellias, snowdrops, cymbidium orchids, daphne, primrose and more. If you love a classic, timeless look, roses are available year-round, and paired with greenery like eucalyptus or ivy, they bring a lovely contrast to the winter landscape. You can also incorporate dried flowers and foliage, which fit perfectly with the cozy, winter vibe and give your bouquet and decor a unique, textured look.
Pros and Cons of Having a Winter Wedding
The short story version for all my fellow article skimmers
Pros
Moody & cinematic landscapes
Especially if you’re in South Island — think low-hanging mist, snow-capped mountains, and soft, diffused lighting, a perfect recipe for a moody, cinematic photos.
Off-season perks
Fewer weddings in winter mean less competition for venues and vendors, meaning you’d most probably get the dates and vendors that you want.
Many venues offer discounts or special rates during the off-peak season, allowing you to save some money or splurge on other details.
Cozy, intimate vibes
Winter naturally lends itself to a more intimate, close-knit atmosphere.
Picture rackling fires, warm drinks like mulled wine, and guests bundled up with blankets — perfect if you’re looking to create a relaxed and connected vibe.
The possibilities of winter fashion
You get to be creative with adding layers for warmth and style! Think fur wraps, velvet suits, wool capes, and long-sleeve dresses.
Accessories like gloves, scarves, or even stylish boots can add lots of personality and character to your wedding looks.
Stunning light for photos
The shorter days mean softer light throughout the afternoon, giving a golden-hour feel for much of the day.
Perfect for couples who value presence and connection, as there’s no rush to chase the sunlight — everything feels a little slower and more intimate.
Cons
Cold weather
Winter temperatures in New Zealand can dip into the negatives, especially in the South Island (brrr!).
Outdoor ceremonies or receptions need backup options in case of rain, snow, or extreme cold.
Limited daylight hours
With fewer daylight hours, timing for outdoor ceremonies or photos can be trickier.
You might need to schedule earlier in the day to make the most of the natural light.
Travel Challenges
Winter weather can lead to road closures, especially in snowy regions.
Consider travel logistics for guests and the possibility of delays due to snow or rain.
Venue Restrictions
Some outdoor venues or gardens may not be available or as visually appealing during winter.
You may need to rely on indoor venues or choose locations that are drier even in colder months.
Tips for Planning Your Winter Wedding in NZ
Winter weddings in New Zealand are undeniably special, but they do require a bit of extra planning to make sure everything goes smoothly.
From choosing the perfect venue to keeping your guests cozy, here are a few essential tips to help you pull off a winter wedding that’s both beautiful and comfortable for everyone involved.
Choosing the right location
Location is everything, especially in winter. You’ll want to pick a venue that, well, first offers winter packages, and one that embraces the season and provides that wintery charm you’re after, whether it’s a mountain lodge, a cozy barn, or a venue with great indoor-outdoor flow.
Think about places that offer both breathtaking scenery and practical comforts, like fireplaces, sheltered outdoor areas, or indoor spaces with large windows to let in the winter light.
Keep in mind that some locations in South Island might experience snow or frost, which can make your day even more special but might also require extra planning for accessibility.
Have weather back-up plans
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so having a solid back-up plan is key.
If you’re driving in South Island, don’t forget to pack some snow chains for your vehicles.
If you’re planning any part of your day outdoors — like a ceremony, cocktail hour, or even photos — make sure your venue has indoor options or covered areas you can use if the weather turns. If you’re having an outdoor elopement, you might want to have some buffer days to shift your day to in case of weather that doesn’t allow for outdoor activities.
Think about making sure that your venue has tents, heaters, or umbrellas just in case. Having a Plan B doesn’t mean giving up on your dream winter wedding vibe — it just ensures you’re prepared for anything, so you can stay relaxed and enjoy your day no matter what.
Keeping you and your guests warm
Winter weddings in New Zealand mean chilly to freezing temperatures, especially in the evening, so you’ll need to keep yourself and your guests cozy.
Think about providing blankets, setting up outdoor heaters, or creating a warm, welcoming indoor space with plenty of seating by the fire.
You could even offer warm seasonal drinks like mulled wine, hot chocolate, or spiced cider to keep the cold at bay. And don’t forget about your own comfort — layer up with stylish shawls, jackets, or winter accessories that complement your wedding attire, so you stay toasty while still looking super cute.
Plan around shorter days
With shorter daylight hours in winter, it’s important to plan your timeline accordingly.
If you’re hoping to capture some dreamy golden hour photos, make sure to check sunset times and work backward to ensure you have enough light. You might also want to start your ceremony a little earlier than you would in summer to make the most of the daylight.
And don’t forget about incorporating some beautiful lighting into your venue for when the sun goes down — fairy lights, candles, and lanterns can add warmth and magic to those darker winter evenings.
Communicating with guests
Keeping your guests in the loop is essential for a winter wedding, after all you would’ve put so much work into planning for everything to go smoothly!
Make sure they know what to expect in terms of weather and location — let them know if the venue might be cold or if they’ll be spending any time outdoors.
Suggest they dress warmly and provide any practical details, like parking or shuttle options if the roads might be tricky in winter conditions. It’s also a good idea to give guests a heads-up if you have a weather back-up plan, so they know where to go if things change last minute.
Winter weddings are truly for the non-conventional couples that are looking for something special, intimate, and personal. If you’re the kind of couple that thrives in the cooler months, you’ll definitely love the atmostphere a winter wedding provides.
But hey, if winter doesn’t feel like the right fit for you, that’s totally okay! Maybe an autumn wedding’s golden leaves, a summer wedding’s bountiful sunshine or a spring wedding’s fresh blooms are more your style. No matter the season, your wedding will be uniquely yours.
Happy planning, and enjoy the journey!
More cinematic wedding inspo on IG:
