Glen Innes couple hold surprise NZ wedding

Glen Innes' Renae and Jeffrey Chard told nobody of their surprise wedding plans before the day.

The couple had flown to New Zealand's Queenstown to hold the winter event on July 30, held on location on a mountain outside town.

With a snow storm forecast for the afternoon, they rushed the helicopter flight ahead of the rough weather, stopping at a sheltered spot at Round Hill on Cecil Peak and holding the ceremony then and there.

According to an account by Wendy Weakley, the ceremony was just them plus Renae's two daughters Allira and Lily Tibbett.

Celebrant Tracey Maclaren gave a beautiful ceremony which included the two daughters reading a letter to Renae and Jeffrey.

After being pronounced husband and wife, they celebrated with a glass of champagne.

Kiwi wedding helicopter company Over the Top Helicopters flew the pair to the Remarkables where it started to snow as they landed.

They got some great moody photos overlooking the Locky River, with the storm slowly approaching in the distance.

On the way back to their accommodation, they stopped off at a few ground locations to get some more pictures of the big day.

The couple later signed their marriage licence.

Renae is the daughter of Wendy and Vince Weakley and the granddaughter of Mrs Nita Richards from Gunnedah.

Jeffrey is the son of Rex and Lyn Chard from Glen Innes, and the grandson of Aileen Chard, also from Glen Innes.