For Kiwis living overseas, the summer trip home is when everyone is finally in the same place. So it makes sense to think about turning it into a wedding.

The numbers back up how many people head home at once. Stats NZ counted 97,157 arrivals by overseas residents travelling on New Zealand passports in December 2025, nearly one in five of the year’s total.

A Christmas wedding can be wonderful, with long evenings, family already in town and a holiday mood that carries through the reception. It also needs a bit more planning than a February date.

You’ll be planning around public holidays, suppliers’ own breaks and a calendar that’s already full for most of your guests. None of that should put you off. It just means starting a little earlier.

Work around the public holidays

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January are all public holidays. Employment New Zealand says they’re observed on the day when they fall on a weekday, and some shift to the following Monday, or sometimes Tuesday, for people who don’t work weekends.

A personalised ceremony with a celebrant can happen on any day of the week, public holidays included. A registry ceremony is different. Govt.nz says it must be on a weekday during business hours, and never on a public holiday.

If you’d like a simple registry ceremony, govt.nz lists the fee at $175 (as at October 2026). Pick a weekday that isn’t a holiday, and book it well ahead.

Your marriage licence needs at least three working days before the wedding. Apply well before Christmas, while you’re still inside the three months the licence lasts, so the holiday break can’t catch you out.

You can apply for the licence online from overseas, and govt.nz lists it at $158. Doing it before you fly home means one less job in a busy December.

Check your suppliers’ summer plans

Your suppliers have Christmas plans too. Ask early whether your celebrant, photographer, caterer and venue are working over the dates you want.

It’s also worth asking about holiday surcharges, opening hours and how quickly they reply over the break. A clear answer now saves a lot of chasing in the last week of December.

Think about the smaller suppliers as well. Florists, bakers and hire companies may close for a week or two, so confirm delivery and pick-up times in writing.

If you need to visit a registry office before the wedding, remember the counters work by appointment only. Book it before you land, and allow for the public holidays.

Think about your guests’ summer too

Your family might be home, but they’ve also got Christmas lunches, in-laws and their own holiday plans. Sending save-the-dates early gives everyone time to work your wedding into the season.

A date between Christmas and New Year often suits people who are already off work, while early January can suit those heading to the beach. Ask a few key people before you decide, and you’ll get a feel for what works.

Some couples choose Christmas Eve or the days just after Boxing Day, when the festive mood is still high. Others wait until the first week of January, once the family gatherings are over. There’s no wrong answer, only the one that suits your people.

Holiday accommodation near popular spots can fill fast too, so share a few options with guests once your venue is booked. If your wedding is somewhere guests might holiday anyway, they may love the excuse to stay a few nights.

Summer brings its own details to plan for. Shade, water and sunscreen for an outdoor ceremony make a long, hot afternoon more comfortable for everyone, from grandparents to little ones.

The rest is the easy part. Long days, warm nights and everyone you love already home.