Queenstown Wedding Association 2021 Winter Party!
The annual QWA Winter gala is an opportunity for members new & old to get dressed to the nines, dust off their dancing shoes, and mix n’ mingle with industry peers.
The Winter Gala is a cornerstone event for the Queenstown Wedding Association, so after covid cancelled it in 2020 everyone was well and truly ready to get together and party again.
When the July evening finally came around, we were overjoyed to have the opportunity to get together to drink fabulous wine, eat the most scrumptious food, boogie to great music, win prizes, make new friends & catch up with old ones.
In the end, was one of those nights you didn’t know you needed until after it was over… and now we’re already counting down until the next QWA night out…

This annual party is always a highlight in the QWA calendar and it’s important to note that we rely on the generosity of our members to make for an epic event.
So, we want to take a moment to say a huge thanks to those who helped make the 2021 Winter Gala a night we’ll always remember!
Firstly, The Imperium Collection provided the most gorgeous waterfront venue, The Grille at Eichardts. Located in central Queenstown overlooking Lake Whakatipu and Queenstown Bay, we had exclusive access to the whole place for the whole evening. Drinks and canapés were served on arrival as we excitedly chatted, and everyone was wowed with the unreal spread of food for our sit-down dinner. And talk about first-class service, the Imperium Collection team ensured that everyone was well looked after at all times. Thank you!
The atmosphere inside the venue was carefully curated in-line with our “Black & White” theme by Amy from Little Botanica.
Proving that less certainly can be more, the decor was elegant and chic but with plenty of wow factor! All our members were blown away by how Amy’s styling had elevated an already gorgeous space into something unique and special.
The whole room flickered with candlelight and had a truely magical feel. Each table was decorated with a breathtaking cluster of single stem white orchids in sleek tall black vases (provided by & The Style Depot), and surrounded by even more twinkling candles.
Tucked away in the back was a cosy corner filled with fairy lights by Visual Events. The perfect little nook for those wanting a quiet drink while others boogied on the dance floor.
And to really top it off, the featured photo wall was a hit, with a giant bouquet of dried flowers (from Bespoke Weddings & Events) and a neon sign from Carla Mitchell, proudly proclaiming “I’ll Drink to That”… which of course we did!
The legendary Joe from Mountain Beats kept our heads bopping and toes tapping all night. His stellar mix from behind his decks was current, intuitive and lots of fun. Plus, how about that mobile disco ball, right?! More than just a DJ, Joe is a true muso and loves to crank the party. There may have been a few sore feet the next day from all the dancing!
Capturing all the fun was one of our newest members, Isabella Rubie Photography. It was a challenging shoot at an indoor venue in Winter but she totally nailed it. Isabella arrived early to snap the untouched details in all their glory and diligently made sure to capture all the work of our incredible sponsors with care.
Being a bunch of local wedding suppliers many of our members don’t live in central Queenstown, so Browns Boutique Hotel offered up some great accommodation specials for the night. Located walking distance from any bar or restaurant in town this charming hotel offers epic views and top class service.
We had a Gala first this year as everyone was in the running to win some great prizes from Kate Roberge Photography, LP Media, & Queenstown Media. Another example of such wonderful generosity from our membership and friends in the community.
Well, what a night! A big THANK YOU again to all the great sponsors and supporters of the QWA Gala. Also, thank you to the volunteer QWA committee members who brought it all together! Now, when’s the Xmas party please?!?!