The luxury estate hosted Ali Williams and Casey Green's wedding, while Richie and Gemma McCaw stayed there on their honeymoon.

A luxury Queenstown wedding venue is dropping its ban on gay couples marrying in its on-site chapel, with its owner conceding the policy - based on his mum's religious views - is out of touch.

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Stoneridge Estate has hosted nearly 100 same-sex wedding ceremonies and receptions - including one which featured on TV show Married at First Sight - but until now, it's blocked them from taking place in its chapel.

SHANE COWLISHAW/FAIRFAX NZ Stoneridge Estate says it will change its policy stopped gay couples from wedding in its on-site chapel.

Same-sex ceremonies have instead taken place in the gardens and lodge.

Owner Wayne Gore says the policy is based on the views of his mother, Da Vella Gore, who holds a lifetime lease over the chapel, which was built in 2004.

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CHANNEL9/MEDIAWORKS Stoneridge Estate hosted a same-sex wedding for an episode of Married at First Sight.

"We have never not supported same-sex weddings at the property," he says."However, my mother of 80 years old, has held the historic Christian understanding of marriage as the loving, faithful union of a man and a woman ... She believes her wedding chapel has been a gift from God and remains true to her convictions in terms of her Christian faith."

However, after Stuff contacted him on Friday, Gore said his mother conceded her views were "not harmonious with the operating [of] a wedding venue".

"As of now, we will amend our venue contracts, which at this time state that due to my mother's position she prefers the chapel not be used for same sex weddings.

"She has reconsidered her position ... on same-sex weddings in her chapel. She has accepted that Stoneridge Estate has developed a wedding business around the use of the chapel and that it cannot be separated now due to her personal beliefs."

He said no one had ever complained about the policy, but "maybe one couple who have enquired [last] weekend were 'put out' by my mother's position".

Stoneridge is a choice destination for Kiwi VIPs, having hosted the wedding of former All Black Ali Williams to Casey Green in 2011, as well as Richie and Gemma McCaw's honeymoon earlier this year.

In 2016, Lyttelton's Living Springs venue lifted its ban on gay weddings after a complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

Under the Human Rights Act, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited. That includes service providers, like those hiring out a venue.

A wedding celebrant, who asked to remain anonymous, said policies against same-sex couples were "an issue in wedding venues across the country".

"Thankfully it's in the minority and most places are welcoming of love in all forms."

She added: "Couples should check the fine print in the paperwork, same sex or not."

Same-sex marriage has been legal in New Zealand since 2013, while civil unions were legalised in 2005.

Since then, New Zealand has become a wedding destination for gay couples, particularly Australians.

Last year, 483 New Zealand resident couples and 471 overseas resident couples celebrated same-sex marriages or civil unions.

A further 19,752 resident couples and 2490 overseas couples celebrated opposite-sex marriages or civil unions.

Couples from Australia accounted for 58 per cent of overseas same-sex couples coming here to marry.