Whyte (30), who won Wanaka's iron distance triathlon last year and now lives in Auckland, squeezed in a couple of quick media interviews after crossing the finish line before rushing off with his fiancee, Fiona Eagles, to have a quick shower and join the wedding celebrations.
"We had a really quick turnaround ... we were on the road off to Arrowtown within an hour of finishing the race," he said.
"Because of the time the race finished we missed the service but the groom said 'as long as you can get there in time for a few photos and the reception later'."
Whyte's sporting success earlier in the day was noted during the wedding speeches.
"My absence at the service was pretty obvious. I was the missing link in the bridal party. So when it came to doing introductions at the reception I was introduced as the newcomer ... it was all pretty light-hearted."
Despite his huge day, which began with a 6.30am race start and included nearly nine hours of swimming, biking and running, Whyte had a great night as groomsman and partied until midnight.
"I was definitely a bit tired but I managed to even get on the dance floor for some active recovery for the legs."
Whyte followed up his successful race on Saturday with another busy day yesterday, returning to Wanaka for the event's prizegiving in the morning, then driving back to Arrowtown for the post-wedding barbecue, then back again to Wanaka for the Challenge Wanaka volunteers' party last night.
Today, he plans to travel to his family's farm in Southland to enjoy "a spot of fishing with the old man", before returning to his surveying job in Auckland later this week.
Whyte said he would be back next January to have another shot at Challenge Wanaka.
"For me, it's like racing on my home soil doing Challenge Wanaka. Obviously, getting my first big win last year means a lot and I don't want to leave it at one."
Eagles finished second in her age group in the Lake Wanaka Half triathlon on Saturday.
