"It was more of a pause, if you like. We said The Lord's Prayer and family members placed flowers on the hearses. It was incredibly poignant for the police and everyone really. We were all left quite speechless."
She plans to return to the site and bless it once police and Transport Accident Investigation Commission teams have completed their scene examinations.
Wairarapa police area commander Inspector Brent Register said the commission would determine the cause of the accident.
"Our thoughts continue to be with the families of the deceased as they continue to come to terms with this tragic accident on Saturday, which took the lives of their loved ones.
"We will continue to support these families as best we can over the coming days, weeks and months."
Earlier yesterday, the families were shown photos of their loved ones' final moments.
The pictures were taken by a photographer following the balloon's journey.
Mr Mark said the families described the experience as bittersweet.
"The photos are so typical of all of us who were flying with Hoppy [Lance Hopping] in the past, happy faces, smiling people, people maybe a little nervous at the outset, having fun putting the balloon up."
Ms Chalmers is continuing to work with the families and will meet them again this morning.
"I would expect their focus to come off Carterton at the end of the week, as people return home and start making preparations for funerals."
Ms Chalmers said she had discussed a public service with Mr Mark, which would take place after the victims' funerals.
"A public service is sort of like phase two - they haven't released the bodies to the families yet and a service would be a little bit down the track, after people have gathered their breath ... people are still in so much shock at the moment."
More than 100 messages have already been placed in a condolence book at Carterton's community centre since yesterday morning.
Ms Chalmers said she was considering holding an inter-denominational service at Carterton's community centre, which would also pay tribute to the emergency services involved in the tragedy.
A special ceremony is also being considered for the region's Balloons Over Wairarapa event, scheduled for March 8.
Event organiser Jonathan Hooker said a tribute to pilot Lance Hopping and the 10 other dead was being discussed by balloonists around the country.
