Durban Venues Decoded

Picking a venue for your wedding is one of the scariest experiences... especially if that venue is meant to be in Durban.

Your first step (as was mine) is to head to google. Googling 'Wedding Venues in Durban' will have your head in spin- so many to choose from!! There is no lack of bridal blogs online that will suggest countless stunning South African venues. Your heart jumps, elated at the thought that you are SPOIL FOR CHOICE!

However, the devil is in the detail. Once you start scrolling through these venues, you realise that the majority just don't work for Indian weddings. Apart from that, you don't know your ... from your elbow when it comes to price! How much is a venue supposed to cost?!

To make your life easier, I've collated the venues that I've checked out so that you don't have to :) This list (as well as my list here) should make narrowing your list a LOT easier.

So, here are my top wedding venue suggestions.

Please note that I have included a indication of prices below... To be fair to the venues, I haven't added the actual prices, but I have done indications based on a wedding for 200 guests. This should give you an idea of costs for budget purposes :)

This information was taken from the generic wedding package pdfs which were sent to me by the venues. They may have changed since, and neither myself nor the venue can be held to the content below. Please contact the venues for correct pricing & packages at the time of your booking.

Price Indicators:

♕ - Cost effective, but still quality!

♕♕ - You may need to dig a little deeper into your savings....

♕♕♕ - Throwing caution to the wind, you only get married (hopefully) once, right?!

Braeside Weddings & Functions - ♕

Braeside is a really stunning venue about 2 minutes away from Ballito (30 minutes from Durbs).

With a gorgeous tree-lined driveway (awesome for a shoot!), the venue boasts a traditional garden gazebo and classic reception hall. The venue accommodates a minimum of 120 guests, so it's great for big Indian shaadis!

The nice thing about Braeside is that their price includes venue hire, your chosen menu and full new white draping and new fairy lights in the reception hall. The list of other coll things included is set out below!

Braeside does not allow outside catering, but my cousin got married here and the food was delicious. Seriously. The whole wedding was mindblowingly stunning.

I'd say this venue is damn good value for money (PAISA VASOOL!), as they also include things like:

 A wedding co-ordinator  Draping

 White plastic chairs and white chair covers

 Draping down the aisle

 Complimentary fruit punch will be served after the wedding service

 Tables, Tablecloths & Napkins

Makaranga Garden Lodge - ♕♕

I absolutely love this venue in Kloof. If I didn't have so many people who I love, I would have booked it :( The venue seats up to 140 people only.

Makaranga offers a set menu (no veg biryani here, people), and does not allow outside catering. You have the option of a garden ceremony (they have these stunning manicured gardens and the atmosphere is one of peace and happiness) with a reception in their Sibeko Function Room.

Pricing wise, the packages are a little high, but definitely not unreasonable. However, bear in mind that the packages will need to be taken together with an accomodation package.

Costs include:

 A drape, white linen, cutlery, crockery and glassware.

 8-10 seater round tables (rectangular tables for the bridal table), a cake and gift table.

 Podium with microphone for speeches.

 A framed easel for your seating plan.

 Sparkling wine served to guests to toast the bridal couple.

 The house DJ

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens is a unique pick, its quite central and you would need minimal decor if you're planning on an outside ceremony!

The Gardens offer, simply, venue hire. Nothing more, nothing less.They have an inside venue, an amphitheatre venue as well as a lakeside spot. I've seen a bridal couple set up an entire glass marquee at the lakeside spot, and it was MAGNIFICENT.

Costs of the venue hire are:

♕♕ for inside venue, seating 200 people.

♕ for the Amphitheatre, seating 300 people.

♕♕♕ for lake side spot, with an almost unlimited amount of space!

Talloula - ♕♕ Talloula is a very whimsical venue in Bothas Hill. It is such a pretty venue, and I've only heard great reviews from friends who have been married there.

Their wedding packages are quoted for 150 guests, however you can pay an additional fee per guest to a maximum of 280 guests. Talloula does not permit outside catering, and prefer to work out a menu to suit your tastes and style.

Cost wise, the per person catering cost is not bad, but we must add that there is a venue hire cost that is added to this.

Wedding packages include things like:

 Fine cutlery and crockery

 Crisp white table cloths and napkins

 Crystal glasses

 Tiffany chairs & cushions

 Cake Table

 Bridal suite including overnight accommodation

 Full Body Massage for the bridal couple

De Charmoy - ♕♕♕

De Charmoy Estate is located about 5km from King Shaka. They have three stunning offerings; the Hilltop House & Garden, the Boma and the Bedouin Tent.

Hilltop house & Garden- These gardens are the perfect setting for an outdoor garden ceremony, afternoon high tea, bridal or baby showers. With lush gardens and a striking checkerboard floor from the verandah, The Hilltop House is the perfect Victorian setting.

The Boma is also quite gorgeaous, with a more intimate, African feel. It seats up to 100 guests/

My favourite is the Bedouin Tent, seating a max of 350 people.

All pricing packages are only for venue hire, other service providers must be sourced personally.

Zimbali - ♕♕♕

Zimbali as a wide array of venue options to choose from, including the Terrace, Palm Court and Restaurant (with packages for up to 100 guests, and an additional fee for every additional guest) as well as their Beach.

Venue hire at the Beach accomodates 100 people, however bear in mind that you will need to book an additional venue that will be utilized in the event of rainy weather.

The Wedding Packages include:

 A complimentary wedding rehearsal.

 Transfers from the hotel to the venue for the Bridal Couple.

 A deluxe room for the Bridal Couple.

 Wimbeldon chairs

 Tablecloths

Zimbali has a preferred supplier list, and catering can be chosen from their restaurant-style menu.

Restaurant menu