Venue and Menu

Finding the right venue for your wedding reception can be a mission. You need to consider the theme and feel of your dream day and then find a venue that will match and enhance that.

Here are some questions to ask when considering a venue (also a list of venues in and around JHB/PTA):

• Consider the number of guests you are going to invite


• Consider your budget
  


• Location: is the venue easily accessible for all your guests


• Do you want a morning, lunch or dinner affair?


• Will your wedding be very formal or more relaxed?


• Do you have a specific theme in mind?


• Would you need a dance floor/smoking area/facilities for disabled guests/honeymoon suite?
  


• Are you flexible on the wedding date if you find a venue you love that is not available on your date?
  

Once you have answers to these questions, start looking through magazines and on the web for venues in your area. Make a list of the ones you would like to see. You can e-mail the venue to send you some information on their rates and packages for you to go through before viewing the venue. That way you will already have an idea of how they work and if you can afford them or not. The next step is to make an appointment to view the venue, preferably with your groom in tow! When you are there, make sure to scope out the entire venue, including the bathrooms, kitchen, chapel (if applicable), and gardens. Take note of the lighting and decor possibilities.

Some questions you may want to ask your venue:

• Does the venue do its own catering or do you need to get a caterer in?


• Do they have preferred suppliers or may you use your own?


• What time should you be out of the venue? What overtime charges are there?


• Is there a dress code at the venue?


• Would they allow you to run a cash bar or open bar? Do they charge a corkage fee?


• Are you allowed to decorate the venue? What decorations do they not allow?


• Are you allowed to use confetti/bubbles/petals/feathers?


• Do they allow candles to be burnt in the venue?


• Will there be any remodelling or redecoration done between now and your wedding day?


• Do they have pictures of previous weddings at the venue?


• Are there any noise restrictions? Until what time may your DJ/Band play?


• Does the venue provide alternative arrangements in case of bad weather for an outdoor wedding?


• Do they provide a room for the bridal parties to get ready in on the day?


• Do they include a honeymoon suite for the night of the wedding?


• Do they allow children at the venue? Do they have separate facilities for children?


• What is their cancellation policy?


• What kind of deposit is required? Do they offer a payment schedule?


• Are there any hidden costs?

We were very fortunate that the very first venue we looked at seemed to fit right in with the feel we wanted to create. We wanted a bush/country wedding and I did not want any fake ivy anywhere in sight (and trust me, a lot of the other venues we looked at had that!!!). Also, I don't want to have any draping and fairy lights, so I needed a venue that would look fab without any additional 'stuffing'. Our chosen venue, The Cradle, has spectacular views and has glass on three sides so that the view and the bush is all the decorations we will have. They also have wonderful solid teak tables, so I am not putting any tablecloths on; just organza runners down the middle.

I have compiled an extensive list of wedding venues in and around the JHB/PTA area, which I will insert at the bottom of this post.

Once you have found your ideal venue, you need to start thinking of the menu. Buffet, sit-down meals, a combination of both, family style dining are all options you could consider. There are pros and cons to all of these, and you need to consider your budget, guests and theme when making the decision. Discuss the various options with the venue and look at the pricing options. Think about your guests tastes and not only yours: are there any vegetarians or someone with food allergies? Also consider the season; some food stuffs are more expensive if not in season and you also want lighter food in summer than in winter.

I hope you have a great time scouting around for your venue. It is fun and so exciting when you finally find the venue of your dreams. Happy hunting!

LIST OF VENUES IN JHB/PTA AREA:

VENUE AREA GUESTS

Ama-Cradle Country Lodge	Krugersdorp	Max 50
Amadwala Lodge	Honeydew, JHB
Amanzingwe Lodge	Hartebeespoort	Max 120
Ambrosia Hall	Midrand	Max 120
Ascot Mews	Alberton
Avianto	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 250
Bayete Estate	Witkoppen, JHB	Max 120
Beethoven Lodge	Hartebeespoort	Max 100
Bentleys Lodge	PTA	Max 120
Bergvallei Estates	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 300
Blaauwpoort Venue & Lodge	Magaliesberg	Max 350
Blandford Manor	Randburg, JHB	200 +
Blue Bird Farm Venue	Magaliesberg
Budmarsh Private Lodge	Magaliesberg	Max 50
Buitengeluk	Fourways, JHB	Max 120
Cabanga Conference Centre	North Riding, JHB	Max 100
Casa Toscana Lodge	PTA	Max 200
Casablanca Manor	Bronkhorstspruit	200 +
Casalinga Restaurant	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 220
Casta Diva	PTA	200 +
Cotswold Inn	Kyalami	Max 80
Crinklewood Manor	Waterkloof, PTA	Max 60
Crown Reef	Gold Reef, JHB	Max 120
Da Vincenzo	Kyalami	200 +
De Oude Huys Kombuys	Hartebeespoort
Deja-Vu	PTA	Max 150
Diamond Hill Country Venue	Bronkhorstspruit	Max 250
Diamond Valley	Rayton, PTA	Max 120
Diep in die Berg	PTA	Max 170
Die Grasdak	PTA	200 +
Eagles Eye Country Estate	PTA	Max 200
Eskom Convention Centre	Midrand
Everwood	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 200
Fabz Estate	Lonehill, JHB	200 +
Farm Inn	PTA	200 +
Farmhouse Restaurant	JHB	Max 120
Forum Homini	Cradle of Humankind	Max 80
Garden World	Honeydew, JHB
Glen Afric	Hartebeespoort	Max 120
Glenburn Lodge	Muldersdrift, JHB	200 +
Goodland Estate	PTA	Max 120
Goose Bay Canyon	Vaal	Max 100
Green Leaves Country Lodge	Hartebeespoort
Griffin's Estate Country Venue	Krugersdorp	Max 150
Hakunamatata	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 120
Heia Safari Ranch	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 120
Helderfontein Estate	Midrand	250 +
Hugo's Place	Kyalami
Hyatt Regency Johannesburg	Rosebank, JHB
Idle Winds	Fourways, JHB	Max 50
Indaba Hotel	Fourways, JHB	450 +
Ingwenya Country Escape	Muldersdrift, JHB	250 +
Intundla Game Lodge	Boekenhoutkloof	Max 120
Irene Country Lodge	PTA	Max 300
Isiphiwo	Derdepoort, PTA	Max 300
Kievits Kroon Country Estate	Kameeldrift East	200 +
Kleinkaap	Centurion, PTA	Max 50
Kloofzicht Lodge	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 120
KoelenRust Estate	Muldersdrift, JHB
L Aquila Wedding Venue	PTA	200 +
Lakeview Airport Lodge	East Rand	Max 120
Le Chateau	East Rand	Max 150
Leopard Lodge	Hartebeespoort	Max 200
Leribisi Lodge	PTA	Max 120
Lethabo	Cradle of Humankind	Max 160
Liban	Woodmead, JHB	Max 200
Lombardy Estate	Lynnwood, PTA	Max 170
Makiti	Krugersdorp	200 +
Malonjeni Guest Farm	Vaal	Max 200
Mangwa Valley	PTA	Max 150
Medley House	East Rand	Max 200
Mellow Oaks	West Rand	200 +
Misty Hills Country Hotel	Muldersdrift, JHB	200 +
Mount Festiva Lodge	Hartebeespoort	Max 120
Mulberry Bush Manor	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 150
Noi E Voi	East Rand	Max 120
Nt' Shonolanga Valley	Hennopsriver, PTA	Max 250
Nyati Wedding Venue	Vaal	Max 300
Oakfield Farm	Muldersdrift, JHB	200 +
Plumari Africa	Magaliesberg	Max 250
Protea Hotel Midrand	Midrand	200 +
Protea Ridge	North Riding, JHB
Pure Joy Guest Lodge	Kameeldrift, PTA
Rademeyers Country Estate	PTA	Max 120
Rand Club	JHB	Max 220
Rhuslancea	Hartebeespoort	Max 120
River Meadow Manor	Irene, PTA	Max 120
Rusty Hook	Honeydew, JHB	Max 200
Saint George Hotel	PTA
Sandton Park Hotel Suites	Sandton, JHB	Max 50
Shumba Valley Lodge	Lanseria, JHB
Someplace Else	East Rand	Max 50
Stonehaven on Vaal	Vaal
Sulla Via Function Centre	Krugersdorp	250 +
Summer Place	Hyde Park, JHB	Max 120
Sun Valley Ranch	Vaal	Max 200
Sunset Boma	Midrand
The Bridge	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 180
The Castle Kyalami	Kyalami	200 +
The Collection	PTA	Max 120
The Cradle	Cradle of Humankind	Max 120
The Hertford	Lanseria, JHB	Max 200
The Moon and Sixpence	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 200
The Palazzo, Montecasino	Fourways, JHB
The Pyramid	Village Deep, JHB	Max 300
The Thatch	Midrand	200 +
The Thatchery	Muldersdrift, JHB	Max 100
The Westcliff Hotel	WestCliff, JHB	Max 120
The Willows	Muldersdrift, JHB
Thornbirds	Vaal	Max 250
Three Oaks	Centurion, PTA	200 +
Toadbury Hall Country House	Elandsdrift, JHB	Max 100
Usambara	Krugersdorp	250 +
Valverde Country Hotel	JHB	Max 100
Villa Jana	PTA	Max 120
Villa Paradiso	Hartebeespoort	200 +
Villa Tuscana Wedding Village	Midrand	250 +
Watercrest Garden Estate	PTA	Max 120
Whispering Pines Country Estate	Magaliesberg	Max 50
Wickers Riverside Estate	Magaliesberg	Max 120
Yellowwood Chapel	Randburg, JHB	200 +
Zebra Country Lodge	PTA	Max 300

If you know about a Gauteng venue that is not on the list, or you have contact details of venues in other provinces that you would like to share, please leave a comment and I will update the list!