7 dreamy wedding venues to die for in Gauteng

Muldersdrift is known as the wedding mile, and boy does it live up to its name!  There are so many beautiful venues to choose from. But here are some of our favourites and what we love about them.

Oakfield Farm

Situated on a functioning farm just on the outskirts of Johannesburg, Oakfield Farm ≫  is a highly sought after wedding venue and with good reason.

It is a stunning venue to photograph at, and just about everything reminds you of a fairytale wedding. There are several venues to choose from within this wedding venue, but one of my favourites is the Summerhouse Venue.

It has an open-air chapel which allows for beautiful natural light and has permanent draping, which adds to the luxurious atmosphere this venue presents. In addition, the reception hall has wrap-around glass doors that open up entirely and allow plenty of light and space.

The bridal suite is light and airy, featuring a skylight, and the grooms can get ready in an adjoining Nguni suite right next door, so there is no need to run far between bride and groom for photos.

In my opinion, the bride can opt to arrive in a horse and carriage, which is the epitome of a fairytale wedding.

The various statues and gardens in this venue are expertly landscaped, manicured and maintained, making for a picturesque backdrop. And to top it all off, the sun sets perfectly on open fields so you can have the best of both worlds in your photos – the perfectly manicured gardens or the more rustic country feel – the choice is yours!

Makiti wedding venue

Makiti ≫  is a venue that has stood the test of time, and it’s been around for decades and with good reason. From beautifully kept gardens to three different venues, you are set when it comes to choice.

Some of my favourite features are the fairy lights in the gardens at night lighting up the gazebos and bridges, which make for amazing night photos.

The low rafters are completely strung with fairy lights if you are using the ballroom venue, giving the venue a great atmosphere. The fantastic wooden doors make for incredible photo backgrounds, and the sunset venue also has spectacular white pillars as a photo backdrop. It is also an aptly named venue as the sun sets perfectly behind these pillars.

Each venue has a dedicated room for the bride to get changed, which is a bonus! In addition, there is additional accommodation on the premises for the groom to get changed in if they choose; logistically making everything easier on the day of the wedding.

Right when you need to get photos of everyone getting ready and are running back and forth between bride and groom.

Each venue also has its own chapel, so there is no need to worry about finishing in time for another wedding coming in after you.

If that’s not enough, there are several fountains, archways, wagons, and swings you can use for photos all around the various venues, making this one of the most unique and successful wedding venues to photograph.

Hartbeespoort is a top-rated destination for weddings, and there are so many venues to choose from, but Leopard Lodge ≫  is one of my favourites this year.

The venue is a little out of the way of the full hustle and bustle of Harties, which makes it easier to access, and it is exclusive – you need to be on the guest list to get through the gates.

The chapel overlooks the lake and has some stunning views, and for your guests to stay over or for bride and groom to get ready, there are plenty of places to get ready on the premises.

For the couple and bridal party photos, a game drive vehicle is made available to take you out onto the private game farm, which really helps with the logistics and makes it much easier to get to the perfect spot for those photos.

If there are animals in your background for the photos, it is a bonus, but if not, the mountain in the background still makes terrific photos that will be the envy of all your friends.

The reception area is also strung with hundreds of fairy lights which just gives the whole reception a romantic feel and also makes for amazing bokeh effects in your photos.

Last but not least, the night photos you can do are awesome because you have the lake reflecting light in your background, which makes for some unique and dramatic lighting effects.

Pretoria is highly competitive for wedding venues, but here are two of our favourites and why we think they make some of the best wedding photographs.

Lavandou Wedding Venue

Lavandou is situated in the Tierpoort area to the east of Pretoria and is an absolutely stunning venue to photograph at. From the French style bridal suites to the outdoor chapel surrounded by a pine forest it really is quite dreamy. The reception hall is massive and also draped in fairy lights for that romantic feel.

And of course, it needs to live up to its name, and there is plenty of lavender to go around which always makes for amazing photographs.

See ore from Kyle and Cyras wedding at Lavandou Pretoria

Bell Amour Wedding Venue

Bell Amour is in north east pretoria on a large plot . It has beautiful lavender fields, olive trees and vineyard all to make great photos. There is an option to have the wedding in the vineyard , or in the chapel itself which open apart from the roof so there is plenty of light and space.

But one of the most beautiful bridal suites I have ever had the privilege of photographing in. They really put a lot of thought into the aesthetic of this and even supply a separate room where the bride can actually get ready, and one for the photos which can be kept neat and tidy – because let’s face it girls tend to get a bit messy when they are getting ready, and nothing is more chaotic than a bride and bridesmaids getting ready on the wedding day. So this is definitely my favourite feature about this venue.

See more from Calvin and Megans Wedding at Bell Amour Pretoria

Let’s face it, when it comes to weddings, nothing comes cheap, and I’m not too fond of the word cheap as it tends to assume there has to be a compromise, which is not the case with these two wedding venues.

However, they are more affordable wedding venues, but they don’t compromise on quality or what they offer. They still have all the bells and whistles that make an amazing venue, and they are also great for photography. Here is why we think so.

Tres Jolie Wedding Venue

Not far out of town and probably easier classified as a wedding venue in Johannesburg, lies another awesome venue, Tres Jolie ≫. This venue lives up to its name of “very pretty” with a leafy garden and fountains framing the beautiful stonework that this venue has to offer.

These textures really make for beautiful backgrounds in your wedding photos, and there is also a field at the back of the venue for sunset photos.

But My all-time favourite thing about this venue is hands down, the chapel. It has to be one of the most gorgeous chapels on offer, with rustic stonework and high wooden rafters that lend themselves to dramatic photos both night and day.

The Forest Walk Venue

Forest Walk wedding venue ≫ Is actually based in Midrand, so halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, but I feel it is worth mentioning it as one of my favourite wedding venues.

This unique wedding venue is completely surrounded by a forest of pine trees and you would not say you were in a residential suburb at all. The chapel is open-air and blends perfectly with the surroundings. It is also hung with Chinese lanterns makes for an amazing night shot as well.

There is no accommodation at the venue itself, but right next door are two b and bs, with plenty of accommodation for both the bride and groom. One even with an adjoining gate so you can sneak through to the venue.

The forest vibe also allows for filtered light through the trees, which means you can have photos here almost any time of day – so it is a great option if your wedding is set for an earlier time and you want to avoid harsh sunlight for your couple and bridal party photos.

That said, there is still a beautiful sunset shot through the trees if you catch the right time for your sunset photos.