Want to get married in Durban, South Africa? Check out this ultimate list of the best wedding venues: beach, chapel, outdoor, indoor, and for all sizes of guests.
Durban stands as a vibrant coastal city renowned for its rich cultural tapestry, pristine beaches, and warm hospitality.
Durban serves as the bustling capital of the KwaZulu-Natal province, enticing visitors with its unique blend of urban charm and natural beauty.
Finding reasonably priced wedding venues in Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, is a safe option for couples who want to exchange vows. Some of the greatest South African wedding venue options can be found in Durban, so be sure to check them out. Making your ideal wedding a reality is just a selection away, with options ranging from lavish marriage packages to stunning outdoor wedding provisions. To select the ideal wedding venue in Durban, don’t forget to narrow down your options and compare costs.
Where is Durban located in South Africa?
Durban, affectionately known as “Durbs” by locals, is situated on the eastern coast of South Africa, overlooking the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. As the third-largest city in South Africa, Durban boasts a strategic location that serves as a major port and economic hub, contributing to its dynamic and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
With golden sandy beaches and verdant hills all around, Durban provides a lovely setting for a range of pursuits, from promenade walks to thrilling water sports in the warm ocean. The city is a great place for outdoor parties and celebrations because of its subtropical environment, which guarantees beautiful weather all year round.
What is Durban known for? Durban is celebrated for its rich cultural diversity, shaped by centuries of influence from Zulu, Indian, and British settlers. This vibrant melting pot of cultures is evident in Durban’s cuisine, architecture, and festivals, creating a unique and eclectic atmosphere that captivates visitors from near and far.
One of Durban’s most iconic features is its bustling beachfront, which stretches for miles along the coastline and offers a plethora of attractions, including water parks, amusement arcades, and vibrant street markets. The city’s culinary scene is equally impressive, with a plethora of restaurants, cafes, and eateries serving up mouthwatering dishes ranging from traditional Zulu cuisine to fragrant Indian curries.
Durban is also renowned for its rich history and heritage, with landmarks such as the Durban City Hall, the Victoria Street Market, and the KwaMuhle Museum offering insight into the city’s past and cultural heritage. Visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the city’s townships, explore the lush landscapes of the surrounding countryside, or simply relax and unwind on the pristine beaches that dot the coastline.
15 Best Wedding Venues in Durban
Durban’s unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and warm hospitality makes it an ideal destination for couples seeking a truly memorable wedding experience.
JanaTribe has gathered the top 15 wedding venues in Durban that boast an array of unique and affordable options. From beachside marquees to rustic farmhouses, Durban offers something for every couple’s taste and budget. Check out these well-explained venues, their packages, and more, and make the best choice.
1. Hilton Durban Hotel
The Hilton Durban is a definition of corporate elegance.
This venue is an iconic landmark hotel offering newly renovated guestrooms in a prime location near the Durban International Convention Center.
Per TripAdvisor, this destination was voted South Africa’s Leading Business Hotel at the World Travel Awards from 2013 to 2019.
The Hilton Durban is an ideal wedding spot for couples whose dream is to have gorgeous views of the city or coastline. This venue has friendly packages featuring banquet and waiter service. Also, this venue offers services like conferences, birthdays, business meetings, ballroom gatherings, smaller corporate events, and other functions.
You can expect to find flexible meeting rooms with A/V equipment, video conferencing, and WiFi, as well as catering options. Guests always have help from expert planners. Expect the highest standard of service, impressive facilities, and dishes to suit any taste.
Couples are expected to enjoy their ceremony with class in the venue’s Grand Ballroom and finish the night on their private terrace in the Ambassador Suite.
With meeting rooms and grand ballroom space for up to 300 guests, the Hilton Durban is one of the most established conference hotels in Durban.
The ballroom is divided into 2 spacious rooms that open up to form the famous Hilton Durban Ballroom. The versatility of this design allows you to use this venue to suit your specific requirements. It can cater for up to 200 guests at a sit-down meal. The Ballroom Foyer, with its dedicated entrance, is the perfect venue for galas, exhibitions, or conferences while being an attractive and versatile venue.
The ballroom is equipped with customizable lighting and is ideal for lectures, corporate conventions, cinemas, large events, seminars, and conferences. Accessible for vehicles, this venue is complemented with air conditioning, a break-out room(s), business support services, a coffee break area, coach parking, complimentary parking, a complimentary Wi-Fi-dedicated foyer, and a stage.
2. The Durban Country Club
The premier Durban Country Club, established in December 1922, is rated one of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World, offering world-class golfing experiences and exceptional sporting and leisure facilities to seasoned professionals, golf enthusiasts, and families alike.
With years of experience in golf, the country club tops when it comes to garden weddings. The country club’s surroundings include well-trimmed grass, beautiful hedges, and strategically planted palm trees.
The Club is also home to some of South Africa’s greatest sportsmen and women, including Neil Tovey (soccer), Shaun Pollock (cricket), Precious Mthembu (netball), Cindy Hack (hockey), Kevin Curren (tennis), and John Smit (rugby), as well as our guests.
The Durban Country Club recently introduced the Champions Bar. Opened on December 18, 2020, the bar is a visual portrait of the 100 years of golfing heritage at DCC, through the eras of legends like Sid Brews, Papwa Sewgolum, Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Sally Little, and Ernie Els. Come and experience 100 years of golfing history while enjoying a cold beer.
Apart from its popular tennis open days, Durban Country Club offers an unforgettable wedding reception experience. It happens to be one of the most easily accessible garden wedding venues in Durban for motorists and guests in attendance. This is through its strategic location, which gives it access to various major roads such as the M4 and its adjacent location close to the famous Moses Mabhida Stadium.
You will be reminiscing about your wedding photos as the venue boasts picturesque surroundings based on the outstanding building and a view of the magnificent Indian Ocean.
Couples also get access to function room packages that fit their budgets and themes. These include the Waterman Room and the extravagant Belvedere Room. Both packages include a ballroom dancing space. Furthermore, the club ensures ample parking at no cost.
Their newly renovated Sportsmen’s Verandah, now known as Cafe at the Club, has an exciting menu jam-packed with indulgent baked goods, creative breakfasts, and exciting flavor-filled lunch options. Thereby ensuring there’s something for everyone to savor and enjoy.
3. The Oyster Box
Located at Umhlanga Rock in Umhlanga, The Oyster Box is an in-house catering venue that is worth considering. Its traditional architecture has earned its popularity not only for weddings but also for honeymoons.
In addition to the dominant Indian culture in the city, The Oyster Box is popular as one of the affordable Indian wedding venues in Durban.
The Pearl Room is strategically designed for that lavish and sophisticated wedding look. Its spacious design is sufficient for flexible use as the reception area or for hosting the celebration. The Pearl Room can host 120 people. The Venetian chandeliers also add charm to the occasion.
The Oyster Box boasts an iconic red and white lighthouse that overlooks the deep blue Indian Ocean. This is the perfect setting to capture a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The second venue is the Shell Room, which is perfectly sized for smaller to medium numbers of guests. The room can comfortably host 40 comfortably seated guests. It also provides the Victoria Gazebo, which can host up to 100 guests.
4. Fairmont Zimbali Resort
Image Source: fairmontmoments
The Fairmont Zimbali Resort is located in Ballito, north of Umhlanga, about a 45-minute drive away from Durban Central on KwaZulu-Natal’s magnificent North Coast. From the King Shaka International Airport, this five-star beach resort can be reached within a 20-minute drive (15km).
This elegant resort in Ballito is an ideal spot for weddings that couples can consider when planning their big day in Durban.
The venue offers a luxurious health and beauty spa, an 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse, and beachfront villas.
The resort welcomes guests to enjoy the comfort and first-class service, which provide an exclusive gateway to nature. The resort features a luxurious, five-star hotel, a Gary Player signature golf course and a country club, the Willow Stream spa, and several residential and investment real estate ownership opportunities.
The well-appointed condominium suites are fully furnished, exceptional in their design, and generous in their layout. The 154 rooms and suites offer breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The oversized veranda and the elegant decor of wood, stone, and earth tones are a reflection of the natural surroundings of the estate.
The designer rooms at the resort are on one of the most beautiful ocean-facing hills within the estate. With stunning views of the sea and the coastal forest, these spacious apartments offer modern facilities and features. As these have been built in small blocks of six to twelve units, each apartment enjoys privacy and exclusivity.
A visit to the Wellness Center & Spa with its nine treatment and steam rooms for pampering and leisure. Guests staying may enjoy challenging workouts, while several swimming pools throughout the resort are also available.
The Golf Course on the Estate has been known to supply guests with one of South Africa’s best golfing experiences. Tom Weiskopf designed the course, which features 18 holes. The Gary Player golf course also consists of a contemporary clubhouse and an academy with a driving range.
The resort has an array of different dining options available for its guests, from pub lunches to fine dining and local seafood and curry dishes. The property has something for everyone. The rustic beach club theme offers homemade pizzas and burgers.
The 285-square-meter ballroom has a seating capacity for 180 guests for sit-down banquets and 225 delegates in cinema style for conventions. The 155 square meters of pre-function space allow for pre-registration and cocktail events, while the executive meeting venue can accommodate up to 13 delegates in boardroom-style seating. The Fairmont offers a business centre that is complete with workstations, high-speed Internet, phone and fax lines, and photocopying services.
5. Durban Manor Hotel & Conference Centre
Durban Manor Hotel and Conference Centre is a grand 3-star property set nearly a 25-minute walk from the oceanfront Suncoast Casino and only 1 km from Durban Icc.
This hotel is an ideal wedding venue in Durban, South Africa. It also offers avenues for conferences, meetings, birthdays, and other celebrations.
This hotel has nice halls for indoor ceremonies and an elegant park for outdoor celebrations. They also offer couples affordable packages to make their big day memorable.
Royal Durban Golf Club and Durban Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area’s natural beauty can explore Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve and Palmiet Nature Reserve. The Durban Natural Science Museum and Durban City Hall are also worth visiting.
The hotel features 37 rooms with views over the sea. All of the smoke-free rooms are appointed with complimentary WiFi and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, along with tea and coffee-making equipment, and some of them comprise a balcony and a dining area. The units are designed in a spacious manner. The spacious bathrooms come with a bath and a shower, along with a hairdryer and shower caps.
Every day, a delicious breakfast awaits you in the restaurant of this Durban hotel. The barbecue at Thunder Peak Spur is located merely a 6-minute stroll away. Thanks to its location adjacent to a boat dock, Durban Manor Hotel and Conference Centre is well connected with other parts of Durban.
This accommodation is nestled in the very heart of Durban, adjacent to banks. The attractive hotel is close to the Natal Museum and 40 km from King Shaka International Airport. The property also lies adjacent to gardens and parks. It is a 9-minute walk from the Bat Center Art Center.
6. Coedmore Castle
Coedmore Castle is one of the most exquisite wedding locations Durban couples could ever visit, bringing to life those unforgettable royal wedding moments.
Enjoy the wonderful feeling of garden nuptials while taking in the breathtaking scenery. Located in the heart of the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, your guests will be able to witness breathtaking avian species as well as antelope and zebra displays.
The castle administration provides the venue while you assume control and select which of the best-hired facilities will be utilized on D-Day.
Couples that want themed weddings and have particular needs for tables, seats, or silverware can customize the space to fit their ideal wedding.
7. Ingeli Forest and Spa
For couples interested in finding affordable wedding venues in Durban, we introduce you to Ingeli Forest. Located along Kokstad Road, Ingeli offers you an opportunity to celebrate your D-Day in its breathtaking fresh-air forested venues. As a partner of the Anew Hotels, you are sure of excellent reception services that range from food, beverages, makeup for the bridal team, hiring of equipment, and overnight accommodations. It also provides forest wedding venues with perfect backgrounds from their human-made dam.
Ingeli Forest and SPA provide three outstanding wedding venue packages, and the biggest venue can host up to 180 guests. The first is the Nkulu Ndaba, which best suits simple formal weddings. The high-ceilinged hall is equipped with elegant dangling chandeliers that light up the celebration. Its glassed doors pave the way to the outdoor catering venue that is effective for serving guests.
Pelindaba is the second venue that is perfect for small matrimonial gatherings of up to 90 people. This package comes with a massive fireplace for that cozy and warm atmosphere and a vintage wooden decker, making it one of the best winter reception venues in Durban.
Finally, we have the stone-thatched chapel that is ideal for exchanging vows. Do not forget that Ingeli Forest and SPA have a dedicated team of professional wedding and banquet experts ready to listen and share ideas on how to successfully plan a budget-friendly celebration.
8. Shepstone Garden
Talk about elegance. Shepstone Garden presents you with unique wedding venues that Durban can never provide. It offers you a striking glass marquee venue. Walk down the aisle on the smooth and beautiful marble floor with magnificent chandeliers illuminating your big occasion. Such a unique combination provides the perfect background for your wedding pictures.
The Grand Hall is a spacious venue that can be flexibly used for couples with small guest numbers or as an avenue for matrimonial reception. From its wooden floors to the ceiling being covered with glittering lights, the Grand Hall is a lighthouse for the fun and laughter-filled moments between you and your loving family members and close friends.
Beach wedding venues in Durban, South Africa
Kwazulu-Natal offers some of the best South African beaches, ideal for wedding ceremonies. These include:
9. Canelands Beach Club and Spa (Salt Rock)
- Contact number: +27 32 525 2300
- Email address: fo@thecanelands.co.za
Canelands often host stunning, close-knit int*mate weddings in the northern coast location of Kwa-Zulu Natal. It is excellent for mostly small-sized, modern-style beach weddings. It works perfectly for people who love their privacy.
10. Palm Dune Beach Lodge
- Contact number: +27 32 552 1588
- Email address: stay@palmdune.co.za
This is your ultimate romantic beach destination for the dream wedding you have been waiting for. It is one venue that shows how attainable a fancy wedding can be. Whether you hold the ceremony outdoors or prefer indoor affairs, you can be sure that Palm Dune will give you exactly what you need.
11. The Boathouse Luxury Guest House
Photo: @Boathouse Ballito Source: Facebook
- Contact number: +27 32 946 0300
- Email address: reservations@boathouse.co.za
There may be no other place that beats The Boathouse for a romantic evening wedding by the sea. It offers an excellent backdrop for a union based on true love. Whatever you envision for your wedding, the boathouse offers this and much more.
12. The Laughing Forest Resort
Photo: @laughing_forest_weddings Source: Instagram
- Contact number: +27 72 135 2362
- Email address: debbie@laughingforest.co.za
The Laughing Forest wedding venue is located in the beautiful Kwazulu Natal South Coast’s coastal dune forest. They offer indoor, beach, and garden wedding ceremony locations.
They have several lovely garden areas, some overlooking the sea and providing stunning views, creating a relaxed, close-to-nature atmosphere. A large outdoor gazebo is also available for garden and beach wedding ceremonies.
13. Cranford Country Lodge & Wedding Venue
Photo: @cranfordcountrylodge Source: Facebook
- Contact number: +27 82 556 6748
- Email address: info@cranfordcountrylodge.co.za
Cranford Country Lodge is a premier wedding venue in KwaZulu Natal and is ideal for an elegant country wedding in South Africa. They strive to provide a level of excellence that you, your family, and your friends will remember, from the stunning setting to the delectable cordon bleu meals.
14. Bella Vista Venue & Resort
Photo: @bellavista.venue Source: Instagram
- Contact number: +27 83 657 1901
- Email address: mail@bellavista.co.za
Bella Vista is a private venue, so each event is treated as unique and personal. They can provide you with the flexibility of a wedding venue that is exclusively yours for the day. This intimate venue has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it ideal for all events.
15. Coastal Beach Lounge
Photo: @coastallounge Source: Facebook
- Contact number: +27 84 319 8932
- Email address: info@coastalbeach.co.za
If you want to have one of the best beach wedding receptions in Durban, Coastal Beach Lounge is the place to be. Elegant bamboo chairs, stylish candle-lit lanterns, and a floral altar are available. The venue can accommodate 350 people.
With some of the most attractive beach wedding venues in South Africa, anyone can finally get their dream wedding by the beach. Take some time and visit a few suggested venues to see which one you like most.
Conclusion
Couples have a large number of suitable wedding venues in Durban to pick from for their big day. From woodland setups to garden designs and chapel setups, among other interesting decors, Durban wedding venues are capable of presenting you with sites that meet your thoughts and themes. To locate the ideal one, all you need to concentrate on is conducting a thorough search and consultation. We hope that the aforementioned choices have helped you in your quest for the ideal wedding locations.
