10. Rockhaven – Rustic Farm Venue in Elgin
Rockhaven Wedding Venue is our number 10 in our list of Top 10 Wedding Venues in the Western Cape. This part of the world is truly magical. The mountains, valleys, orchards and farm-style buildings give a tranquility and peace – a perfect setting for a romantic wedding! Rockhaven is only a 75 km drive from Cape Town, but once you go over the Hottentots Holland Mountains, you will feel like you are in a different world!
It will appeal to…
The Rockhaven Farm will appeal to those couples looking to create an earthy and rustic theme for their wedding. Best time of the year to host your wedding at Rockhaven is Summer when the landscape is covered with lush green orchards and vineyards. A bit more risky in terms of rain, but the jackpot in terms of colour and warmth is Autumn with hues for brown, yellow and red. This is my favourite time of the year at this venue!
Bridal and Grooms Preparations at Rockhaven
The Farm House comprises of Rockhaven’s three luxury suites, sleeping 6. Add this to the the other cottages on the farm and you have a place to rest for 14 of your closest friends and family. There are plenty of neighbouring farmhouse accommodation and good quality guest houses in the area as well.
The farmhouse and cottages are ideal bridal and grooms preparation venues. Having such fantastic facilities onsite will save you a lot of time in travelling and you’ll also have a lot less stress when it comes to timing.
Wedding Ceremony Options at Rockhaven
The Boathouse, set on the edge of a dam is a fantastic indoor ceremony venue. It can seat up to 150 guests and can also double up as a smaller reception venue. Characterised by its cement floor, rough brick walls, exposed roof trusses and candy stripe side sun shutters, this venue perfectly embodies the rustic farm-wedding feel.
Weather permitting (summer and autumn), outdoor ceremonies can be conducted on the lovely lawn that flows down from the main house and meets the edge of the dam that overlooks the estate. This space is big enough to also host pre-dinner drinks and lawn games while guests wait for the wedding photos to be taken.
Pre-dinner Drinks Options – Rockhaven Wedding Venue Elgin
There are two areas that are perfect to host your pre-dinner drinks. My favourite is the lawn in front of the the main farm house, on the edge of the lake. Here guests can soak in all of the breathtaking views of the farm and en enjoy canapés, champagne and lawn games while the weddings photos are being taken.
The other spot, right outside the main venue lends a more formal and intimate setting. It is close to bathroom facilities, bar and kitchen and a more sheltered option. Flanked by rustic stone walls and the wooden facade of the venue, this area can easily be covered by stretch tent if wet weather looms.
The Reception Options – Rockhaven Farm, Elgin
For a rustic wedding, there are but a few better options in the greater Cape Town area. This is one of the main reasons why Rockhaven made our list of Top 10 Wedding venues in the Western Cape.
“The Barn”, an old converted apple shed, is the bigger reception venue of the two, seating up to 150 guests with a dance floor. This space, like the Boathouse, also has a rustic feel, with lots of wooden elements brought in. Even the bar area is made from recycled apple crates. When you combine this unrefined feel with sophisticated elements like crystal chandeliers and fairy lights, the venue is transformed into a fairytale setting.
Some couples opt to have an outdoor dance floor in the courtyard that can form part of the venue when the side doors are opened. An added bonus is that there are no real sound restrictions as the venue is set on a farm with neighbours far enough away to be bothered by your party.
Secondly, The Boathouse, a smaller intimate space with a lovely deck on the waters edge, is another option. The clever design, with one side totally opening up, allows for a “close-to-nature” experience, with fantastic views over the dam and estate while enjoying dinner. It is more intimate than the barn and can accommodate 70 guests with dance floor.
Catering and Bar Services at Rockhaven
Rockhaven is known for their exquisite cuisine and that is one of the reasons they prefer to make use of their in-house catering team. The menu usually consists of pre-drinks and canapes, a main course and then a dessert/cheese plate option. The chefs of Rockhaven make use of only fresh, local produce, with most of the greenery and veggies cultivated in their organic vegetable garden less than 50m from the Barn.
Unfortunately Rockhaven doesn’t have a liquor licence, but a bar service can be organised upon request. For your wedding reception you also have the option to bring your own drinks without having to pay corkage. The venue hiring doesn’t include staff, so an additional 10% is added to the food bill which then covers the staff.
Wedding Photography Options at Rockhaven
Rockhaven is a real playground for photographers. The deck of the Boathouse; jeep track on the lake wall with natural fynbos; the vineyards, orchards and olive groves; the lawn on the waters edge; the lovely rustic courtyard with stone walls. These are just some of the many settings for wedding photos on the farm.
Full Weddings at Rockhaven
- Summer Wedding – Louise and Johan
- Summer Wedding – Rob and Sarah
9. Grande Provence – Wine Estate in Franschhoek
If your vision is to combine the essence of the Cape winelands with luxury, then this venue is perfect for your wedding. The 325 year old Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate is set in the lovely village of Franschhoek that is just 90km from Cape Town by car. The town with rich history and wine culture is a tourist favourite. If yours is a destination wedding, then you will find Franschhoek to be the perfect base for you to enjoy fine restaurants, wine and beautiful natural surroundings this picturesque town has to offer.
Grande Provence is an all-in-one venue with several accommodation, ceremony and reception options. The award winning restaurant also handles the catering for weddings. Other notable mentions are the landscaped design, sculptures and gallery, lavender flanked entrance lane, lovely old oaks and Cape Dutch buildings.
Bridal and Grooms Preparations at Grande Provence
The suites and villa at Grande Provence can accommodate 14 guests in total. These self contained units have all the luxuries you can expect, including swimming pool and spacious lounge and entertainment areas.
The honeymoon suite is the perfect bridal preparations space. It’s situated right next to the outdoor ceremony space one the one side and Jonkershuis, one of the smaller function spaces, just 20m away other other side.
The groom and his entourage can make use of one of the other guests suites for their preparations. Having the main bridal party get ready onsite is a big plus for any wedding as it save a lot of traveling time and gives more time to spend with your family and friends on the wedding day.
Wedding Ceremony Options at Grande Provence
For an outdoor ceremony, the lawn next to the villas is the perfect setting. It is very well sheltered of wind and has the most beautiful vistas over the vineyards and mountains in the distance. It is right next to the bridal preparations venue, which makes for seamless transfer. And if the bride opted for a arrival by car, there is a road that leads to within 40m of this space.
For wet weather and indoor ceremonies, The beautiful Cape Dutch building dubbed Jonkershuis is just perfect. It can accommodate 70 guess cinema-style.
Pre-dinner Drinks at Grande Provence
The Garden with lovely old oaks, water features, lawns and art sculptures in the perfect setting for your pre-dinner drinks. Here, your guests can enjoy champagne in style while you are getting your wedding photos taken. is a beautiful space with stunning mountain backdrops and vineyard views.
The Garden can also be used as an outdoor reception venue. The warm summer nights in Franschhoek allows for outdoor receptions to be held in this space.
Reception Options at Grande Provence
One of the reasons why Grande Provence features in our list of Top 10 Wedding Venues in Cape Town, is because of the many reception venue options it has. In total there are 4 options, each lending its own special look and feel, catering for intimate and larger weddings.
The Jonkershuis is a superbly decorated private room in a typical Cape Dutch Style building. The thatch roof and exposed beams, together with this classically decorated interior give a very stately feel and this space is perfect for a small destination wedding of up to 30 guests.
The Restaurant with superb cuisine is a modern space with a lot of ambience. The white high back chairs and touches of gold and dark interior lends a sophisticated feel. This space is perfect for the refined couple that wants to treat their guests in style. It can seat up to 60 guests.
The Gallery at Grande Provence is considered to be one of the most highly regarded galleries in the Cape, with a reputation for showcasing some of South Africa’s finest established and emerging artists. For bigger weddings of up to 120 guest, the atrium of the gallery is used as a rectangular shaped venue that can be transformed into just about any theme.
This blank canvas space has french doors leading onto the sculpture garden. An outdoor dance floor just outside these doors can be the perfect romantic end to the evening.
Wedding Photography Options at Grande Provence
This Estate offers everything you would expect of a Cape Winelands estate, rich in heritage and contemporary by design. The endless photographic opportunities, both indoors and outdoors start at the entry road with lavender hedges and extends into the rows of vineyards set on the mountain backdrop. The 18th century Manor house offers Cape Dutch architecture and expansive lush gardens with 300 year old oaks that will supply ample shade for hot summers days. There are so many photo worthy locations on this 47 acre estate. It is a photographers dream.
