Where to Get Married in Cape Town – Best Wedding Venues & Areas

Where to Get Married in Cape Town – Start With the Area

Before looking at individual wedding venues, we suggest first deciding what type of setting you want.

Do you imagine getting married between vineyards with mountains behind you?

Would you rather have the ocean as your backdrop?

Are you looking for a traditional Cape Dutch wine estate, a modern luxury venue or somewhere where your family and friends can stay for an entire wedding weekend?

For most couples considering Cape Town, the decision normally comes down to a few main areas:

Cape Town and the Atlantic Seaboard, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Paarl and the surrounding Cape Winelands.

Each offers a very different wedding experience.

If you are still at the early research stage and want to compare a larger selection of venues, Pink Book also has a useful directory of Wedding Venues in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands.

Getting Married in Stellenbosch

If somebody asks us where to get married in the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch would definitely be one of our first suggestions.

Stellenbosch is one of South Africa’s oldest towns and sits right in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

The surrounding area is filled with vineyards, huge old oak trees, historic Cape Dutch buildings and dramatic mountain ranges.

From a photography point of view, it is difficult to beat.

You can move from vineyards and mountains to old buildings, gardens, oak-lined roads and wine cellars without travelling very far at all.

Stellenbosch also has a huge selection of accommodation, restaurants and wine estates, making it particularly good for destination weddings where guests may be staying for several days.

Top Wedding Venues in Stellenbosch

We have photographed weddings at many Stellenbosch venues over the years.

If Stellenbosch is high on your list, have a look at our Top Wedding Venues in Stellenbosch guide.

In that guide we feature three venues that offer very different types of Cape Winelands weddings:

Molenvliet Wine Estate
Cavalli Estate
Nooitgedacht Estate

All three are beautiful, but they are very different from one another.

Molenvliet – Mountains, Vineyards and a Wedding Weekend

Molenvliet is one of the venues we know particularly well.

Situated in the Banhoek Valley outside Stellenbosch, the estate is surrounded by vineyards and some of the most impressive mountain scenery in the area.

One of the things we like most about Molenvliet is the way the venue works as a complete wedding destination.

The preparations, ceremony, pre-drinks, couple shoot and reception can all happen without guests or the couple having to travel between different locations.

That makes a big difference to the flow of a wedding.

For destination weddings, it also means guests can settle in and enjoy the experience instead of spending a large part of the day in cars.

Have a look at this weekend wedding at Molenvliet Vineyards in Stellenbosch to see how well the venue works for a multi-day destination celebration.

You can also see a completely different style of celebration in this African wedding at Molenvliet Estate in Stellenbosch.

If Molenvliet is on your shortlist, have a look at our Molenvliet Wedding Venue Review as well.

Cavalli Estate – A Modern Stellenbosch Wedding Venue

Cavalli offers something very different from the traditional Cape Dutch wine estates.

The architecture is modern and contemporary, but you still have the vineyards, gardens, open landscapes and mountain views that make the Stellenbosch region so attractive.

It is also a venue that works particularly well for substantial celebrations.

We have photographed everything from smaller weddings to large luxury and African weddings at Cavalli.

Have a look at this wedding at Cavalli Estate to see how the venue works on a real wedding day.

The combination of the gardens, modern architecture, mountain views and reception space gives us plenty to work with photographically.

Nooitgedacht Estate – Classic Stellenbosch

If you imagine a traditional Stellenbosch wedding with huge oak trees and historic buildings, Nooitgedacht should definitely be on your list.

This is one of those venues that immediately feels like the Cape Winelands.

There are expansive gardens, massive old oak trees, vineyards, historic buildings, a manor house and a large reception cellar.

There are also plenty of photography locations without having to leave the estate.

For outdoor weddings, the gardens provide several ceremony options, while the historic buildings and cellar also give couples alternatives if the Cape weather does not cooperate.

You can read our full Nooitgedacht Wedding Venue Review for a closer look at the venue from our perspective as photographers.

We have also photographed several real weddings here.

Have a look at Ayah and Louay’s wedding at Nooitgedacht, where the celebration included an outdoor dance floor.

Our Nooitgedacht venue review also links through to several other real weddings we have photographed at the estate, so you can see how differently the same venue can look depending on the couple, décor and season.

Wedding Venues in Paarl and the Surrounding Winelands

Moving further into the Cape Winelands brings you to Paarl, another area with some exceptional wedding venues.

Paarl tends to have a slightly more open feel than central Stellenbosch, with vineyards, farmland and huge mountain landscapes.

It is also close enough to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek that guests can easily explore the wider Winelands during a destination wedding weekend.

Two venues we have photographed at extensively are Vrede en Lust and Belair Pavilion.

Vrede en Lust

Vrede en Lust has many of the elements people imagine when thinking about getting married in the Cape Winelands.

There are vineyards, mountain views, beautiful old trees, Cape Dutch architecture and accommodation on the property.

The outdoor ceremony area behind the manor house is particularly beautiful, with the vineyards and mountains forming the backdrop.

The estate also works well for couples who want to create a full wedding weekend rather than simply a single wedding day.

Guests can stay on or near the property, and a relaxed pre-wedding gathering around the manor house and pool can be added to the celebrations.

Have a look at this Vrede en Lust wedding to see how the estate photographs during a real wedding.

For more information about the venue itself, read our Vrede en Lust Wedding Venue Review.

Belair Pavilion

Belair Pavilion gives you another very different interpretation of a Cape Winelands wedding.

The venue has beautiful established gardens, mountain scenery and its distinctive glass pavilion.

The pavilion creates a strong connection between the indoor reception and the surrounding gardens, which works particularly well during the warmer Cape months.

We have photographed a number of weddings here.

Have a look at this wedding at Belair Pavilion in Paarl to see the venue during a real wedding.

You can also look at this Jewish wedding at Belair for another example of how differently the venue can be styled and used.

Avontuur Wine Estate

Avontuur Wine Estate is another venue worth considering if you want the Cape Winelands feel while remaining relatively close to Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Cape Town.

The estate sits along the R44 and has vineyards, mountain views and the relaxed atmosphere of a working wine farm.

We have photographed more than one wedding at Avontuur, and what we like about the venue is that it feels unmistakably like the Winelands without being too far removed from Cape Town.

Avontuur also has a close relationship with Warren-Stone Weddings, who coordinate weddings at the estate and know the venue extremely well.

It is another good option for couples looking beyond the most obvious Stellenbosch wedding venues.

Getting Married in Franschhoek

For couples planning a luxury destination wedding, Franschhoek should definitely be considered.

The valley is famous for its wine estates, restaurants, luxury accommodation and spectacular mountain scenery.

This makes it particularly attractive for international couples because guests can spend several days in the area.

Instead of simply having a wedding, you can create an entire wedding weekend.

A welcome dinner, wine tasting or relaxed gathering can take place the day before, followed by the wedding and perhaps lunch or another informal event the following day.

We have photographed weddings at a number of venues in the Franschhoek area.

Grande Provence

Grande Provence gives couples that classic Franschhoek combination of vineyards, historic architecture, gardens and mountain scenery.

It is close to the centre of Franschhoek while still feeling like a proper Cape wine estate.

Have a look at this wedding at Grande Provence in Franschhoek to see how the venue works for a real wedding.

One of the benefits of getting married in Franschhoek is the large amount of accommodation available nearby, which is particularly useful for destination weddings.

Getting Married in Cape Town City

Of course, you don’t have to leave Cape Town itself.

The city gives you something completely different from the Winelands.

You have Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, the V&A Waterfront, historic buildings, luxury hotels and excellent restaurants all within a relatively small area.

For international guests, that can be extremely convenient.

Guests can stay in the city and experience Cape Town before and after the wedding without having to move between different towns.

A Cape Town city wedding can also give your photographs a very different feel – more urban, architectural and contemporary than a wine-estate wedding.

Beach and Ocean Wedding Venues in Cape Town

If your idea of getting married in Cape Town involves the ocean, the Atlantic Seaboard is difficult to beat.

Clifton, Camps Bay and the coastline stretching towards Hout Bay offer an incredible combination of mountains and ocean.

Some venues allow you to have the entire wedding overlooking the Atlantic, while other couples choose a more traditional venue and use the coastline or beach for their couple photographs.

There is one important thing to remember with a Cape Town coastal wedding – the wind.

Cape Town’s summer weather can be spectacular, but we can also get very windy days.

Always ask the venue what the alternative is if your outdoor ceremony cannot take place.

In fact, we would recommend asking that question at any venue.

Don’t choose a wedding venue only because you love photographs of its outdoor ceremony area.

Make sure you also like the Plan B.

Planning a Destination Wedding in Cape Town

If you are planning your Cape Town wedding from another country – or even from another part of South Africa – having somebody local coordinating everything can make the process much easier.

A good wedding planner will already know the venues and local suppliers and can help with everything from logistics and transport to décor, accommodation and the wedding-day timeline.

Pink Book has a directory of Wedding Coordinators in Cape Town if you are looking for a local planner.

For more general wedding-planning ideas and advice, there is also the Wedding Advice YouTube Channel, which covers a wide range of wedding topics.

Why We Like All-in-One Wedding Venues

After photographing hundreds of weddings, one thing we have learnt is that the most impressive-looking venue is not necessarily the venue that produces the best wedding experience.

How the venue flows is incredibly important.

If preparations can happen at the venue, the ceremony is within walking distance, guests can enjoy pre-drinks nearby while photographs are being taken and everybody can then move easily into the reception, the entire day tends to feel much more relaxed.

Molenvliet is a great example.

The Molenvliet wedding weekend mentioned earlier shows how a couple can turn the venue into a complete wedding experience rather than simply somewhere to hold the reception.

Nooitgedacht is another good example.

There are so many different photographic locations on the property that we don’t need to take the couple away from their guests for a long period just to find variety.

For us as photographers, that matters.

We would always rather spend less time travelling and more time photographing.

Cape Town as a Destination Wedding Location

Cape Town works exceptionally well as a destination wedding location because your guests get much more than just the wedding.

They can visit Table Mountain, explore Cape Point, spend time on the beaches, go wine tasting in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, enjoy some excellent restaurants or travel further into South Africa before or after the wedding.

For couples travelling from Europe, the UK, USA, other African countries or the Middle East, the wedding often becomes the centrepiece of a much bigger South African holiday.

This is also why we like wedding venues with accommodation.

Instead of everything being over in a few hours, you can spend proper time with the people who have travelled across the world to celebrate with you.

Can Foreigners Get Married in Cape Town?

Yes, couples from overseas regularly choose Cape Town and the Cape Winelands for destination weddings.

However, if you want the marriage to be legally registered in South Africa, it is important to deal with the paperwork well before the wedding.

The documents and process can differ depending on whether both partners are foreign nationals, one person is South African, whether either person has previously been married and the country the couple comes from.

Rather than relying on general information online, we recommend confirming the current requirements with your marriage officer before travelling.

Pink Book has a useful guide explaining the requirements for foreigners getting married in South Africa.

Once you have an idea of what documentation applies to you, you can also browse their directory of Marriage Officers in Cape Town.

For an international destination wedding, we would sort this out early in the planning process rather than leaving the legal side until shortly before the wedding.

When Is the Best Time to Get Married in Cape Town?

The warmer months are traditionally the busiest wedding season in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands.

Summer gives you long days, warm evenings and plenty of opportunities for outdoor ceremonies and receptions.

It is also peak wedding season, so popular Saturday dates at the best-known venues tend to book well in advance.

Autumn is one of our favourite times photographically.

The temperatures start cooling, the light becomes softer and the vineyards and trees begin changing colour.

Winter weddings can also be beautiful and often have better venue availability.

However, if you are planning a winter wedding, make sure the venue has good indoor ceremony and photography options.

Whatever month you choose, remember that Cape Town’s weather can change quickly.

A good wedding venue should still work when the weather is not perfect.

What Should You Look for When Choosing a Cape Town Wedding Venue?

Obviously the venue needs to look beautiful, but there are practical things that we notice as photographers that couples do not always think about.

Consider where both partners will prepare.

Look at how far those preparation areas are from the ceremony.

See where guests will go during the couple shoot.

Ask where the sun will be when the ceremony takes place.

Look carefully at the wet-weather option.

Consider accommodation and transport for your guests.

And importantly, look at photographs from real weddings at the venue, not only styled shoots.

Styled shoots are created under controlled conditions with a small number of people, carefully selected décor and often perfect light.

A real wedding is very different.

That is one of the reasons we have included so many links to actual weddings throughout this guide.

They allow you to see what these venues really look like when they are being used for a wedding.

If you would like to compare even more options, browse Pink Book’s Cape Town and Western Cape wedding venues alongside the venue reviews and real weddings on ZaraZoo.

Wedding Photography and Video in Cape Town

Once you have chosen your venue, the next decision is how you want the wedding documented.

Photography and video work particularly well together for destination weddings.

The photographs give you those individual moments and portraits that can be printed, framed and used in albums, while wedding film brings back the voices, movement, speeches, music and atmosphere of the day.

If you want to see examples of our wedding films, visit the ZaraZoo Cine Wedding Video YouTube Channel.

It is also worth looking at complete wedding galleries rather than only a photographer’s favourite images. That gives you a much better idea of how consistently the entire wedding day is covered, from preparations through to the reception.

So, Where Is the Best Place to Get Married in Cape Town?

There really isn’t one answer that will work for everybody.

If you want vineyards, Cape Dutch architecture, old oak trees and mountains, start with Stellenbosch and the Cape Winelands.

If you are looking for a destination wedding weekend with luxury accommodation, great food and wine, consider Franschhoek.

For beautiful wine estates, open landscapes and mountain views, explore Paarl and the surrounding Winelands.

If you want ocean views, beaches, luxury hotels and everything happening close to the city, look at Cape Town and the Atlantic Seaboard.

From our perspective as wedding photographers, Stellenbosch and the wider Cape Winelands are particularly difficult to beat.

The combination of vineyards, mountains, old buildings, huge trees and beautiful natural light gives us an enormous amount to work with.

It is one of the reasons so many of the weddings you see in our ZaraZoo portfolio were photographed there.

Explore Our Cape Town Wedding Venues and Real Weddings

If you are still trying to decide where to get married in Cape Town, a good place to start is our Top Wedding Venues in Stellenbosch guide.

Then have a look through our individual venue reviews and, importantly, the real weddings we have photographed at those venues.

Explore weddings at Molenvliet Estate, Cavalli Estate, Nooitgedacht Estate, Vrede en Lust, Belair Pavilion and Grande Provence.

For an even wider selection, you can also browse the Wedding Venues in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands listed by Pink Book.

Seeing a full wedding at a venue will often tell you far more than a venue brochure ever can.

And once you have found the right place to get married, explore our ZaraZoo wedding photography portfolio and our ZaraZoo Cine wedding films to see how we capture the full story of a wedding day in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands.