An hour and 20 minutes outside Cape Town, Bona Dea Private Estate is situated at the very start of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The boutique wedding venue nestles gently against the pristine fynbos-clad mountain slopes, offering endless views across several famous vineyards.

Our expectations were surpassed from the moment we passed through Bona Dea’s gates into the estate. The long stone driveway is flanked on the right by natural water features and pristine garden terraces, which sweep up to the original Cape Dutch manor house. With its raised terraces to optimise the views, the manor house is the centre of any celebration. Here we were welcomed by owner Diddi Johnson and her team.

The first stop on our introduction to Bona Dea was to its ‘Plan B’ wedding ceremony area, which is a large, pristine room with white walls and curtained sides. On entering the room, we were greeted by its mirrored wall and enclosure, which is the backdrop to where the bridal couple would take their vows.  Beyond the curtains is Diddi’s impressive décor store; a treasure house of hand-picked, bespoke décor items, ranging from candle votives, cake stands, and lanterns to metal chandeliers to hang from the ceiling. With an array of flexible wedding options on offer, which can be personalised to suit a couple’s needs, Bona Dea offers the choice of hiring the items internally or the option of outsourcing the décor.

From here Diddi led us up the lavish staircase (a perfect entrance for any bride) to the large ceremonial terraced garden, lined by trees hung with thousands of fairy lights.  Here the mountain views are breath-taking, and promise enchanting sunsets over the fynbos wilderness. This terrace offers a very special ceremony area.

On the garden terrace is a statue of the Roman goddess Bona Dea, where the estate gets is name. While many ceremonies are held here, there is also a chapel available on the lower ground level. Ample secure parking is available on site, but cleverly concealed. No late guest arrivals disturbing the ceremony or cars ruining wedding photographs - brilliant!

After couples say their I Do’s, guests can enjoy pre-drinks and canapés while taking in the panoramic views of one of South Africa’s most treasured landscapes. A fun element factored into the wedding formalities includes the French tradition of sabrage; after the ceremony the groom opens a champagne bottle with a sabre, officially starting celebrations. It’s a great way to break the ice and create a festive mood. In the evening, the garden is lit up by the fairy lights and if you’re lucky enough to have a clear, cloudless evening, you and your guests will enjoy the canopy of the vast night sky − and perhaps even the moon − adding a magical ambience to your wedding.

From the garden terrace, stairs lead to the manor house with its light, airy rooms and chic décor, thoughtfully selected and designed to suit the venue. The manor house includes three double bedrooms upstairs so that the bride has easy access to the ceremony area as well as accommodation for event guests.  

Whether you are looking for a day that is extravagant but intimate, or stylish yet minimalist – the buildings features reflect the essence of luxury and romance. The wedding venue caters for up to 180 guests in the lavish ballroom but for bridal couples looking for a small and intimate wedding, up to 18 guests can be accommodated in the private dining room.  

The banqueting hall features a small balcony and large windows, bringing the beauty of the outdoors indoors. Adjacent to the hall is the bar area (both with full air conditioning), two cocktail lounges with large fireplaces for the autumn and winter seasons, modern crisp white rest-rooms and a fully equipped commercial kitchen (which external caterers rave about). 

No detail is overlooked at the manor house. Diddi and her team have set very high standards guaranteeing that your day will be everything you dreamed it would be.  With their in-house wines, selected and sourced from local farms, hand creams and food sourced from local businesses, the team’s strong ethos of sourcing local produce is admirable and adds to the standard of the venue. The proteas and orchids found throughout the venue and accommodation are grown on the estate and are often selected for brides for their floral décor or bouquets.

With luxury and service being of the utmost importance, and tailoring every occasion to be a world-class experience, this exclusive venue was awarded and named Top Country Wedding Venue – 2015.

The secluded Bona Dea Private Estate exudes exclusivity and is one of South Africa’s most luxurious wedding venues, which we are thrilled to feature on our website. With Diddi and her team at the helm of this remarkable venue, your wedding is in excellent hands!

For more information of the exclusive Bona Dea Estate: http://www.wheresmywedding.co.za/venue/bona-dea-private-estate

Shelley at Where’s My Wedding