Having chosen to get married in the winter months, a priority is to find the perfect venue that makes the most of the season. The Western Cape Winelands is a preferred location choice when it comes to weddings, and for good reason – its vineyards and mountains embody a sense of romance and tradition that is hard to match. When choosing a venue for your winter wedding, there’s lots to consider. Your first consideration should be whether the venue has a suitable area for your ceremony and reception.

Most wedding venues in the Western Cape are multifunctional venues with indoor and outdoor facilities. You might like to consider those with romantic stone chapels or wine cellars for a particularly atmospheric setting for your winter wedding ceremony and reception. With so many options, it can be tough to find the perfect spot! In no particular order, here are our top three swoon-worthy Cape winter wedding venues.

Hidden Valley

Between the drama of the Helderberg Mountains as a backdrop and the rolling olive groves and vineyards, your wedding photographer will be spoilt for choice at Hidden Valley. The venue is positioned atop the slopes of the Helderberg, providing the best vantage point.
 

Ceremony & Reception

 

At Hidden Valley you have a choice of holding your ceremony on the lawn area overlooking the dam area flanked by a stunning garden. Or, for a more intimate ceremony, couples can tie the knot in the romantic cellar with its stone walls and stacked wine barrels. The Pavilion is also a perfect reception space. With its drop-down windows you and your guests will be kept comfortably enclosed and under cover while still having the luxury of panoramic views of the vineyards and mountains - and best of all the Cape’s legendary fiery winter sunsets.
 

Catering

Winter is all about good hearty food and weddings at Hidden Valley are known to be an absolute culinary feast! The menu for your special day will be created by award-winning master chef Bertus Basson and prepared in the Overture restaurant, an Eat Out Top Ten winner. Bertus and his dedicated team specialise in fresh, creative gourmet fare that he makes from fresh local produce wherever possible, with each dish created to pair with Hidden Valley wines.

Additional services offered at Hidden Valley:

• Bar
• Exclusive use of the venue
• In-house Catering
• Fireplace
• Furniture included
• Onsite co-ordinator
• Weekend wedding
• Wheelchair friendly

With assistance from Hidden Valley’s in-house venue co-ordinator, Alda, who is available and on duty to assist you during every step of the planning process as well as on the day, you can be rest assured that your winter wedding will be everything that you have ever dreamt of!

For more information on Hidden Valley:http://www.wheresmywedding.co.za/venue/hidden-valley
 

Hawksmoor House

Nestled within Matjieskuil, near Stellenbosch, Hawksmoor House is an undiscovered gem. Say your I do’s in one of the Cape’s most beautiful locations with scenery stretching out across its 220hectare wine farm, amid vineyards overlooking Table Mountain. Hawksmoor offers an exceptional venue for an intimate and romantic wedding. The Cape Dutch country retreat is rich in heritage and has been meticulously restored and beautifully decorated with exquisite antiques.  Not only do its surroundings and location exude a tranquil, farmland atmosphere, but their friendly and cheerful staff stay discreetly in the background, providing you with the feeling that you have the entire place to yourself.

 

Ceremony & Reception

The venue is made all the more unique by its totally unspoilt authentic country home experience. There are several beautiful locations at Hawksmoor to host your ceremony, reception and celebration, from the gardens sheltered by old oak trees to the original farmstead's barn and signature reflection pond. In winter months, the old barn acts as the perfect venue for a ceremony and equally cosy venue for your reception.

Set aglow by candlelight, firelight, and ambient lighting reflected in crystal glassware, your guests are wrapped in romance and intimacy on those winter days and nights.

Additional services offered at Hawksmoor House:

• Accommodation on site
• Bridal prep room
• Exclusive use of the venue
• External catering or in-house catering
• Fireplace
• Onsite co-ordinator
• Weekend wedding
• Wheelchair friendly

If you love sunsets, wine by candlelight and are looking for a scenic, historic, authentic Cape Dutch farm atmosphere, you have found your place!

For more information:http://www.wheresmywedding.co.za/venue/hawksmoor-house

 

401 Rozendal

At 401 Rozendal bridal couples are treated to unsurpassed scenery with mountains and vineyards as the back drop to a beautiful wedding.  This unique wedding and function venue is a sought-after location for Cape weddings and special occasions. We love 401 Rozendal’s look and various areas that they have available for winter weddings. The venue space boasts various lounges, a dedicated wine and service bar, reception room and an indoor chapel.  
 

Ceremony & Reception

Brides are given expert advice on flower and décor choices by 401 Rozendal’s very own Sitting Pretty professional service. A modern outer building was built 'over' the old wine cellar, creating an eclectic mix between new and old, allowing bridal couples to mix modern and vintage looks when choosing décor and flowers.

The indoor loft-styled chapel provides a warm and intimate ceremony venue. Surrounded by its red feature walls and crystal chandeliers, the Cellar Dining Room creates a warm and romantic ambience for you and your guests while they tuck into delicious fare provided by executive chef and renowned former owner of Restaurants, Janneman Lee. With his 25 years’ experience in the catering industry, you will be guided in creating the perfect menu for your special day.

Additional services offered by 401 Rozendal:

• Accommodation on site
• Bridal prep room
• Bar
• Exclusive use of the venue
• Dance floor
• Halaal catering
• Kosher catering
• External catering or in-house catering
• Fireplace
• Onsite co-ordinator
• Weekend wedding
• Wheelchair friendly
• Staffing

Along with the venue manager, Moira Lee, who will assist you through the planning process, the executive chef and a team of experts, you are in great hands when it comes to planning and hosting your winter wedding at 401 Rozendal.

For more information: http://www.wheresmywedding.co.za/venue/401-rozendal

 

Hosting a winter wedding is a great idea! Finding your venue is the first step in starting to plan your wedding – as soon as you’ve found the perfect winter wedding venue, you can start to plan your day! For ideas on how to create a memorable winter wedding that will leave your guests with goose bumps — for all the right reasons — read our Intimate, Cosy Winter Weddings in the Cape blog post: http://www.wheresmywedding.co.za/blog/intimate-cosy-winter-weddings-cape

Shelley at Where's My Wedding