Lakeside Wedding Venue Pretoria: Spaces and Packages
The Lakeside gives you a countryside wedding setting about 30 minutes east of Pretoria, with a lakefront, landscaped lawns, a glass chapel, and a marble reception hall.
You get exclusive use of the estate for your wedding day, with venue hire rates set by the day of the week and food and décor priced per guest. If the setting fits your plans, contact The Lakeside to arrange a viewing and talk through your preferred date.
What Makes the Estate Distinct?
The Lakeside pairs a peaceful lakefront with open lawns and 130 hectares of countryside east of Pretoria. Your day unfolds among gardens, pine trees, wildlife, and a heritage house more than 120 years old.
How Far Is It From Pretoria?
The estate is about a 30-minute drive from Pretoria, giving you a countryside backdrop within reach of the city. As you plan your route, share clear travel details with guests and allow time for the drive to the venue. If you are weighing different settings, these tips for choosing a wedding location can help you compare travel time with the atmosphere you want.
What Can Couples See Across the Grounds?
Across the grounds, you can take in the lake, landscaped lawns, gardens, and views over the African savannah. Tall pine trees and antelope add to the natural setting, while the broad estate gives you space for outdoor vows and photographs. Browse these outdoor wedding ceremony ideas as you decide how to use the lawn and lakefront.
What Is the Story Behind the Heritage House?
The heritage house was built more than 120 years ago and adds a historic feature to the estate’s natural landscape. You can include it as part of your day’s setting and ask the venue team about suitable photo locations during your viewing.
Which Ceremony and Reception Spaces Suit Your Day?
You can choose a glass chapel for your ceremony, then move to the marble reception hall for dinner and dancing. The canape area gives your guests a place to mingle between events, with the lake and gardens close by.
What Is the Glass Chapel Like?
The glass chapel brings the outdoors into your ceremony, with views of the lake and surrounding trees through its glass walls. The ceremony setup includes white Tiffany chairs, a registry table, two chairs, and your choice of a white round arch or a black rectangular arch. You can also use the wooden easel and confetti stands provided.
What Does the Marble Reception Offer?
The marble reception hall sits beside the water and seats up to 160 guests with a dance floor inside. The venue lists a maximum of 200 guests overall, with the indoor capacity rising to 200 when you do not include a dance floor. Tables and ghost chairs, a sound system, a podium, and a DJ table are included. You can explore more wedding reception setup ideas as you plan your room layout.
Where Can Guests Gather Between Events?
Your guests can gather in the canape area, which has high cocktail tables, café tables and chairs, and lounge pockets. The venue also provides one waiter per 24 guests and one bartender per 60 guests for this area. You can use the space after closing time at no extra charge.
How Much Do Venue Hire and Food Cost?
Venue hire ranges from R34,000 to R68,000 for 2026 and 2027, while food and décor cost R1,300 per person in 2026 or R1,400 in 2027. Venue hire prices include VAT; check current details with the venue as you build your budget.
What Are the 2026 and 2027 Venue Hire Rates?
The listed venue hire rates are the same for both years:
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | R34,000 | R34,000 |
| Friday | R58,000 | R58,000 |
| Saturday | R68,000 | R68,000 |
| Sunday | R44,000 | R44,000 |
These rates include VAT and exclusive use of the estate for your wedding day. For context while you compare venues, see this overview of what wedding venues cost.
What Does the Food and Décor Package Cost?
Food and décor are priced per person, at R1,300 for 2026 and R1,400 for 2027. The food package includes flavoured water on arrival, four canapés, and a four-course meal with a plated starter, main course, and dessert. Your main course can be plated or served buffet-style, and you meet with the chef to customise the menu.
The décor package includes table linens, cutlery, glassware, vases, candles, and table numbers. For an additional R400 per person in 2026, the top-up package adds options such as a harvest table or extra canapés, a drinks station, a sorbet course, and late-night snacks. You can compare your menu budget with these three-course catering cost details. Fairy lights are an optional 2026 add-on for R1,200.
Are Winter Wedding Specials Available?
The Lakeside offers winter specials for weddings held in June, July, and August. The published information does not list special rates, so ask the venue what applies to your date and which parts of the package are included.
What Is Included for the Couple and Their Guests?
Your venue hire includes spaces for getting ready, an on-site coordinator through 10 p.m., and an overnight honeymoon suite for two. You also have access to nine additional rooms that sleep up to 18 guests in total.
Where Can the Wedding Party Get Ready?
The bride and bridesmaids can use the Beauty Room during the day, with a tea and coffee station provided. You also get day use of the Bridal Suite for photos. The Groom’s Suite, which doubles as the Honeymoon Suite, is available for the groom’s party to get ready and take photos.
Your hire includes a venue coordinator from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The venue also provides a generator that starts automatically if power fails. A separate wedding coordinator who supports your planning process is available for an additional fee.
What Does the Honeymoon Suite Include?
The Honeymoon Suite is included in venue hire for an overnight stay for two people. The room also serves as the Groom’s Suite during the day, so you have a private place to get ready and take photos before using it overnight.
How Many Guests Can Stay On-Site?
Nine on-site rooms can sleep up to 18 guests, and the accommodation is reserved for your wedding party and loved ones on the night of your wedding. Additional room rates start at R1,700 per room in 2026 and R1,800 per room in 2027. Ask the venue about room availability and booking terms as you plan your guest list.
What Should Couples Know Before Booking?
The Lakeside caps weddings at 200 guests, sets minimum paid-adult numbers by day, and requires a 50% non-refundable deposit with signed terms to secure your date. Floral arrangements and décor are handled by the venue’s in-house team.
What Are the Guest Limits and Minimums?
You can host up to 200 guests, or 160 if you want a dance floor inside the Marble Reception. Minimums are 80 paying adults on Saturdays and public holidays, 60 on Fridays and the day before a public holiday, and 40 on Thursdays and Sundays. For Monday to Wednesday weddings, ask the venue about its weekday options. Confirm how children are counted in your plans with the venue, and use this guide to whether children count in wedding guest numbers.
How Do Dates and Deposits Work?
Bookings are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your wedding date, you need to pay a 50% non-refundable deposit and sign the venue’s terms and conditions. Ask what payment dates apply to the remaining balance and check the cancellation terms before signing. A practical wedding planning checklist can help you track these booking details.
Which Services and Floral Arrangements Are In-House?
The Lakeside requires you to use its in-house team for flowers and décor, and outside floral providers are not allowed. Hair and makeup, photography, videography, a DJ, stationery, and the wedding cake are excluded from the listed packages, so arrange those services separately.
Your venue hire includes an on-site coordinator on the day until 10 p.m.; ask about the additional fee for planning support before the wedding.