Lakeside Wedding Venues Johannesburg: 2027 Guide to The Lakeside
The Lakeside is a lakeside wedding venue in the countryside east of Pretoria, about a 30-minute drive from the city. If you’re comparing lakeside wedding venues in Johannesburg and the surrounding Gauteng area, its lake views, glass-walled chapel, and landscaped grounds make it a scenic option to consider.
The 2027 weekday package starts at R58,000 for 20 guests and includes venue hire, a three-course meal, selected décor, and day-of coordination. If the setting and package suit your plans, contact The Lakeside to arrange a viewing and discuss your preferred date. You can also compare its package with other all-inclusive wedding venues in Johannesburg as you set your budget.
Is The Lakeside Conveniently Located for Johannesburg Couples?
The Lakeside sits east of Pretoria, so you can reach a countryside setting about 30 minutes from the city while planning a wedding for guests traveling from Gauteng. Its lakeside grounds offer a peaceful feel, with a chapel, reception hall, and landscaped lawns on the estate.
How Far Is the Venue From Pretoria?
The venue is about a 30-minute drive from Pretoria, making it a practical choice if you want a country setting near the city. For guests coming from Johannesburg, share the venue address and allow them to check their route and travel time from their starting point. When you choose a wedding location, consider how your guests will travel and whether they can stay nearby after the reception.
What Is the Setting Like?
You’ll find a tranquil lake, landscaped lawns, pine trees, and wildlife across the grounds. The mix of open-air scenery and modern event spaces gives you options for a nature-focused celebration with indoor facilities close at hand.
What Does a Weekday Wedding Package Cost and Include?
The Lakeside’s 2027 weekday wedding package starts at R58,000 for 20 guests and rises with your guest count. The package combines venue hire with a meal, selected décor, service staff, and several wedding-day amenities, so you can review the included items alongside the price.
What Are the 2027 Package Prices?
The weekday package is available Monday through Thursday, excluding December, public holidays, and the day before a public holiday. Listed prices include VAT.
| Guest count | 2027 package price |
|---|---|
| 20 | R58,000 |
| 30 | R70,000 |
| 40 | R85,000 |
| 50 | R100,000 |
| 60 | R110,000 |
| 70 | R120,000 |
| 80 | R130,000 |
| 90 | R140,000 |
| 100 | R150,000 |
For more than 100 guests, request a quote. Additional guests are charged at R1,600 each. The separate Monday-through-Thursday venue-hire rate is R34,000, so check which option fits your event before comparing totals. A weekday date can help you manage wedding costs; explore whether getting married on a weekday costs less as you compare your choices.
Which Services and Extras Are Included?
Your package includes a three-course plated meal, waitstaff, bartenders, a semi-naked wedding cake, champagne for toasts, and selected décor. You also get use of the Beauty Room, Bridal Suite, and Groom’s Suite, an overnight stay for two in the Honeymoon Suite, a generator, and an in-house coordinator until 22:00.
The package includes an engagement shoot at the estate by prior booking, along with food and décor meetings. Ask the venue to confirm the menu, décor selection, and any costs tied to your plans. Comparing all-inclusive wedding venues in Gauteng can help you see how each package handles food, décor, and coordination.
Which Ceremony and Reception Spaces Can You Choose?
You can choose a glass-walled chapel for your ceremony, the White Marble Reception for your celebration, or landscaped lawns for an outdoor ceremony. These spaces pair lake and garden views with indoor options for different parts of the day.
What Are the Glass House and Lake House Like?
The Lakeside’s ceremony venue is called The Glass Chapel. Set among pine trees, its floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame views of the lake, and stacking doors let the space open toward the outdoors.
For your reception, the White Marble Reception sits beside the water and opens onto a deck. It accommodates up to 160 guests with a dance floor or 200 without one. Ask the venue which setup matches your guest count and preferred room layout. For more ideas on choosing a wedding venue style, consider how the ceremony and reception spaces will work together.
Can You Hold an Outdoor Garden Ceremony?
Yes, you can plan a ceremony on the landscaped lawns. The venue includes ceremony items such as white Tiffany chairs, a registry table, and a choice of a white round arch or black rectangular arch. Confirm the outdoor setup, timing, and weather plan with the coordinator before you book.
What Suites and Pre-Wedding Extras Are Available?
You get dedicated spaces for wedding-day preparations, plus an engagement shoot option that requires advance booking. Venue hire includes daytime use of the Beauty Room, Bridal Suite, and Groom’s Suite, as well as an overnight Honeymoon Suite stay for two.
Where Can the Wedding Party Get Ready?
You and your bridesmaids can use the Beauty Room, which includes hair and makeup stations and a tea and coffee station. The Bridal Suite provides a separate space for relaxing and taking photos. The groom and groomsmen can get ready in the Groom’s Suite, which also serves as the Honeymoon Suite for the overnight stay.
If you’re planning the bridal party’s morning, make a checklist of bridal suite essentials such as getting-ready supplies and personal items to bring.
Can Couples Book an Engagement Shoot?
Yes. Your package includes use of the estate for an engagement shoot, and you need to book it in advance. Ask the venue about available dates and any arrangements you’ll need to make with your photographer.
The estate also has nine on-site rooms that sleep up to 18 guests. Accommodation is reserved for exclusive use on your wedding night, with 2027 room prices starting at R1,800 per room. If overnight stays are important to your plans, compare wedding venues with lodging and check each venue’s room count and rates.
What Makes the Estate’s Setting Distinctive?
The Lakeside pairs its lakefront event spaces with open grounds, gardens, and wildlife, giving you a countryside setting for your celebration. The estate also has a historic hand-built slate house, adding a heritage feature to the property.
What Can Couples Expect From the Grounds?
You’ll find landscaped lawns, pine trees, lake views, and wildlife roaming the estate. The grounds give you outdoor areas for a ceremony or time with guests, while the Glass Chapel and reception hall provide indoor spaces. Ask which areas are included in your booking and how guests will move between them during the day.
What Is the Heritage House?
The estate’s historic house is a century-old, hand-built slate building. It sits alongside other on-site accommodation, including a waterfront cabin and a manor house. If you want photos near the house, check access and timing with the venue team as you plan your schedule.
How Does The Lakeside Compare With Other Gauteng Venues?
The Lakeside is a strong fit if you want lake views, wildlife, a glass chapel, and reception space by the water. To compare it with Shepstone Gardens or Mea Culpa, ask each venue for current details on capacity, package inclusions, and available spaces.
| Comparison point | The Lakeside | Shepstone Gardens | Mea Culpa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting to ask about | Lake, lawns, and wildlife | Confirm current setting and spaces | Confirm current setting and spaces |
| Ceremony and reception spaces | Glass Chapel and White Marble Reception | Request current options | Request current options |
| Capacity to confirm | Up to 200; 160 with a dance floor | Request current capacity | Request current capacity |
| Package details to compare | 2027 weekday rates are published | Request a current quote | Request a current quote |
How Does It Differ From Shepstone Gardens?
The Lakeside’s defining features include its lakefront setting, wildlife, glass chapel, and White Marble Reception. When you compare it with Shepstone Gardens, request details on its current ceremony spaces, reception layout, guest capacity, and package pricing so you can make a like-for-like comparison.
What Should Couples Verify When Comparing Venues?
Ask each venue for a written quote that lists the date, guest minimum, capacity, food, décor, staffing, and any accommodation charges.
At The Lakeside, the minimum number of paying adults varies by day: 40 on Thursday or Sunday, 60 on Friday or the day before a public holiday, and 80 on Saturday or a public holiday. Check these terms against your guest list and compare them with current quotes from other affordable wedding venues in Johannesburg.