After getting engaged last year, there has been much talk and masses of debating over a wedding – will there be one, won’t there be one??? I’ve poured over magazines, blogs, websites and pinterest – actually helping a friend design her wedding stationery recently too and have to admit there is just too much info out there these days, to not feel incredibly bewildered.
I also noticed how few venues there are available if you’re in Durban and you want to have a wedding close to home, so that people don’t have to travel – in fact the offering is pretty dismal. I was pleasantly surprised then when I found Barker Manor in Kloof, a mere 15 minutes out of Durban central and yet when I arrived it felt like I was in the Midlands, on a little piece of countryside heaven.
Barker Manor is where wedding dreams can come true – it’s what I call bespoke in every sense of the word. From the minute I arrived and met owner Doreen Barker, I knew this place had something special and that no event would be a cookie cutter version of another. Firstly the grounds are magnificent – rolling lawns, beautiful trees and landscaped gardens really give a feeling of enchantment and then the stone buildings are breathtaking – I’m going to call it ‘industrial countryside chic’ – a modern take on traditional countryside with so much attention to detail I didn’t know where to look first.
You can host an entire wedding at the venue, with enough space on the lawns or in the sheltered basement, as well as ample space to seat guests and the reception venue can easily hold 150 guests. A magnificent exposed beam ceiling is what gives the venue an imposing advantage over the usual low ceiling and draped wall rooms at most Durban venues – ugh! Industrial pendant lights, vertical wall gardens, screeded floors, tongue and groove wood panels, twinkling fairy lights, exposed brick and masses of space all work together to create a phenomenal space which Doreen and her team will then customise for you specifically – none of that option A, B, or C, chicken, fish or beef nonsense here! [Whew!]
It’s bespoke from start to finish and along with the venue, Doreen also has a vast decor hire service – Planned to Perfection – available on site, so you have access to all that and creating mockups for your big day is cinch.
But wait, there’s more!
There is also a guest house on the grounds with 5 rooms, one being the honeymoon suite opening onto its own pool & entertainment area – yup, bridal party sorted! And it is pretty damn amazing – beautifully decorated and incredibly comfy with a self-catering or catered option and all the mod cons you’ll ever need – including your own DSTV for those weddings which fall on a weekend when there’s rugby ;)
So, after my visit up the hill, I have absolutely no doubt in recommending this venue if you are wanting an amazing Durban wedding. Doreen is lovely and so accommodating – it would be a dream to plan a wedding with someone so chilled and willing to make your wedding wishes come true.
Now I just have to decide if I’m having one ;)
Barker Manor
56/60 Old Main Road, Kloof, Durban
Contact: info@barkermanorkloof.co.za or call +27 (0) 31 764 2416 / +27 (0) 83 463 7704
Photo credits:
Main pic: Micaela de Freitas
Wedding/Venue pics: supplied, Vanilla Photography, Carmen Roberts, Derryn Schmidt Photography
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