Weddings at Elsjes
Say your vows in the garden under a draped arch, then walk your guests across to a hall that is already dressed and waiting. One place, one kitchen, one manager who stays with you all day.
Hilgard Hall
Hilgard Hall seats up to 150 guests and is the room most of our weddings, conferences and family celebrations happen in. It comes to you already dressed for the day — the tables that matter are draped, the buffet is set up, and there is a manager on duty from the moment your guests arrive until the last of them leaves.
The hall must be vacated by 00:30, and the bar closes at 00:00.
Hall hire includes
- Waiters and cleaners
- Manager on duty for the day
- Bridal table with frill, seating up to 10
- Draped cake table
- Draped gift table
- Draped sherry table
- Buffet display
Not included
- Drapes and fairy lights
- Flowers and table decorations
- Serviettes
Garden ceremony
For couples who want to say their vows outside, we set the ceremony up in the garden under a draped arch, with red carpets down the aisle, covered chairs for your guests and pickets along the walk. It can stand on its own, or run straight into a reception in the hall afterwards.
The garden ceremony includes
- Draped bridal arch
- Draped gazebo
- Red carpets
- Covered chairs
- Pickets
Not included
- Flowers and candles for the pickets
- Marriage officer
Holding both the ceremony and the reception in the hall instead? We can still set up the gazebo for you, with the extra set-up that goes with it — ask us about it when you enquire.
Every wedding is quoted individually
Venue hire and catering depend on your date, your guest numbers and the menu you choose, so we do not publish a fixed price list — it would not be honest about what your day actually costs. Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a clear quote, usually the same week.
Request a quoteCrockery, cutlery, glassware and linen
If you would rather not source your own, we can supply crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen for your day, hired from us rather than brought in separately. This is everything that is available.
Glassware
- Wine glass
- Champagne glass
- Cool drink glass
Starter
- Side plate
- Starter dish
- Starter fork and spoon
Bread
- Side plate
- Bread knife
Main
- Dinner plate
- Knife and fork
- Side plate for salad
Dessert
- Dessert bowl
- Spoon
Tea and coffee
- Cup and saucer
- Teaspoon
- Side plate
- Milk jug and sugar bowl
Linen and draping
- White chair covers and bows
- Organza overlays and draping
- White tablecloths
- Long steel tables with cloths
- Small square tablecloths
- All buffet cloths and drapes
- All buffet serving spoons
The things worth knowing early
Better to read these now than to find out three weeks before the wedding. Ask us about anything that does not suit — most of it we can work around.
All catering is ours
We do all the cooking, so outside caterers cannot work on the property. Your menu is confirmed with us 14 days before the day. We cater generously and make provision for second helpings, though we cannot allow food to be taken away afterwards.
The bar is ours too
We run a cash bar with a barman, and guests may not bring their own liquor onto the property. The one exception is champagne, which must be delivered to the venue before 10:00 on the wedding day. The bar closes at midnight; after that the barman charges R300 an hour. If you run a tab, we ask for a 10% tip for the barman.
Music is yours to arrange
You book your own DJ or band — we have no restrictions on who, and music can start at any time of day. Do remember to count your DJ, photographer and their helpers in your guest numbers, since they need a chair and a meal too.
Decorating and taking down
Decorations can go up from 09:00 the day before, or from 09:00 on the morning itself if there is a function the night before. We need your table layout at least a day ahead. Everything comes down the day after — please arrange collection with us in advance.
Candles need protection
Open flames must sit in something fire-safe. Any damage from an unprotected candle comes off the breakage deposit.
Children are welcome, with an eye on them
Children are welcome at functions but must be supervised — we cannot take responsibility for them while they are playing on the property, and damage to the garden or irrigation comes off the breakage deposit. We ask that children play indoors after 21:00.
Smoking
Both the hall and the guest house are non-smoking, in line with national legislation. There are designated areas outside.
Parking
There is ample parking on the property and we arrange a car guard for functions. Vehicles are nonetheless parked at their owner’s risk.
Viewings
Come and see the venue by appointment, weekdays between 07:30 and 16:00, or on a Saturday if that suits you better. We do not host viewings during a function or on a wedding day — the couple whose day it is deserves our full attention.
People we have worked with
These are people we have worked with and would happily work with again. You are under no obligation to use any of them — book whoever you like. Ask Ansi and she will pass on contact details for anyone here.
Music, sound and lighting
DJs and sound hire who know the hall and how it carries.
- Crazy DJ
- Sakkie
- Jaco — sound and lighting hire
- Dirkie — Soundbars
- Christo — Function Music Services
- AVL Africa
- Wessie — DJ Backup
Flowers
Florists we have worked alongside for years, two of them right here in Bredell.
- Christine — Flowers Bredell
- Johan Viljoen — The Flower Man
- Mike — Bunches@Home
- Jason Flowers
- Franco Gagiana — wedding specialist
Photography
Photographers who have shot here before and know where the light falls.
- Lettie Ferreira
- De Villiers / Macfarlane Photography
- Chevonne — Memories Come Alive
- Rod Alexander
- Charl — Fame Weddings
- André — Timeless Treasures
Marriage officers
Ministers who travel out to us.
- Pastor Jaco Venter — Pretoria
- Ds Werner Teichert — Benoni
Cakes
Wedding cakes and dessert tables.
- Brakpan Bakery
- Bubbles & Art
Candles and décor hire
Candle hire, under plates and finishing touches.
- Rent-a-Candle — Boksburg
- Heibe
- Lynda
- Multitype — under plates and more
Stationery and gowns
Invitations, place cards and dresses.
- Riana — wedding stationery
- Lezelle — wedding stationery
- Hester — wedding gowns
Ask Ansi on 011 979 5599 for anyone’s contact details.
Wedding questions
How many guests can Hilgard Hall seat?
Hilgard Hall seats up to 150 guests. It is our only function hall — hire is R7 000, which includes waiters, cleaners, a manager on duty, a draped bridal table seating ten, and draped cake, gift and sherry tables.
What does it cost to hire the venue for a wedding?
Venue hire is quoted individually, based on your date, your numbers and whether you want the hall, a garden ceremony, or both. Crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen are hired separately. Get in touch with your date and rough guest numbers and we will put a quote together.
What deposit do you need to hold a wedding date?
A deposit secures your date, payable within six weeks of viewing the venue. It splits into a refundable breakage deposit and a first payment toward your wedding account — the breakage portion comes back to you the Tuesday after the wedding, less any breakages. The balance and your final guest numbers are settled 14 days before the day. Ask us for the current figures when you enquire.
Can we bring our own caterer or our own drinks?
No on both counts. We do all the catering ourselves, freshly made on site, and we run the bar. The one exception is champagne, which may be brought in but must be delivered to the venue before 10:00 on the wedding day.
What time does a wedding have to end?
The bar closes at midnight and the hall must be vacated by 00:30 so we can clean it. If you want the barman to stay past midnight, that is charged at R300 an hour.
Can we choose our own DJ and photographer?
Yes — you arrange your own DJ or band and your own photographer, and there are no restrictions on who you use. Do count them in your guest numbers, since they need a seat and a meal. We are happy to recommend suppliers we have worked with if you would like a starting point.
What does the catering cost for a wedding?
Catering is quoted per event, based on your menu choice — buffet, spitbraai, brunch or a cocktail menu — and your guest numbers. Tell us what you have in mind and we will put a menu and a quote together. Every menu is confirmed with Ansi and settled 14 days before the day.
Can we come and see the venue first?
Please do. Viewings are by appointment, weekdays between 07:30 and 16:00, and on Saturdays by arrangement. We do not host viewings during a function or on a wedding day.
Come and walk the garden
Viewings are by appointment, weekdays 07:30 to 16:00 and Saturdays by arrangement. Bring your mother, bring your fiancé, bring a tape measure.