Top Wedding Venues in Gauteng with stunning lighting for photography
Choosing the perfect wedding venue for your dream wedding photos is about more than just the scenery—lighting plays a crucial role in capturing beautiful memories. Natural light, in particular, can enhance the beauty of your special day, creating soft, romantic tones and highlighting every detail. Venues with large windows, open spaces, or outdoor settings during golden hour offer ideal lighting conditions for timeless wedding photos. On the other hand, venues with low or harsh lighting may require more artificial light, which can affect the natural ambiance of your images. Choosing a venue with beautiful, balanced lighting ensures that your photos will be dreamy, true to life and will make it easier for your photographer to deliver a gallery that perfectly matches the editing style you see in their portfolio. If you’re looking to host your wedding in Gauteng or nearby, these venues not only offer breathtaking scenery, but are also perfectly designed for photography, allowing your special moments to be captured in the best light possible. Here’s a list of the top wedding venues in Gauteng and surrounds that will make for stunning wedding photos.
1. Rolling Waters
Location: Pretoria East, Gauteng
Known for its gorgeous decorative elements and grand features, Rolling Waters in Pretoria East provides a unique blend of contemporary design and nature. The venue’s open design, combined with large, strategically placed windows, allows photographers to play with natural light both indoors and outdoors. The venue’s rooftop access also allows for amazing couple’s photo opportunities. From your getting ready photos, all the way to your reception, Rolling waters creates a stunning backdrop for capturing your wedding day perfectly.
The reception space at Rolling Waters - perfect for large weddings
2. Cipresso
Location: Bashewa, Pretoria East, Gauteng
Cipresso is a hidden gem nestled in the landscapes of Bashewa, Pretoria East. This venue is truly an architectural and interior design masterpiece. It offers a serene escape with its warm, inviting and modern atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes. The natural light flowing through its large windows and the elegant courtyard creates a romantic backdrop for photography and the venue is perfect for the modern bride.
3. Simbali Lodge
Location: Tierpoort, Pretoria, Gauteng
Simbali Lodge, located in the Tierpoort area of Pretoria East, is a venue surrounded by beautiful nature, creating an intimate and peaceful bushveld setting. Its fantastic canapé area underneath the trees and its beautiful outdoor chapel creates the perfect space for your guests to enjoy. The soft light created by the trees, along with the lodge’s modern elegance, adds a sense of romance and serenity to wedding photos, particularly during golden hour. You will not believe you are only a stones throw away from the hussle and bustle of Pretoria, as you will feel like you have been transported straight to the bushveld lodges of Mpumalanga.
The outdoor bar and canapé area is the perfect setting to create a lively atmosphere for your guests to stay entertained during your couples portraits
4. De Harte Venue
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Situated in Pretoria, this venue feels like it was built with your wedding photos in mind. Every space feels like a natural light studio and the venue’s all-white structures and large glass doors and windows allow light to illuminate the space perfectly, providing a clean, elegant canvas for photos. The sprawling gardens and beautiful ceremony area, offer an array of backdrops for capturing stunning moments. The newly built architectural outdoor studio is perfect for those dreamy editorial wedding shots. An absolute photographer’s dream!
5. Inimitable Wedding Venue
Location: Muldersdrift, Gauteng
Inimitable offers an unmatched blend of luxury and nature. Its vast, open spaces and glass-fronted walls allow natural light to flood in, creating a magical atmosphere perfect for photography. The stunning sunset views, combined with the industrial-chic architecture and surrounding greenery, make for photos that are both dramatic and elegant. The balance of light, glass, and open skies ensures every shot is picture-perfect.
Second shot for the incredible Mischa Durrant photography
6. Bell and Blossom
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Located on the outskirts of Pretoria, Bell and Blossom offers a charming and cozy atmosphere. Its modern buildings and beautiful gardens make it ideal for capturing those timeless, romantic shots. The soft, ambient light indoors combined with the dappled sunlight outdoors ensures that your wedding photography will be filled with warmth and glow.
7. Greenhouse Café
Location: Mooiplaats, Gauteng
Greenhouse Café is a stunning venue with easy access to the highway from Pretoria East for couples who want a beautiful, modern venue that is surrounded by nature. Nestled among lush greenery, the reception area boasts large glass walls that bring the outdoors in, filling the space with natural light. The soft greens of the plants paired with the gorgeous wooden beams and beautiful architecture, truly feels like a modern fairytale. The outdoor ceremony space creates soft light and is the ideal venue for couples looking for something whimsical and focused on greenery and nature, yet modern and elegant.
The magical reception space at Greenhouse Cafe
8. Venue Nouveau
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Venue Nouveau is set in the heart of the Bronberg mountains and offers a unique blend of modern and rustic charm. With its exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and outdoor spaces framed by natural greenery, this venue provides countless photo opportunities. The venue’s tall windows allow ample sunlight to pour in, creating perfect lighting conditions for both indoor and outdoor photography. The surrounding mountain vistas at sunset offer a truly breathtaking backdrop.
9. Cradle Valley
Location: Muldersdrift, Gauteng
Cradle Valley offers a tranquil, natural setting for weddings, with stunning landscapes as a backdrop to your perfect day. The venues large doors and ample natural light make for beautiful photos. Not only is this a fantastic venue for stunning photos and a great space for guest entertainment, but the staff at Cradle Valley are truly exceptional! It is always so wonderful to be welcomed by so many friendly faces who go out of their way to make sure their couples have the day they’ve always dreamed of.
The beautiful landscapes at Cradle Valley
10. Stable View Venue
Location: Hekpoort, Gauteng
Stable View Venue is a charming, countryside wedding venue located in Hekpoort, offering sweeping views of the surrounding bushveld and Magaliesberg mountains. The venue’s rustic barns, wooden finishes, and open landscapes make for picturesque wedding photos. With golden fields and incredible sunsets, it’s the perfect setting for photography, where the lighting is soft, natural, and romantic.
The beautiful outdoor ceremony area creates the perfect soft lighting
11. Rosemary Hill Farm
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Rosemary Hill Farm is great for couples looking for organic gardens, beautiful greenhouses, and large open fields that provide endless opportunities for breathtaking photos. The combination of greenery and natural light makes this venue an ideal location for timeless wedding photos.
12. Artelier Wedding Venue
Location: Hartbeespoort, North West
Artelier, located in Hartbeespoort, offers a sophisticated and modern atmosphere surrounded by natural beauty. The venues gorgeous contemporary architecture is complemented by expansive windows that bring in natural light. The white buildings and picturesque gardens create an ethereal backdrop for wedding photography. The sleek, artistic design of the interiors also allows for creative lighting and shadow play, perfect for capturing unique, dramatic shots.
13. Lace on Timber
Location: Rayton, Gauteng
Lace on Timber is an industrial-chic venue set in Rayton on the outskirts of Pretoria. The juxtaposition of French industrial and natural elements makes for striking wedding photography. The venue’s large windows allow streams of natural light to pour in, and the indoor lighting has been carefully designed to highlight the venue's charm. The indoor getting ready rooms offer photographers endless creative opportunities, while the outdoor spaces are ideal for golden-hour photography.
14. Forum White Light
Location: Lanseria, Gauteng
Forum White Light is a charming venue located in the Lanseria countryside, offering a peaceful and elegant setting. Its white-washed walls and large, open-plan spaces allow natural light to fill every corner, creating perfect lighting for bright, airy photos. The combination of natural light with the sleek design provides photographers with a crisp and clean backdrop, while the surrounding fields and lush greenery provide balance for stunning outdoor shots.
The stunning outdoor chapel creates the dreamiest wedding ceremony photos
15. Shepstone Gardens
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Shepstone Gardens is one of the most iconic wedding venues in Johannesburg, set in a lush, magical garden with historic stone structures. The venue offers a beautiful blend of gothic architecture, glass-roofed conservatories, and rich greenery, making every corner a photographer’s dream. The combination of light streaming through the conservatory and the dramatic shadows cast by the historic walls results in a mystical atmosphere in photos, perfect for couples who want timeless and elegant images.
16. Beaurain Venue
Location: Heidelberg, Gauteng
Beaurain is a luxury venue located in Heidelberg, just 50 minutes from Johannesburg. Known for its stunning contemporary architecture, wide-open fields, and elegant spaces, it provides a stunning setting for grand weddings. The venue’s sprawling outdoor spaces offer endless opportunities for capturing golden hour portraits in soft, natural light, while the indoor spaces with high ceilings and large windows ensure that every photograph feels timeless and elegant.
17. The Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Location: Westcliff, Johannesburg, Gauteng
This luxury hotel offers stunning panoramic views over Johannesburg, combined with world-class elegance. The Four Seasons Westcliff provides a sophisticated urban oasis with its stylish interiors and beautifully landscaped terraces. The natural light streaming through the windows, as well as the golden light at sunset from the balconies, creates a warm atmosphere for photos. The stunning skyline views and lush gardens create endless possibilities for gorgeous wedding photography.
Second shot for the talented Mischa Durrant Photography
18. The Barn at Redstone
Location: Hartbeespoort, North West
Situated near Hartbeespoort, The Barn at Redstone is a gorgeous venue surrounded by vast, scenic landscapes. With its modern chapel, beautiful barn reception hall, and open fields, this venue offers couples a dramatic setting for their big day. The soft, natural light that fills the getting ready rooms makes for great indoor photos, while the expansive outdoor areas provide the perfect lighting for breathtaking sunset shots against the stunning Magaliesberg mountains.
Each of these venues offers not only stunning settings but also lighting that enhances the magic of your special day, ensuring your wedding photos are filled with warmth, natural beauty, and timeless elegance. Whether you’re dreaming of a rustic, countryside wedding or a sleek, modern celebration, these Gauteng venues provide the perfect blend of architecture and lighting to capture memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
I will be back in my beautiful home town in November 2025 - if you’re getting married in South Africa in November or December 2025, please feel free to reach out for our wedding packages.
