CELEBRATE LOVE AND COMMITMENT
WEDDINGS AND CIVIL UNIONS
UNUSUAL PLACES TO SAY ‘I DO’ Planning a wedding or civil union and looking for somewhere a bit different to hold your big day? There are a number of unusual and distinctive venues around Auckland that you may not have considered. AUCKLAND ZOO Auckland Zoo is not just for kids. Increasingly people are choosing it as a wedding and reception venue. According to zoo functions co-ordinator Sara Evans couples can get married in a range of exotic settings from Africa inspired landscapes to a tropical rainforest without having to leave the city. You can even have your wedding photos taken with the animals. “People love the fact that they can come here and do it all from one place. There are some great locations for wedding photos plus the guests are kept entertained,” says Evans. The zoo holds weddings all year round and people can choose from a wide variety of locations including the Japanese garden, band rotunda, the historic old Elephant House, hippo and lion viewing shelters. Just don’t be surprised if you hear Iwani the Siamang Gibbon call out as he has been known to do in the middle of a ceremony much to the amusement of guests. SKYTOWER JUMP People have indeed said ‘I do’ then chosen to hurtle themselves 192 metres towards the ground at 83 kilometres per hour. According to a representative from SkyJump it is also a popular place to propose. Just recently a young lady jumped only to see signs held up by her loved one as she plummeted to the ground below asking for her hand in marriage. Winter is a better time to try this option as summertime it may be too busy for a wedding ceremony. SkyJump is open from 10.00am to 5.15pm every day of the year (wind and weather permitting) except Christmas Day. FLOATING PAVILION For water lovers the Floating Pavilion at Viaduct Harbour is a unique wedding venue. The Floating Pavilion is technically registered as a barge. It is permanently moored at the harbour and is a great venue if you have overseas guests and want to showcase Auckland’s scenery. Couples have been married on a pontoon on the water in front of the Floating Pavilion and adventurous couples have even jet skied up to the venue. The venue is spread over two levels and can cater for around 280 people for a sit down wedding or reception. It is fully licensed and operates a full kitchen staff and executive chef. It is close to a number of hotels making it a convenient unique location in the city centre. KELLIHER ESTATE, PUKETUTU ISLAND It’s located just five minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from the city yet many Aucklanders are probably not aware it exists. Kelliher Estate is on Puketutu Island in Manukau Harbour but it is linked to the mainland by a causeway making access easy.
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The historic estate is set on ten acres, amongst sub-tropical and native gardens. Entering the estate the driveway is lined with grand Phoenix Palms through extensive landscaped and woodland areas with harbour and sea views glimpsed through mature Pohutukawa. Kelliher Estate includes lawns, garden terraces, waterfalls, ponds and an historic falé. The Kelliher Homestead has been built in the Spanish Mission style and the venue provides a variety of options from intimate dinners and lunches in the dining room to elegant cocktails with guests spilling out onto the terrace and large lawn area. Winter rates are significantly lower than summer rates and there are plenty of options for holding your big day in-doors including the Phoenix Room, which seats up to 250 people. Accommodation is available for the bridal couple as well as an elegant Bridal Room for preparations on the big day. KELLY TARLTON’S Fancy saying your vows underwater or a sit down dinner while stingrays casually glide past? Kelly Tarlton’s offers the entire venue for hire from 5.30pm until midnight every day of the year. In the past couples have got married underwater while scuba diving amongst sea life. But the most popular area for a reception is stingray bay which can cater for 170 for a sit down dinner or around 250 for a cocktail style reception. And of course guests are free to wander around the entire venue at leisure. Catering is not provided. TE TOKI RETREAT Located near Palm Beach on gorgeous Waiheke Island the stunning forest and bush setting is what makes this venue truly unique. Owner James Plested has created stunning gardens over the last 10 years on the six acre property with some distinctive tropical rare and exotic plants, palms and trees. As a result the retreat has held some interesting ceremonies including an Alice in Wonderland inspired wedding. The retreat takes care of the catering and accommodation for the couple and/or guests with two houses on the property. And once everyone has gone and the big day is over you can curl up by the giant fire or soak the day’s festivities away in the jacuzzi surrounded by exotic vegetation, dramatic fountains and garden art. HOPETOUN ALPHA Considering its name and symbol means hope, beginning together and the coming together of male and female, the Hopetoun Alpha is an apt place for couples to start their new life. An iconic Ponsonby building, the Hopetoun Alpha was originally a church which, according to Hopetoun venue manager Maree Rolton, means couples who don’t want to do the religious thing but still want to feel a sense of occasion find the venue the perfect match. She says that because the venue is so beautiful with its elegant Greek Doric architecture little decoration is needed with many couples opting for simple fairy lights and centre table pieces. It is also unique in that it is one of only a handful of venues in Auckland which allows you to self-cater. “We don’t have contracted caterers so people can tailor make their wedding to their own budget and tastes,” she says. “The venue is large yet intimate. It’s for people who want a truly individual wedding.” (KAREN PHELPS) PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)