We can all agree that planning a wedding in Kenya is no easy task – choosing wedding venues, handpicking your wedding guests, determining the kind of food to serve the venue – we could go on and on but you get the gist of it.
Well if you thought all this was hard, try planning a wedding now with all the havoc that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked what was once normal life. If you are planning your wedding now, you must have already realized that the most crucial thing that will determine whether you have a successful wedding or not in Kenya is your wedding venue.
Currently, some of the best wedding venues in Kenya have become even more expensive than they used to be before the pandemic – and with good reason. A lot more planning and organizing go into making the perfect wedding venue while still trying to adhere to the government’s COVID-19 regulations. For example, a wedding venue that could once accommodate about 100 people can now only hold about 50. This consequently means that the bigger your wedding list, the bigger the budget for your wedding venue.
Not to worry though, if you are in the market for wedding venues in Kenya for your big day, here are some of the best venues that we recommend for your big day.
In this list, we will focus on some of the prime locations that wedding planners and couples usually prefer in Nairobi, Naivasha, and Mombasa.
NAIROBI
Being the capital city, Nairobi has a lot to offer when it comes to offering some choices for some of the best wedding venues in Kenya.
1. Safari Park Hotel
Located along the Thika Road Superhighway, this is one of the few wedding venues that has made a name for itself in Kenya over the years when it comes to facilitating weddings. The hotel not only gives you the choice to either have an outdoor or indoor wedding but also gives you numerous choices for your wedding theme. On top of that, this venue has different wedding packages depending on your budget – so rest assured that they can accommodate even the smallest of the budgets.
2. Windsor Golf Hotel and County
Another great wedding venue in Kenya, this famous and renowned golf course is perfect for many looking to make their wedding memorable. Located along Kigwa Lane in Ridgeways, Windsor hotel offers both the choice of an indoor and outdoor wedding depending on your preference. Its beautiful landscape and lake view gardens offer the perfect environment for an airy outdoor wedding and the perfect background for your photo session.
3. Zen Garden
If you are looking for a wedding venue in Kenya that specializes in a unique kind of cuisine, then Zen Garden is the perfect location. This location specializes in almost all Asian cuisine so if your wedding guests are up for having their taste buds stimulated, look no further. Additionally, this venue is located in the serene environment of Spring Valley on Lower Kabete road – perfect for a peaceful celebration away from the hullabaloos of the city.
4. Fuschia Gardens Limuru
Located on the outskirts of Nairobi, these serene gardens are located right in the heart of the beautiful greenery of Limuru. If you are looking for an elegant, yet affordable wedding venue in Kenya, then this is the perfect place for just that, especially if you don’t mind a bit of cold weather. Additionally, the venue’s beautiful and green landscape offers an exquisite background that is perfect for your photo session at no extra cost.
5. Karen Country Lodge
This is the ideal outdoor garden wedding, complete with a calm green atmosphere and sparkling fountains to fulfill all of the guests’ wishes. The crew is well educated in weddings and other events alongside chefs to ensure that your taste buds are satisfied. The added benefit is that you will be assisted in customizing your own wedding. It can comfortably accommodate 500 people. It is located along Warai South Road, Karen, in Nairobi.
6. Bomas of Kenya
It’s a great location for a wedding, a cultural wedding, in particular, would fit in nicely. It includes all of Kenya’s villages, ensuring that your wedding photographs are nothing short of stunning. Furthermore, as a couple, you will get the opportunity to sample a range of the hotel’s cuisines.
This location is becoming increasingly popular among people who wish to incorporate some cultural and traditional fusion into their wedding ceremony. It provides peaceful, wide, and well-kept grounds.
There are four distinct grounds to choose from. The smallest can hold 500 people, while the biggest can handle up to 3,000 people. One might choose to have their wedding ceremony outside or in a contemporary hall. It is located at Bomas of Kenya is located in Langata, less than 12 Kilometres from Nairobi City
7. Utalii Hotel
The Utalii Hotel is affiliated with Utalii college, which is well known for its hotel and catering services. Their different cuisines will impress you if you are looking for quality service. It has vast evergreen lawns making it an ideal venue for a wedding. If you are looking for the most exquisite wedding venue for your big day, this should be on your list. It is located along Thika Superhighway, 5Km from Nairobi City.
8. Langata Botanical Gardens
This is a beautifully landscaped park with breathtaking scenery that is ideal for a wedding. Since the location is away from the hustle and busyness of the Central Business District, it is ideal for a warm and relaxed wedding. There are four beautiful gardens, each of which is surrounded by trees and flower bushes, creating a sense of privacy. It offers abundant secure parking and is conveniently accessible by public transport. It is located along Langata South Road in Karen, 20Km away from the Nairobi CBD.
9. Nairobi Arboretum
Located right in the heart of the city, Nairobi Arboretum offers an affordable wedding venue option for couples looking to tie the knot. The beautiful nature grounds are available for hire for events, not just weddings, throughout the year so be sure to enquire about availability way before the wedding day. Nature also offers a perfect setting for the wedding photoshoot so there’s no need to move from your reception in the hunt for grounds to have your photo session.
10. WanderJoy Party World Gardens
This wedding venue comes highly rated on the internet especially by people who have previously held their weddings and events here. Located just a few minutes outside the CBD along Kiambu road, this venue offers the perfect getaway from the rush of the city and the convenience of being easily accessible from the city. It has a beautiful landscape that offers both grounds for the reception and wedding photo session.
NAIVASHA
Only 2 hours from Nairobi city, Naivasha has become a popular place for many Kenyans to have their weddings. Additionally, because most of these wedding venues are located inside resorts and hotels next to the lake, they offer the perfect environment for your honeymoon at a little extra cost.
11. Lake Naivasha Resort
Being one of the most prestigious resorts in Naivasha, Lake Naivasha Resort is probably one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Kenya. The resort offers many affordable wedding packages which all come with a complimentary one or two-night stay for the bride and groom on full board at the honeymoon suite! Therefore, if you’re looking for value for money, then this is the perfect venue for you!
12. Enashipai Resort & Spa
Right at the heart of Naivasha, this location offers one of the best wedding venues in Kenya, and for good reason. Enashipai goes the extra mile to ensure that your wedding is flawless by offering services such as rehearsal dinners, perfect grounds for photo sessions next to the lake, evening parties, just to mention but a few. The resort also gives couples the choice to have an indoor wedding in their conference halls or an outdoor wedding on their beautiful grounds.
13. Sawela Lodges
The Sawela Lodge in Naivasha is, without a doubt, one of Kenya’s top wedding venues and locations. The Sawela’s team extends beyond organizing breath-taking wedding ceremonies to providing you with peace of mind during your wedding day. It is located 13 kilometers from Naivasha town on the Moi South Lake Road, Naivasha.
14. Lake Naivasha Resort
Lake Naivasha resort is one of the most popular wedding locations in Kenya and one of the most prominent resorts. It provides a variety of economical packages, all of which include a complimentary one or two-night stay in the honeymoon suite. If you are looking for a place to get value for your money, Lake Naivasha resort is the venue to go to.
MOMBASA
When you think of a destination wedding in Kenya, Mombasa is the perfect location for this. Not only does having a wedding at the coast scream class but it also gives off a feeling of romance and love.
15. Pride Inn Flamingo Beach Resort Mombasa
Located right next to the beautiful Shanzu beach in Mombasa, this wedding venue has become a popular destination for many couples in Kenya and beyond. Its wedding package (which is only one) comes with lots of complimentary services such as a honeymoon room for one night on half board and huge discounts on room rates for your wedding guests.
16. Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa Mombasa
Apart from the usual beachfront weddings that are common with resorts at the coast, Sarova Whitesands offers several other options that couples can choose from. These include choices such as lush garden weddings, poolside venues, and other intimate options.
After your big day, you may naturally feel exhausted and the last thing on your mind might be how you will pack and move the gifts you received from your wedding guests. Instead of wracking your brain or nagging your family and friends to move your gifts from the wedding venue to your home while you go for your honeymoon, you can engage professional and trusted movers who will get the job done.
17. Voyager Beach Resort
Voyager Beach Resort is a fantastic wedding venue in the coastal region that provides a variety of activities and great cuisine, as well as lovely lawns and an opportunity to walk down the aisle looking at the Indian Ocean’s endless blue seas. It is located off Mt. Kenya Road, Nyali in Mombasa.
18. Hemingways Watamu
The luxury beach resort is located along the Indian Ocean in Watamu, where the turquoise seas offer the perfect background for your wedding, which is framed by neatly lined palm trees and white sands on the beach. Hemingways goes to great lengths to ensure that your beach wedding is a dream come true, whether it’s on the white sands of the beach or in the gardens under the shade of the manicured palm trees.
KISUMU
19. Kiboko Bay Resort
They have a lakeside garden setting for weddings, which can accommodate up to 400 people. Kiboko Bay Restaurant has two dining options, a formal dining room and a lakeside dining room where visitors may dine in a relaxed setting while choosing from an extensive menu. Kiboko Bay Resort caters to people who want adventure.
20. Wigot Gardens
The Wigot Hotels in Kisumu atop Kajulu hills will provide a view of Kisumu city during your wedding. It has expansive, well-manicured gardens that enable you to plan for as many guests as you would like for your wedding.
How To Pack and Move Wedding Gifts
Majority of visitors who attend a wedding purchase a gift for the bride and groom. It is often a busy and tiring day for the bride and the groom to remember and manage all the gifts they receive on that day. Therefore, it is advisable that trusted and professional movers are contracted to pack and move the gifts from the wedding venue to the couple’s preferred location.
