Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
The closest wedding venue to Empangeni
Six kilometres of cane road between town and the gate. Close enough that your mother can come out on the Thursday to see the tables, that the church service and the reception fit comfortably into one afternoon, and that nobody in the family needs a map.
Getting here
6 km
Empangeni town
11 km
Richards Bay
19 km
eSikhaleni
31 km
Mtunzini
Distances are measured straight from the venue and run a little longer by road. If your guests are coming from town we will send them directions, and there is space to park.
Church in town, celebration out here
Most Empangeni weddings are not built around one room. There is a service somewhere in town, or a ceremony at a family home that started long before anyone put on a suit, and then everyone moves. The venue is the second half of the day, not the whole of it.
That is a short convoy from here. Six kilometres, one turn off the cane road, and the cars arrive together rather than trickling in over an hour while the starters go cold.
It also means families can do the thing they actually want to do. The umembeso at home, where it belongs, with the aunts in the kitchen. Then the white wedding out here on the lawn, with our kitchen cooking, and nobody having to choose between the two because one venue could only manage one of them.
Ten minutes from town
Close enough to come and look at the room on a weekday afternoon, and close enough that elderly family are not in a car for an hour after the service.
Both celebrations, properly
A traditional ceremony and a white wedding, across one day or two. Our own kitchen cooks for both, which is the part most venues on this coast outsource.
Room to stay
There is accommodation on the property for the family who came the furthest, and for the couple on the night itself.
“This is the best place to do amazing things wedding, birthday parties and all, and they have high quality service, security, workers, amazing food, many many things you can need go to Thembela Vanue ask me I'm a witness”
Sanele Shangase · Google review
Questions
we are asked
How far is Thembela from Empangeni?
About six kilometres, roughly ten minutes by car. It is the closest wedding venue of its size to Empangeni, set in sugar cane between the town and Richards Bay.
Can we have the church service in Empangeni and the reception at Thembela?
Yes, and it is the most common way weddings here run. The drive from town is short enough that guests arrive together rather than over the course of an hour.
Can we hold a traditional ceremony at home and the white wedding at the venue?
Yes. Many families do the umembeso or the traditional ceremony at the family home and hold the white wedding here, either the next day or later the same day.
Do you cook traditional food?
Yes. The kitchen is ours and it is on site, and it cooks for traditional celebrations as well as for a white wedding menu. Nothing is brought in by an outside caterer.
Is there parking and security?
There is parking at the venue and the property is secured. Guests regularly mention both in their reviews.
Come and walk it
Send us your date and your guest numbers and we will tell you straight away whether it is open.
Book a viewing