Situated high on the mountain slopes in the breath taking Hemel-en-Aarde valley near the picturesque town of Hermanus, lies this stunning five star private estate.

The working Protea and Orchid farm Estate is nestled against the pristine Cape Fynbos covered mountain slopes that boasts endless uninterrupted views of the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and its world-famous vineyards.

The Dendrobium House Wedding venue at Bona Dea features incredible fine décor, a majestic double volume entrance and staircase, that ensures every couple's entrance a dramatic surprise. A tradition at Bona Dea, the bride and groom's parents would jointly open the doors to the reception venue as it signifies the coming together of the two families.

This beautiful venue can accommodate up to 160 guests, with a generous dance floor.

We absolutely love the idea of venues having their own traditions and this is something Bona Dea really excels at, making it ever more special and unique to the couple.

Before the bride makes her grand entrance down the aisle, her bridesmaids would ring the bell towers, which echos beautifully in the valley, signifying the arrival of the bride.

Another one of our favourite traditions is that the mother of the bride plays quite a big role in the "handing over" of her daughter. The ceremony usually takes place outside under the treed terrace, which is broken up into two parts. Here's the fantastic part - the mother of the bride walks her daughter to the staircase platform where she then hands her daughter over to the father who then walks and hands her over to the groom.

This stunning and thoughtful tradition usually leaves guests in tears!

Keeping with traditions, the night before the wedding, the Bona Dea team teaches the groom the art of sabrage, which he will perform after the ceremony.

Accommodation is available on site (six double bedrooms) and with no shortage of accommodation in surrounding areas, this is definitely one of our top wedding venues!

So, If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind venue with exquisite attention to detail, incredible food and a hands on team, we'd highly recommend this beautiful private estate set in the picturesque town of Hermanus.