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The Oyster Box is a hotel destination wedding venue in uMhlanga, South Africa, hosting 120 at dinner. Best months: May, June, July, August.

The Oyster Box

uMhlangaKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The Oyster Box is a historic hotel on the uMhlanga coastline with 86 rooms, direct beach access and sea views across many of its room categories.

Guests
120 at dinner
Rooms
86 rooms
Ceremony
Outdoor ceremonies
Season
Best weather May–AugAisle estimate
Getting there
DURabout 15 min by car

About the venue

The Oyster Box is a historic hotel on the uMhlanga coastline with 86 rooms, direct beach access and sea views across many of its room categories.

Weddings here seat up to 100 guests for a ceremony and 120 for a seated dinner, with outdoor ceremony space in the gardens and an indoor reception option as backup.

An in-house Wedding Planner, Ginny Eslick, works with couples on the detail, and the hotel holds a noise curfew of 02h00 so receptions can run late.

With 11 room types ranging from Classic Rooms to the Sea Facing Luxury Suite and Superior Garden Villa, guest parties of 50 or more can stay on site, 15 minutes from Durban's DUR airport.

  • 86 rooms across 11 categories, including Sea Facing Cabanas and Superior Garden Villas
  • Seats 100 for a ceremony and 120 for a seated dinner, with a 50-guest minimum
  • Direct beach access, gardens, pool and sea-view rooms
  • Outdoor ceremony space with indoor reception and wet-weather backup

Short answers

How many guests does The Oyster Box hold?
The Oyster Box holds 120 at dinner.
Venue website
Can guests stay at The Oyster Box?
Yes. 86 rooms.
Venue website
When is the best time for a wedding at The Oyster Box?
Best weather: May – August.
Aisle estimate
How do guests get to The Oyster Box?
Fly into DUR, about 15 min by car.
Venue website

Ask about your month

Tell the venue your year and month, your guest count and your budget. They reply with the dates they have free and what a wedding with them costs.

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Capacity, rooms and facilities

Last updated

Capacity

Seated dinner
120 guests
Ceremony, seated
100 guests
Smallest party taken
50 guests

Staying over

Rooms
86 rooms
Room types
11 listed

House rules

Music until
02h00

Best weather to marry

Aisle estimate
  1. January: good
  2. February: good
  3. March: good
  4. April: good
  5. May: best
  6. June: best
  7. July: best
  8. August: best
  9. September: good
  10. October: good
  11. November: good
  12. December: good
Best weatherGoodWeather does not tell you whether a date is free.

Getting there

Nearby venues on a map
Nearest airport
DUR, 15 min by car
Parking
Yes

Questions about the venue

Where a number is our estimate, we say so.

How many guests can The Oyster Box host?
Up to 100 guests seated for a ceremony and 120 for a seated dinner. There is a minimum of 50 guests.
Can we hold the ceremony outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor ceremonies are possible in the gardens, and there is an indoor reception space that also serves as wet-weather backup.
How far is the nearest airport?
The hotel is about 15 minutes by transfer from DUR, the nearest airport.
Do you cater for specific dietary requirements?
Halaal, Vegetarian and Kosher options are available.
How late can the reception go?
The noise curfew is 02h00. There is a bar on site, dedicated dance space and on-site parking for guests.

The venue is one part of the budget. Budget a wedding in South Africa with Aisle’s calculator: it starts from modelled estimates for food and drink, bedrooms, a welcome dinner and suppliers in South Africa, and you can replace each one with a quote.

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Aisle also works inside Claude and ChatGPT. Ask either one for venues in South Africa by guest count and budget. Find venues in Claude · Find venues in ChatGPT

Sources and booking notes

Confirm your dates, guest numbers, room arrangements and inclusions with the venue before booking. An enquiry does not reserve a date. Figures labelled Aisle estimate are modelled from regional rates and public sources; they are not venue quotes.

Venue wedding information

Planning with Aisle: Start for free · Ask us a question

Sources for individual venue facts

  • Seated dinner: 120 guests

    “With its mirrored walls, expansive terrace and delicate chandeliers of hand-blown Venetian crystal, The Pearl Room is the perfect venue for a memorable wedding reception, seating a maximum of 120 guests.”
    Read the source for seated dinner

  • Ceremony, seated: 100 guests

    “In the heart of our lush sub-tropical gardens, our Garden Gazebo offers a memorable location for your ceremony for up to 100 guests.”
    Read the source for ceremony, seated

  • Smallest party taken: 50 guests

    “Hire of The Pearl Room (minimum 50 guests and maximum 120 guests).”
    Read the source for smallest party taken

  • Rooms: 86 rooms

    “With just 86 rooms, suites, and villas, it offers a mix of styles to suit different moods.”
    Read the source for rooms

  • Room types: 11 listed

    “Garden-Facing Loft Room”
    Read the source for room types

  • Outdoor ceremony: Yes

    “In the heart of our lush sub-tropical gardens, our Garden Gazebo offers a memorable location for your ceremony for up to 100 guests.”
    Read the source for outdoor ceremony

  • Indoor option if it rains: Yes

    “In the event that the ceremony is moved from the gazebo to The Pearl Room or any other venue within the hotel due to inclement weather, the venue hire for the gazebo is non-refundable.”
    Read the source for indoor option if it rains

  • Dietary options: Halaal, Vegetarian and Kosher

    “Special meal requirements i.e. Halaal, Vegetarian or Kosher are to be indicated 5 (five) working days prior to your function.”
    Read the source for dietary options

  • Bar on site: Yes

    “PRE-RECEPTION: Hire of The Oyster Bar for the pre-reception drinks”
    Read the source for bar on site

  • Music until: 02h00

    “Maximum overtime allowed till 02h00.”
    Read the source for music until

  • Nearest airport: DUR, 15 min by car

    “DUR”
    Read the source for nearest airport

  • Parking: Yes

    “Parking is strictly subject to availability.”
    Read the source for parking

  • Event spaces: Banquet room

    “Meeting/banquet facilities”
    Read the source for event spaces

  • Reception indoors: Yes

    “With its mirrored walls, expansive terrace and delicate chandeliers of hand-blown Venetian crystal, The Pearl Room is the perfect venue for a memorable wedding reception, seating a maximum of 120 guests.”
    Read the source for reception indoors

  • Space for dancing: Yes

    “A dance floor is not required as The Pearl Room has a beautiful floor, where a dance area is demarcated.”
    Read the source for space for dancing

  • Swimming pool: Yes

    “This prize includes daily breakfast, use of all hotel facilities including two swimming pools, spa facilities and gym and private movie theatre.”
    Read the source for swimming pool

  • Sea view: Yes

    “From the stunning ocean views and beautifully landscaped gardens to the exquisite cuisine and five-star service, every detail is meticulously crafted to create a magical experience for you and your guests.”
    Read the source for sea view

  • Beach on foot: Yes

    “Beachfront”
    Read the source for beach on foot

  • Gardens: Yes

    “In the heart of our lush sub-tropical gardens, our Garden Gazebo offers a memorable location for your ceremony for up to 100 guests.”
    Read the source for gardens

  • Historic building: Yes

    “Located along Umhlanga’s beautiful coastline, just 20 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, The Oyster Box has grown from a humble seaside cottage in 1863 to a global icon in the Red Carnation Hotel Collection.”
    Read the source for historic building

  • Coordinator on the day: Yes

    “Ginny Eslick, our in-house Wedding Planner, and Meena Hassan, Wedding Coordinator at The Oyster Box, bring a wealth of experience from years spent curating some of Durban’s most glamorous celebrations.”
    Read the source for coordinator on the day

Could this be your venue?

Ask about prices and free dates for the month you have in mind. You do not need a fixed date.