Christchurch Wedding Venues that Allow External Catering
— By Gabrielle Maloy

With many popular wedding venues not allowing external catering, it can often seem like a challenging task to find an accommodating option. Though, don’t throw in the towel just yet - it can be a major blessing to be in control of your catering. Often you’re able to allow for more overall flexibility, dietary requirements, and budgetary restrictions, as well as being able to handpick a custom menu just for you. It’s your big day, after all! If you want to control what lies in the bellies of family and friends by the end of the night, then flick through our guide of eight Christchurch wedding venues that will welcome your culinary visions with open arms.

Tait Technology Centre

Image by Tait Technology Centre

With the convenience of countless rooms to pick from, and, being just 2km from Christchurch Airport, Tait Technology Centre is a versatile and modern facility happy to allow external catering as your Christchurch wedding venue. Purpose-built and flaunting its striking architectural details, all corners of the venue are modern, private, spacious, and full of natural light. Although they don their own selection of catering partnerships, Tait Technology Centre welcomes the addition of your chosen catering vendor.

Beautiful views and landscaped gardens surround the centre, adding to that feeling of ‘a breath of fresh air’ that you garner from this wedding venue. Take the day outside for a touch of alfresco dining or barbeque. With ample on-site parking and integrated smart technology, you can also rest assured that Tait ticks the boxes of all things practical for your day.

International Antarctic Centre

Image by International Antarctic Centre

Christchurch’s International Antarctic Centre is not just a place to show off the wonders of Antarctica - it can also be a great choice of wedding venue. Two conference rooms, a large atrium, or even the entire venue, are all on offer for hosting your Christchurch wedding, so you are spoilt for choice regardless of the size and vibe of your day.

Opt for the Atrium for an elegant dining or cocktail space for up to 250 guests, or perhaps the Margaret Bradshaw Room to accommodate 50 of your family and friends with sweeping views of the Southern Alps and nearby airport runway. IAC provides ultimate flexibility not only with their room options but by also allowing external and DIY catering. Take advantage of their accommodation of external catering vendors to ensure you’ve gathered your culinary match to celebrate the beginning of the rest of your life with your partner.

The Log Shed

Image by The Log Shed

A Christchurch wedding venue fit to show off the city’s beauty no matter the season is The Log Shed, located in Woolston, just 5km from the CBD. The Log Shed is an uncovered outdoor patio area combining rich red brick, silvered logs, and gleaming strings of lights, to result in a space dripping with character. It’s a beauty sure to capture the hearts of both you and your guests.

The Log Shed, part of much-loved The Tannery, is best suited to more intimate affairs, with space for up to 80 guests. Create a relaxed and warm atmosphere in the evenings with their warm fireplace and heaters at hand, as well as flexibility when booking for multiple styling and catering options - including, of course, the ability to provide your own external catering vendor. Bring all this together with the great location just a stone’s throw from Port Hills and Christchurch’s beach suburbs, and you have on your hands a uniquely inviting space to host your Christchurch wedding.

Great Hall

Image by Great Hall

If you’re after all things grand and captivating, Great Hall may be the landmark you’re pining for to complete the details of your Christchurch wedding day. Providing unbridled character, Great Hall is a UNESCO heritage building, complete with excellent acoustics, modern lighting and heating, and north-facing stained glass windows. This is truly a wedding venue like no other. Built for the University of Canterbury and featuring a 1930’s Memorial Window for the staff and students who served in WWI, the Great Hall holds strong roots. 

Having been restored post-earthquake has only made this great wedding venue option stronger. An open fireplace and lighting rig create ambience while wheelchair access and a green room provide ample amenities to ease the day’s pressures. Proud to offer flexibility for any event, the Great Hall stands as an excellent Christchurch wedding venue to host your external catering.

The Atrium

Image by The Atrium

The Tannery brings forth another beautiful wedding venue allowing external catering, suitable for your Christchurch nuptials. Marking the start of your next stage of life is worth celebrating in a place as unique and opulent as The Atrium at The Tannery. An inspiring atrium lined with eclectic shops, a translucent roof, and Victorian-era features seamlessly blend to create a stunning canvas fit for discerning couples wanting to add old-world charm to their special day.

The exceptional service of the team at The Tannery means you’re bound to feel confident in all your choices, including that of wanting to bring in your own catering vendor. Pair this with their bespoke matching of local wines and Cassels and Sons craft beer, and your day is bound to be pleasing to the taste buds. Alternatively, you can choose to have The Tannery provide their fantastic chefs to co-create a menu with you.

Omarino Estate

Image by Omarino Estate

Complete with twenty acres of flowing grapevines, lush mature gardens, and multiple indoor or outdoor spaces, Omarino Estate is an excellent Christchurch wedding venue. Omarino Estate welcomes the addition of external catering to make sure every detail of your day is just as you’d like it. Pair your external catering choices with the estate’s award-winning Canterbury wines to complete your food and beverage menu. 

With the estate boasting its wide range of facilities to suit any event, you will be hard-pressed to find an idea that is unable to be made a reality within its gates. A multi-purpose function room, outdoor period pergola, and endless spots atop the grass are all at your disposal. Easy access to nearby motorways and the airport, plus plenty of parking for guests make this property not only beautiful but functional and convenient.

Darjon Vineyard

Image by Darjon Vineyard

For a Christchurch wedding fit for a storybook, Darjon Vineyard should be your first port of call. The team at Darjon are passionate and committed to making your day special, able to transform their vineyard facilities to perfection. An elegant and intimate garden setting opens up to 8 acres of vines and rolling empty fields to make for some captivating photographs. Although Darjon Vineyard has catering partners to choose from, you are more than welcome to choose and bring in your own external catering.

Not only does Darjon Vineyard provide a stunning wedding venue, they couple their facilities with complimentary wedding coordination. The team is happy to be as hands-on as you’d like, attending rehearsals, assisting with pre-planning, meeting with vendors, and more. Darjon is a fully licensed venue with BYO as an option, meaning not only are you able to provide your own hand-picked catering, you can curate an exceptional, personal drinks menu to match. Add on the fact they do not charge a markup or corkage fees and you are set for a great day and night.

Bramble Grove

Image by Emma Brittenden Photography

Bramble Grove is a suitable option for your Christchurch wedding venue, located North near Kaiapoi. Pair their romantic reception pavilion with an acre and a half of impressive gardens, car parking, and your very own wedding coordinator, and you know you are in capable hands. Multiple areas on the property provide for various photo and social opportunities throughout your day, with an abundance of flowers scattered through the grounds.

Bramble Grove is a totally BYO venue, for both food and beverages, meaning you have complete freedom over all things gastronomy and mixology - a luxury that can be hard to find. Bramble Grove’s team is committed to helping achieve a faultless and stress-free day. With transparent and straightforward options for couples, no stone will be left unturned in the pursuit of the perfect wedding day, whether you’re with Bramble Cove for both your ceremony and reception or just the latter.