Your dream day, at The Duke.

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Perfectly.

There are few places in New Zealand that make for a more magical wedding destination than the Bay of Islands.

Located right on the waterfront of the ever-romantic Russell, The Duke of Marlborough provides the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony, reception, photos and accommodation all in one beautiful location.

Your dream day.

The Duke of Marlborough Hotel offers a truly unique wedding experience, full of historic beauty and culture, which first opened its doors in 1827 with New Zealand’s first liquor licence.

Plan.

Take all of the stress out of your big day. Our on-site wedding coordinators will work together with you to organise every little detail, so you can relax and enjoy the process.

Stay.

With 38 room catering for your guests and a bridal suite, The Duke provides a complete wedding experience.

Eat.

We’ll work with you to tailor a unique menu at our award winning restaurant to ensure a memorable celebration.

Your day, at The Duke

140 People max.

Our grand ball room with ornate ceilings, low hanging chandeliers and polished wooden floor boards opens up directly onto sun filled decks overlooking the sea. The ball room is filled with individually upholstered chairs seating up to 140 guests comfortably.

Planning.

We have on-site wedding coordinators with years of experience in planning and delivering tailor made, personalised weddings. We manage all of the details in the lead up to and on your wedding day providing support and assistance so you can relax and enjoy your day without having to worry about the finer details.

Dining.

With an award winning restaurant (featured in Cuisine Magazine’s Top 100 Restaurants) the Duke offers exquisite cuisine and exceptional service. We meet with the bride and groom and tailor the menu to ensure a memorable celebration for you and your guest.

Ceremony

The large deck attached to the ballroom overlooking the sea is the perfect location for your wedding ceremony. There is also a stunning garden area alongside the ballroom which is the perfect place for ceremonies under the historic 150 year old fig tree.

Accomodation.

The Duke can provide the total wedding experience with 38 room catering for your guests and a bridal suite. There are multiple options of accommodation with stunning waterfront rooms with balconies and views across the picturesque harbour, superior rooms with an internal sundeck and our convenient standard rooms.

Drinks.

Being New Zealand’s first licensed hotel we pride ourselves in having an extensive wine list offering 100 different wines. We offer a range from New Zealand’s finest wines and boutique beers, highlighting our locally produced favourites.

More Info

The hotel has loads of character and charm, and the only thing we would have done differently is stayed longer!
Ed & Erica Delamare, 2019

From planning through to celebrating our very special day, the Duke went above and beyond in every way. They were so helpful with suggesting great, local vendors and always flexible in meeting our needs.
Byron & Lisa, 2019

Working with a licensed venue from a distance is a fantastic option as we had no need to worry about service, food, alcohol and even decorations were super easy as this location is superb!
Kelly-Ann & Adam, 2020