Celebrate your perfect day at
The Duke.

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Perfectly.

There are few places in New Zealand more magical than the Bay of Islands.

Located on the waterfront in the heart of romantic Russell, The Duke of Marlborough provides the ultimate wedding venue where you can have your ceremony, reception, photos and accommodation all in one place.

Your dream day.

Perched right on the stunning Russell Waterfront.

‍The Duke of Marlborough Hotel offers a unique wedding experience where you can embrace the history and charm of New Zealand’s first licensed hotel which has been operating since 1827

Plan.

Take all of the stress out of your big day. Our on-site wedding co-ordinator will work together with you providing support so you can relax without worrying about the finer details.

Stay.

With 38 rooms catering for your guests and a bridal suite, The Duke can provide a complete wedding experience.

Eat.

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

The important stuff.

140 People.

The Duke of Marlborough’s 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.

The Duke has an on-site wedding co-ordinator with experience in planning and delivering tailor made, personalised weddings to guarantee a truly memorable day. We manage all of the detail 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 (featuring 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 rooms catering for your guests and a bridal suite. There are different levels 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.

More Info

The hotel itself has loads of character and charm and the only thing we would have done different 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