If there’s one thing we love at Kay & Monty Vineyards, it’s a wedding. And to date, we’ve hosted over 88 full weddings, plus a number of engagements, elopements, matric dances, year-end functions and gala events.
With so many celebrations behind us, we sat down with Jen, general manager at Kay & Monty, to unpack what really goes into planning a wedding at our Plettenberg Bay venue, from your very first enquiry through to the last dance of the night.
What do you think draws couples to Kay & Monty as a wedding venue?
Jen: “The first impression is always the sheer scale of the space; the openness, the views for days, our dam, the mountains and the rolling vineyards. But logistically, it’s the incredible versatility of the building itself. With all the glass, the high-volume greenhouse-style ceilings, and the neutral colour palette, it creates a perfect blank canvas.
The building lends itself effortlessly to any style of decor, from the most simple, rustic feel to the most elaborate and elegant floral installations. From there, I’d like to believe our overall offering and the personal way we work with couples is what seals the deal.”
How involved is the Kay & Monty team in the wedding planning process?
“While we don’t currently offer full-service wedding planning, we handle full on-the-day coordination. We manage the setup with external vendors and actively fill every gap. From the very beginning, we assist by sharing our preferred network of local suppliers, personally recommending who we feel would be best suited for each couple based on their specific style and personality.
Wedding planning should be a fun, exciting experience, and the vendors you choose to work with directly affect your stress levels. We’re never shy to share our thoughts, deep industry experience and advice throughout the process to keep everything running smoothly. On the day itself, we can’t help but get involved in the fine details, from assisting the bridal party down the aisle and cueing the DJ, to advising photographers on where the light hits best and guiding the MC.”
What makes Kay & Monty’s Country House a unique for couples, families, and guests?
“The Kay & Monty Country House is very well suited for wedding groups. As a 10-sleeper with large communal areas to gather, the layout gives both sides of the bridal party the unique opportunity to get ready on the same property without seeing each other, which is a massive win for your photography timeline.
While the bride and her entourage enjoy the comfort and light of the main house around the pool deck, perfect for hair and makeup, the groom and his gents have the bar area in the wing. As an extra bonus, every bedroom features its own full en-suite bathroom, making morning preparations completely stress-free.”
Do you have go-to wedding suppliers along the Garden Route?
“Our region has an abundance of phenomenal wedding vendors, each with their own distinct strengths. Some decor specialists are master creatives who can transform the space into an absolute explosion of nature, while others excel at taking a minimalist budget and making it deeply personal.
There are local DJs who run a quietly professional event, others who are masters of crowd entertainment, and fine-art photographers with completely contrasting visual styles. We also work closely with incredible background vendors like local cake designers, hiring companies, and private shuttle services.”
Planning Tip: Because the Garden Route creative community is so rich and varied, we work with a wide network of trusted professionals across Plettenberg Bay. We pride ourselves on pairing you with the exact right personalities for your day.
What are some of your favourite ceremony or reception spaces on the property and why?
“It is incredibly hard to beat a ceremony on the lawn right next to our dam. You get this dramatic, sweeping backdrop of the water, the vineyards, the forest, and the mountains. But there is also the immense peace of mind of having a beautiful, light-filled indoor alternative in our barn if the weather shifts.
For the reception, our main Tasting Room makes a striking impact. However, for much larger celebrations, we’ve had couples hire a marquee tent for outdoor lawn dining, utilising the main glass building purely for canapés and the dancefloor. That flow works beautifully.”
For couples considering a Plettenberg Bay wedding, what time of year would you recommend?
“I always suggest the warmer months but recommend avoiding peak December holidays when local accommodation gets tight and pricey. Mid-January to April, or October to mid-December are absolute gold standard windows.
Alternatively, you can completely break the mould and plan a cosy barn wedding in Plettenberg Bay during winter. Think of an indoor ceremony, rich autumn colours, roaring fireplaces, estate red wine flowing, and far easier travel and accommodation availability for your travelling guests.”
What do guests and couples typically love most about the overall experience?
“The space itself has an undeniable ‘wow’ factor when guests arrive. But ultimately, it’s the lack of stress that people remember. Most couples only do this once in their lives, so it’s completely natural not to know how to navigate the logistics. That is exactly what we are here for. Beyond the delicious meals and beautiful setting, our biggest compliments are always about the calm, approachable nature of our hosting team.”
“There are not enough thank-yous in the world for us to sufficiently and adequately express our gratitude to you. Thank you so much for contributing to the success of the most spectacular day of our lives so far. Not only did you make the planning and preparation an absolute breeze, but you ensured that everything went off without even the tiniest hitch on the night.”
“We cannot thank you enough for what you did for us and for making our wedding day so perfect. You and the staff were absolutely fantastic and so easy to work with, and we had an absolute ball planning our day with you.”
“We literally could not have pulled it off without you and your amazingly calm and unflappable presence.”
“We’re still reeling from such a perfect day. Can’t believe it all came together so well. Seems a pity we can’t do it again, but we can always visit Kay & Monty when we want to relive it just a little.”
Ready to Create your Perfect Day?
Kay & Monty offers a seamless wedding flow where ceremony spaces, sun-drenched canapé decks and high-volume reception areas sit in perfect proximity, wrapped in sweeping mountain views. Get in touch with the team.