When it comes to wedding planning, bigger isn’t always better.
Small weddings and elopements carry just as much meaning and depth as their larger counterparts, sometimes even more. You can still create that unforgettable “wow” factor by designing a celebration that reflects your relationship, whether just the two of you or surrounded by your closest family and friends.
Beyond freeing up your budget to splurge on your honeymoon or other essential elements, a micro event invites more profound moments, intentional touches, and a relaxed atmosphere where you can fully soak in every second.
To help you plan your special day, I’ve curated a list of my top eight boutique-style wedding venues in Auckland that are ideal for smaller-scale celebrations.
Planning a small wedding in Auckland? These boutique venues promise iconic style and considered elegance.
From heritage hotels to contemporary restaurants, each venue has been thoughtfully designed to suit smaller celebrations—offering just the right balance of atmosphere and style, without the space ever feeling too big or bare.
Whether you’re picturing a classy ceremony followed by champagne toasts, a laidback reception, or both in one seamless setting, these venues deserve a spot on your shortlist!
Ada Restaurant, The Convent Hotel – Grey Lynn
Once home to a community of nuns, The Convent Hotel is now a boutique hotel featuring ornate ceilings, stucco arches, and expansive windows. Once home to a community of nuns, the lovingly restored building introduces playful, modern design elements while retaining its architectural roots.
With its Spanish Mission-style facade and unique architectural features, The Convent Hotel provides a chic backdrop for micro weddings, offering stunning photo opportunities around every corner.
For added convenience, you can book one of their stylish suites to stay the night before, get ready onsite, and relax after your big day. Alternatively, you can hire the entire hotel for your wedding party and guests, enjoying exclusive use of the venue and a seamless experience from start to finish.
Tucked at the rear of the hotel, Ada Restaurant brings a lush indoor garden feel to your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Doubling as a ceremony and reception space for smaller events, soaring glass ceilings flood the dining space with natural light, creating an alfresco-style atmosphere without the weather worries.
Venue Capacity: Please enquire with Ada Restaurant directly.
Address: 454 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Website: theconventhotel.co.nz
Tantalus Estate – Waiheke Island
Tucked away on Waiheke Island, Tantalus Estate is an award-winning winery surrounded by 20 acres of vineyards, wetlands, and landscaped gardens, offering a breathtaking setting for both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations.
With a dedicated events team, Tantalus Estate provides a range of indoor and outdoor ceremony locations, along with seamless wet-weather options for peace of mind. Couples can choose from three distinct reception spaces: the elegant Estate Restaurant, the cosy Decanter Room, and the stylish Alibi Brewer’s Lounge, all complemented by sophisticated dining and exceptional service.
You can even arrange a helicopter arrival for a truly iconic entrance, with all landing fees donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.
Venue Capacity: 20-130 seated; up to 200 standing
Address: 70-72 Onetangi Rd, Waiheke Island, Auckland
Website: tantalus.co.nz
Hotel Britomart – Auckland Central
Hotel Britomart is a standout choice for couples seeking a boutique Auckland wedding venue that combines stylish on-site accommodation with versatile, character-filled spaces. Ideally suited for smaller weddings and elopements, this venue offers five unique event spaces—each with its own distinct atmosphere—to complement any wedding aesthetic effortlessly.
Whether you envision a rooftop ceremony under the sky or a softly lit indoor reception, Hotel Britomart crafts tailored experiences designed specifically for small-scale gatherings. From micro celebrations for just the two of you or joined by your closest family and friends, every space is thoughtfully curated to feel personal and inviting.
Adding to the convenience and luxury, the hotel features beautifully appointed 5-star guest rooms, ideal for you and your loved ones to get ready in and stay overnight. This ensures a seamless and stress-free experience for you and your guests.
Check out Sonia & Kedrick’s intimate wedding at Britomart Hotel for more inspiration.
Venue Capacity—varies by space; no minimum guest count
- Landing Suites: 15-28 guests
- Kingi Private: Up to 14 guests
- The Courtyard: 30 seated; 50 standing
- The Papuke Room: Up to 50 seated
Address: 29 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland
Website: thehotelbritomart.com
Onslow – Auckland Central
Located on the ground floor of a beautifully restored hotel—once the accommodation of choice for Queen Elizabeth II during her 1953 New Zealand tour—Onslow is a refined fine dining restaurant brought to life by acclaimed Michelin-starred chef and former MasterChef New Zealand judge, Josh Emett. The interiors, designed by Rufus Knight, are breathtaking, combining old-world sophistication with a relaxed, contemporary feel.
With natural timber accents, soaring vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private garden terrace, Onslow offers a sleek setting for intimate weddings and private events.
Couples can choose from a range of spaces, including full venue hire, a private dining room, or a half-venue setup, suiting guest lists from 24 to 120 seated.
Opting for full venue hire includes exclusive access to the fully serviced bar and garden terrace, which offers city views and an idyllic backdrop for a small outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour, and portraits.
Venue Capacity: 24-120 seated; 80-200 standing
Address: 9 Princes Street, Auckland
Website: onslow.nz
Mantells Mt Eden – Mount Eden
Mantells Mt Eden offers the perfect elopement-style escape just 15 minutes from Auckland’s CBD. This elegant venue combines quiet sophistication and rustic European charm in one—think ivy-draped walls, heritage architecture, and cosy fireplaces, reminiscent of the Italian countryside.
You can say your vows in the venue’s fully enclosed private courtyard—perfect for creating that “just the two of us” feeling. Afterwards, move into a warmly lit reception space where chandeliers glow overhead and the atmosphere feels effortlessly welcoming.
The in-house catering is a standout too, with beautifully presented dishes and delectable flavours that turn your meal into an experience of its own.
For couples seeking that elusive blend of timeless elegance and relaxed charm—with the convenience of being close to home—Mantells Mt Eden offers a destination experience without the plane ticket.
Take a peek at Sophie & David’s wedding at The Mantells Mt Eden for more inspiration.
Venue Capacity: 50-110
Address: 466A Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Website: mantells.co.nz
The French Café – Auckland Central
Blending European aesthetics with contemporary fine dining, The French Café is an award-winning restaurant offering quiet elegance for intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Whether you’re exchanging vows in the sunlit courtyard or hosting a refined gathering in the intimate French Kitchen, every space feels curated with understated luxury in mind. Planning a grander affair? The entire venue can be hired exclusively, ensuring a private, sophisticated experience from start to finish.
Rather than charging a venue hire fee, The French Café operates on a minimum spend basis—so your investment goes directly into what truly matters: exquisite food, curated wines, and warm, attentive service.
With a dedicated team by your side, every detail is tailored to create a celebration that’s effortlessly stylish and uniquely yours.
Venue Capacity—varies by space:
- Full venue hire: Up to 100 guests
- The Cellar: 6-12 guests
- The French Kitchen: 36 guests seated; 50+ standing
- The Conservatory: 10-24 guests
Address: 210 Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Website: thefrenchcafe.co.nz
The Arts House Trust – Hillsborough
Set atop the picturesque grounds of Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough, The Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead seamlessly blends the charm of yesteryear with contemporary art, making it a truly unique and memorable setting for saying “I do”. Conveniently located halfway between Auckland Airport and the CBD, the venue offers ample on-site parking for easy access by your entire wedding party.
Once the grandest home in Auckland back in the 1800s, the beautifully restored Pah Homestead now offers a mix of elegant indoor rooms and peaceful garden settings—ideal for both intimate weddings and bigger celebrations. With its Italianate architecture, soaring ceilings, sculpture lawns, and walls lined with more than 9,500 artworks, it’s a venue full of character, history, and visual charm at every turn.
From roving canapés to a grand banquet-style feast, the experienced team can help you craft an unforgettable celebration. Blending heritage architecture with expansive grounds, The Arts House Trust is perfect for couples seeking a boutique wedding venue in Auckland.
For a touch of timeless romance, take a look at Monica & Justin’s wedding at The Art House Trust.
Venue Capacity: Up to 70 indoors; 250 outdoors
Address: Pah Homestead, 72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland
Website: artshousetrust.co.nz
Glasshouse Morningside – Morningside
Just 10 minutes from the Auckland CBD, Glasshouse Morningside is a boutique venue that brings the outside in, combining industrial elegance with an immersive botanical feel.
With greenery cascading from every corner, vibrant garden walls, and a soaring glass ceiling that floods the space with natural light, Glasshouse offers a captivating canvas for your day, whether you’re dreaming of a minimalist elopement or a more opulent celebration.
This breathtaking setting does much of the styling for you, meaning minimal effort is needed to create maximum visual impact. It’s a venue that shines on its own, but also adapts beautifully to personal touches.
Perfect for elopements, micro-weddings, and smaller guest lists, Glasshouse welcomes celebrations of all styles—no guest count is too small. Whether you’re planning a relaxed cocktail reception or a close-knit cultural ceremony, the space is as flexible as it is sublime.
For weddings with 100 guests or fewer, the ceremony and reception can be held in one seamless space, with the option to define separate areas using a greenery partition or elegant draping.
Have a look at Ailish & Josh’s Autumn wedding at Glasshouse Morningside!
Venue Capacity—no minimum guest count
- Ceremony: Up to 200 seated
- Reception: 160 seated; 300 standing
Address: 18 McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland
Website: glasshouse.net.nz
Let’s capture what truly matters, together.
One of the best parts about hosting a smaller wedding is that it frees you up to focus on what truly matters—and for many of my couples, that means capturing the experience in a way that allows you to relive it for years to come.
With fewer logistics and moving parts to fuss over, intimate weddings often create space for the most heartfelt, unscripted moments. Whether it’s a quiet look exchanged during your vows or the gentle buzz and clinking of glasses at a long-table dinner, these are the memories worth preserving.
As your Auckland-based wedding photographer, I’d be honoured to document your story—beautifully and honestly—so you can return to it whenever your heart feels called. Whether it’s five, ten, or thirty years from now, every frame will remind you exactly how it felt.
How you felt, the day you said “I do.”
Please note that I only take on a limited number of weddings each year to ensure every couple receives my full attention and care. To learn more, please send through an online enquiry, and I’ll be in touch ASAP.
Book a time in the calendar and we will send you all the info you need, including our pricing guide.
You will be looked after from the very first email all the way to the end of the job, that is my promise to you.
