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Shepstone Gardens

A family-owned garden estate at 12 Hope Road in Mountain View, Johannesburg, with a stone chapel, an outdoor ceremony spot called the Natural Arch and a Glass Marquee for the reception.

Verified 2026-10-19 by Ruschin & Co, from the venue's published website

A glass-roofed reception space at Shepstone Gardens, set with white-clothed tables, tall white floral arrangements and chandeliers, with white drapes tied around stone columns.
  • Wedding guests seated on white chairs along an aisle of flowers inside a glass-roofed ceremony space with a stone arch at the far end, under white draped fabric and chandeliers.
  • A pink and white floral arch framed by tall cypress trees in the Shepstone Gardens grounds.
  • An arcaded stone tower seen through the trees in the gardens, with a jacaranda in bloom and guests gathered on the path below.
  • Long reception tables in the glass-roofed reception space, laid with black chairs and dressed with white flowers hanging overhead and standing along the aisle.
  • The inside of the glass-roofed reception space, with a glass and gold-framed roof, rows of round-backed chairs and hanging flower arrangements down the centre.
  • A long reception table in the glass-roofed reception space, set with plates, gold cutlery and dark napkins, with a white flower arrangement and chandeliers beyond.
Photographs: Shepstone Gardens

Shepstone Gardens sits at 12 Hope Road in Mountain View, a suburb of Johannesburg in Gauteng. It is a garden estate rather than a hotel or a hall: the venue describes its ceremony spaces and its reception space as parts of one set of grounds, which makes it a useful reference point for couples weighing an estate wedding against the other kinds of Johannesburg venue.

The grounds and the history

By the venue's own account, the main house is one of the early Witwatersrand Ridge houses, built for the Modderfontein Dynamite Company after the Anglo Boer War from local quartz. The Rayner family, who have owned the property for about 35 years, have kept its Herbert Baker style. The property as a whole is informally known as the Secret Garden.

Ceremony and reception spaces

There are two ceremony settings. The first is a chapel in the gardens, with stone walls, large stained-glass windows and a glass roof. The second is outdoors at the Natural Arch, reached by walking through the rose gardens to the aisle. The reception is held in the Glass Marquee, which has marbled floors, stone pillars and chandeliers.

Shepstone Gardens lists weddings, special occasions and corporate functions as the events it hosts. Its website carries a client review of a Hindu wedding held there, which is the venue's own testimonial and not something Ruschin & Co has checked.

Address
12 Hope Road, Mountain View, Johannesburg, Gauteng
In-house services
Venues, florals, bar, catering, DJ and decor
Events hosted
Weddings, special occasions, corporate functions

The Great Hall at Shepstone Gardens

The same venue group lists a second, separate space with its own chapel.

View The Great Hall at Shepstone Gardens

Where is Shepstone Gardens and what kind of venue is it?

Shepstone Gardens is a family-owned garden estate at 12 Hope Road in Mountain View, Johannesburg, Gauteng. It has a chapel in the gardens, an outdoor ceremony spot called the Natural Arch and a reception space called the Glass Marquee.

Does Shepstone Gardens offer its own catering and decor?

Its website lists venues, florals, bar, catering, DJ and decor among its in-house offerings, so catering is available on site. It does not say whether outside caterers are allowed, whether the kitchen is Kosher-supervised or Halaal-certified, or what any of it costs. Put those questions to the venue in writing before you shortlist it.

Can you hold both the ceremony and the reception at Shepstone Gardens?

The venue describes a chapel and an outdoor Natural Arch for ceremonies and the Glass Marquee for receptions, all within its grounds in Mountain View. Its site does not give capacities, timings or a weather plan for the outdoor ceremony, so ask how many guests each space seats and what happens if it rains.

Film published by the business

Verified facts

Location
Johannesburg
Venue type
Garden
Indoor and outdoor
Gardens and rose gardens, Chapel, Glass Marquee for the reception
Ceremony options
Chapel in the gardens, with stone walls, large stained-glass windows and a glass roof, Outdoors at the Natural Arch, on the property's hillside grounds
Catering policy
In-house catering is offered, alongside in-house bar, florals, DJ and decor.
Website
https://www.shepstonegardens.co.za/Venues/Shepstone-Gardens
Phone
011 728 6738
Email
info@shepstonegardens.co.za

Sources

Facts are taken from the venue's own website and are the venue's own account. Capacity, pricing, alcohol policy and dietary certification are not stated there and are not shown.

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