Venue Hire

The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga is the venue of choice for boutique weddings as well as local and nationally significant events. With one hectare of stunning grounds and historically significant buildings, just a stone’s throw from Tauranga CBD, The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga is a prestigious choice for your wedding or function.

We invite you to arrange a viewing time with us for a look through the buildings and grounds. We are open 7 days a week if you want to explore the grounds on your own first, but we encourage making an appointment so our venue co-ordinator can take you through all the details and answer any questions as they arise.

Weddings at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga

We are delighted that you are considering The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga as the venue for your wedding and welcome you to join the long tradition of getting married on this significant site. The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga has a charm and elegance unrivalled within Tauranga city.

At The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga you have a choice of indoor and outdoors locations to exchange your vows. The north lawn with the beautiful Georgian house in the back ground and the intimate library lawn under the cedar tree are both popular with couples looking for a garden wedding setting. Alternatively, the Chapel offers a vintage indoor space, protected from the elements, and with an old worldly charm all of its own.

The great thing about marrying at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga is that you have all these spaces to choose from, and can leave your decision to the day if weather is a factor. You can also spread your wedding around the grounds – possibly choosing to marry in the Chapel and host drinks and nibbles on the lawn.

The expansive one hectare grounds at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga ensure that you will have plenty of choice for your wedding photographs. With lush forest paths, authentic old wooden coach houses and the stunning symmetry of the house your photographer will love capturing all your wedding day moments around this unique site.

We are happy for you to bring as many personal touches as you would like and will work with you in the lead up to your wedding day to make planning as smooth as possible. Couples are welcome to host drinks, nibbles and games on site after exchanging vows. We also have a number of fantastic reception venues within close proximity to recommend, so you are spoilt for choice.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here is what Rebekah had to say after her 2017 wedding:

‘We had our wedding ceremony at The Elms on the weekend. Romani and Andrew are such neat people who helped us in every way possible. The guests raved about the cute chapel and about the lovely grounds. We had afternoon tea on the front lawn where guests could relax and mingle. It was an amazing day, thank you.’  Rebekah

And a few more comments from our happy couples:

  • ‘Never would we have thought that in the middle of Tauranga there is such an historic monument, perfect for a vintage wedding. The grounds are spectacular, with so many opportunities for photos. The chapel is beautifully restored and warmly sets a romantic mood for a wedding. the staff are helpful with Margie Denniston, our celebrant, making our journey at the Elms even more special. We highly recommend The Elms to anyone who wishes to have a historical, authentic, traditional wedding that will leave you and your guests with lifelong memories.’ Donna and Fin

 

  • ‘When we were looking for the perfect place to get married, as soon as we found The Elms we knew it was the perfect place for us. Every question I had was answered, we were shown around in our time, the staff were perfect and so very helpful. I would definitely recommend The Elms. Perfect place, perfect location, amazing wedding, very happy bride.’ Kristin and Brad

 

  • ‘Our family connections with Tauranga go back to colonial times, so being able to hold our wedding ceremony at a venue of such historical significance, The Elms Mission House and Gardens, made our special day all the more memorable. The chapel provided the traditional setting for the formal part of our ceremony, complete with the tolling of the old bell, as the celebrations began. The charm of the Mission House and library buildings formed the backdrop of our photographic studies, whilst the gardens were enjoyed by our family and friends creating a truly relaxing occasion. We would recommend The Elms as a venue that would add charm and ambience to your special day.’ Paul and Julie

We look forward to meeting you at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga to discuss your wedding plans and help you co-ordinate the perfect day.

Important information:

  • The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga hosts weddings year round
  • Taking bookings now for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 wedding season
  • Please enquire with your preferred wedding date for rates and availability
  • Enquiries to reception@theelms.org.nz or 07 577 9772

Function Bookings at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga

The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga also hosts other functions including:

  • Garden Parties
  • Christenings
  • Christmas Parties
  • Events
  • Birthday Parties
  • Funerals

Please contact us for more information and keep a look out on our Facebook page for exciting upcoming events such as the Vintage Car Show, Night Owl Cinema and Outdoor Summer Theatre.

Photography Credits from this page:

 

Coralee Stone Click Here for Website

Erica Jane Click Here for Website

David Le Click Here for Website