Testimonials

The Duke of Marlborough is such a beautiful venue. We had the pleasure of having our wedding in the end of April at the Duke. Throughout the planning process and to day of celebrating our wedding the Duke went above and beyond. Thank you all for making our day so special and flawless

Laura & Rem April 2021,

The Team at the Duke were exceptional in all details leading up to and on our wedding day. The hotel itself has loads of character and charm and the only thing we would have done different is stayed longer! All of our wedding guests said the food and service was excellent and it really was. This is a wedding venue that you can count on to be special. Erica & Ed Delamare

Ed and Erica Delamare 21st December 2019,

My husband Scott and I got married at The Duke on 15th Feb 2020. This is the perfect venue for a wedding and the staff have been incredible through everything. From our initial inquiry the wedding co-coordinator Ida Birch was amazing. She was so easy to get in contact with and made planning the wedding so seamless. They offered so many great choices for food, drink and accommodation. Always available for meetings and catch ups and always steering you in the right direction to make sure you're picking the best options for your day. Ida was so helpful with things from our wedding timings, making sure our bridesmaids had platters sent to the room when we were getting ready, having our favorite cocktails provided for our top table and giving the manager on duty a thorough handover for how we wanted the day to go. Diane who managed our accommodation was also superb. I honestly can't keep track of all the emails I sent for room changes and Diane was always so speedy updating everything with no stress. The Duke also offers great rates for wedding guests ???? Which brings me on to Ellie and The Duke staff! I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to help set the room up for dinner but they set it up exactly how I imagined it and literally everything was perfect. Having worked in hospitality for about 7 years I can be quite an annoying person to look after at events and there is literally nothing I could fault with the team. The food was INCREDIBLE, every guest had nothing but great things to say about the meals and the canapes. Everyone loved that they could order off a menu rather than having to pre order months in advance. The drinks were always topped up, communication with staff was great letting us know bar tab amounts etc. It can be difficult letting a team of people run your wedding but I had zero stress on the day, they made everything so perfect. Scott and I are so thankful to everyone at The Duke for making our wedding so special. You have been an exceptional team to work with and we hope to see you all again soon for some anniversary celebrations! Lots of Love Charlotte and Scott Taylor ??

Charlotte & Scott Taylor 15th February 2020,

To All the staff of the Duke, On behalf of Scott and Charlotte, as well as all the guests whom attended their wedding on Saturday 15th February 2020, we would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to everyone at the hotel who helped make the day so memorable. We would like to make a special mention regarding Ida, as she went above and beyond to help make Scott and Charlotte's day special. All the guests have since commented how amazing the venue was including the quality of food and the overall level of service. Without any doubt, we will most certainly recommend the Duke of Marlborough to others. many Thanks, The Flanagan Family

Charlotte & Scott 15th February 2020,

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. Many of our guests have raved about our wedding at the Duke, remarking on the beautiful setting, delicious food (and wine) and highly attentive staff. Ida, Bridget, Alistair and the team were absolutely brilliant and ensured we had the best time! We really can't imagine having had our wedding anywhere else. It was just perfect. We look forward to celebrating many anniversaries to come at the Duke. We are so grateful; thank you!! Lisa & Byron, December 2019

Byron and Lisa 14 December 2019,

There is no better place to get married (from our one experience), The Duke wedding and hotel team were absolutely fantastic to work with. Adam and I were traveling from Singapore to NZ to get married, so most of our communication and planning was with Ida via email which was no problem at all. 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! The planning team worked with us on different seating options to accommodate our odd sized event, recommended great local vendors and put together a fantastic on the day service. Our guests raved about the event and in particular the amazing menu. A special shout out to the Hotel team who also tirelessly helped us with lots of back and forth on accommodation options for our international guests whilst balancing two weddings back to back! We will be back to celebrate many anniversaries to come. Thank you to everyone at The Duke! Kelly-Ann & Adam 26-01-20

Kelly-Ann & Adam 26 January 2020,

We had our simple, romantic wedding ceremony and reception at the Duke of Marlborough. Ida, Ellie and all of the wedding team did an amazing job. Many of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to! The reception was out on the deck (with the sun setting over the water and Dan on the guitar). We loved the menu choices. The food presentation was incredible. Best of all was the caring, attentive staff who made everyone feel special with their great Northland Hospitality. Ida and Ellie you are both a fantastic advertisement for the Duke. We can't wait to come back! Kerry and Megan McCollum

Kerry & Megan McCollum 5th April 2019,

We had an absolute awesome time. One we will never forget. We would like to thank Ida, Ellie, Nicole,Di and all the wonderful staff who kept the drinks and food flowing. The food and the view were amazing and it was truly our fairytale wedding. We cannot thank you all enough for such a stress free relaxed day. The staff were all so helpful, especially the cleaners, our room was spacious and very clean not to mention the view was just breathtaking. It will be a day that our family and friends will cherish as they are still talking about it two weeks later. To the Duke of Marlborough Russell , Bay of lslands we salute you!!! Thank you so much for everything. We had a fantastic wedding! Naremin and Cory xo

Naremin & Cory 5th October 2019,

I would just like to start by thanking Ida, and all the wonderful staff at the Duke of Marlborough in Russell for helping to bring our dream wedding day to life. Ida has been a huge help towards the organisation of everything; her communication was great and nothing was ever a problem. We communicated a lot via email and she was always super prompt at getting back to all of my questions. On the wedding day the Ellie and the Duke staff were super friendly and helpful, and again nothing was a problem. Ellie and the staff at the Duke set up the reception room beautifully and it was exactly how I had been picturing it. All our guests commented on how beautiful the room looked on the night. The staff were super organised, having it all set up the morning of, and then had everything packed down that night (the bride and groom didn’t need to lift a finger). Having one less stress of setting up and packing down on the day is amazing!! The food! Absolutely everyone who attended our wedding just loved the food. It was all cooked and presented perfectly. Having the full table service meant people were able to sit and chat and enjoy their time together. The amount of lovely comments we got regarding the food was incredible. My husband and I would totally recommend the Duke of Marlborough to anyone who is thinking about planning a wedding. The setting is outstanding, the weather we had was perfect, and the whole day was honestly faultless. It was such a stress free day thanks to all the helpful staff at the Duke, and we cannot thank them enough! The Duke of Marlborough is defiantly the place to get married- 10/10 for the whole experience! Thanks again, Mr & Mrs Egli xxxx

Macey and Bram 23rd March 2019,

My daughter Ashley married Andrew BartIey last weekend on 17.2.18 at the garden up the hill and then had their reception at the Duke and I am just contacting you to thank you and all your staff for doing such an amazing job on the day for all of us. The food was awesome and everyone had sufficient in choices and amounts and the wine seemed to do the trick quite nicely. However what really made the day super was your staff over the complete complex, Ida was great and your reception people were excellent but your function staff really made it a great experience they were so helpful, knowledgeable and efficient. Nothing was a bother even at the end of the night with the few swimmers and stragglers (including us) we never felt rushed or pressured to leave they just carried on cleaning up around us which was lovely. Karen Muir [Mother of Bride ] 17th February 2018

Ashley & Andrew 17th February 2018,

We are so glad we chose the Duke for our wedding day! All we really wanted was a waterfront ceremony, fantastic food and service, and to coordinate the day as easily as possible. The Duke absolutely delivered in all aspects and more! From our amazing wedding coordinator Ida, who was happy to answer as many emails as needed and officiated our wonderful ceremony, to Ellie the manager on the day who led impeccable service and was very approachable. The accommodation team were very prompt and friendly with emails and it was great to have so many guests staying close by on the day. The early check-in for the bride & groom the day before our big day was greatly appreciated with last minute planning and rehearsals up our sleeves! The food was seriously amazing and we had SO many comments about it, so thank you to the kitchen team! Thank you for the beautiful gift that was left for us on our wedding night, it was a wonderful surprise! I would absolutely recommend the Duke of Marlborough Hotel to any future couples looking for a wedding venue, fantastic value for money and great service all round. Thank you all so much, Amber & Braeden :)

Amber & Braeden 9th February 2019,

The Duke is an exceptional place to have a wedding. From the moment we arrived in town The Dukes staff knew who we were days ahead and made us and our families and friends feel extra special. On the day, bad weather meant a change of plans with the Duke now suddenly also hosting the ceremony on their front deck. This was all taken in its stride and went without a hiccup. The food is second to none, the staff are seriously exceptional, providing a service none of our guests had ever experienced. For one week the Duke became our second home. Special thanks to Ida, Ellie, Sam and Col. Thanks again and we will see you all soon! Hayley and Michael, Nov 1, 2018

Hayley & Michael 1st November 2018,

We chose to have our wedding reception at The Duke of Marlborough Hotel a decision which resulted as the best choice we've made for our wedding. From the qulity menu selection to the time management, our guest had nothing but great things to say. Beautiful, delicious food and luxurious rooms, the duke was thoroughly enjoyed. All the staff and managers at the Duke were genuinely accommodating and lovely. Big thank you to Ida Birch, thank you for helping us with all the wedding reception planning work. Great prepackaged plans which helped us stay on budget while giving us the flexibility to accommodate our specific wants. Duke of Marlborough Hotel means so much to us now, we enjoyed every moment staying there. Oh, thank you for the suprise gift from the Duke of Marlborough, how kind! Jaysi & Kaleb

Jaysi & Kaleb 18th October 2018,

We cannot thank Ida, Ellie and the whole team at Duke of Marlborough enough for making our wedding so truly memorable. We loved the Duke as our venue and Russell was an absolutely beautiful spot and all our guests made a real holiday out of coming to our wedding. We felt really informed throughout the planning and the day went so smoothly. We look forward to returning for a beer on deck at some point soon! Megan and Mike.

Megan & Mike 30th November 2018,

Kia ora, To you all at the Duke. Thank-you for a beautiful day of my son's wedding, David & Alison Walding. I'm overwhelmed by your generosity and staff, happy people and lots of love, a beautiful place to have a wedding 100%. The food was choice, nice & clean. My room the best, loved it. Thank-you so much for a beautiful day and wedding for my son his new bride. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. Love to all, Kathy Walding

David and Alison Walding 10th March 2018,

Thank you so so much for all your help planning our wedding and for being an absolute star on the day setting up for us. Everything was so easy and fun! Ida you were an absolute pleasure to deal with and all the staff were amazing on the night of our wedding as well. Everyone commented on how amazing the food was and that their drinks were topped up all night! The venue of The Duke....well what can I say, it's just magical, it's such a gorgeous place and we loved it so much!! The rooms as well were lovely and all the little touches the staff added to our room were wonderful!! The new deck up on the second story is so dreamy for beautiful wedding photos. I could go on and on but in a nut-shell we wouldn't change a single thing, we loved our wedding so much and The Duke made it so special for us, it's simply The Best!!! Katie and Stefan

Katie and Stefan 16th March 2018,

We had our Daughters wedding at the Duke - Services were excellent and wedding planner Ida was very helpful. All Staff very helpful and many guests commented on excellent menu, food and service. With grateful thanks - Jim and Janet Frater.

Ella and Nick 2nd February 2018,

I just want to give you the biggest thank you ever for your part in making Sophie's wedding so perfect. You were wonderful through the whole process. It seemed like nothing was too much trouble for you and the whole thing was just seamless from whoa to go. Is it my memory or was it really a more or less stress free wedding! Can you please pass on my thanks to everyone else at the Duke who played a part on the night and in the weeks leading up to it. The combination of a stunning venue and restaurant class food is quite rare for weddings and it's what all the guests commented on but for me the additional bonus of having all the support staff associated with the hotel was just fantastic- little things like the help we got in choosing the wines, the excellent service at the tables, the way all the candles etc were packaged up for us at the end - at the last wedding we went to the bride's family were there till 2 am clearing up. Well I'll stop now otherwise it's going to sound like an Oscar award speech but really it was fantastic and I am so grateful to everyone who played a part in making it so. Sue [Mother of the bride] 4th February 2018

Sophie and Chris 4th February 2018,

We had our dream wedding at the Duke. Ida, Alex and the entire team couldn't have been more thoughtful, professional or helpful. The venue is stunning, and the staff made the whole day stress-free, fun and easy from beginning to end. We had an unexpected guest show up, and the team arranged him a place with no fuss. The food was absolutely incredible,and the day flowed perfectly. Everything was absolutely the way we wanted it, with lots of lovely, thoughtful touches. The rooms were also beautiful. All of our 115 guests commented on what a fantastic venue the Duke is- lots have said it's the best wedding they've been to! If you're getting married, do it at the duke. You won't regret it!!! Love, Carl & Jess

Jess & Carl 5th May 2018,

To Ida, Ellie and The Duke, we would both like to say a huge thank you for making everything about our special day so easy and wonderful! From the hotel rooms, to the ballroom set up, to the friendly helpful staff, right down to the special touches in our bridal suite, everything was just perfect. I had no clue where to start planning this but Ida you made everything just so easy and fun. All of you at the Duke should be very proud that you can continuously run weddings so smoothly and in such a professional manner, every single one of our guests raved about how great the food and the service was. Russell is such a magical place to get married, we are so happy we chose such a beautiful location to share our day with our family and friends. We are looking forward to coming back on our anniversary, Ida we can't wait for our espresso martini catch up soon!

David and Alison Walding 10th March 2018,

We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Our wedding was a perfect day spent with family and friends and we are so glad to have met such wonderful people at The Duke along the way. Ida was a pleasure to deal with. She was so helpful and made the planning so easy. Ellie was a super star. Nothing was too much trouble on the day and her team were nothing short of sensational. Not only have our guests commented on the great food, rooms and location but how helpful every single staff member was. We were blessed with a gorgeous winters day ending in a spectacular sunset. If you want the wedding of your dreams, The Duke is the place. Many thanks Carl and Madalena

Carl and Madalena 9th June 2018,

Thank you so much to you and all the team at the Duke. Our wedding was the absolute best day of our lives. It all went without a glitch and we loved every minute. All of our guests commented on how wonderful it all was, the food, staff, location, and how smooth everything went! Everyone loved it. We felt so special, and everything was so personal. We really appreciated all the little touches too - the card, bubbles and tshirts in our room after were so sweet! I really can't believe how quick it went. We want to do it all over again and again! Thank you so much for all of your help, you are wonderful and really brought it all together. You and Ellie gave us such peace of mind and it wouldn't have been the same otherwise. It was the best day of our lives. We can't wait to come back soon! Thanks again! Jess & Ryan 4th November 2017

Jess & Ryan, 4th November 2017,

Thank you so much. The day was so amazing and everything was just perfect. We would not have been able to do any of it without the help of you and all the staff at the duke. Before I started planning I had no idea what I was doing and thank goodness for you because I would have been so lost. We had multiple guests tell us that it is the best wedding they have been to and how much fun they had and how amazing the food was. We will definitely be back for many more anniversaries to come :) With love Hayley & Michael

Hayley and Michael, 14th October 2017

Dear Ida, Bridget and all the team at the Duke, We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our wedding at the Duke in December. You exceeded our expectations and all our guests have raved about the food, setting, accommodation and staff. We are so grateful for all the effort you put into our special day. Thank-you also for the gifts that were waiting for us in our room on our wedding night. We will be back at the Duke many more times!!

Lucy & Andrew Neill 16th December 2017,

Thank you SO much for hosting our dream wedding! We are so over the moon with how everything went and looked, I am IN LOVE with The Duke! And so are all of our friends and family and no doubt they will all be back. I couldn't have asked for a better venue! But honestly it wouldn't have been as good without the amazing staff at The Duke! You all ensured everything went smooth sailing, nothing was a problem. The food was incredible! Service was excellent, - you guys are just the best!!

Chantel and Mark 3rd March 2017,

Thank you so much for your amazing help with our Wedding and absolutely perfect reception, it couldn't have run more smoothly. Everyone is still buzzing about the day and so many of our guests have said it was one of the best Weddings they have been to, Ever!! It was a truly magic day that we will never forget.

Jonathan and Emily, 1 April 2017

We are so happy we chose the Duke of Marlborough for our wedding reception venue. Ida did a an amazing job prior to the wedding with answering all our questions and timely communication. She set our minds at ease about how things were to run on the day and provided us good advice about structuring our wedding reception. On the day everything flowed smoothly and worked well. The staff at the Duke on the night were very professional and many of our guests said what a great job they did. The food was amazing and we have received many compliments from our guests about how lovely the wedding was. We can not recommend the Duke highly enough, and I'm sure we'll be back for a visit soon. Rebekah and Miles 22nd December 2017

Rebekah & Miles 22nd December 2017,

We wish to thank you so very much for the excellent planning of Sara and Michaels wedding. Everything was absolutely perfect. The staff were so polite and courteous and nothing was too much trouble. The food was divine. We all had a great time and it will be a day we will cherish forever. I would highly recommend the Duke to anyone wanting the perfect day for their wedding. You are a star and we cannot thank you enough. Many thanks Susan and Peter Wilson (Bride's parents)

Sara and Michael - 17th March 2017,

We had our wedding at the Duke and found the service was exceptional. Staff were easy to deal with and made every effort to assist us in having the best day possible. The food was great, with guests having a choice of menu options. Our room was lovely with wonderful views of the water. Breakfast on the Sunday morning was great too. We will stay again for sure. Anita & Joshua

Anita & Joshua, Saturday 27th May 2017

I can't say enough "thank you's" to you for your guidance, help and patience in the planning of Lauren & Toms wedding earlier this month. The wedding day was perfect in every respect from the start to the finish and many people commented what fabulous, well presented food they had at the reception. Even the weather came up trumps on the day as it was one of those beautiful hot sunny, windless days that we have in Northland, and everyone enjoyed the magnificent and stunning sun set from the deck of the Duke. Lauren lives in London so I had to do most of the planning on her behalf, however it was everything she wanted and with your assistance which was above and beyond what was expected, it made the organising so much easier. The Duke of Marlborough thoroughly deserves the reputation they have. Well done ! Once again the Duke did not disappoint us as this is the second wedding we have had there and both have exceeded our best expectations. Many thanks, Sallie

Sallie Harnett for Lauren and Tom's wedding 11th February 2017,

“Deciding to hold our wedding at The Duke of Marlborough in Russell without doubt was the unsurpassed greatest decision we made with regards to our wedding. As you would expect from The Duke the planning was easy, food outstanding, accommodation world class and the location idyllic. The team at The Duke were what made the difference, delivering at all touchpoints an outstanding day and weekend tailored at every aspect to our guests and us. Compliments from our guests were glowing with regards to the food, setting, beverages and the unique and warm hospitality. A dream wedding delivered by a dream team". Thank you again, Ben and Shar

Ben and Shar, 23 February 2018

The Duke of Marlborough Hotel won our hearts from day one with their exceptional food and wine. With each visit we were wowed by the extensive menu, but most impressive were the team who work at The Duke. They are warm, hospitable and fun, and experts at what they do. Having expert advice from Ida with the wedding plans was invaluable; she is a wealth of local knowledge and creative ideas, making it a fun and stress free process. The magical setting of Russell gave us endless options for our service and photos, and it was fantastic to have the Duke's beautiful veranda as a very attractive 'plan' for the ceremony in case of rain (which is rare in Russell).Our day went seamlessly and we can't recommend the Duke enough. We are thrilled to be part of the Duke family for life, and look forward to many return trips to visit our new friends in this jewel of the Bay of Islands.

Rebecca & Dave, 9 April 2016

Thank you thank you thank you is all I can say. From the moment we walked in until the time we left, we were made to feel like Queens. I'd like to make special mention of Faith and Bridget - you two are absolutely amazing ladies and Hayley and I can't thank you both enough for the effort you both put in. We will never forget it. To Vincent - you my friend are a true gentleman and I want to thank you for all that you did for us all weekend! You are very special. To the rest of the staff, again, thank you for the best weekend of our lives. Last but not least, Ida Birch. Words can't describe how special you made our weekend, how much stress you took from us and put on yourself to make our day as smooth as can be. The passion you have is absolutely beautiful and it shines through. We love you all and will be forever grateful. Hayley & Rebekah

Rebekah & Hayley 27th August 2016,

OMG had the best ever day! I couldn't fault it! Thank you all so so much for everything! I'm recommending The Duke to all my friends getting married! so so much love Mr & Mrs Murray

Susan and Ian Murray,

We were so impressed by the Duke from their fast communication to the final details. Both Bridget and Ida helped us plan most of the wedding from overseas (London) and were efficient, conscientious and most of all made the planning enjoyable! I would highly recommend their team to anyone. Ida, the wedding planner has loads of experience and was able to provide advice on vendors, timing, the ceremony and all the minute details. She was always well organised and nothing was too much trouble. This allowed us to have a really personalised experience which is very rare in reception venues! We called her day and night (including Sundays!) and she was always friendly and helpful. Furthermore on the day Jana ran the reception like clockwork and it was nice to know we could relax in good hands. She genuinely listened to our requests and treated the wedding like it was her own. As a designer I can be a stickler for details but the team went out of their way to accommodate the items &details I wanted to include-including the chefs! The Duke of Marlborough is the perfect location for an Auckland destination wedding. Our friends were happy to drive up and have all raved about how beautiful Russell is and stunning the Duke was. The rooms are beautiful and the ornate ballroom is divine when filled with flowers!! It took my breath away to see it all done up on our wedding day. We look forward to a continued friendship with the team (especially Ida the amazing planner) and will be returning very soon to your little piece of paradise! A HUGE THANK YOU to your team!

Lauren and Shon February 2016,

Thank you so much for making Claire and Malcolm's wedding day so memorable and special. We were so lucky with the weather and the Duke was everything we had hoped for. There were many compliments about the venue, the food and the accommodation. As the parents it was great to know we didn't have to worry about a thing at the reception and really enjoyed it ourselves. Please pass our thanks onto all the others involved on the night.

Jane and Bob Macky,

Dear Ida, Bridget, Anton, Dan and all your wonderful staff I simply had to write to pass on our heartfelt thanks. Our requests from overseas were many and varied, but mostly we wanted to create a wonderful, stress-free day, for ourselves and our guests. You all, together, made our day more than perfect. Our expectations were more than exceeded and we will never forget it. Your assistance with planning; not only the reception and accommodation at the Duke, but also the flowers, the makeup, the hair stylist, the photographer, the baby-sitter, and even the brunch the following day, made everything so uncomplicated. Our guests were thrilled with the venue, the wedding as a whole, and most prominent were the comments on the quality of the food. Each member of your staff were helpful, friendly and completely willing to assist us in all ways, without hesitation. We simply can't thank you enough for such a memorable few days at The Duke. We shall return, and probably with most of our guests.

Maarea & Tim Sollart,

Having taking my partner to Russell for the first time and having an absolutely amazing dinner at the Duke we got talking to a staff member and well one thing lead to another and we ended up booking The Duke for our wedding reception. The wedding coordinator Ida Birch was amazing her local knowledge and help in organising a wedding was irreplaceable. The staff were amazing from organising accommodation to setting up the Ball room for the reception. The whole night went with out a hitch, the food was to die, for such an amazing menu to chose from. I would definitely recommend The Duke as a wedding reception. Such professional, friendly, genuine staff and an amazing historical location in such a beautiful part of New Zealand. Friends, family and ourselves had such an amazing unforgettable night.

Candace & Mick Gray,

We loved everything about our wedding at The Duke of Marlborough. The venue has such character and class and it suited our wedding style perfectly. Even without adding any styling, it is truly a stunning venue and location. The team were a breeze to work with as we added our own little touches for our wedding reception. The service from all the Duke staff was impeccable, and the food (as always) was divine. We had so many comments from our guests after our wedding about the outstanding food and wonderful service. Big thanks to Ida, Tim and the team for running such a smooth operation. We would do it all again in a heartbeat. - Chloe & Kent xx

Chloe & Kent 24th March 2016,

The Duke of Marlborough Hotel won our hearts from day one with their exceptional food and wine. With each visit we were wowed by the extensive menu, but most impressive were the team who work at The Duke. They are warm, hospitable and fun, and experts at what they do. Having expert advice from Ida with the wedding plans was invaluable; she is a wealth of local knowledge and creative ideas, making it a fun and stress free process. The magical setting of Russell gave us endless options for our service and photos, and it was fantastic to have the Duke's beautiful veranda as a very attractive 'plan' for the ceremony in case of rain (which is rare in Russell).Our day went seamlessly and we can't recommend the Duke enough. We are thrilled to be part of the Duke family for life, and look forward to many return trips to visit our new friends in this jewel of the Bay of Islands.

Rebecca Wall & David Divett, 9th April 2016, Auckland

Firstly, I wanted to say a big thank you to Ida! From the initial contact many months ago right through to the day before, you have been nothing but attentive and fantastic. You catered to any queries Shae or I had and were always so quick to respond. Working with you in the lead up to our special day was nothing but a pleasure. I also wanted to thank Tim and his wonderful team on the day. They were on beck and call the whole evening, the glasses were always topped up, the meal service was great and the set up and clearing of tables was spot on. I've heard nothing but praises from all our guests about the service and food from your team so thank you, you did such a great job. Can you please also pass on my thanks to anyone else that helped out behind the scenes, whether it was in the kitchen, housekeeping or in the office. Everyone that played a part in our special day deserves a cheers from us! The main thing Shae and I wanted was a laid back, stress free and enjoyable evening with our beautiful family and friends and this is exactly what we had. Everyone had such a great time and that mainly falls back on you guys and the service you offer at the Duke of Marlborough so from Shamus, myself and our parents, I extend our thanks.

Shamus and Alysha MacInnes,

We could not have picked a better reception venue for our wedding. The Duke were so easy to work with and always friendly, attentive and honest. During the planning process Ida and her team were always very informative and supportive. On the day of the wedding, we did not have to worry about a thing. Every detail we asked, Selena and her staff ensured it happened; from moving the seating chart at a certain time during the reception to making sure the bows on the menu's sat a certain way. During the evening the staff were so well organised and contributed to an awesome day & night for Dan & I. It has been 3 weeks since our big day and our friends and family are still asking if we can do it all again...!! They just loved the Dukes hospitality, atmosphere and food so much. Cheers guys, cannot wait to come back and visit in the years to come!

Dan & Jenna Mackay,

To the Team at the Duke, especially Bridget, Ida and Tim, thank you for all your help leading up to and on the day of our wedding. You went above and beyond the call of duty supporting us within every aspect, being flexible and accommodating to all our needs. We would recommend the Duke of Marlborough not just for a wedding but also for a night away or just a meal. The staff are friendly, approachable and very helpful. Thanks again, Han and Richie MacPherson

Hannah & Richie MacPherson,

We booked the Duke as our wedding venue around about 1.5 years before our wedding, the only thing we were on time with getting organized and I am so glad we did! Ida and the team could not have been more helpful, with customizing their already delicious menu plan, helping to remind us and organize all those details that are easy to overlook, with moving and removing people around rooms to suit various dates/requirements (we booked the hotel for 4 nights) The staff couldn't have been more helpful and attentive.The hotel itself is beautiful and the setting was just perfect for a wedding. We loved it so much we plan to come back every year for our anniversary!

Laura & Bradley 3rd December 2016,

Thank you so much for all the organising and sorting out of things you did in preparation for our wedding reception last Friday. Also thank you to the staff at the Duke so so much for their input with setting up and having things run smoothly on the night. It was brilliant! The food was amazing and the atmosphere was perfect, it was more than we could have imagined! We have had nothing but wonderful feedback. Everyone loved the food and the character of the Duke. We really enjoyed working with Ida and would easily recommend the Duke as a potential venue for occasions. Classy with character, thank you so much for making our day memorable and more!

Helen and Kelly Ludlow,

The Duke was a perfect place to host our wedding. From the pre-planning to the day itself everything went exactly as I had hoped it would.

Julia D,

We have just had the enormous pleasure of hosting our daughter's wedding at the gorgeous Duke of Marlborough and cannot thank Bridget and her team enough. This hotel is a seriously professional operation and our day went without a hitch.

Marie-Celeste,

I cannot thank you enough for all the help you have given to Julia, Donavin and the family that has helped to make their wedding such a wonderful occasion. We have all had such an amazing time and have loved being at the Duke in such a wonderful location .

Margery Moore Mother of Bride 10th December 2016,

We cannot recommend highly enough the team at the Duke, including Ida, Janna and Bridget, for pulling together an amazing wedding weekend. In addition to this, a weekend away, or a whole family get together - no matter what the occasion, do yourself a favour and come to the Duke. Our family and friends have all voted the location, service, food, friendliness and accommodation as 5 star - a truly magical experience that makes us all want to do it every year! We will be back for anniversaries and any other large or small gathering we can dream up!

Jo Hogan & James McHardy 23rd April 2016,

Mark and I would like to thank you, Bridget, Ida, Janna and all the Duke team for being so fabulous with the organisation of our wedding. Words cannot express how indebted we are to you all. This was not an easy wedding to organise, with having the Hindu ceremony at 1pm and then having to transform the hall for the reception at 5pm. However you all made it look so easy and everything was perfect. At the start of the reception, Bruce informed me that we were only 4 mins behind the schedule prepared months ago. To achieve this is testimony to the fabulous organisational skills of the rest of the Duke team. On the day, I knew I was in good hands and didn't have to worry about a thing. I have had so many great compliments about how fantastic the food was so would you please pass on my regards to the chef. The venison was delightful and simply melted in your mouth. From what I understand the canapés were a real hit with the guests too. Also thank you for being so accommodating with the Sri Lankan food for the Hindu ceremony. I have to say a big thank you for all the hard work you have all put over the last 9 months. You were so fantastic with coming up with solutions to any problem I had and so efficient at getting things organised. You were always ready to talk and never too busy. And of course all of this hard work was always done with a smile. When we chose to have the wedding at the Duke 11 months ago, it was because we loved the fabulous meals we had there and loved the decor and feel of the place. But let me tell you, the Duke now holds a very special place in our hearts and it is because of the fabulous team of people who we have gotten to know so well and who made our wedding day so special. Mark and I will be up there to visit from time to time and we have already planned to spend our wedding anniversary at the Duke too. Thank-you so much. Shivani & Mark

Shivani & Mark 19th March 2016,