MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Swanlake on Kragga Kamma

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Beautiful swans and lush gardens – what more could a bride want to complete her wedding day?

The combination is the result of two years of hard work by popular Nelson Mandela Bay reverend, Marius Lourens, and his wife Mariana.

The Van Stadens NG Church reverend, who also happens to excel at fine art, has proven he is a man of many talents after opening his latest labour of love – Port Elizabeth’s newest wedding venue and tea garden, Swanlake Gardens along Kragga Kamma Road.

The venue boasts several swan species from around world, together with some other exotic waterfowl, on several picturesque ponds set within its lush gardens.

The couple celebrated the opening of Swanlake Gardens at the weekend by asking popular Bay estate agent Jaco Rademeyer to officially declare the venue open for business.

Speaking at the opening on Saturday, Rademeyer said the development of the venue was similar to the ballet, Swan Lake, in that Marius and Mariana had followed their dream.

“They looked at this plot of land and saw something much more than that, and after two years of hard work they have transformed it into something truly beautiful,” said Rademeyer. “I have no doubt that this is going to become a very popular venue in Port Elizabeth.”

Mariana said the couple had purchased the plot, 266 Kragga Kamma Road, at an auction in 2011.

“Although the buildings and garden were extremely neglected, the established plants, which included several palms, caught Marius’s eye,” she said. “Marius is one of the Eastern Cape’s leading fine artists and he started to work on a lifelong dream: to use his creativity and develop an exquisite garden with swans in a natural environment.”

Mariana said: “One of the special features of Swanlake Gardens is the ‘Bush Cathedral’.  Here the huge trees and different plants form a natural space where a wedding ceremony can take place – as though this venue is not in the middle of a suburb.”

Marius said the couple was already preparing for a wedding of 120 people this month.

“I’ve really taken a lot of pride in the landscaping of the gardens,” he said.

Rademeyer said venues like Swanlake Gardens added to a suburbs’ real estate value.

“It attracts visitors to the area and also sees owners invest heavily in upgrading the facilities, which is good news for the suburb as a whole,” he said.

Swanlake Gardens
NG Church reverend Marius Lourens (far right) and his wife Mariana celebrate the opening of their wedding venue and tea garden at the weekend with Bay estate agent Jaco Rademeyer.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.