Functions, Events & Parties!
With many fond family memories of hosting fabulous parties & dinners for friends and family as she grew up now Sarah and her team love to bring this same care and attention to your function or event.
Your Big Day
Looking for the perfect venue for your ceremony or reception? Look no further than Alongside. Firstly congratulations on your engagement, welcome to the incredible journey that is married life. But first the fun bit, we need to plan you a party to celebrate your love for each other with all of your family and friends. Organising the perfect day should be exciting and we want to take the stress out of it by providing a complete process for you. We are lucky to be the only over the water venue in the Bay of Islands with stunning views out over the water to Russell and Waitangi.
We offer a unique location, quality food and beverage, affordable wedding packages and a personal touch along the way to make your big day special. We have a dedicated Events Manager (Sarah) who will work with you on all aspects of organising your day. With the options of small, intimate weddings or full use of the entire venue, we can be flexible to suit your requirements. We can cater for up to 600 guests in a cocktail style wedding or 200 for a sit- down reception. Our team will host you and your guests with top class service and extensive knowledge of our food and beverage. We look forward to hearing from you and being a part of your special day.
We work on a minimum spend basis with no hire fee. Choose from our selection of areas to find the one that suits your big day the most and match it with a great selection of food and drinks to make it special. Whether you are looking for a formal sit down dinner or a relaxed cocktail style wedding, we have something for you. Our areas can be adapted for your needs on request. Please contact our events manager to discuss your options further.
Functions Area
Menu Options
Frequently Asked Questions
You are bound to have a few questions and we would love to chat but we thought we would throw together some of the regular queries we get to help you out in advance.
What does the minimum spend include?
The minimum spend basically covers the cost of us not being open to the public. No money is lost in hire fees, you get the value of the entire spend with the food & beverage you consume. Our staff costs are also included. We include an hour setup and an hour breakdown in this but if your setup is more elaborate and will take extra time there is an extra cost for this. The ceremony fee is not included in the minimum spend. Your additional spends will be external hire of linen, decor, additional furniture, entertainment etc 
Do you cater for dietary requirements?
Most certainly. Gluten free options are factored in to our menus and we can happily add extra vegetarian and diary free options.
Can we have a band or DJ or play our own music?
Yes you are more than welcome to have entertainment on the day and we are more than happy to help with suggestions. With the outdoor nature of Alongside we do need to keep speaker levels under control in the evening and in line with our required decibel readings. You can play your own music through our speakers but we recommend the hire of a professional sound system for speeches and playlists.
What time can I use the venue from/ to?
The minimum spend requirements are based on 1/2 day use, usually from 4pm. We are flexible with these timings but they may require extra spend. We are licensed to 1am in the evening.
When can we set up/ drop off?
Set-up time has been factored in to the minimum spend requirement. We do advise using a party hire company for elaborate decoration however usually the staff will do this under the direction of your guidelines. A prewedding table setting mock-up is suggested for this. Cake can be dropped off the night before along with decorations (with the exception of large items which must only arrive on the day). We are happy to store decorations overnight but cannot keep gifts and accept no responsibility for such items. We are on site from 7am - late
Do you have wheelchair access?
Both venues are wheelchair friendly
Where can we park?
Parking in Paihia is limited so we recommend leaving cars at your accommodation and using shuttles or taxi services. If you must drive, please use the main carpark on Williams Road. There is an area to the front of the maritime building for bridal party drop off
Here to Help
We believe in a personal touch to helping you make plans for your special day. We are happy to help with finding the perfect florist, cake maker, accommodation, entertainment, photographer and much more. Not from the area? No problem. The Bay of Islands has a lot to offer with many talented industry professionals taking the stress out of organising out of town. We have a list of recommended professionals that we can share with you. We will create a Wedding Day portfolio personalised to you that we can both work on with ideas, floor plans, timings and more
Recovery Breakfast 
Looking for the perfect place to join your guests for breakfast the day after your wedding? We can help with that! Opt for a breakfast down at 35 South and you will have exclusive use of the restaurant before 11.30am. Or choose to order from our standard menu and we can arrange an area for you at Alongside. Talk to us for more information.
Mid-Winter Specials
Make the most out of the off-peak season and enjoy a romantic Winter wedding with us. Receive a $100 voucher when you book in the months of May to September. Perfect to use on a prewedding dinner or post wedding breakfast. Cannot be used in conjunction with our Mid-Week specials
Mid-Week Specials
Book a mid-week wedding with us and receive complimentary evening nibbles to enjoy on arrival or in the evening. Offer is valid year round except for Public Holidays and peak wedding season of mid-December to Waitangi week. (please note that canapes are not available for this promotion) Cannot be used in conjunction with our Mid-Winter special