The Courtyard at Gallery 21 is the ideal place to hold an intimate wedding for up to 100 seated guests. Its pale colour scheme, live palm trees and walls clad in verdant greenery give the feeling of a lush outdoor space, while a domed glass roof, which can be rolled back allowing fresh air and sunshine to flood in, adds to the atmosphere.
Cast iron furniture is decked out with plump cushions at the tables and rattan lounge-style booths make for a comfortable experience, while intricate chandeliers throw a romantic light and bring an air of opulence. A pretty balcony overlooks the main dining room, which is ideal for a break from the action below or for your wedding photographer to snap all the action. A family room to the side can offer quiet space for young guests if needed.
The venue can also offer live music and a DJ and a range of decorative set-ups.
Being part of a complex, which includes a Moroccan lounge, a swish café and a bakery, allows The Courtyard to augment its own excellent Mediterranean fare and offer an extensive wedding food menu. This can be adapted, under the watchful eye of head chef Owen Stewart, to suit virtually any taste and budget from a surprisingly reasonable sit-down, fine-dining dinner reception to finger foods and everything in between.
The bakery produces a range of speciality breads but is also making a name for creating stunning wedding cakes. A spokeswoman says: “At our first wedding, the client was planning on taking their cake from one of the well-known patisseries, but I told her to try ours and she was amazed – there is a full pastry kitchen and they can create pretty much anything a client wants.”
A specific advantage for Arabic brides at Gallery 21 is the ability for a special set-up which allows The Courtyard to be closed off, creating total privacy in which those who cover can remove their abayas and relax in comfort. An all-female staff will be on hand, including a female DJ; the bar can be converted to serve mocktails and juices and valet parking means they can arrive and leave securely.
For mixed weddings, guests can enjoy an extensive cocktail and grape menu or take a break from the festivities and perhaps pay a visit to one of the other outlets within the complex, such as the cigar and shisha lounge or the chic rooftop bar which offers great views across Adliya and laid-back tunes.
With its friendly staff, chilled but exclusive ambience and great value for money, Gallery 21 is the latest entrant as a wedding venue in Bahrain and it is already proving a fast favourite.
Call 17 711-600.
