Wedding Venue in Marrakech
2 Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, Marrakech
paymentsPrice / Night
4 500 €–8 000 €
groupGuest Capacity
Up to 60
hotelSleep Capacity
28 rooms
eventMin. Stay
2 nights
our honest assessment
Flexible. Riad El Fenn offers in-house catering but also allows external caterers. We recommend tasting both options.
Last verified: Jan 2026
Based on a 2-night minimum stay
Low estimate
9 000 €
High estimate
16 000 €
Looking for a planner experienced with Riad El Fenn?
our editorial review
El Fenn occupies a restored 1830s Caïd's palace in the Marrakech medina. Vanessa Branson and Howell James bought the crumbling site in 2002, spent two years rebuilding it, and opened in 2004 with six rooms. Today it has 41 individually designed rooms and suites, no two alike. Some have hot pink walls, others have teal. Floors range from hand-stitched camel leather to traditional tadelakt. The furniture mixes mid-century European pieces with Moroccan carved cedar and plasterwork. "El Fenn" translates to "art" in Arabic, and the property lives up to the name. Vanessa Branson's private art collection fills the walls, and she founded the Marrakech Biennale in 2005, which ran for six editions. The property has three swimming pools, a 1,300 square meter rooftop terrace with views of the Koutoubia mosque and Atlas Mountains, two cocktail bars, two restaurants, a spa, and a shop. In November 2025, El Fenn joined Akan, a collection of boutique hotels by the Benabbes-Taarji family, whose roots in Marrakech span five generations. The energy is artistic, relaxed, and confident. Not stuffy, not trying too hard.
El Fenn requires exclusive hire of the entire property for weddings. This gives you 41 rooms, three courtyards, the rooftop terrace, the pools, and all communal spaces. Ceremonies can be held in the main courtyard surrounded by orange trees and the art collection, on the rooftop with mountain views, or in a private salon. Dinner receptions work well in the largest courtyard, which seats up to 60 guests at long tables. The rooftop can accommodate cocktail hour for the same number with standing room and lounge seating. For guest counts exceeding 41 rooms, the events team works with handpicked nearby riads to provide overflow accommodation. In-house catering is available and the kitchen team is experienced with wedding-scale events. External caterers are also permitted, giving couples flexibility in menu style. Between the multiple courtyards, the rooftop, and the indoor spaces, the venue allows the wedding to flow through different settings throughout the evening, from ceremony to cocktails to dinner to late-night dancing.
Exclusive hire of El Fenn for a wedding runs between 4,500 and 8,000 euros per night, depending on the season. A typical 3-night wedding buyout costs between 13,500 and 24,000 euros for the property rental alone. A 5% service charge applies to the final bill including all catering. In-house catering for a seated dinner ranges from 80 to 150 euros per person depending on menu choices. Bar packages, cocktail hours, and late-night food stations are priced separately. Decoration costs vary widely. The property's existing aesthetic means less decor is needed than at a blank-canvas venue, flowers, candles, and table styling are usually sufficient. For a full wedding weekend with 40 guests including accommodation, catering for welcome dinner, ceremony day, and farewell brunch, expect a total budget of 40,000 to 70,000 euros. This does not include entertainment, photography, or floral design, which are typically sourced from external vendors. The events team, led by a specialist named Kamar, helps coordinate logistics and vendor recommendations.
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favoriteStart Planning — FreeEl Fenn is one of the best venues in Marrakech for couples who value art, design, and a sense of place. The 41 rooms mean you can actually accommodate a meaningful number of guests under one roof, unlike most riads that cap at 10 or 15. The multiple courtyards and the rooftop create a natural flow for multi-day celebrations. The art collection gives the space a cultural depth that most wedding venues lack. Staff have hosted weddings for years and know the rhythm well. The medina location means guests can explore souks, restaurants, and the city on foot between events. The limitations are worth noting. At 60 guests maximum for seated dinner, this is not a large-scale venue. Couples with guest lists above 50 may find the spaces tight, especially if they want a dance floor. The medina access means no vehicle access to the door, guests arrive on foot through narrow streets, which can be confusing for first-time visitors. Luggage porters are provided. Sound restrictions may apply depending on the time of night and the neighborhood. The courtyard acoustics amplify music, which is great for atmosphere but can lead to noise complaints. Air conditioning varies by room, and some older rooms can be warm in summer. Finally, with the 2025 ownership transition to Akan, couples should confirm that the events program and team remain consistent at the time of booking.
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