Leonda By The Yarra Wedding Photos
Two river-view rooms, a courtyard of native planting and a private jetty, four kilometres from the city
Leonda by the Yarra is a riverside reception venue on Wallen Road in Hawthorn, about 4 km east of the Melbourne CBD. It sits on the bank of the Yarra with two pillar-free rooms, the Ballroom and the smaller Garden Room, both with floor-to-ceiling windows onto the water. A private courtyard planted with Australian natives and water features sits between the rooms and the river, and a private jetty lets couples or guests arrive by boat. It is run by Melbourne Event Group.
We have photographed and filmed weddings at Leonda over several years, going back to 2019. Ceremonies happen in the courtyard or indoors in the Marble Bar or the Garden Room, and a marquee can cover the whole courtyard if the forecast is poor. Because the river is right there, couples usually stay on site for portraits rather than driving into the city, which keeps the afternoon calm.
Photographing a wedding at Leonda by the Yarra
The river bend is the backdrop from every window, so the trick is timing: late afternoon puts warm light on the water and the far bank, while the rooms themselves read best once the candelabras and room lighting take over after dark. The jetty is the spot for a quiet two-minute portrait away from the crowd. The courtyard works for confetti and for the cocktail hour, and the covered marquee option means rain rarely changes the plan.