Warratina Lavender Farm Wedding Photos
Purple rows on Quayle Road in the Yarra Valley foothills, in flower from mid September through summer
Warratina Lavender Farm is a family-run lavender farm on Quayle Road at Wandin Yallock, in the Yarra Valley at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, about an hour east of Melbourne. The property is 10 acres, with lavender on around five of them and the densest planting near the tea room, shop and car park. The season runs from mid September into summer; harvest and drying follow in January and February, and the farm closes to visitors over autumn and winter.
The farm hires out as a venue year-round, but for Veri it has mostly been a portrait stop. Calyn and Sham’s Melbourne pre-wedding session moved between Mount Dandenong, the lavender rows here, Webb Bridge at Docklands, the South Wharf promenade and the Old Treasury Building, and the 21 frames from Warratina are the soft, colour-heavy part of that set: two people in a corridor of purple with green hills behind.
How to prepare for your wedding photos (without overthinking it)
Seven small things that make a real difference on the day — learned across hundreds of weddings. None of them involve practising poses.
In motion, unposed · FR 15A1. Be yourselves — that's where the magic is
You don't need to perform or worry about what you look like. The best photos come from real moments: a glance, a laugh, a shared breath. Let go a little — we'll guide when needed, and the best unfolds naturally.
2. Build buffer time into your timeline
A little breathing room between getting ready, the ceremony and couple portraits makes all the difference. It gives us space for spontaneous shots — and gives you time to soak it all in.
3. Choose locations that feel like you
A quiet lane, an open field, a textured wall — we love meaningful or interesting spots. Trust us to find great light, but if you've got a place you love, let's work it in.
4. Consider an unplugged ceremony
Phones can distract from the emotion (and your photos). Asking guests to be fully present makes for cleaner frames and a more heartfelt atmosphere.
5. Get ready in calm, light-filled spaces
Clutter-free rooms with natural light are a photographer's dream, and calm energy in the morning sets the tone for the day. Keep the space tidy — or assign a friend to do a quick sweep before we arrive.
6. Keep a drink and snacks nearby
Especially during portraits — hydration and a little sugar go a long way in keeping energy and moods high.
7. Trust the process
We've worked at hundreds of weddings and we're here to make you look and feel amazing. Trust us with the light, the angles, the pace — we've got you.
Photographing a wedding at Warratina Lavender Farm
Timing is everything with lavender: the rows are at their fullest from late November into December, and by late January the harvest is under way, so check the farm’s own updates before locking a date. Morning light is cleaner here; by mid afternoon the western sun flattens the colour. We shoot low along the rows so the purple stacks up, then step back to the tea room garden for wider frames with the hills. The gallery below is Calyn and Sham’s pre-wedding session.