Glen Erin at Lancefield

Leonda by the Yarra is one of my favourite Melbourne wedding venues to photograph. The riverside setting, beautiful natural light, and elegant interiors make it perfect for timeless photos in any weather. The team is always organised and welcoming, which makes the day run effortlessly for couples and vendors alike. Every wedding here feels classic, relaxed, and full of genuine moments — an absolute gem for photography.

Could not be happier with Leonda. From the moment we viewed the venue we fell in love. The team go above and beyond to help you create the wedding of your dreams. The process was seamless, the staff were exceptional and the food was fantastic. Special shout out to Mel, Maria and Eoife for all their help during the process x

Absolutely Horrifying Experience - Never Again!I can’t believe I actually spent money on my friend's wedding at Leonda by the Yarra in Hawthorn. Where do I even begin? This place was a nightmare from the moment we walked in. First off, the venue looked like something out of a horror show — dingy, outdated, and frankly, a little unsettling. The decor was so tacky I thought I’d stumbled into a theme park designed in the 90s. The whole place looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years.Now, the food… Oh, the food. If you can even call it that. I’ve had better meals at a gas station. Dry, flavorless, and not even remotely close to what we were promised. The entrée tasted like it had been reheated a thousand times. The main course was like chewing through cardboard. Honestly, I wouldn't feed this to my dog, let alone serve it at a wedding.As for the staff, it’s a wonder they even manage to stay employed. Rude doesn’t even begin to cover it. They were disinterested, unprofessional, and couldn’t care less about the guests. They looked like they were forced to be there, and their attitude reflected it. If I had to describe the manager, I’d say "completely unhygienic" is a mild understatement. The man was greasy, had unkempt hair, and I’m pretty sure he hadn’t seen a clean shirt in weeks. The worst part? I overheard him gossiping about the bride and groom behind their backs like a middle-schooler. Disgusting behavior for someone in charge of such an event.My friend was absolutely devastated by the whole experience, and I am beyond disappointed in Leonda by the Yarra. This place ruined what should have been a special day. The service was beyond awful, the food was revolting, and the management was a complete joke. Never, ever again. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs========================== Reply to Response 1/11/2025Thank you for your response. However, I need to clarify a few points, as simply saying “sorry” does not resolve the issues raised. I am aware that your standard replies often follow the same template, and while it may be intended to reassure, it does not address the specific concerns that occurred at this particular event.You mentioned that my feedback does not reflect the experience typically provided at your venue, yet my observations align with several other recent reviews that also describe concerns regarding service quality, food standards, and venue presentation. So while you may state that this is not reflective of your usual operations, there appears to be a recurring pattern raised by different guests.To clarify further, the concerns I am raising are not about décor preferences they relate to visible hygiene and cleanliness issues that should have been addressed prior to the event. This includes areas of the venue that were not properly cleaned and presentation standards that were not consistent with what one would expect from a professional wedding venue.Additionally, while your response states that your staff are held to the highest standard, what I personally observed did not reflect this. Several staff members did not appear to be adequately trained, and the level of professionalism was noticeably lacking. If the venue wishes to assert that its staff operate at a high standard, it would be appropriate to explain how staff are trained, what qualifications they hold, and what supervisory measures are in place to maintain consistency.My intention here is not to disparage your venue, but to ensure that the experience we had is acknowledged properly and addressed. Given the circumstances, and the impact this had on my friend’s wedding day, I will expect a response to how you are going to address this on this platform So other guests can see the transparencyAt that point, I would expect a genuine resolution to be discussed, which may reasonably include financial compensation, as the experience provided did not align with the standard that was represented and paid for. I will await your response within 14 days of this