Wedding photography and videography in Dodgeville, Platteville and the Driftless Area, Wisconsin, from VIDART — a Madison, Wisconsin studio that works across the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin with no travel fee anywhere in our service area. Half-day and full-day rates, digital delivery included, no hourly surprises.
Local knowledge. The 18 Driftless Area venues listed below are places we know well or have scouted; we plan your timeline around their light, not a generic one.
Simple pricing. $1,500 for a half day (up to 5 hours) or $3,000 for a full day (up to 10 hours), delivered as edited high-resolution JPGs in an online gallery and on a USB flash drive, with a print release. Albums, prints and archive drives are optional add-ons.
Photo and video from one team. Add videography at the same rate: one crew, one timeline, one contract.
Driftless Area wedding venues we photograph
These are the Driftless Area venues couples ask us about most. The notes are the things that matter when we plan a wedding day there — where the light is, whether the ceremony is indoors or out, what the room looks like once the dancing starts.
On the water
- Wisconsin Riverside Resort (Spring Green, up to 300 guests) — Riverside resort directly on the Wisconsin River with sandbars; indoor and outdoor spaces; on-site lodging and camping.
Downtown, hotels, historic and industrial spaces
- The Walker House (Mineral Point, up to 400 guests) — 1836 stone inn with pub; indoor dining/banquet rooms plus outdoor gardens and patios; historic limestone walls photograph well.
- Orchard Lawn (Mineral Point Historical Society) (Mineral Point, up to 400 guests) — 1868 Italianate mansion on lawn with gardens and gazebo; classic portrait backdrop, small interior rooms.
- The House on the Rock Resort (Spring Green, up to 300 guests) — Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired resort on Wisconsin River bluffs; 12,235 sq ft of event space, Riverview room seats 250 banquet; 80 guest rooms; golf course backdrops.
- Folklore Village Farm (Dodgeville, up to 100 guests) — 94-acre folk-arts farm with 1893 Plum Grove church and dance hall; rural, understated, good for small ceremonies.
- Hi Point Steak House (Ridgeway, up to 200 guests) — Rustic steakhouse with attached ballroom and in-house catering; indoor ballroom is dim, outdoor option available.
- Banfield’s Swiss Haus (Cuba City, up to 600 guests) — Large banquet and catering hall; one of the biggest indoor capacities in Grant County; traditional hall lighting.
- Blanchard Hall (Blanchardville, up to 200 guests) — Historic hall in Lafayette County village; classic small-town reception space.
- Waterfront Hotel (Prairie du Chien, up to 400 guests) — Hotel rooftop terrace overlooking the Mississippi River; sunset over Iowa bluffs; wind exposure.
Barns, gardens, country clubs and wineries
- Rustic Country Gatherings (Mineral Point, up to 300 guests) — Barn venue in rolling Driftless hills, reopened under new ownership; indoor and outdoor ceremony options; from $3,500 per listing.
- Sugarland (Arena, up to 250 guests) — Vintage gambrel barn with cathedral ceiling, 1850s farmhouse, oak-grove ceremony clearing and brick patio; on-site lodging for getting-ready; creek and meadow views.
- Botham Vineyards & Winery (Barneveld, up to 100 guests) — Vineyard rows and rolling-hill views for outdoor ceremonies; indoor lounge; small intimate scale.
- Deer Valley Lodge (Barneveld, up to 400 guests) — 5,000 sq ft banquet hall overlooking 27-hole golf course; patio for outdoor ceremonies; get-ready rooms; large flat indoor space.
- Bridle Barn and Gardens (Mount Horeb, up to 160 guests) — Restored 1870s horse barn with surrounding gardens; often paired with tented receptions; wood interiors need supplemental light.
- Blu Savanna Oaks (Blue Mounds, up to 100 guests) — Outdoor-only venue under mature oak savanna near Blue Mound State Park; dappled light, weather-dependent.
- The BARn (Platteville, up to 400 guests) — Barn-style ceremony and reception venue with outdoor amenities and get-ready rooms; capacity varies by listing (100-400).
- Prairie du Chien Country Club (Prairie du Chien, up to 350 guests) — Golf-course club with indoor and outdoor ceremony options near the Mississippi; open fairway backdrops.
- Gatherings on the Ridge (Eastman, up to 280 guests) — Barn venue on a Crawford County ridgetop between Prairie du Chien and Boscobel; open sky and farmland views.
If your venue is not listed, it is almost certainly somewhere we can scout before your date — ask when you check availability.
Getting married in the Driftless Area: licenses and civil ceremonies
Marriage licenses for Driftless Area weddings come from the county, not the city. In Iowa County the office is the Iowa County Clerk at 222 N. Iowa St., Dodgeville, WI 53533. The license fee is $100 (cash or check; card adds processing fee). Waiting period: 3 days. Civil ceremonies in Iowa County: clerk page does not list judge or court commissioner ceremonies; both applicants attend a scheduled appointment Mon-Thu 9:30-3:30. Rules and fees change, so confirm on the official page before you book a date. If you are planning a courthouse or civil ceremony, our half-day coverage ($1,500) covers the ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby.
| County | License fee | Waiting period | Courthouse / civil ceremony | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa County Iowa County Clerk | $100 (cash or check; card adds processing fee) | 3 days | n/a – clerk page does not list judge or court commissioner ceremonies; both applicants attend a scheduled appointment Mon-Thu 9:30-3:30 | official page |
| Grant County Grant County Clerk | $75 (waiver of wait +$25) | 3 days unless waived | n/a – instructions list court commissioners and judges as eligible officiants but do not describe county ceremonies; application by appointment only, 608-723-2675 | official page |
| Lafayette County Lafayette County Clerk | $75 (waiver +$25) | 3 days unless waived | n/a – page does not describe courthouse ceremonies; appointments recommended, office 8:00-4:30 M-F | official page |
| Richland County Richland County Clerk | $75 (waiver +$15) | 3 days unless waived | yes – Circuit Court Judge performs ceremonies by appointment, call 608-647-2626; license appointments required at 608-647-2197 | official page |
| Crawford County Crawford County Clerk | $75 (cash or check; waiver +$10) | 3 full days unless waived | n/a – page states a court commissioner may officiate but gives no scheduling process; walk-in applications M-F 8:00-4:00 | official page |
| Sauk County Sauk County Clerk | $80 per the county application sheet (confirm current fee with the clerk; cash or check; waiver +$10) | 3 days (confirm with the clerk; waivable) | yes – judges marry couples in their courtroom M-F 8:00-4:15 at no fee; court commissioners will travel to your venue for a fee; call 608-355-3286 | official page |
Where Driftless Area couples take their portraits
Portrait and engagement-session locations we recommend in the Driftless Area. Where a park or garden requires a photography permit, we arrange it as part of the day.
- Governor Dodge State Park (Dodgeville) — Stephens Falls, Cox Hollow and Twin Valley lakes, sandstone bluffs and prairie; golden hour on the lake beaches. Permit: WI DNR vehicle admission sticker required; paid photographers need a Commercial Use Permit (Form 2200-128) filed 2 weeks ahead.
- Blue Mound State Park (Blue Mounds) — West Blue Mound (1,719 ft) is the highest point in southern Wisconsin; two observation towers with sweeping views; oak woods for shade. Permit: WI DNR vehicle admission sticker required; Commercial Use Permit for paid photographers.
- Cave of the Mounds grounds (Blue Mounds) — Landscaped prairie gardens and rock outcrops above the cave; neutral midday light under trees. Permit: Private attraction; check with site for photo access and fees.
- Pendarvis Historic Site and High Street (Mineral Point) — 1840s Cornish limestone cottages, stone walls and Shake Rag Alley; downtown High Street galleries and rock-faced storefronts. Permit: Pendarvis is a Wisconsin Historical Society site; check on-site photo policy.
- Tower Hill State Park (Spring Green) — Shot tower on a bluff above the Wisconsin River; river valley views toward Taliesin; late-afternoon side light. Permit: WI DNR vehicle admission sticker required; Commercial Use Permit for paid photographers.
- Wisconsin River sandbars (Spring Green) (Spring Green) — Wide sandbars and sunset over the river; wading and reflections; best July-September. Permit: Public river access; low-water sandbars late summer; check DNR river conditions.
- Wyalusing State Park (Bagley – near Prairie du Chien) — 500-ft bluffs at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers; Point Lookout; sunset faces west over Iowa. Permit: WI DNR vehicle admission sticker required; Commercial Use Permit for paid photographers.
- St. Feriole Island and Villa Louis grounds (Prairie du Chien) — Mississippi riverfront lawn, Victorian mansion, railroad depot; flat open light at sunset. Permit: City island park; Villa Louis grounds are a Wisconsin Historical Society site, check policy.
- Military Ridge State Trail (Dodgeville to Mount Horeb – Ridgeway) — Rail-trail along the ridgetop with prairie, farm fields and trestles; leading-line compositions. Permit: State trail pass for bikers 16+; walkers free; Commercial Use Permit rules apply on DNR land.
Good to know. Platteville, the largest city in the region, has about 11,499 residents (2024 ACS 5-year estimate). Dodgeville (about 5,042), Mineral Point (about 2,559) and Spring Green (about 1,397) are small towns, per 2024 ACS 5-year estimates. Mount Horeb (about 7,736), Richland Center (about 5,109), Prairie du Chien (about 5,491), Lancaster (about 3,976) and Darlington (about 2,409) round out the region’s towns (2024 ACS 5-year).
Wedding videography in the Driftless Area
Our video coverage is filmed by a second shooter working alongside the photographer, so neither one is in the other’s frame. You receive an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts, with clean audio from wireless lavaliers and the DJ board.
Looking for film only? See wedding videography or the Madison wedding videographer page, or watch recent work in the video portfolio.
Pricing
Same rates for photography and videography. Book one, or add the second for the same price.
| Coverage | Photography | Videography | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half day — up to 5 hours | $1,500 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Full day — up to 10 hours | $3,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
Every booking includes professional editing, an online gallery, a USB flash drive with the edited high-resolution JPGs (or the finished films), and a print release so you can print anywhere. Videography includes an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts.
Albums, parent albums, prints, canvases, archive drives with the RAW files and discs are available as add-ons — see the pricing page for the full list. A $300 non-refundable deposit holds your date; the balance is due on the day. Destination weddings are the full-day rate plus travel.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wedding photographer cost in the Driftless Area?
Wedding photography in the Driftless Area typically runs from about $1,500 to $4,500 for a full day. VIDART charges $1,500 for a half day or $3,000 for a full day, and videography is available at the same rates on its own or as an add-on.
Do you charge travel fees to the Driftless Area?
No. The Driftless Area is inside our service area, which covers Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri and Michigan with no travel fees. Destination weddings outside the Midwest are the full-day rate plus travel.
Can you photograph a courthouse or elopement wedding in the Driftless Area?
Yes. Our $1,500 half day covers a civil ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby. Civil ceremonies in Iowa County: clerk page does not list judge or court commissioner ceremonies; both applicants attend a scheduled appointment Mon-Thu 9:30-3:30. Check the county page for current rules.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular Saturdays from May through October in the Driftless Area book 9-12 months ahead. Off-season and weekday dates are often available on shorter notice.
How long until we get our photos and video?
Finished files take 2-12 weeks depending on the season and our editing backlog: edited photos usually arrive in 2-6 weeks and finished films in 4-12 weeks. If you need something right away, we can deliver the unedited JPGs – or raw footage on request – within 72 hours of the wedding.
Do we need a permit for photos at Governor Dodge State Park?
WI DNR vehicle admission sticker required; paid photographers need a Commercial Use Permit (Form 2200-128) filed 2 weeks ahead. We arrange permits as part of the day wherever they are required.
Do we get the raw files?
You receive every edited high-resolution JPG in your gallery and on a USB drive with a print release. An archive hard drive with all the RAW files is available as a $250 add-on.
Beyond the Driftless Area
We photograph weddings across the Midwest with no travel fee inside our service area: Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, Rockford, Dubuque, Davenport and the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Appleton and Oshkosh, Iowa City, La Crosse, Minneapolis and St. Paul, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Des Moines and Omaha, Wausau. We also produce corporate video and film production.
Check your date
Peak Saturdays in the Driftless Area book 9–12 months out. Send your date and venue and we will confirm availability within a day.