A AAA Four Diamond lakefront hotel on the south shore of Lake Mendota in the Mansion Hill neighborhood, combining the 1948 Art Moderne Langdon Building with the 2014 Wisconsin Building and a large open-air Grand Plaza at the water’s edge.
VIDART is a Madison, Wisconsin wedding photography and videography company covering downtown Madison on Lake Mendota and the rest of the Midwest with no travel fee. This page is our planning guide for a wedding at The Edgewater: the spaces and how they photograph, where the light is, the portrait spots on site and nearby, and the logistics that affect your timeline. Photo or video coverage is $1,500 for a half day and $3,000 for a full day, with no travel fee.
The spaces at The Edgewater
| Space | Use | Capacity | Setting | For the camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grand Ballroom and Terraces | both | 470 banquet (approx. 350 for weddings with dance floor and bars) | both | 6,150 sq ft room with 16-ft ceilings and 16-ft floor-to-ceiling windows facing Lake Mendota; divides into Grand Rooms A/B/C; modern chandeliers; outdoor terraces open directly off the room over the lake. |
| The Nolen Gallery | cocktail | n/a | both | Pre-function gallery just outside the Grand Ballroom with a fireplace and plush seating; its own outdoor terrace looks west toward Picnic Point and the shoreline. |
| The Grand Plaza | both | n/a (30,500 sq ft, tentable) | outdoor | Vast open-air plaza at lake level with unobstructed Lake Mendota views; supports large or small tents and can be combined with the Nolen Gallery and Grand Ballroom. |
| The Mendota Ballroom | reception | 120 (20-120 guests) | indoor | 1,660 sq ft ballroom with attached Mendota Gallery foyer; divisible into three sections; used for smaller receptions and post-wedding brunch. |
| The Sky Bar | cocktail | 40 seated / 70 reception | indoor | 1,535 sq ft room at the top of the Wisconsin Building with 9.5-ft ceilings, large windows and 360-degree views of Lake Mendota, the State Capitol dome, downtown and campus; wood floors. |
| The Red Crown Club | cocktail | n/a | indoor | Elegant event room in the historic Langdon Building overlooking Lake Mendota from above, with a grand marble bar at the entrance. |
| The Madison Room | getting-ready | n/a | indoor | Small meeting room on the Grand Ballroom level near the parking garage, designated as the wedding party staging and final-prep space; Presidential Suites, guest rooms and the Sky Bar are also offered for getting ready. |
Capacities are the venue’s published figures and change with layout; confirm current numbers with the venue.
How we photograph and film a wedding at The Edgewater
Our approach is the same at every venue: two of us (or more for photo and video together), documentary coverage of the ceremony, toasts and dance floor, directed portraits only when the light is worth it, and a timeline built backwards from sunset. What changes is the plan for the building.
- Rain plan. The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony options and the Grand Plaza can be tented; no written weather policy is published. We photograph the backup space during our walkthrough so the plan B images are as considered as plan A.
- Policies. No published photography or drone policy; a complimentary shuttle runs 6 AM-10:30 PM within a two-mile radius and to Dane County Airport for hotel guests. We confirm the venue’s photography, drone and vendor requirements in writing before the wedding and provide a certificate of insurance when one is required.
- Timing. Event space reservations run until midnight; sparklers and fireworks are prohibited under local fire code. Coverage is planned to end with the last dances rather than the venue’s closing time.
For video we run two camera angles plus a locked-off wide on the ceremony, lavalier microphones on the officiant and groom, and a direct feed from the DJ for toasts. Aerials are included where the venue and airspace allow; see our guide to drone video at Wisconsin weddings.
Portrait spots
On site
- Grand Plaza lakefront edge — Open plaza at the water with Lake Mendota behind the couple; the shore faces north so the sun tracks across the lake and sets to the west-northwest over Picnic Point; golden hour gives side light along the shoreline.
- Grand Ballroom terraces — Elevated terraces directly outside the ballroom with lake views and the Wisconsin Building’s ship-like prow as an architectural backdrop; good for group formals and couple portraits between ceremony and reception.
- Sky Bar windows — Top-floor room with city, Capitol dome and lake views through large windows; strong window light for getting-ready and couple portraits, and a skyline backdrop at blue hour.
- Langdon Building Art Moderne exterior — Curved 1948 Art Moderne facade with long horizontal lines and vintage nautical detailing on Wisconsin Avenue; works well for editorial-style portraits.
- Nolen Gallery fireplace and terrace — Indoor fireplace lounge for intimate seated portraits, with a terrace facing west toward Picnic Point for sunset frames.
Within a short drive
- Wisconsin State Capitol (Madison, WI) — Five blocks up Wisconsin Avenue; granite steps, columns and the dome as a backdrop; the venue’s own wedding page features Capitol portraits.
- James Madison Park (Madison, WI) — Lakeshore park immediately east of the hotel along Lake Mendota with open lawn, shoreline and the Gates of Heaven synagogue building.
- Memorial Union Terrace (Madison, WI) — UW-Madison’s lakefront terrace about 0.7 mi west with the iconic sunburst chairs, piers and sunset views over Lake Mendota.
- Period Garden Park (Madison, WI) — Small formal garden with a fountain and brick paths in the Mansion Hill historic district, one block from the hotel.
Thirty to forty-five minutes of portrait time across the day is enough; we split it between a longer session before or after the ceremony and ten minutes at golden hour.
Logistics and planning notes
- Parking: Self-parking ramp and valet are available on site with street parking subject to availability; current rates are posted on the hotel’s Car Service and Parking page.
- Vendor policy: Couples are not required to use specific vendors; the hotel provides a list of vendors it works with closely, and outside food and beverage is not allowed except a wedding cake or dessert from a licensed bakery.
- Noise/curfew: Event space reservations run until midnight; sparklers and fireworks are prohibited under local fire code.
- Rain plan: The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony options and the Grand Plaza can be tented; no written weather policy is published.
- Lodging: 202 guest rooms on site, most with lake views, including ADA-accessible rooms and Presidential Suites; room blocks can be booked even without hosting the wedding there.
- Load-in: Spaces are typically reserved early in the day so vendors can set up; the Madison Room and Grand Ballroom sit on the same level as the parking garage.
- Permit or photo policy: No published photography or drone policy; a complimentary shuttle runs 6 AM-10:30 PM within a two-mile radius and to Dane County Airport for hotel guests.
- Accessibility: The Knot listing marks the venue as handicap accessible and the hotel lists ADA-accessible guest rooms.
The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, WI. Venue website.
About the venue. The Edgewater opened in 1948 with an Art Moderne tower (now the Langdon Building) designed by Chicago architect Lawrence Monberg. Elvis Presley rented two floors in 1977, and other notable guests have included Elton John, Bob Hope, Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and the Dalai Lama. The hotel reopened in September 2014 after a renovation and expansion designed by David Manfredi of Elkus Manfredi, adding the 202-room Wisconsin Building with a ship-like prow facing Lake Mendota. The Grand Plaza was created by removing the top level of the 1972 Lakeside Addition and now hosts concerts, ice skating and events. The Grand Ballroom is 6,150 sq ft with 16-ft windows and holds approximately 350 wedding guests once dance floor and bars are accounted for.
Pricing
Same rates for photography and videography; book one or add the second for the same price. No travel fee anywhere in our service area.
| 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 drive with the high-resolution JPGs or finished films, and a print release with full usage rights (we do not retain copyright over your photos or films). Videography includes an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts. Albums, prints and RAW archive drives are add-ons on the pricing page. A $300 deposit holds the date.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to be on The Edgewater’s preferred vendor list?
Most venues, including resorts and hotels, allow outside photographers and videographers; some require a certificate of insurance or a short vendor form. We provide event liability coverage and a certificate of insurance whenever a venue requires it, and handle any vendor paperwork before the day.
How much does wedding photography at The Edgewater cost?
Photography or videography is $1,500 for a half day (up to 5 hours) or $3,000 for a full day (up to 10 hours); both together are $3,000 and $6,000. There is no travel fee.
How many hours of coverage do we need at The Edgewater?
A full day (10 hours) covers getting ready through the dances. A half day (5 hours) works for a ceremony and reception in one place when coverage starts shortly before the ceremony. See our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need.
Can you fly a drone at The Edgewater?
Only where the venue permits it and the airspace allows; we check both before the wedding and include aerials at no extra charge when they are possible.
When will we get our photos and films?
Edited photos are delivered in an online gallery in two to six weeks; wedding films in four to twelve weeks depending on season.
Do you photograph engagement sessions near The Edgewater?
Yes. An engagement session can be added to any wedding photography or videography package; the portrait spots listed above work well for it.
Planning a wedding at The Edgewater?
Send us the date and we will confirm availability within a day, walk through the timeline for The Edgewater with you, and hold the date with a $300 deposit.
Nearby and related
More on weddings in the area: our Madison wedding photographer and Madison wedding videographer pages, the wedding-day timeline guide, the best months to marry in Wisconsin and what wedding photography costs in Wisconsin.
Other venue guides: Monona Terrace, Garver Feed Mill, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, The American Club, The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee Art Museum, Grand Geneva Resort, The Abbey Resort, Kalahari Resort.