Full-service resort inside the 6,800-acre Galena Territory, eight miles east of downtown Galena, set on a wooded ridge above the 225-acre Lake Galena with 63 holes of golf, an 80-room lodge, more than 200 rental homes and villas, the Stonedrift Spa and the Thunder Bay Falls waterfall on the grounds.
VIDART is a Madison, Wisconsin wedding photography and videography company covering Galena and the rest of the Midwest with no travel fee. This page is our planning guide for a wedding at Eagle Ridge Resort: 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 Eagle Ridge Resort
| Space | Use | Capacity | Setting | For the camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Point Patio | both | n/a | outdoor | Patio deck extending over the hillside with open views down to Lake Galena and tall trees on either side; the resort’s primary outdoor ceremony and cocktail-hour site, couples face or back the water depending on setup. |
| Eagle Ballroom | both | 300 | indoor | Ballroom perched above the lake with 25-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden beams and chandeliers, opening onto a wraparound deck with lake views; seats up to 300 (WeddingWire lists 250) and is used for sunset ceremonies in front of the glass. |
| Galena Ballroom | both | n/a | indoor | Smaller ballroom with sweeping views of the lake and countryside and a stone patio running the length of the room; the venue recommends it for smaller weddings. |
| Eagle Ballroom wraparound deck | cocktail | n/a | outdoor | Elevated deck around the ballroom used for cocktail hour and for guests stepping out for sunset frames over Lake Galena. |
| Highlands and Woodlands restaurants | both | n/a | indoor | On-site restaurants that reviewers used for rehearsal dinners and welcome events; the resort will also cater a rehearsal dinner inside a rented resort home. |
| Resort homes and villas | getting-ready | n/a | indoor | One- to six-bedroom homes and villas with fireplaces, decks and recreation rooms that wedding parties rent as getting-ready and group lodging; Stonedrift Spa provides on-site bridal hair and makeup. |
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 Eagle Ridge Resort
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.
- Light. Compass orientation of the Point Patio is not published, but reviewers report sunset ceremonies in front of the Eagle Ballroom windows and sunset photos from its deck, so plan golden hour on the lake side of the ballroom. We schedule couple portraits for the last hour before sunset and tell you in advance where we will take you.
- Rain plan. Point Patio ceremonies move into the Eagle or Galena Ballroom, which each have their own deck or patio for covered outdoor use; HCTG lists ceremony options as indoor or outdoor at the couple’s choice. 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; the property is private resort land so confirm drone use and golf-course cart access for portraits with the wedding coordinators at 800-998-6338. 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. Amplified music is allowed indoors and outdoors with unspecified restrictions; no published curfew. 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
- The Point over Lake Galena — Hillside deck above the lake with trees framing the water; shoot the couple against the lake at golden hour and return at blue hour for lake and sky gradients from the same spot.
- Thunder Bay Falls — Waterfall on the resort grounds that reviewers single out as a photo stop; shaded gorge light suits midday couple portraits, a short drive from the Inn.
- Eagle Ballroom glass wall and deck — Twenty-five-foot windows and wooden beams for interior frames with the lake behind, and the wraparound deck for bridal party lines with open sky.
- Golf course fairways and ridgelines — Rolling fairways of the North, South, East and General courses with long sightlines across the driftless hills; coordinate cart access with the coordinator and expect strong late-day side light on west-facing holes.
- Lake Galena marina and shoreline — Resort marina with docks and boats for relaxed waterline portraits and sunrise frames.
Within a short drive
- Downtown Galena Main Street (Galena) — About 15 minutes west; 19th-century brick Main Street, the Galena River levee and Grant Park for historic streetscape portraits.
- Horseshoe Mound Preserve (Galena) — About 15 minutes west; hilltop preserve with a 360-degree overlook of the Galena hills and Mississippi valley, a prime sunset spot.
- Chestnut Mountain Resort overlook (Galena) — About 20 minutes southwest; bluff-top views over the Mississippi River, with a sunset deck and alpine slide.
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
- Vendor policy: Catering and bar are in-house with a 22% service charge and a 100-guest minimum; outside vendors are permitted and the resort lists preferred vendors for bundled booking, with no published certificate-of-insurance requirement for photographers.
- Permit or photo policy: No published photography or drone policy; the property is private resort land so confirm drone use and golf-course cart access for portraits with the wedding coordinators at 800-998-6338.
- Rain plan: Point Patio ceremonies move into the Eagle or Galena Ballroom, which each have their own deck or patio for covered outdoor use; HCTG lists ceremony options as indoor or outdoor at the couple’s choice.
- Parking: Parking is included in the site fee, and reviewers describe complimentary resort shuttles that run guests between the lodge, rental homes, pool and downtown Galena.
- Noise/curfew: Amplified music is allowed indoors and outdoors with unspecified restrictions; no published curfew.
- Sunset/orientation: Compass orientation of the Point Patio is not published, but reviewers report sunset ceremonies in front of the Eagle Ballroom windows and sunset photos from its deck, so plan golden hour on the lake side of the ballroom.
- Lodging: Eighty lodge rooms plus more than 200 one- to six-bedroom homes and villas; wedding packages include discounted guest rooms and a complimentary night for the couple.
- Accessibility: Listed as wheelchair accessible and pet friendly; weddings are booked year-round, Friday through Sunday, with peak season May through October.
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, 444 Eagle Ridge Dr, Galena, IL. Venue website.
About the venue. Eagle Ridge is described as the first and largest true golf resort in Illinois, with the Roger Packard-designed North Course opening in 1977, the South in 1984, the East nine in 1991 and The General (Packard with Andy North) in 1997 for 63 holes. The Knot lists the Eagle Ballroom at up to 300 guests and the resort’s capacity range at 251 to 300, while Here Comes The Guide lists 300 seated indoors and 250 for outdoor ceremonies. WeddingWire lists reception site fees of $3,500 peak (May-October) and $2,000 off-peak, a $1,250 ceremony fee, starting prices of $27,000 peak and $17,000 off-peak and typical spend near $35,000 in peak season. The Knot names Eagle Ridge a Best of Weddings winner in 2021, 2023 and 2024, and WeddingWire rates it 4.8 of 5 across 63 reviews with 96% of couples recommending it. The resort sits on the 225-acre Lake Galena inside a 6,800-acre woodland territory and has 80 lodge rooms plus one- to six-bedroom homes and villas, with the 6,000-square-foot Stonedrift Spa on site.
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 Eagle Ridge Resort’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 Eagle Ridge Resort 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 Eagle Ridge Resort?
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 Eagle Ridge Resort?
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 Eagle Ridge Resort?
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 Eagle Ridge Resort?
Send us the date and we will confirm availability within a day, walk through the timeline for Eagle Ridge Resort with you, and hold the date with a $300 deposit.
Nearby and related
More on weddings in the area: our Galena wedding photographer and Galena 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: The Edgewater, Monona Terrace, Garver Feed Mill, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, The American Club, The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee Art Museum, Grand Geneva Resort, The Abbey Resort.