Wedding photography and videography in Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan, from VIDART — a Madison, Wisconsin studio that works across West Michigan from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore 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 Grand Rapids-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.
Grand Rapids wedding venues we photograph
These are the Grand Rapids-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
- Port 393 (Holland, up to 225 guests) — Two-floor venue on Lake Macatawa with Harbor Room, Skyview Lounge, rooftop Port Terrace and Cove House; two bars; in-house decor library; sunset over the lake from the rooftop.
Downtown, hotels, historic and industrial spaces
- Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton (Downtown Grand Rapids, up to 300 guests) — Historic 1913 Pantlind side with gold-gilded Pantlind Ballroom and two-level Imperial Ballroom (crystal chandeliers, staircases to dance floor); oval Gerald R. Ford Ballroom for smaller weddings; renovated tower-side getting-ready suite; river-view tower rooms.
- JW Marriott Grand Rapids (Downtown Grand Rapids – riverfront, up to 800 guests) — Largest hotel ballroom downtown (International Ballroom); modern luxury interiors; Grand River directly behind hotel for portraits; skywalk-linked.
- The Goei Center (Downtown Grand Rapids – south, up to 400 guests) — Restored former furniture-factory loft with exposed brick, wood beams and chandeliers; large open floor plan.
- The Cheney Place (Grand Rapids – north of downtown, up to 300 guests) — Warehouse space with vintage/industrial character and on-site vintage furniture rental collection; pet friendly.
- Grand Rapids Downtown Market (Downtown Grand Rapids – south, up to 180 guests) — Modern market building with greenhouse-style rooftop and downtown skyline views; 20+ food vendors below; no on-site parking.
- Founders Brewing Co. – The Centennial Room (Downtown Grand Rapids, up to 110 guests) — Second-floor private room with its own bar, city views and wraparound porch; relaxed brewery atmosphere.
- Bissell Tree House at John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids – West Side, up to 180 guests) — Elevated glass-walled tree house with floor-to-ceiling windows, covered veranda and downtown skyline views; proceeds support the zoo.
- St. Cecilia Music Center (Downtown Grand Rapids, up to 200 guests) — Historic music hall with ballroom, recital hall and music library; fireplaces and pianos give period interiors; low ambient light in some rooms.
- Viewpond Banquet Hall (Kentwood, up to 225 guests) — 4,000 sq ft boho-chic hall surrounded by nature; two dressing rooms; 75 on-site parking spaces; all-inclusive packages.
- Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant (Holland, up to 280 guests) — Restaurant on Lake Macatawa with retractable wall of windows opening to a courtyard; waterfront ceremony and reception.
- The Felt Estate (Holland – Laketown Twp, up to 250 guests) — 1920s mansion, carriage house and chapel set in the Lake Michigan dunes; period interiors plus outdoor grounds.
- District 5 Schoolhouse (Zeeland, up to 180 guests) — Century-old schoolhouse with outdoor areas, decks, getting-ready suites and a bonfire area.
- Trillium Catering and Event Center (Spring Lake – Grand Haven area, up to 500 guests) — Dining rooms, ballrooms and landscaped gardens; on-site catering; one of the largest capacities on the lakeshore.
Barns, gardens, country clubs and wineries
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids – East Beltline, up to 2500 guests) — 158-acre campus with gardens and sculpture park; in-house catering and AV; rooms book up to two years out; ceremony backdrops range from conservatory to outdoor gardens.
- Watermark Country Club (Grand Rapids – Cascade, up to 450 guests) — Renovated banquet space with high ceilings and built-in projectors; private patio; golf-course views.
- Egypt Valley Country Club (Ada, up to 320 guests) — 357 acres of rolling hills with two courses; outdoor ceremony lawn (up to 320); ballroom with two walls of windows; double-staircase foyer used for portraits.
- Hydrangea Blu Barn (Rockford, up to 300 guests) — 10-acre property with barn and open outdoor spaces; flexible styling; lighting and sound included.
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 Grand Rapids area: licenses and civil ceremonies
Marriage licenses for Grand Rapids weddings come from the county, not the city. In Kent County the office is the Kent County Clerk’s Office at 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The license fee is $20 Michigan residents / $30 non-residents. Waiting period: 3 days (apply 3-33 days before wedding). Courthouse ceremonies are available in Kent County: 63rd District Court civil ceremonies Thursdays 1:45-4:00 pm, $10, call (616) 632-7780, bring two witnesses 18+; also 62-B District Court in Kentwood (4900 Breton Ave SE), $10. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County Kent County Clerk’s Office | $20 Michigan residents / $30 non-residents | 3 days (apply 3-33 days before wedding) | yes – 63rd District Court civil ceremonies Thursdays 1:45-4:00 pm, $10, call (616) 632-7780, bring two witnesses 18+; also 62-B District Court in Kentwood (4900 Breton Ave SE), $10 | official page |
| Ottawa County Ottawa County Clerk & Register of Deeds, Vital Records Division | $20 Michigan residents / $30 out-of-state | 3 days (waiver possible); marriage must occur within 33 days of application | yes – courthouse weddings arranged through 58th District Court (linked from clerk page; call for scheduling) | official page |
| Allegan County Allegan County Clerk, Vital Records | $20 Michigan residents / $30 out-of-state | n/a (apply no more than 33 days before ceremony) | yes – 57th District Court marriages page exists; details n/a | official page |
Where Grand Rapids couples take their portraits
Portrait and engagement-session locations we recommend around Grand Rapids. Where a park or garden requires a photography permit, we arrange it as part of the day.
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids – East Beltline) — 200+ sculptures and seasonal horticulture displays; conservatory for winter sessions; named Best Sculpture Park by USA Today readers 2023 and 2024. Permit: n/a (ticketed attraction; contact venue about portrait sessions).
- The Blue Bridge (Downtown Grand Rapids – Grand River) — Former railroad bridge turned pedestrian bridge painted bright blue; skyline and river views; strong evening light from the west.
- Rosa Parks Circle (Downtown Grand Rapids – Monroe Center) — Public plaza with ice rink in winter; busy with onlookers; surrounded by Grand Rapids Art Museum and downtown storefronts.
- Grand Rapids Art Museum (Downtown Grand Rapids) — Modern LEED-certified building; clean architectural lines indoors and out.
- Monroe Center Street (Downtown Grand Rapids) — Pedestrian-friendly street of coffee shops, colorful storefronts and classic restaurants.
- Provin Trails Park (Grand Rapids – northwest) — About two miles of heavily wooded trails with dappled light; best in fall foliage and golden hour.
- The Highlands (Grand Rapids – west side) — 121-acre former golf course turned natural area; open meadows and wooded edges.
- Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (Downtown Grand Rapids) — Historic Pantlind lobby and 29-story glass tower on the Grand River; old-world interiors for rainy-day sessions.
- Holland State Park / Big Red Lighthouse (Holland) — Sandy Lake Michigan beach with views of the Big Red lighthouse across the channel; best at sunset. Permit: Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry (state park).
Good to know. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Grand Rapids city at 196,608 residents as of July 1, 2023, making it Michigan’s second-largest city. Kent County has roughly 680,000 residents and the Grand Rapids metro area more than 1.2 million. ArtPrize, launched in Grand Rapids in 2009, draws more than 1,000 international artists and nearly one million visitors each fall.
Wedding videography in Grand Rapids
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 Grand Rapids wedding videography, 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 Grand Rapids?
Wedding photography in the Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids?
No. Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids?
Yes. Our $1,500 half day covers a civil ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby. Courthouse ceremonies are available in Kent County: 63rd District Court civil ceremonies Thursdays 1:45-4:00 pm, $10, call (616) 632-7780, bring two witnesses 18+; also 62-B District Court in Kentwood (4900 Breton Ave SE), $10. Check the county page for current rules.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular Saturdays from May through October in the Grand Rapids 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 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park?
N/a (ticketed attraction; contact venue about portrait sessions). 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 Grand Rapids
We photograph weddings across the Midwest with no travel fee inside our service area: 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, the Driftless Area (Dodgeville–Platteville), Madison, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo, Door County, Galena, Kenosha and Racine, Janesville and Beloit, Waukesha County and Lake Country, Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Sheboygan, Kohler and Fond du Lac, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal, Rochester and Winona, South Bend and Elkhart. We also produce corporate video and film production.
Check your date
Peak Saturdays in the Grand Rapids area book 9–12 months out. Send your date and venue and we will confirm availability within a day.