Wedding videography in Iowa City, Iowa, from VIDART — a Madison, Wisconsin studio that films across the Iowa City–Cedar Rapids corridor with no travel fee anywhere in our service area. You get an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts, delivered digitally and on a USB drive.
We know the rooms. We know the 16 Iowa City-area venues listed below, so we already know where the light falls at ceremony time and where to mic the officiant.
Simple pricing. $1,500 for a half day (up to 5 hours) or $3,000 for a full day (up to 10 hours). Add photography for the same rate and one crew covers both.
Clean audio, steady pictures. Wireless lavaliers on the officiant and groom, a recorder on the DJ board, two camera angles on the ceremony, and 4K, aerial and 360 options where the venue allows.
Iowa City wedding venues we film
These are the Iowa City-area venues couples ask us about most. The notes are the things that matter when we plan a wedding film there — where the light is, whether the ceremony is indoors or out, what the room looks like once the dancing starts.
Downtown, hotel, historic and industrial venues
- The Heights Rooftop (Courtyard by Marriott University Heights) (University Heights – Iowa City, up to 300 guests) — 5,700 sq ft rooftop ballroom and patio with panoramic views including Kinnick Stadium; lighting and sound included; hotel rooms on site.
- Graduate by Hilton Iowa City (Iowa City – downtown, up to 500 guests) — Downtown hotel ballroom with 10,000+ sq ft event space, bridal rooms and on-site lodging; steps from the Ped Mall and Old Capitol for portraits.
- The Highlander Hotel (Iowa City – north side, up to 375 guests) — Restored 1967 inn and supper club with retro styling; multiple event spaces indoor and out; no in-house event staff.
- Old Brick (Iowa City – downtown) — 1856 limestone church with stained glass windows; historic downtown setting; mixed natural and warm interior light.
- Iowa Memorial Union (University of Iowa) (Iowa City – campus, up to 1,200 guests) — Campus ballrooms and smaller rooms on the Iowa River; accessible indoor and outdoor spaces; river and Pentacrest nearby for portraits.
- Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center (Coralville – Iowa River Landing, up to 1,000 guests) — Renovated hotel with several ballrooms and outdoor terraces on the Iowa River; 60,000 sq ft of event space; dedicated wedding coordinator.
- Bella Sala Event Center (Tiffin, up to 650 guests) — Outdoor waterfall terrace for ceremonies plus large indoor banquet halls; big flexible rooms suited to lighting and AV setups.
- Palmer House Stable (Solon, up to 150 guests) — Authentic 1838 boutique stable venue; rustic original timber and stone interior; rural setting near Lake Macbride.
- Hotel Millwright and The Merino Loft (Amana, up to 225 guests) — Converted 19th-century woolen mill; Merino Loft has floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed brick (7,000+ sq ft); courtyard for outdoor ceremonies; hotel rooms on site.
- Price Creek Event Center (Amana – Main Amana, up to 175 guests) — Renovated rustic-modern 12,000 sq ft venue next to the Amana visitors center; bridal suite and groom’s lounge; exclusive full-day use.
- Hy-Vee Center and Amphitheater (North Liberty, up to 300 guests) — Bright industrial-style event hall with attached outdoor amphitheater; modern suburban setting.
Barns, gardens, country clubs and wineries
- The Celebration Farm (Iowa City, up to 450 guests) — Timber frame barn plus double round barn with domed ceiling and limestone fireplace; terraced outdoor amphitheater with forest and hillside backdrop; raw space (bring own vendors).
- Walker Homestead Farm and Winery (Iowa City – rural, up to 245 guests) — 85-acre working farm and vineyard; barn with 5,000 sq ft covered patio; rolling-hill views; all-inclusive farm-to-table catering and estate wines.
- Wilson’s Orchard and Farm (Iowa City – north, up to 225 guests) — Rows of apple trees, rustic barns and rolling hills; strongest in late summer and fall color; accessible orchard pathways.
- Brown Deer Golf Club (Coralville, up to 225 guests) — City-owned golf club with four indoor rooms plus outdoor ceremony spaces; open countryside scenery; in-house events team.
- Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery (Swisher, up to 200 guests) — Vineyard and distillery grounds between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids; vineyard rows and tasting room backdrop.
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 Iowa City area: licenses and civil ceremonies
Marriage licenses for Iowa City weddings come from the county, not the city. In Johnson County the office is the Johnson County Recorder at 913 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240. The license fee is $35. Waiting period: 3 days (waiver available for $5, signed by a judge at the courthouse). Courthouse ceremonies are available in Johnson County: free courthouse civil ceremony Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. at 417 S Clinton St (may be limited to signing the certificate; blackout dates apply); off-site civil ceremonies by listed officiants for a fee. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Johnson County Recorder | $35 | 3 days (waiver available for $5, signed by a judge at the courthouse) | yes – free courthouse civil ceremony Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. at 417 S Clinton St (may be limited to signing the certificate; blackout dates apply); off-site civil ceremonies by listed officiants for a fee | official page |
Where Iowa City couples take their portraits
Portrait and engagement-session locations we recommend around Iowa City. Where a park or garden requires a photography permit, we arrange it as part of the day.
- Old Capitol and the Pentacrest (University of Iowa) (Iowa City – downtown campus) — Gold-domed 1840s National Historic Landmark with columned portico and wide lawns under tall trees; classic evening side-light on the west steps.
- Downtown Iowa City Pedestrian Mall (Iowa City – downtown) — Murals, brick storefronts, string lights and the public library plaza; good for urban and night sessions; busy on weekends.
- Hickory Hill Park (Iowa City – east side) — 190-acre natural park with dense woods, open meadows and winding trails; golden-hour fields; fall foliage and spring blooms.
- Terry Trueblood Recreation Area (Iowa City – south) — Calm lake for reflections, lodge, trails and open green space; sunset over the water.
- Lake Macbride State Park (Solon) — Lake views, beach, woodland trails and a spillway waterfall; wide-open sunsets across the lake.
- Wilson’s Orchard and Farm (Iowa City – north) — Apple tree rows, rustic barns and rolling hills; best in late summer and fall; check with the farm about session access.
Good to know. Cedar Rapids had an estimated 137,935 residents in 2025 and is Iowa’s second-most populous city. Iowa City had an estimated 76,229 residents in 2025, and the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor is home to more than 450,000 people. The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids served more than 1.6 million passengers in 2025, a third straight annual record, with five airlines and 17 nonstop destinations.
What is in your Iowa City wedding film
Every wedding film includes an edited highlight film (typically 4–8 minutes, cut to licensed music) and a full-length edit of the ceremony and toasts. We record audio separately — wireless lavaliers on the officiant and groom plus a feed from the DJ or band — so vows and speeches are clean even in a loud barn or a windy lakeside ceremony. Drone and 360 coverage are available where the venue and airspace allow.
Want photos too? See Iowa City wedding photography, or watch recent films 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 videographer cost in Iowa City?
Wedding videography in the Iowa City 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 photography is available at the same rates on its own or as an add-on.
Do you charge travel fees to Iowa City?
No. Iowa City 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 film a courthouse or elopement wedding in Iowa City?
Yes. Our $1,500 half day covers a civil ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby. Courthouse ceremonies are available in Johnson County: free courthouse civil ceremony Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. at 417 S Clinton St (may be limited to signing the certificate; blackout dates apply); off-site civil ceremonies by listed officiants for a fee. Check the county page for current rules.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular Saturdays from May through October in the Iowa City area book 9-12 months ahead. Off-season and weekday dates are often available on shorter notice.
How long until we get our film?
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.
Where should we take portraits in Iowa City?
Our favourites are listed above – Old Capitol and the Pentacrest (University of Iowa), Downtown Iowa City Pedestrian Mall, Hickory Hill Park among them. We will suggest two or three that fit your venue, the season and the light at your ceremony time.
Can we get the raw footage, and can you fly a drone?
Raw footage is available on an archive drive ($450 with the RAW photos, or on request within 72 hours). Aerial and 360 coverage are available where the venue and local airspace rules allow – we check both before the day.
Beyond Iowa City
We film 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, 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 Iowa City area book 9–12 months out. Send your date and venue and we will confirm availability within a day.