Wedding photography and videography in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, from VIDART — a Madison, Wisconsin studio that works across Lake Geneva, Walworth County and the Illinois border 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 Lake Geneva-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.
Lake Geneva wedding venues we photograph
These are the Lake Geneva-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
- The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa (Fontana, up to 325 guests) — Lake terrace ceremony and ballroom overlooking the marina on the quiet west end of Geneva Lake; resort faces east so sunset drops behind the resort, not over the water; marina dock at golden hour is the key shot.
- Lake Lawn Resort (Delavan, up to 350 guests) — On Delavan Lake; Promise Point and Enchanted Shore lakefront ceremony sites with pergolas; Lake Lawn Room has vaulted ceilings and lake-facing windows; lakefront lawn tent site under tall oaks seats 350.
- Waters Edge on Delavan Lake (Delavan, up to 250 guests) — Lakefront with beach; lake views from the loft and upstairs lounge at sunset; dressing room; on-site accommodations.
Downtown, hotels, historic and industrial spaces
- Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (Lake Geneva, up to 400 guests) — Grand Lawn outdoor ceremony with resort/pond/rolling-hill backdrop; main ballroom seats 300+; 1,300-acre property with on-site lodging for 350+ guests; not on the lake.
- The Riviera Ballroom (Lake Geneva, up to 320 guests) — 1930s-era lakefront ballroom surrounded by water on three sides; 20-ft ceilings, arched windows, chandelier, columns, wood floors; veranda over Riviera Beach; 320 ceremony / 270 seated reception.
- The Cove of Lake Geneva (Lake Geneva, up to 250 guests) — Promenade Room with vaulted ceilings, natural light and private entrance; on-site lodging and pool for getting-ready and guests.
- The Ridge Hotel (Lake Geneva – Lake Como, up to 300 guests) — Modern hotel with Lake Como views; two divisible ballrooms one level below lobby (artificial light), outdoor patio and small pavilion for ceremonies.
- Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva (Lake Geneva – downtown, up to 200 guests) — Downtown lakefront hotel; Lighthouse Ballroom plus four smaller spaces; bridal suite; walkable to Riviera and Library Park for portraits.
- The Baker House (Lake Geneva, up to 150 guests) — 1885 Gilded Age mansion on the lakefront; fireplaces, period interiors, inn rooms; small-wedding scale.
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line (Lake Geneva, up to 225 guests) — Ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions aboard a fleet of eight boats; moving backdrop of shoreline estates; departs from the Riviera docks.
- Yerkes Observatory (Williams Bay, up to 75 guests) — 1897 observatory with Great Dome, Hagenah Rotunda, Drake Library, South Lawn and Olmsted Ellipse; indoor ceremony up to 75, cocktail 100, dinner 30; wedding suite on site; weddings booked out through 2027.
- Alpine Valley Resort (Elkhorn, up to 300 guests) — Four-season ski/golf resort; outdoor pavilion ceremonies with ski-hill backdrop; indoor banquet rooms; on-site guest rooms.
- Veterans Terrace (Burlington, up to 360 guests) — Liberty Hall Ballroom with 18-ft ceilings, 9-ft windows and chandeliers; Memorial Terrace overlooks the White River, Echo Lake and Echo Park; salon suite, dressing room and groom’s room.
Barns, gardens, country clubs and wineries
- Destination Geneva National (Lake Geneva – Lake Como, up to 300 guests) — Ceremony sites on elevated tee boxes and fairways with golden-hour light over the hills; clubhouse reception 200-300; on-site lodging; best color in spring and October.
- Hawk’s View Golf Club (Lake Geneva, up to 280 guests) — English Gardens outdoor ceremony; covered Overlook Terrace above the fairways; Red Tail Ballroom; rolling-hill setting.
- Abbey Springs (Fontana, up to 200 guests) — Outdoor ceremony beneath tall trees with Geneva Lake views; reception in clubhouse banquet hall or Lakeside Tent.
- Boxed and Burlap (Delavan, up to 250 guests) — 60 x 100 ft open-span barn plus greenhouse space; on-site lodging; rustic styling.
- Evergreen Golf Club (Elkhorn, up to 250 guests) — 27-hole golf course setting with garden ceremony area and ballroom.
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 Lake Geneva area: licenses and civil ceremonies
Marriage licenses for Lake Geneva weddings come from the county, not the city. In Walworth County the office is the Walworth County Clerk’s Office at 100 W Walworth St, Room 101, Elkhorn, WI 53121. The license fee is $100 (confirm current fee with the clerk). Waiting period: 3 days (not counting application day; license valid 60 days). Courthouse ceremonies are available in Walworth County: courthouse ceremonies arranged through the Clerk of Circuit Court ([email protected]); license applications by appointment only, 262-741-4241. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walworth County Walworth County Clerk’s Office | $100 (confirm current fee with the clerk) | 3 days (not counting application day; license valid 60 days) | yes – courthouse ceremonies arranged through the Clerk of Circuit Court ([email protected]); license applications by appointment only, 262-741-4241 | official page |
| Racine County Racine County Clerk’s Office (Racine County Courthouse, 1st floor) | $110 cash | 5 days starting the day after application; $25 waiver only in extreme emergency | n/a – couples arrange their own officiant (clergy, court commissioner or judge); applications by appointment at the Courthouse or Burlington City Hall (262-342-1161) | official page |
| Jefferson County Jefferson County Clerk’s Office | $110 (cash/credit/debit; card surcharge) | 3 days not counting application day; $25 waiver ($10 active-duty military) | n/a – ceremony must be scheduled with an officiant before the application appointment; appointments 8 am-4 pm Mon-Fri | official page |
Where Lake Geneva couples take their portraits
Portrait and engagement-session locations we recommend around Lake Geneva. Where a park or garden requires a photography permit, we arrange it as part of the day.
- Geneva Lake Shore Path (Lake Geneva / Williams Bay / Fontana) — 21-26 mile path circling the lake past Gilded Age estates (e.g. Stone Manor), gardens, bridges and boathouses; paved mile either side of the Lake Geneva Public Library is the easiest segment. Permit: Public right-of-way; no permit noted; stay on the path, daylight hours only, no entering private lawns or piers.
- Library Park and the Riviera lakefront (Lake Geneva) — Driehaus Fountain, Riviera facade and piers, Poppies veterans memorial with the lake behind it; city sits on the east end so sunset falls over the water looking west. Permit: n/a (city park and public pier).
- Yerkes Observatory grounds (Williams Bay) — 1897 domes and Gothic-style facade on Olmsted-designed grounds; sunset light on the domes is the signature look. Permit: Photo time bundled with event packages; contact observatory for standalone sessions.
- Big Foot Beach State Park (Lake Geneva) — South-shore beach, lagoon and wooded trails on the shore path; restrooms on site. Permit: Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required.
- Fontana lakefront (Reid Park, Fontana Beach, Municipal Pier) (Fontana) — West end of the lake; bronze Surfer sculpture and Chief Big Foot statue; sunset recommended; restrooms in Reid Park.
- Edgewater Park lakefront (Williams Bay) — Village lakefront path with the Potawatomi Woman statue; quieter than downtown Lake Geneva; public restrooms.
- Downtown Lake Geneva (Main Street and Murals in Motion) (Lake Geneva) — Brick storefronts and murals installed in spring 2024 celebrating local history; dragon sculptures at the Public Library and Geneva Lake Museum for playful shots.
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line boats (Lake Geneva) — Shots from the water of shoreline estates and the Riviera; the only moving vantage point on the lake. Permit: Charter or ticket required; private charters bookable.
- Veterans Terrace / Echo Park (Burlington) — Brick Memorial Terrace and garden beds over the White River and Echo Lake; downtown Burlington architecture nearby.
Good to know. The City of Lake Geneva had a population of 8,277 at the 2020 census. Geneva Lake covers 5,401 acres, is 7.8 miles long and reaches 135 feet deep, with the city of Lake Geneva and the villages of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake and Williams Bay on its shore. A public shore path of roughly 21 to 26 miles circles the entire lake because early settlers set aside the 20 feet of land nearest the shoreline as public.
Wedding videography in Lake Geneva
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 Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva?
Wedding photography in the Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva?
No. Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva?
Yes. Our $1,500 half day covers a civil ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby. Courthouse ceremonies are available in Walworth County: courthouse ceremonies arranged through the Clerk of Circuit Court ([email protected]); license applications by appointment only, 262-741-4241. Check the county page for current rules.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular Saturdays from May through October in the Lake Geneva 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 Geneva Lake Shore Path?
Public right-of-way; no permit noted; stay on the path, daylight hours only, no entering private lawns or piers. 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 Lake Geneva
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, 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, Grand Rapids and Holland, South Bend and Elkhart. We also produce corporate video and film production.
Check your date
Peak Saturdays in the Lake Geneva area book 9–12 months out. Send your date and venue and we will confirm availability within a day.