Wedding videography in Peoria and Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, from VIDART — a Madison, Wisconsin studio that films across central Illinois from Peoria to Bloomington-Normal 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 18 Peoria-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.
Peoria wedding venues we film
These are the Peoria-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.
Waterfront venues
- East Port Banquet Center (Barrack’s Hospitality) (East Peoria, up to 225 guests) — Sits on the Illinois River with a view of the Peoria skyline; full-service in-house catering.
Downtown, hotel, historic and industrial venues
- Venue Chisca (Downtown Peoria, up to 450 guests) — About 17,000 sq ft; Grand Ballroom with chandeliers and exposed brick; outdoor green space for ceremonies; onsite accommodations; no free parking.
- Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette (Downtown Peoria, up to 400 guests) — Four Diamond hotel with 18,000+ sq ft of event space; lobby has marble stairs, gold elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views for portraits.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center (East Peoria, up to 2000 guests) — 20,000 sq ft pillarless River Ballroom (banquet 1,620); riverfront patio for outdoor ceremonies; 25 meeting rooms; overlooks the Illinois River.
- Contemporary Art Center of Peoria (Peoria Riverfront, up to 180 guests) — Nearly 3,000 sq ft second-floor loft in a former riverfront warehouse; exposed brick, wood floors, stage with lighting and sound; guests can view the current art exhibit.
- Five Points Washington (Washington, up to 1000 guests) — Community event center with versatile large space for receptions, meetings and workshops; capacity 1,000 per Eventective.
- The Warehouse on State (Peoria Warehouse District, up to 350 guests) — Newer downtown space with urban, industrial styling; brick streets and old industrial buildings nearby for portraits.
- Peoria Riverfront Museum (Peoria Riverfront, up to 225 guests) — Multiple rentable spaces inside the museum; Illinois River and riverfront a short walk away for portraits.
- Holiday Inn & Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie (Peoria – Grand Prairie, up to 350 guests) — Grand Prairie Ballroom with an in-house wedding team.
Barns, gardens, country clubs and wineries
- The Barn at Bull Run (Morton, up to 250 guests) — Renovated 1933 dairy barn owned by Morton Park District; separate ceremony and reception areas; bridal and groom suites; no built-in AV or dance floor.
- Marlene’s Event Barn (Metamora, up to 250 guests) — Rustic barn with grounds large enough to hold ceremony and reception on one site.
- Luthy Botanical Garden (Peoria Zoo) (Peoria – Glen Oak Park, up to 300 guests) — Vine-covered pergola and glass greenhouse as backdrops; large fountain; ceremony area up to about 150; seasonal spring bulbs and fall color; no venue food service.
- Mt. Hawley Country Club (North Peoria – 7724 N Knoxville Ave, up to 250 guests) — Views of the Illinois River Valley; ballroom with hardwood dance floor, chandeliers and fireplace; covered outdoor space; indoor and outdoor ceremony sites.
- Metamora Fields Golf Club (Metamora, up to 375 guests) — Golf course setting with a relaxed atmosphere; capacity 375 per Eventective.
- Pekin Country Club (Pekin, up to 220 guests) — Private country club; capacity 220 per Eventective; no further description on listing.
- Sunset Hills Golf Course & Eatery (Pekin, up to 350 guests) — Golf course with on-site restaurant and an event tent for receptions.
- Haven on the Farm (Peoria, up to 300 guests) — 10-acre historic farm property with a full planning team; capacity 300 per Eventective.
- Wildlife Prairie Park (Hanna City, up to 250 guests) — 1,800-acre zoological park with over 150 animals; natural prairie and woodland backdrops.
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 Peoria area: licenses and civil ceremonies
Marriage licenses for Peoria weddings come from the county, not the city. In Peoria County the office is the Peoria County Clerk at 324 Main Street, Room 101, Peoria, IL 61602. The license fee is $75 (plus $4 card fee); certified copy $20. Waiting period: License must be obtained at least one day before the ceremony; valid 60 days. Courthouse ceremonies are available in Peoria County: judge ceremonies in person or by Zoom for $10; schedule through Circuit Clerk Civil Division 309-672-6984. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria County Peoria County Clerk | $75 (plus $4 card fee); certified copy $20 | License must be obtained at least one day before the ceremony; valid 60 days | yes – judge ceremonies in person or by Zoom for $10; schedule through Circuit Clerk Civil Division 309-672-6984 | official page |
| Tazewell County Tazewell County Clerk’s Office | $90 (includes one certified copy mailed after filing) | License effective the day after issuance; valid 60 days; marriage must occur in Tazewell County | n/a – clerk’s rules sheet does not state | official page |
| McLean County McLean County Clerk | $65 (cash, check or money order; cards with fee) | License effective the day after issuance; valid 60 days; in-office appointment required (Tue-Thu May-Nov, Tue-Wed Dec-Apr) | yes – courthouse civil ceremony via Judges’ Chambers 309-888-5260, Fridays only, book about a month ahead, extra fee | official page |
Where Peoria couples take their portraits
Portrait and engagement-session locations we recommend around Peoria. Where a park or garden requires a photography permit, we arrange it as part of the day.
- Warehouse District (Downtown Peoria) — Brick roads, alleys and old industrial buildings; some riverfront views; near the riverwalk.
- Luthy Botanical Garden (Peoria – Glen Oak Park) — Outdoor gardens, large fountain, overhung paths and rose garden; indoor greenhouse works as a rain backup; next to Peoria Zoo.
- Donovan Park (Peoria) — Rolling hills, trees, a pond and walking trails through tall grass.
- Jubilee College State Park (Brimfield – west of Peoria) — Woods, wild grass and wildflowers, a creek, a sunflower field and trails.
- Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette lobby (Downtown Peoria) — Marble stairs, gold elevators, floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views; furnished sitting areas for indoor sessions. Permit: n/a (hotel property; ask permission).
- Downtown Bloomington (Bloomington) — Historic buildings, alleys and wall murals; old courthouse museum; Castle Theatre marquee for night shots.
- Uptown Normal (Normal) — Train station, grassy Uptown circle, Normal Theatre marquee, graffiti staircase at Mother Murphy’s.
- Funks Grove (south of Bloomington – McLean County) — Woods and trails, wild grass fields, a wooden bridge, a creek and chapel spaces; strong fall color.
- Moraine View State Park (east of Bloomington – McLean County) — Trails with wild grass and wildflowers; Lake Dawson docks and beach; long straight dam road for leading lines.
Good to know. Peoria’s population was 112,169 in 2024 with a median age of 35.5, per Data USA. Peoria’s Warehouse District has brick roads, alleys and old industrial buildings with riverfront views near the riverwalk. The Peoria Civic Center offers about 110,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space and a 27,000 sq ft ballroom.
What is in your Peoria 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 Peoria 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 Peoria?
Wedding videography in the Peoria 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 Peoria?
No. Peoria 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 Peoria?
Yes. Our $1,500 half day covers a civil ceremony, a celebration meal and portraits nearby. Courthouse ceremonies are available in Peoria County: judge ceremonies in person or by Zoom for $10; schedule through Circuit Clerk Civil Division 309-672-6984. Check the county page for current rules.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular Saturdays from May through October in the Peoria 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.
Do we need a permit to film at Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette lobby?
N/a (hotel property; ask permission). We arrange permits as part of the day wherever they are required.
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 Peoria
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, Iowa City, La Crosse, Minneapolis and St. Paul, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Des Moines and Omaha, Wausau, 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, 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 Peoria area book 9–12 months out. Send your date and venue and we will confirm availability within a day.