Ninety-acre full-service resort on a man-made harbor at the west end of Geneva Lake in Fontana, anchored by an 80-foot timber A-frame, with 334 rooms, villas and a 250-slip marina; the property faces east across the lake.
VIDART is a Madison, Wisconsin wedding photography and videography company covering Fontana on Geneva Lake and the rest of the Midwest with no travel fee. This page is our planning guide for a wedding at The Abbey 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 The Abbey Resort
| Space | Use | Capacity | Setting | For the camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor Lawn | ceremony | n/a | outdoor | Lawn with unobstructed harbor views and old-growth oaks for dappled shade; aisle runs toward the water with masts and boats behind the couple. |
| Harbor Gazebo | ceremony | n/a | outdoor | Seasonal gazebo a few feet from the water’s edge, ringed with flowers and greenery; open sky and reflective water, bright at midday. |
| Pavilion Gazebo | ceremony | n/a | outdoor | Seasonal gazebo among trees at the edge of the property, steps from the West Shore Pavilion; green canopy and shade rather than lake. |
| Harbor Ballroom | reception | n/a | indoor | 10,150 sq ft ballroom renovated 2019-2020 with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor; abundant daylight that fades to marina lights at dusk. |
| West Shore Pavilion | both | n/a | both | Climate-controlled pavilion (2017) with high ceilings, tall windows, chandeliers and a polished concrete dance floor; private patio with cafe lights and a bonfire pit. |
| A-Frame | both | n/a | indoor | Historic 1963 timber A-frame with two glass gable walls facing the lake, fireplace, two levels of seating and wrought-iron chandeliers; dark wood, dramatic height, mixed-light interior. |
| Sandbar | both | n/a | indoor | Smaller room with floor-to-ceiling frosted windows, soft diffused natural light and a rustic stone fireplace; suited to intimate ceremonies and receptions. |
| Harbor Patio | cocktail | n/a | outdoor | Waterside patio with harbor views used for cocktail hour between ceremony and reception. |
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 The Abbey 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. The resort sits on the west shore and faces east, so the sun sets behind the buildings over the hills rather than over the water; plan golden-hour portraits facing west toward the resort and lake-horizon shots for sunrise or blue hour. We schedule couple portraits for the last hour before sunset and tell you in advance where we will take you.
- Rain plan. Outdoor gazebo and lawn ceremonies have indoor backups in the West Shore Pavilion, A-Frame or Sandbar; the Pavilion is climate controlled for shoulder-season dates. We photograph the backup space during our walkthrough so the plan B images are as considered as plan A.
- Policies. Catering, bar, linens and rentals are in-house with an on-site wedding organizer; reviewers report a list of recommended outside vendors; rental fee starts at $1,000 and ceremony fee at $500 per event, varying by season. 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 both indoors and outdoors; 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
- Marina docks and boat slips — Walk the docks for couple portraits with sailboats and the lake behind; golden hour light comes from behind the resort (west), so the couple is front-lit on the docks facing west or rim-lit facing the lake.
- Harbor Gazebo at water’s edge — Classic frame of the couple under the gazebo with the harbor horizon; morning light is direct and clean, late day is soft and warm.
- A-Frame glass gables — Eighty-foot timber A-frame with lake-facing glass; shoot interiors at dusk when ambient and window light balance, or exteriors with the peak behind the couple.
- Old-growth oaks on Harbor Lawn — Large spreading oaks give open shade for midday portraits and bridal party groups.
- West Shore Pavilion patio and fire pit — Cafe lights and bonfire for evening portraits and sparkler-style frames after dark.
- Waterfront beach and shoreline — Sandy beach and boats along the resort shoreline for relaxed portraits; eastward view across Geneva Lake is best at sunrise or blue hour.
Within a short drive
- Fontana Beach and lakefront (Fontana) — About 2 minutes east; public beach, piers and the Geneva Lake Shore Path with views back across the lake.
- Yerkes Observatory (Williams Bay) — About 10 minutes north; 1897 observatory with grand domes and restored grounds; photo sessions require advance arrangement with the observatory.
- Lake Geneva Riviera and Library Park (Lake Geneva) — About 20 minutes east; 1932 lakefront Riviera, piers and downtown lakefront park.
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
- Sunset/orientation: The resort sits on the west shore and faces east, so the sun sets behind the buildings over the hills rather than over the water; plan golden-hour portraits facing west toward the resort and lake-horizon shots for sunrise or blue hour.
- Lodging: The resort has 334 guest rooms, 13 suites and 11 villas with reserved wedding room blocks; bridal and groom suites are available for getting ready, with a bridal preparation area near the Avani Spa.
- Vendor policy: Catering, bar, linens and rentals are in-house with an on-site wedding organizer; reviewers report a list of recommended outside vendors; rental fee starts at $1,000 and ceremony fee at $500 per event, varying by season.
- Rain plan: Outdoor gazebo and lawn ceremonies have indoor backups in the West Shore Pavilion, A-Frame or Sandbar; the Pavilion is climate controlled for shoulder-season dates.
- Parking: The resort advertises ample on-site parking, though reviewers report shuttles from a nearby school lot on large wedding weekends; confirm vendor parking with the planner.
- Noise/curfew: Amplified music is allowed both indoors and outdoors; no published curfew.
- Accessibility: The resort is listed as wheelchair accessible and offers valet service.
- Seasonality: Gazebo ceremony sites are seasonal; the venue advertises year-round availability with Friday and Sunday discounts.
The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa, 269 Fontana Blvd, Fontana, WI. Venue website.
About the venue. The Abbey opened in May 1963 on 90 acres of former peat bog that Epstein designed and built in ten months at a cost of about $4 million, then the Midwest’s largest resort. The 80-foot timber A-frame, with two glass gable walls facing the lake, won the National Lumber Manufacturers Association’s Outstanding Wood Design award for 1963 and the main lobby has 60-foot vaulted ceilings. The harbor was created by hydraulic dredging that moved 242,000 cubic yards of earth, raised the land six feet and created a 250-slip marina on a 20-acre mooring pond. Renovations include a $50 million 2013 overhaul for the resort’s 50th year, the West Shore Pavilion in 2017 and the Harbor Ballroom in 2019-2020. The Knot lists The Abbey as a seven-time Best of Weddings winner with Hall of Fame status, and Wisconsin Bride named it a 2025 Best Of finalist.
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 The Abbey 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 The Abbey 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 The Abbey 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 The Abbey 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 The Abbey 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 The Abbey Resort?
Send us the date and we will confirm availability within a day, walk through the timeline for The Abbey Resort with you, and hold the date with a $300 deposit.
Nearby and related
More on weddings in the area: our Lake Geneva wedding photographer and Lake Geneva 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, Kalahari Resort.