All ten
Little Lights on the Lane
Photos: Little Lights on the Lane (www.littlelightsonthelane.com)
A glass-walled modern farmhouse on a hilltop in West Branch
A venue built for weddings on a hilltop above Cedars Edge Golf Course, about 20 minutes from Iowa City. The main hall pairs soaring wood ceilings and café lights with 30-foot glass doors that open onto a maple-tree ceremony lawn and a 100-foot wraparound porch. The look is modern farmhouse — white shiplap, black chairs, two beautiful suites upstairs — and tables, chairs and a whole closet of decor are included in the flat rental.
The most design-forward venue on the list — a glass-walled modern farmhouse with near-perfect reviews and the only live 2028 calendar. Also the priciest rental.
Why it works
- The most design-forward venue on the list
- The only one with a live 2028 calendar — you can see open dates today
- Decor closet, suites and furniture included
- 89 Google reviews averaging 4.9
Watch out for
- The priciest rental at $12,500
- No hotels nearby — plan on a shuttle
- You must use their bar partner, ELDR
- Spring 2028 is already filling: May 20 and three June Saturdays are taken
In the price
- Indoor + outdoor ceremony space for up to 300 guests
- Handcrafted farmhouse tables, round tables, modern black chairs, with venue-team layout/setup
- Full 'Something Borrowed' decor closet (arbors, easels, candlesticks, vases, votives, signage, etc.) at no extra cost
- Two private luxury suites (Rapture + Ranger) with lounge furniture, mirrors, smart TV/speaker, roll-in cooler
- Kitchen, restrooms, bar and lounge area
- Outdoor Food Truck Lane and bags/games pit
- Weekday rehearsal time
- On-site venue manager/team
- Monthly open houses for planning
Add-ons & extra costs
| Day-of coordination (Spark) | $4,000, or $3,500 booked with the venue |
| Full planning and design (Ember) | $7,500, or $6,500 booked with the venue |
| Required event insurance | About $245 |
How the money works
- Model
- flat rental
- Saturday
- $12,500 for 2027 and 2028 Saturdays · holiday weekends $14,500
- Other days
- Fridays $10,000 · winter dates by request
- To book
- $6,000 to book; the balance is due six months before. $500 off for booking within 24 hours of a tour.
- Good to know
- Published flat Saturday rate for 2027 and 2028: $12,500 (holiday weekends $14,500). $500 off for booking within 24 hours of a tour, another $500 off for paying in full by check. Food is any licensed caterer; the bar must be ELDR, their in-house partner.
2028 pricing · source. Prices for 2028 are usually set a year or two out and tend to rise 3–8% a year.
Rules of the house
- Catering
- Any Iowa-licensed caterer they approve
- Bar
- ELDR, their bar partner (required)
- Access
- Ask — rehearsal time is included
- Ends
- Ask
- Season
- Full capacity spring through fall
- No glass allowed on the dance floor
- No dancing directly at the large glass doors in the Main Hall
- Tables must be set parallel/perpendicular to each other, not at an angle
- Up to 100 chairs can be removed for outside rental swaps; more may incur a fee
- No sparkler send-off out front (hydrangea beds); must be done in the Food Truck Lane
- No paper poppers; fireworks not allowed by the city
- $1,000,000 event-insurance policy required, naming the venue as additional insured
| Main hall — the reception room, with 30-foot glass doors | 300 |
| Wraparound porch — rain backup, cocktails, outdoor dancing | 300 |
| Maple tree lawn — the outdoor ceremony spot | 300 |
Availability
Their live 2028 calendar (checked Sept 23, 2026) shows these spring Saturdays still open: April 8, 15, 22 and 29, May 6 and 13, May 27 (Memorial Day weekend, $14,500) and June 17. Already taken: April 1, May 20, and June 3, 10 and 24. April 15 is Holy Saturday.
Typical booking window: about two years out — 2027 and 2028 are both open now.
Open their calendarWhat people say
Couples love
- The modern Scandinavian design and golf-course/farmland view are consistently called 'stunning'
- Staff are hands-on throughout planning, not just day-of, and are frequently singled out by name
- The free decor closet ('Something Borrowed') saves couples real money and shopping time
- Team improvised smoothly when rain forced a ceremony move to the covered porch
- Abundant, photogenic locations (maple tree, porch, suites) make it a favorite with photographers
Mentioned as drawbacks
- Guests will need a shuttle or rideshare — there's no hotel nearby
- You must use their bar partner
- The rental is at the top of your budget
25 minutes from St. Thomas More
2 Ember Lane, West Branch, IA 52358
Where guests stay: No guest rooms (just the two wedding-party suites). Coralville hotels are about 17 minutes away; they work with Windstar for shuttles.
