An Epic Spring Wedding At The Allure On The Lake

May 19, 2025 Steve Vansak

The bride and groom stand on rocks while looking out onto Lake Michigan at an Indiana Dunes Beach.

There’s a timeless romance to the Indiana Dunes beach, where the golden sands meet the rolling waves of Lake Michigan under an endless sky. After photographing their engagement session here and now, they chose this breathtaking backdrop for their wedding photos. It’s clear that Katie and Matt are drawn to its natural beauty.

The gentle rustle of dune grasses and the light reflecting off the water created a serene, dreamlike setting—perfect for starting their lifelong journey together.

Before we could get to this moment, they needed to prepare to unite and be married. I captured all of the wonderful moments of bridal prep, while Wendy documented groom prep.

Here is a sneak peek at the details, emotions, and laughs of their epic day—from a first look with Dad to a blue hour slow dance on the back deck of Allure On The Lake wedding reception venue.

Wedding Ceremony At St Paul Catholic Church | Reception At Sand Creek Country Club

September 16, 2024 Steve Vansak

A bride and groom in silhouette during sunset at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana.

It was a lovely late Summer day for Nancy and Corey’s wedding ceremony at St. Paul Catholic Church in Valparaiso, Indiana, followed by a reception in Chesterton, Indiana, at Sand Creek Country Club.

Spring Wedding At The Basilica of the Sacred Heart

March 28, 2022 Steve Vansak

A wedding ceremony inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana.

My tips for Notre Dame weddings at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart:

Keep in mind that Notre Dame has a very limited timeframe for pictures after the ceremony. We will only have time for bride and groom photos within the church so I suggest family photos and wedding party group photos outside the church and / or at your reception venue.

Parking can be confusing so be sure to encourage your guests to arrive early.
The photography rules are strict and I always comply with them (no flash allowed during the ceremony, no shots from the balcony or center aisle other than the very back row).
The campus of Notre Dame can be great for pictures. Let’s schedule enough time to do these before heading out to the reception.

October Wedding At Saint Michael's Parish

October 9, 2018 Steve Vansak

Romantic kiss on the bridge at Centennial Park.

Nikki and Johnny’s October wedding at Saint Michael’s Parish had them surrounded by family and friends the entire day. It brought along some challenges too that only served to prove that the strong bond they have with their friends and family is stronger than anything mother nature can throw at them.

I started the day out at the bride’s childhood home for bridal prep with True Beauty by Dana while Kerrie covered the guys at the groom’s parent’s home. Bridal details, caffeine and Instax cameras ruled the morning.

Future wedding photographer and flower girl captures the moments.

Bride and groom ready for their big day.

Wind blows the long veil during bridal portraits.

Groom in black and white with his guys behind him.

The ceremony took place at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville and many more children were now present and participating since I photographed sisters of the bride - Jackie and Amanda’s weddings.

Family at a wedding ceremony at St. Michael’s Parish.

The bride is escorted down the aisle of St. Michael’s Parish.

Bride and groom in the sanctuary of St. Michael’s Parish.

Formal photos of the bride and groom in church.

Don’t tell Father, but I snuck a peak at my weather app during the ceremony. No rain until night fall!! Let’s do this, Centennial Park here we come…

Bridesmaids and groomsmen at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

Centennial Park is a popular spot for pictures and we ran into several wedding parties there, but the area is so vast that it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Perfect for romantic walks on the bridge.

Bride and groom take a romantic walk on the bridge at Centennial Park.

Vogueing for the camera at Centennial Park.

The wedding party paired up for a portrait by the lake.

My “tired bride” shot is quite popular and the wall at the Amphitheater is a perfect place to lean. After our trek around the park, the bride and groom had some time to chill with their friends and then it was off to St. Elijah Event Center for the reception.

The bride takes a rest at Centennial Park.

A lakeside portrait of the bride and groom.

Wedding reception at St. Elijah Event Center.

What can I say about the reception? The dance floor was packed all night giving me plenty of fun to capture. I also learned that if you have a spill on the floor, bridesmaid Abby is ready with mop in hand to keep the dancing safe!!

Dance floor fun at St. Elijah Event Center.

A packed dance floor at St. Elijah Event Center.

This is merely a sneak peek of Nikki and Johnny’s October wedding. Be sure to tune into the Instagram feed for more images and fill out the Contact Form here to inquire about photography for your big day.