Wedding At Duneland Falls

September 14, 2021 Steve Vansak

A candid moment between the bride and groom on their wedding day.

The day was filled with sunshine for Ashley and Julian’s wedding at Duneland Falls in Chesterton, Indiana with an outdoor ceremony at the Centennial Park lakeside terrace.

We started out with bridal prep in the elegant bridal suite of Duneland Falls where Ashley had a reveal with her bridesmaids and her Dad.

The bride and her bridesmaids inside the Duneland Falls bridal suite.

The bride reads a card and opens a gift from her husband to be.

Help from the mother of the bride on wedding day.

The big reveal to Dad and the bridesmaids.

The bride and her elegant wedding gown inside Duneland Falls.

After Julian and the guys finished up getting ready and the groom opened up his gift, we were all of to Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana for an outdoor ceremony on the lakeside terrace.

Groom prep for a wedding at Duneland Falls in Chesterton, Indiana.

Groomsmen group picture in black and white.

Bridesmaid group photo at Centennial Park.

The couple’s two doggies were on hand for the ceremony as were many family and friends. As soon as the couple were officially married we did family photos along with the couple and wedding party group images.

Outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking the lake at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

The veil flies into the wind as the bride kisses her husband on their wedding day.

Water glistens off the lake in a summer wedding photo.

Wedding party group photo on the Centennial Amphitheater stage.

Summer wedding photos at Centennial Park.

The bride and groom surrounded by water.

Duneland Falls is a very elegant wedding venue in the Chesterton / Portage area of Indiana. After getting detail photos of the couple’s wonderful decor and many candid moments of guests, it was time for the first dances in which I could really show off the elegance of this couple along with the venue.

First dance at Duneland Falls in Chesterton, Indiana.

The Dancing Queen song by Abba rocks the dance floor during a wedding at Duneland Falls.

This has been a mere sneak peek look at Ashley and Julian’s summer wedding at Duneland Falls in Chesterton, Indiana. Please do contact me here for inquiries and stay tuned to the social media channels below for images from this and other weddings.

Vendors: 27 Entertainment - DJ and Video | MUA: Beauty by Meesh | Dress: Something Blue Bridal

What Are Blue Hour Wedding Photos?

May 10, 2021 Steve Vansak

A romantic kiss during blue hour at a wedding at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

The blue hour is the 30 to 40 minute period just after sunset and before sunrise. It can make for incredibly romantic and unique wedding photos.

I often take these blue hour wedding photos as portraits with the newlyweds as we sneak out of the reception for a few minutes. However, blue hour wedding photos can occur during a twilight outdoor ceremony or even the first dance of open air venues such as Four Corners Winery and The Pavilion at Sandy Pines. Take a look below.

Blue hour wedding ceremony and reception photos.

We are at the mercy of Mother Nature for these types of images though. If we get cloudy skies we simply aren’t going to get that blue in the sky. Also, facing West is helpful and while not necessary, I do like some other ambient light in the scene such as from the barn window in the images below as well as the leaning lighthouse off of the lake.

I have a special way of lighting these as well to make them look natural but yet bring out even more of the blue in the sky.

A blue hour wedding photo at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana.

A blue hour wedding photo with light reflections at Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana.

Are you up for attempting some blue hour photos at your wedding? While I like to leave you alone during the reception to enjoy your wedding, if you want this look I’d be glad to pop outside for a few minutes to capture these for you provided location and weather cooperate.

Here are a few more images below at weddings as well as some portraits I’ve done at blue hour in Chicago.

As always, Contact Me Here to find out availability and to schedule a meeting.

Blue hour portraits taken in Chicago, Illinois.

Wedding At Village Church In Dyer, Indiana

May 25, 2020 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in silhouette on the altar at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana.

It felt great to be out shooting weddings again and capturing people’s memories. I could not have asked for a better group of folks to do so with than Amanda and Taylor and their families.

This post will be different than what you you usually see here as there was no reception and there were no guests due to the current health emergency in the world. That celebration will come at a different time.

We did have a cake cutting though!! And really, it’s all about the cake… ;)

Home is where this wedding story begins.

As the sign says, “home is where the story begins” with Amanda’s bridesmaids getting hair and makeup done. Everyone was in great spirits and I had fun telling stories with them and photographing the decor for the day.

Bridal prep for a Spring wedding at Village Church.

The wedding ceremony at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana was preceded by a first look with Dad before he brought her down the aisle to the awaiting groom, Taylor.

As their pastor stated, “things happen for a reason” and although many seats may have been empty because of this health crisis, hearts were very full. The groom’s mom was very excited for her son and his bride and it showed when they exited the church.

A Spring wedding ceremony at Village Church.

Bridesmaids on the altar at Village Church.

Groom and his groomsmen at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana.

A romantic kiss in church after the ceremony.

After family photos and wedding party pictures at church, we all took off for Centennial Park where a “cake ceremony” and “bubble send off” was planned for the newlyweds.

A candid moment between bride and groom during photos at Centennial Park.

While family set up for the cake ceremony, the wedding party and the happy couple wandered Centennial Park with me taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful Spring day we had.

The bridesmaids having fun with the bride at Centennial Park.

Wedding party group photo at the lake at Centennial Park.

Spring wedding photos at Centennial Park.

So this was my very first outdoor “cake ceremony” at Centennial Park. It was a great idea! I didn’t know it was happening until the day of but I’m really glad this sweet moment took place.

The bride and groom cut their cake and then exited down the walkway as family and wedding party blew bubbles. They all then grabbed an undercover picnic area and ate some delicious cake.

The official reception will take place later when friends and family can party on the dance floor.

Cake cutting and bubble exit at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

This is merely a sneak peek of Amanda and Taylor’s wedding at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana. Be sure to follow the Region Weddings instagram channel for more images from this wedding and others.

To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please fill out the Contact Form right here.

Real Weddings In Northwest Indiana

April 21, 2020 Steve Vansak

First look at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

With the world in chaos and gripped by a pandemic (that is still shocking to write), I thought it was time for a feel good post. I want you to view these Real Wedding episodes as not only a look at the past, but also a glimpse into the future.

If you follow me on the Region Weddings Instagram Channel, you will know I have an IGTV series call Real Weddings. Every episode features highlights from one wedding set to music. They are all weddings from Northwest Indiana, Chicago area and southwest Michigan. Here are the first five:

Real Weddings - Episode 1: Tessa + Luis

A Spring wedding with a church ceremony and a reception at Villa Cesare. Portraits taken at Centennial Park. Press play and enjoy!

Real Weddings - Episode 1

Real Weddings - Episode 2: Josie + Victor

A bohemian style outdoor wedding at Friendship Botanical Gardens and a reception at The Market.

Real Weddings - Episode 2

Real Weddings - Episode 3: Nikki + Johnny

A church wedding at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana with a wonderful, tight knit family.

Real Weddings - Episode 3

Real Weddings - Episode 4: Christina + Melvin

An epic wedding at The Uptown Center in Michigan City, Indiana.

Real Weddings - Episode 4

Real Weddings - Episode 5: Beth + Keenin

Roar along in the groom’s vintage car for an outdoor golf course wedding at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

Real Weddings - Episode 5

I hope you enjoyed these videos of Real Weddings from Northwest Indiana. Stay tuned for more episodes from Chicago and Michigan and some winter and Fall weddings too.

As always, please do fill out the Contact Form to inquire about wedding photography for your big day.

And remember, weddings will be back, hugging will begin again and love will be celebrated!!