Allen and Jessica's New Years Wedding

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Allen and Jessica had a rocking good time ushering in the New Year of 2012.  You saw the sneak peek a couple of weeks ago, now let's take a deeper look at their New Years Eve wedding.

The day started off with Jessica being tended to by the flower girls inside the Bride's Room at Bethel Church in Crown Point.  Her mom helped her with the tying of the dress along with the garter placement...

I spent the day covering the events of their winter wedding - from their first look (behind a door) to the first kiss and fireworks enhanced exit after midnight - a wonderful way to spend New Years Eve.

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In this ceremony photo, the bridesmaids look on as the pastor enlightens the happy couple on the joys of marriage....

The groom places the ring upon his bride with the glowing cross of Bethel Church in the background...

Look up 'happy' in the dictionary and this photograph appears....

Uh oh, somebody isn't paying attention...

Allen and Jessica's first kiss as husband and wife...

We assembled family and close friends in the auditorium at Bethel and began formal wedding photos starting with this large family group shot...

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One of my favorite images inside the church is this one of the newly married couple with the bridesmaids at the piano and the Christmas tree in the background.

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Above is a set up formal photo of the bride and groom with some dramatic lighting effects to demonstrate the majesty of their marriage and beautiful church.

We braved the winter cold to do a few outside photos in front of the old courthouse in the Crown Point Square. Here, the bride and groom hold up gigantic thank you cards for their wedding guests, family and friends...

As the groom attempts to escape (just kidding), the bridesmaids hold him hostage with their ever deadly nerf guns!!

As guests entered Andorra Banquet Hall for the New Years Eve wedding reception they would see Christmas ornaments with their name and table number attached.  A very cool idea for seating guests!!

The newlyweds had a lovely first dance with the friends looking on...

When I do these highlight posts I almost always show off the father and daughter dance, but this time we turn the tables with a spotlight on mother and son...

The bride and groom taunt each other with the first bites of their wedding cake...

As the night progressed, the flower girls showed no signs of slowing down on the dance floor...

A packed New Years Eve dance floor at Andorra...

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At midnight the newlyweds exited into the cold night sky while friends and family serenaded them with sparklers and fireworks...

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Congratulations to Allen and Jessica on getting married New Years Eve 2011.  You'll never forget that anniversary date!!

Christmas Tug of War

We are going to take a break today away from weddings and engagements and show off a recent session from my Merrillville Portrait Studio.  I've photographed Ben and Lia for the past three years and they are quite familiar with me now.  We have done studio and on location shots in the past.  So, it didn't take much to coax them into things like the "Christmas tug of war" with mom's scarf or to both try on Dad's Christmas sweater at the same time.

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I even was able to get a reluctant Ben to give little sister a Christmas kiss on the cheek.  She loved it and was more than willing to oblige back, much to Ben's chagrin.

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I love this shot of Lia barely peaking out from hiding behind Mr. Christmas Bear...

When it came time for some solo shots, these guys were ready.  I do seem to recall a McDonalds bribe in there somewhere.  Hey, whatever it take to get the shot!!

One of my goals here at Region Weddings is to be your photographer long after the Reception ends.  I want to be your family photographer as well.  Hopefully I will do such a good job at your wedding that you will want to come back in the future for couple's shots or bring the newborn into the studio or recommend me for kid sister's senior pictures.  

It's the type of customer service  the typical "shoot and burn" wedding photographer is never going to provide.

Let's have one last look my pals Ben and Lia.  Thanks for a great year and Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!

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