Literary Themed Wedding at Centennial Park

July 6, 2015 Steve Vansak

Shadow of a heart with a wedding ring placed inside a book.

Katie and Kurt are fans of the Harry Potter series of books and avid readers. It made perfect sense for them to have a literary themed wedding complete with books on every table at their reception at Centennial Park in Munster.

The day began at Hampton Inn where the girls got ready. It was there amongst all the laughter and hairspray that I first spotted the library due date cards that would be serving as table placards later in the night.

The bride puts on earrings as window light shines upon her.

Katie looked resplendent in her veil and we definitely showed it off in pictures. I took the girls into the hotel lobby for posed as well as goof off photos and I took Katie outside for a walk.

Bridesmaids wedding photos in Munster, Indiana.

The ceremony took place at Ridge United Methodist Church with Father Steve as officiant. The tall building gave me opportunity to get some nice wide shots of the altar and the center aisle was perfect for up close shots as Katie and Kurt were married.

Wedding ceremony at Ridge United Methodist Church.

We were concerned about storms as the couple exited the church with bubbles surrounding them. However, I put in a text to Mother Nature and the rain held off!!

Bubbles surround the newly married couple at Ridge United Methodist Church in Munster, IN.

Centennial Park was our last stop of the day for photos as well as the literary themed wedding reception. The newly married couple walked alone across the bridge while we loaned out a golf cart for a fun group wedding photo.

The bride and groom walk across the bridge at Centennial Park.

The literary themed wedding really showed at the reception with books adorning each table and the library due date cards for each guests. Boris from Precision Sound kept them dancing all night and handed the microphone off to the groom and the single guys who serenaded the bride just before the garter toss.

Literary themed wedding reception at Centennial Park.

Wedding season is in full swing and this is only a sneak peek look at Katie and Kurt's literary themed wedding at Centennial Park. Stay tuned for more at the social media links below!!

Wedding At United Methodist Church In Hebron, Indiana

July 3, 2015 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom kiss at United Methodist Church in Hebron.

To me, Lauren and Ryan are the perfect "early summer" couple - laid back, breezy, calm and cool. Their June wedding at United Methodist Church in Hebron was just that. The temperature was perfect and we we're able to go to the beautiful Ogden Gardens as well as the rip roaring, open air reception at the Valparaiso YMCA Pavilion.

The day started at His and Hers Salon with lots of laughter and continued to the church where Lauren got into her beautiful dress.

The bride's dress hangs in front of stained glass windows at the church.

The couple had a private first look inside the church before letting in friends and family for the ceremony. It was a great moment as Lauren came down the aisle and Ryan slowly turned to see her for the first time on their wedding day.

First look for the bride and groom at United Methodist Church in Hebron, Indiana.

The church was packed with well wishers as the couple were married. A crowd waited outside afterward to salute the newly married couple and send them off.

Wedding ceremony at United Methodist Church.

After family photos inside the church, we stopped by Ogden Garden in Valparaiso where we took fun wedding photos with the bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as romantic pictures of the bride and groom. Lauren and the girls showed off their "epic swag" while Ryan sheepishly showed the bridesmaids his "bling".

Fun wedding photos at Ogden Garden in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Romantic wedding photos at Ogden Garden in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The wedding reception was held at the open air venue of the YMCA Pavilion in Valparaiso. The couple danced in front of the Mr. and Mrs. sign that was handcrafted by the groom. As night approached, the dance floor heated up. The bride and groom even got in a quick corn toss.

Wedding reception at the YMCA Pavilion in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Wedding At St. Peter's Catholic Church In Laporte, Indiana

June 5, 2015 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Laporte, Indiana.

We all knew there were possible storms brewing on Kelly and Danny's wedding day. Thing was, the joy and laughter and smiles won out. Also, we had a determined bride and groom and I'm a determined photographer. Like mail delivery, neither rain nor sleet and snow was going to stop us.

The day began at The Blue Heron Inn right off the lake in LaPorte. The girls were in high spirits as MUA's and stylists from LeRoc were on hand to bring out the beauty.

St. Peter's Catholic Church has some wonderful architecture and the priest was very gracious in giving us free reign to capture this glorious ceremony from all angles, including the tall balcony.

Wedding ceremony at St. Peter's Catholic Church in LaPorte, Indiana.

Wedding ceremony photo collage of St. Peter's Parish.

We had entered the church for the ceremony at 2pm and by the time we exited an hour or so later, the temperature had dropped by 30 degrees and storms were brewing. the newly married couple made a quick dash amid bubbles and then back inside for family photos.

Bride and groom exit the church amidst bubbles with an umbrella to keep dry from the rain.

After the last of family pictures were taken, we headed out to the lake where fog had overtaken everything. Rain was pelting us from all sides and the temps were chilly. Still, Danny and kelly remained in good spirits. I think I muttered "you only live once" and they agreed. Their adorable son, the ring bearer and the flower girl got to it out the outside shots. They were all smiles inside for their photos.

The bride and groom brave the rain for their wedding photos.

The reception took place at The Allure and the venerable ballroom did not disappoint. The ring shot below sums up the mood and i was pleased to see the Wish Book that I made for the couple from their engagement session on display and being signed by guests.

A photo collage of a wedding reception at The Allure.

The bride and groom cut the cake at The Allure during their wedding reception.

As you can see from the above images, the name of the game was fun and the bride and groom set the tone with their cake smashing. Hey, after getting pelted by rain earlier, why not!!

The dance floor was packed all night and the groom even took over the microphone for a vocal performance as the crowd cheered him on.

The groom performs during his wedding reception.

Kelly and Danny booked me last year for their late May wedding. If you would like to secure your date for next year, please fill out the Contact Form. I promise to get back to you right away.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at this fun couple's wedding at St. Peter's Catholic Church in LaPorte. Stay tuned to the social media listed below for more images.

Wedding at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana

August 18, 2014 Steve Vansak

Wedding ceremony at Saint Maria Goretti Church

Mike the cowboy married his cowgirl Lisa at Saint Maria Goretti Church this past Saturday. You will see later in this post why I'm making cowboy references. All i can say is, this was a fun one and full of surprises for guests as well as the photographers. The happy couple met online and it became an Indiana and Texas nuptial in short order.

The day began at Lisa's parent's home in Munster, Indiana with touching candids of mother and daughter as well as lots of laughter with the bridesmaids.

Getting Ready images at the home of the bride's parents.

I don't know too much about motorcycles, but I do know that Mike's red and black bike looks super cool. I made sure we took a portrait of him on it after he drove up and guests arrived for the ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana.

The groom arrives to his wedding at St. Maria Goretti via motorcycle and black tuxedo.

Father Charles is quite the character and we sure enjoyed his improvisation of the ceremony. He had Mike and Lisa laughing throughout. Their lighting of the unity candles was one of the few serious moments as light shone in from above.

The bride and groom light unity candles at St. Maria Goretti Roman Catholic Church.

The bride and groom exit as bubbles surround them at St. Maria Goretti Church.

We took family formals as well as dramatic couple's shots in the church and then it was on to Centennial Park for some fun wedding photos.

The bride's wonderful dress on display at the church altar.

Bridesmaids photo bomb the groomsmen in this fun wedding photo.

The girls tipped me off ahead of time that they were going to photo bomb the groomsmen so we were ready to capture all of the fun. Mike wanted to show off the writing on the bottom of his shoes, so I did some romantic couple in the sun images at the same time. We then went all around the park taking romantic wedding photos on a warm August afternoon.

The groom shows off the writing on his wedding shoes.

The bride and groom kiss atop the Centennial Park bridge in Munster, Indiana.

Late afternoon sun engulfs the happy couple after their wedding ceremony.

The wedding reception at Wicker Park Social Center is where the cowboy references really start to kick in. Friends and family had no idea where the groom was until he burst into the room in his white hat and singing to the crowd and introducing his new wife.

The groom enters his reception in a cowboy hat singing a country song.

Groom introduces his bride at Wicker Park Social Center in Munster, Indiana.

Ladies and gentleman, Texas has arrived in Indiana!! The new Mr. and Mrs. Holland have entered the building!!!

First dance of the bride and groom at Wicker Park Social Center.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Mike and Lisa's wedding at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana. Please subscribe below for more updates as well as visit the Region Weddings Social Media Page.