Wedding At St. James the Less Catholic Church in Highland, Indiana

May 2, 2017 Steve Vansak

Wedding ceremony at St. James the Less Catholic Church

The Post Office have a motto, something like "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom". Well, that could easily apply to our bride and groom Amanda and Mike who took it to the rain on their Spring wedding day. You will see them brave the elements later in this post with their awesome pink and black umbrella. They rocked it.

Our day started with bridal prep at Amanda's parent's house with a lovely gift from daughter to mom on display. Family love was everywhere in the house as I photographed Amanda's wedding day accessories in her childhood bedroom.

Bride in the window of her parent's home.

Just before she walked down the aisle I visited Amanda in one of the classrooms at the church. I cajoled her into writing all of the bridesmaids names in hearts and we took a quick picture.

Fun bridesmaids photo with hearts on a chalkboard.

The ceremony was at St. James the Less Catholic Church in Highland and had many emotional moments and culminated with celebratory bubbles.

Catholic wedding ceremony at St. James in Highland, Indiana.

I loved the expression of the newlyweds after the ceremony when I photographed them in front of the stained glass windows. After family pictures, we photographed the wedding party as well as the couple all around the church and then it was off to Centennial Park for a romantic walk in the rain.

Beautiful bride on the altar at St. James the Less Catholic Church.

Not only is rain good luck on wedding day, but it also provided nice saturated colors for wedding photos!!

Bride and groom underneath a pink and black umbrella.

Bride and groom take a romantic walk in the rain at Centennial Park.

The groom leans against the wall of the amphitheater at Centennial Park.

The bridesmaids didn't seem to mind when I suggested they wear the groomsmen's jackets for some outside shots as the temperatures dropped.

Fun wedding party photos at Centennial Park.

The reception at The Patrician in Schererville was a lot of fun with lot's of nice decor and a room full of laughter. After dinner it was time for the first dances and then the 27 Entertainment crew cranked up the jams.

Father daughter and Mother daughter dances at The Patrician.

First dance for the bride and groom at their Spring wedding at The Patrician.

The couple married the longest clocked in at 54 years!!

This has been a sneak peek look at Amanda and Mike's Spring wedding at Saint James the Less Catholic Church in Highland, Indiana. Many more images to come, so stay tuned!! As always, inquire about your big day via the Contact Form. Happy Spring!!

Spring Wedding At Holy Name Catholic Church In Cedar Lake

April 24, 2017 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom kiss amongst bubbles at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Samantha and Alex had a gorgeous Spring day for their wedding at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Sam and the girls got ready in the bridal suite of the church where she had a first look with all of the bridesmaids just after her mom helped her into her dress.

Bridal prep in the Holy Name bridal suite.

Mother of the bride helps her daughter on wedding day.

Friends and family gathered inside the spacious church as Sam came down the aisle with her Dad. Alex was there waiting for her. It was an afternoon of great joy as kids young and old laughed and cried.

Wedding ceremony at Holy Name Catholic Church In Cedar Lake

Holy Name Catholic Church wedding ceremony.

I'm a big fan of the "bubble exit" and Sam and Alex were all smiles as they walked out into the bright sunshine surrounded by multi colored soap.

A bubble exit for the bride and groom at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake.

The bride and groom walk through bubbles as they exit church at their Spring wedding.

We hopped back in the church for family photos and then we grouped the entire wedding party together. A few images of Sam and Alex inside the church and then we were off to Lourdes Friary / Monastery.

Wedding party at Holy Name Catholic Church.

The bride on the altar of Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Bride and groom walk in the center aisle of church.

Our first stop for wedding photos was Lourdes Friary in Cedar Lake, Indiana. It's also known as The Monastery. We took images all around the structures there and some fun wedding party shots up on the great hill.

Bride and groom at Lourdes Friary in Cedar Lake.

Bride and groom at the steps of Monastery.

Wedding party group photos in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Our next stop is the scenic old barn at Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana. We took images all around the rustic barn and it's towering grain silo.

The bride and groom take a stroll at the Buckley Homestead barn in Lowell, Indiana.

Wedding photos on the farm of Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana.

Our final stop of the day was Casa Maria in Dyer for the grand finale celebration with dinner, candy buffet and even a congo line.

First dances at Casa Maria Banquet Hall.

Bouquet toss and all around fun times during a wedding reception at Casa Maria in Dyer, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Samantha and Alex's Spring wedding at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar lake, Indiana. As always, be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about availability for your big day.

Winter Wedding Ceremony At St. Maria Goretti Church

February 27, 2017 Steve Vansak

The bride and groom share a moment at St. Maria Goretti Church.

Samantha and Dale's February wedding at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana was full of great moments - lots of laughs and mimosas during getting ready, to nervous giggles during the exchange of rings all the way to the emotional speeches and first dances. Let me take you through the story of their big day...

When I arrived, the Mimosa Bar was open for business and everyone was in great spirits, including the dog!! Krissy V. tended to make up while Katelyn Pruitt styled hair.

The Pink Pajama Crew (aka Sam's bridesmaids) actually laughed at whatever joke I happened to say and soon it was time for Samantha to get into her dress.

The bridesmaids have a pajama party on the morning of the wedding.

Samantha looked stunning in the backlit room as her MOH helped her with the veil.

The MOH assists the bride with her veil.

Second photographer Bridget was with Dale and the groomsmen during this time as they put down a little "robitussin" to help out with the cold temperatures!!

The groom and groomsmen toast to the big day ahead.

Friends and family filled the pews at St. Maria Goretti Church as Sam and her father made their way down the aisle with Dale anxiously looking on. All the candles glistened as they exchanged vows.

Winter wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church.

A reader speaks at a wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti.

After the ceremony, we did family photos in the church and then set out to Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

Wedding party photo at St. Maria Goretti.

Parents and couples photos at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana.

I remember walking out of the church and saying "these temperatures don't seem too bad". Famous last words!! When we arrived at Centennial Park the 18mph winds kicked in with a drop in temps to somewhere in the mid 20's. Much respect to the wedding party for enduring the madness. And of course, a shout out to our bride Samantha and her lovely veil that took a beating!!

Winter wedding photos at Centennial Park.

The wind carries the bride's veil on the bridge at Centennial Park.

Villa Cesare looked spectacular with the muted gold tones of Samantha and Dale's decor. The cake table was epic and I loved the Fuji Instax film cameras for guests to use.

Wedding decorations at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

The wedding party intros were a lot of fun and we scanned the room to capture the great moments - from the flower girl practicing to be the next Ronda Rowsey to Sam's emotional dance with her Dad while the ring bearer looked on.

Fun and emotional moments at a Villa Cesare wedding reception.

First dances at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

We saw quite the contrast with the single women vying for the bouquet and the look of terror on the men during the garter toss...

The bouquet toss at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

The dance floor was alive all night as Operation Get Down provided the soundtrack...

A full dance floor at Villa Cesare during a winter wedding reception.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Samantha and Dale's wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana. To inquire about your big day, be sure to fill out the Contact Form. More images to follow at social media channels below.

Wedding At Oak Glen United Reformed Church

January 31, 2017 Steve Vansak

Church exit with family, friends and lots of bubbles.

Lynne and Dale had a wonderful wedding at Oak Glen United Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois with many, many friends and family attending the ceremony and reception. It was a cold winter day, but the warmth was all around the happy couple.

We started out with bridal prep and then it was time for the emotional first look in the center aisle of the church.

Bridal prep at Oak Glen United Reformed Church.

Dale waited patiently as Lynne made her way down the center aisle and myself and second photographer Kerrie covered from all angles. It was a wonderful moment.

First look / reveal for the bride and groom at Oak Glen United Reformed Church.

We then began couples photos and all of the bridal party and family images. It was then time to freshen up and let guests in for the ceremony.

View from the balcony as the bride and groom walk the center aisle surrounded by pews and bibles.

A total of EIGHT flower girls and one excited bridesmaid.

Lynne looked resplendent as she walked down the aisle with her father as the congregation stood. Dale had a wonderfully emotional moment during the exchanging of the vows. Soon they were married and exited the church amidst bubbles and a whole lot of cheering.

The bride and her father walk down the aisle during a church wedding.

Wedding ceremony at Oak Glen United Reformed Church.

Winter wedding bubble exit in Lansing, Illinois.

Before the reception we made a quick pit stop to the couple's favorite craft brewery, One Trick Pony. Then it was onto the cake, dinner and dancing at Casa Maria in Dyer, Indiana.

Bride and groom behind the drum kit at One Trick Pony brewery.

Winter wedding reception at Casa Maria Banquet Hall.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Lynne and Dale's wedding at Oak Glen United Reformed Church. It was a great day and I completely enjoyed spending the day with their wonderful friends and family.