Summer Wedding At St. Maria Goretti Church

August 14, 2018 Steve Vansak

A celebratory dip for the bride and groom after their church wedding at St. Maria Goretti.

Wow - I had a lot of fun capturing Kim and Tim's summer wedding at St. Maria Goretti Church with photos afterward at Centennial Park and the reception at Halls of St. George. From the welcoming hospitality of each of their families to the "singing bridesmaids", it was an inspirational day for sure.

We started the day with myself capturing bridal prep and Bridget with the guys.

Wedding day bridal prep for Kim and her bridesmaids.

Getting ready at the bride's parent's home.

Groom prep for a church wedding at St. Maria Goretti.

Bride and groom dressed and ready for their summer wedding.

Kim's Dad escorted her to the church in his vintage car and in his arms down the aisle of St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana as Tim looked on.

The bride and her father at a catholic wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church.

Wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana.

Bubble exit at St. Maria Goretti Church.

After the exit we went inside for family pictures and I also took the couple around the church for photos. Kim wanted to show off the stained glass behind the altar and we did just that with them in a classic kiss down below. Then we were off to Centennial Park.

Bride and groom at the altar of St. Maria Goretti Church.

Stained glass windows overlook the bride and groom for their church wedding photos.

Showing off the bride's wonderful dress at church.

At Centennial Park, once again I went off with the girls while Bridget photographed the guys. And then we let the girls goof off with Tim and the same with Kim and the guys.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen photos at Centennial Park in Dyer, Indiana.

Bride with groomsmen and groom with bridesmaids.

Summer wedding photos at Centennial Park.

Centennial Park is a popular destination for wedding pictures in Northwest Indiana and we utilized all of the wonderful backgrounds there including the lake and greenery as we walked the perimeter of the park.

Bride and groom walk along the greenery at Centennial Park.

Bride and groom at the edge of the Centennial lake.

It had been awhile since a wedding party had attempted a jumping shot, but Kim and Tim's group were up for it with shoes flying. Soon it would be time to celebrate indoors at the Halls of St. George.

Ninja masters and shoe throwers in the summer sun of Centennial Park.

The fun continued at the reception at Halls of St. George with intros, speeches and cake cutting. A special appearance was make via cardboard cutout of "a guy named Mike" and then it was time to hit the dance floor.

Fun times at Halls of St. George for a summer wedding reception.

“It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she’s waiting there for you”

— Africa by Toto - Songwriters: David Paich / Jeff Porcaro

It appears the "singing bridesmaids" only know the chorus of the song Africa, but they did a fine job of it!!

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Kim and Tim's summer wedding at St. Maria Goretti Church. Be sure to tune in to the social media channels below for more images. As always, to inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please use the Contact Form to set up a meeting. I'd love to chat with you about your wedding.

10 Years Of Wedding Photography

August 6, 2018 Steve Vansak

Modern bride portrait in a vintage tone.

In 2007 I began my portrait photography business that still exists today. I photographed my friends, their kids, their events and more. Late that year I received a phone call from a father of the bride who saw one of my portraits hanging at a local car repair shop. He wanted me to photograph his daughter's wedding based upon these images. I promptly said no.

Weddings are too important and frankly too difficult a task for newbies with only a year of experience in portraits. I told him this again and again and it was all true. He recognized my voice. It turns out I had worked for him in the past and based upon these images in the store and the fact that I "always showed up on time and worked hard" he was going to hire me, case closed. He would not take no for an answer. Oh, and his daughter liked the portraits too. I had 10 months to prepare and in August 2008 I shot my first wedding. It took a number of years, but it soon became my full time job and this is what I do today. Oh, and Teresa and Jimmy (my first clients) are doing well and I ran into them a few years ago here in Crown Point. You can see them at the 47 second mark of the video below.

If I write anymore, this could become my LONGEST POST EVER, so I'll just simply say that I love the job and I'm very much looking forward to all of the upcoming weddings here in 2018, my Anniversary Year and the 2019 weddings already on the calendar and beyond. To all of my clients - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Now, and if I start posting images from the past 10 years into this article, your computer may very well blow up. So..... how about we press play on the video slideshow below for a condensed version of the past 10 years of weddings in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Southwest Michigan. Enjoy!!

A collection of images from 10 years of wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southwest Michigan from Steve Vansak, lead photographer at Region Weddings.

As always, to inquire about wedding photography for your big day, simply fill out the Contact Form. I can't wait to hear from you.

Did you know I started this blog in 2010? Yep, keep clicking on older post and eventually you will get there. The Region Weddings Instagram feed is another place to see my latest work and once in awhile I post some throwback images.

Summer Wedding Ceremony At St. Michael's Parish

July 16, 2018 Steve Vansak

The newlyweds kiss at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville, Indiana. — The newlyweds kiss at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville, Indiana.

Katie and Patrick had a wonderful wedding ceremony at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville, Indiana surrounded by friends and family. Our day started at Navii Salon where "bridesmaid Daisy" was the first to be dressed and ready. Second photographer Kerrie met the guys at the church for detail photos and soon Katie was walking down the aisle with a huge grin on her face with her Dad by her side.

Bridal prep at Navii Salon in Schererville, Indiana.

After mom secured the dress and had her moment with Katie, the flower girl and father of the bride took turns paying her a visit to see her in her dress for the first time. Dad escorted her to the awaiting limo.

The bride prepares for her big day at her parent's home.

Groomsmen prep at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville, Indiana.

Solo portraits of the bride and groom at Carmelite Shrine.

As usual, I tried to capture the great architecture of St. Michael's Paris as well as all of the moments within the ceremony. Afterward we did family pictures within the church and then we were off to Carmelite Shrine for wedding party and bride and groom pictures.

Wedding ceremony at St. Michael's Parish. — Wedding ceremony at St. Michael's Parish.

Summer wedding ceremony at St. Michael's Parish.

Carmelite Shrine is located in Munster, Indiana and features a picturesque grotto as well as outdoor staircases and wonderfully wooded walkways.

The wedding party celebrates as the bride and groom kiss.

Wedding party champagne toast outside the limousine.

The bride and groom kiss on an outdoor staircase at Carmelite Shrine in Munster, Indiana.

The bridesmaids get cute with the bride.

Cute bride and groom photos at Carmelite Shrine in Munster, Indiana.

Afternoon walk for the bride and groom at Carmelite Shrine.

Bride and groom in front of the grotto at Carmelite Shrine.

The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana was decorated in blue and waiting for Katie and Pat to christen the dance floor. They did indeed as the dance floor was packed all night with Precision Sound providing the soundtrack. There was a potential spilling of the cake, but disaster was avoided!!

Wedding reception at Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

First dance at the Center for Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana.

Dance floor wedding reception fun at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Katie and Patrick's Summer Wedding Ceremony at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville, Indiana. Stay tune to the Instagram feed below for more images and check in on the Contact Form to inquire about your big day.

Wedding At Valparaiso University Chapel of the Resurrection

May 29, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom walk down the aisle at Chapel of the Resurrection.

Lauren and Eddie had an epic Memorial Day weekend wedding at The Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University. The church is probably one of the largest in the Northwest Indiana area and we will showcase that fact a little further down.

First let's catch up with the bridesmaids at Combing Attractions where Make Up by Krissy V. readied the girls for a hot summer day.

The bride and her bridesmaids prep for the Dream Wedding.

Mother of the bride assists her daughter on wedding day.

The bride gets ready for a summer wedding at Valparaiso University.

While I was with the bridesmaids, second photographer Kerrie captured the guys prep which consisted of dressing and meditating in a moment of zen.

The sun was blazing down upon us and I'm sure we all considered a jump into the fountain at Aberdeen!! I captured the bridesmaids photos at the fountain while Kerrie photographed the guys at Valparaiso University. Soon it would be time to walk down the aisle of the big church.

The bridesmaids huddle up with the bride at a Valparaiso wedding.

Groomsmen outside the Chapel of the Resurrection.

Fun bridesmaid photos at the Aberdeen fountain.

I mentioned earlier that Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University was a large church and I think you will agree at seeing Lauren walk down the aisle with her Dad as seen from the balcony.

Father of the bride walks with his daughter at Chapel of the Resurrection.

Wedding ceremony at Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.

A summer wedding at Chapel of the Resurrection.

One of the most compelling areas of the church is the spiral staircase and Lauren was very excited to take photos in this area as well as show off the wonderful stained glass inside the building.

Bride and groom at the bottom of the spiral staircase at Valparaiso University.

Bride and groom in front of the wonderful stained glass of Chapel of the Resurrection.

One of our outdoor stops was the famed kissing bridge on the outer edge of campus.

Bride and groom on the kissing bridge at Valparaiso University.

Wedding photos at Valparaiso University campus.

I had never visited the Victory Bell on campus before, but what a great spot for a triumphant just married picture. After a few here, it was off to Aberdeen Manor for the reception.

The Victory Bell outside the Valparaiso University football stadium.

Aberdeen Manor is always spectacularly decorated and Lauren and Eddie's reception there certainly was. After the cutting of the hanging cake, speeches and dinner it was time for first dances and another dipping of the bride.

Fun wedding reception at Aberdeen Manor.

The groom dips his bride at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Wedding reception fun at Aberdeen Manor.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Lauren and Eddie's wedding at Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University. More images to follow on the social media channels below. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form to set up a meeting to discuss photography.