Wedding At Saint Paul Catholic Church In Valparaiso

August 21, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom portrait At Coffee Creek Nature Preserve.

Katie and Arnie had a wondrous day for their summer wedding at St. Paul Catholic Church with the reception at The Allure On The Lake in Chesterton, Indiana. We started our day at Vanis Salon in Valparaiso for bridal prep while second photogrpaher Bridget captured the guys.

Katie's mom helped with her dress and it's flowing train. After some stained glass window shots in one of the church chapel rooms, it was time to her walk down the aisle in her Dad's arms.

The bride at the stained glass window of Saint Paul Catholic Church.

The groom and his guys get ready for the big day.

Saint Paul has wonderful architecture and we definitely wanted to show it off in some wide shots along with all of the emotions on the altar as well. After family photos inside the church, we jetted off to Coffee Creek Nature Preserve for wedding party and couple's pictures.

Wedding ceremony at Saint Paul Catholic Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The great architecture of Saint Paul Church.

Bride and groom on the altar of St. Paul.

We had a wedding crasher of sorts with a Great Egret bird making an appearance for the bridesmaid group picture.

Bridesmaids on the rocks of the lake at Coffee Creek.

Bride and groom under a big tree at Coffee Creek Nature Preserve.

After leaving Coffee Creek, we walked around the back area of The Allure On The Lake for some scenic wedding photos before heading inside for the party.

Wedding photos at Coffee Creek and The Allure On The Lake in Chesterton, Indiana.

The Allure On The Lake is a fairly new Northwest Indiana wedding venue that has a great deck overlooking the lake where guests can mingle. They also have a beautiful indoor ceremony area. We photographed Katie and Arnie's decor before some spirited introductions, dinner and then dance floor fun. The circular lighting of the ballroom is especially great for epic first dance pictures.

Wedding reception decor at The Allure On The Lake in Chesterton, Indiana.

Wedding reception fun at The Allure On The Lake in Chesterton, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Katie and Arnie's wedding at St. Paul Catholic Church and The Allure On The Lake. Be sure to follow the social media channels below for more images from this wedding and others. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form.

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.