Wedding at Red Barn Experience

September 30, 2014 Steve Vansak

The bride glows in sunlight at the entrance of The Red Barn Experience in LaPort, Indiana.

Dustin and Rachel's rustic Fall wedding at The Red Barn Experience was filled with smiles and laughter. No really, my camera lens did not have to look far to see smiling, glowing faces. From the bride and groom themselves to family and guests at the reception. As I told Rachel before I left the reception that night, "you guys are doing it up right".

Speaking of smiling faces, when I entered the bridal suite at the Best Western Hotel in LaPorte I saw the dream team of hair and make up with Alex Garcia of Foxy by Alex Garcia and Krissy Vanderwoude of Makeup by Krissy V. and Shannon Grimmer of Fringe Salon. Rachel and her bridesmaids were in good hands and I'm sure the hidden stash of champagne made things all the better!!

Getting ready at The Best Western bridal suite in LaPorte, Indiana.

Rachel had a lovely dress and I got one last shot of her showing off her garter before heading to the Red Barn to set up the first look.

The bride shows off her garter just before her Fall wedding ceremony at The Red Barn Experience.

The plan was to have Dustin wait upon a hill in the back field behind the Red Barn and have Rachel walk toward him for the big reveal. He was nervous and excited and turned around and walked toward her. We caught their embrace and some intimate talk with the iconic windmill in the background.

First look for the bride and groom at The Red Barn Experience.

Bride and groom in front of the windmill at Red Barn.

If you are a fan of the rustic look then certainly this is a great wedding venue that many from Northwest Indiana as well as Chicago and Michigan celebrate at. It was the perfect scene for some bridal party wedding photos as well as the couple.

Sun rays illuminate the behind the red barn as the bride and groom gaze at each other.

After a walk in the cornfields and a cute kiss at the entrance to the Red Barn reception area, it was close to ceremony time.

The bride and groom walk amongst the Indiana corn.

Dustin was just as elated as the first look earlier when Rachel was walking down the aisle. The planted garden symbolism was very unique and I enjoyed that feature of the ceremony tremendously. As you may have noticed, weather was picture perfect.

The bride walks down the aisle at a Fall outdoor wedding ceremony at The Red Barn Experience.

The bride and groom plant a garden together during their outdoor wedding ceremony.

Remember all of those smiling faces I talked about at the beginning of the day? Here they all were along with many more at the open air reception. Somehow the groomsmen grew mustaches while the bridesmaids hair went frizzy. Must have been something in the champagne!! :)

Dancing under the stars and the lighting of the Sky Lanterns during the first dance were some of the many highlights.

Open air wedding reception at The Red Barn Experience.

Sky lanterns fill the night sky during the first dance.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Dustin and Rachel's rustic Fall wedding at The Red Barn Experience. Subscribe to this Journal below and visit the Region Weddings Facebook page for more updates.

Sand Creek Golf Course Wedding

September 15, 2014 Steve Vansak

The bride's veil flies in the wind at Sand Creek Golf Course in Chesterton, Indiana.

Brieanne and Jeremiah were married at Sand Creek Golf Course this past weekend. The temperature was unexpectedly cool, but our skies were clear as the wind blew the bride's veil while we were out shooting on the course.

Our day started in a portioned off area of the locker room with the girls getting ready. Emotions ran from fun laughter to happy tears as ceremony time approached. Everybody doted on flower girl Chloe and Jeremiah left a heartfelt note with his gift to Brieanne...

Girls just want to have fun while getting ready for a wedding at Sand Creek in Chesterton.

These girls were a real fun bunch so I just let them go for a walk along the wonderful greenery of the Chesterton country club and wedding venue while I captured all the fun...

The bridesmaids go for a walk at Sand Creek Golf Course.

Perhaps it was the wine that had them all giddy in addition to the excitement of Brieanne's big day...

The guys had a different take on their wedding pictures. Football season has begun and time to show off team pride...

The groomsmen wear the jersey to their favorite football team for a fun wedding photo.

I told these girls to attack the groom and they didn't have to think twice. Looks like he didn't mind at all.

Due to the crisp Fall temperatures the wedding ceremony was held indoors in the Sand Creek dining area in the late afternoon. Emotions got the best of the bride and groom as they said their vows and Chloe the flower girl couldn't get enough of the spotlight.

A photo collage of a wedding ceremony at Sand Creek in Chesterton, Indiana.

The just married couple shares a kiss after their wedding ceremony as guests look on.

Family photos followed with us then taking a 6 car golf cart around the course for bride and groom shots. The happy couple spelled out love and went for a stroll with a covered bridge in the background.

A young couple shares a kiss as they stroll the golf course at Sand Creek.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Brieanne and Jeremiah's wedding at Sand Creek Golf Course in Chesterton, Indiana. Be sure to subscribe to the Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer Journal down below for more updates.

I leave you with the newly married couple on the dance floor of the ball room at Sand Creek.

Fall Wedding at The Patrician

October 23, 2013 Steve Vansak

Wedding cake decorated for the Fall season awaits wedding guests at The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana.

Ryan and Jamie had their Fall wedding at The Patrician banquet hall in Schererville, Indiana. It was a chilly day outside, but warm hearts were everywhere inside. We began the day at the hall's bridal suite with the girls attending to make up and laughing it up with me.

A make up artist attends to the bride inside of the bridal suite at the Patrician.

The make up artist applies eyeliner to the bride revealing a tattoo of the word "beautiful".

I'm not above being a little sneaky to get a good candid shot, but I was eventually busted by the maid of honor as I took this photo through the doorway as she worked on her speech for later that night.

the maid of honor writes her speech for her sister's wedding.

I would occasionally walk into The Patrician's main banquet hall to give the girls a break from my camera and i was astounded by the wonderful homemade Autumn wedding decor that Jamie and Ryan's family had assembled. Yellow and orange hues filled the entrance to the ballroom.

Fall wedding table cards made of miniature logs with the seating card inside the carved out slit.

Wooden Fall themed bride and groom table placards.

When Jamie's mom and her sister, the maid of honor began tying her dress, I knew it was almost time for the first look with her Dad.

The bride's maid of honor helps tie the lacings on the wedding dress.

The mother of the bride embraces her daughter on wedding day.

I ran into Jamie's dad while taking detail shots of all her decor. He told me he couldn't stop pacing at home, so he might as well do his pacing at the hall. We got to talking and it was obvious that he loves his daughters and family. I knew the Dad's first look was going to be special...

A father awaits his daughter, the bride, for his first look at the bottom of the staircase at The Patrician banquet hall.

A father has his first look at his daughter's wedding dress.

A bride kisses her Dad after he sees her in her wedding dress for the first time.

It was especially touching when he gave her earings for a gift and presented it to her right after the first look.

While I was inside with Jamie and her bridesmaids in the warm Patrician, our second photographer Stephanie Wallace was taking the guys out for some Autumn portraits at a family estate in Crown Point.

The groomsmen pose for Fall portraits in Crown Point.

If you ever wondered what the guys do on the morning of the wedding, it usually involves a TV, sports and if there is a billiard table around - a quick game of pool...

The groom shoots pool to shake the nerves on the morning of his wedding.

The groom's mother helps him with the cufflinks on his suit.

The temperatures had dipped into the 40's at one point during the day so we did not do too many outside shots with the bridesmaids. However, we were able to bring a little bit of Fall inside to The Patrician.

The bride's sister and maid of honor poses for a portrait surrounded by autumn decorations at The Patrician.

We did finally brave it for a few outside images. we were in and out of the gazebo and ended with a group hug to show their support for Jamie and to keep warm too!!

Bridesmaids give a group hug to the bride while surrounded by Fall colors.

It was decided that it would be an indoor ceremony and I took Jamie into the darkened room from a dramatic bridal portrait to show off the back of her dress. The orange hue in the room played nicely with our Fall color theme.

The bride shows off the back of her dress in a darkened room with orange hued candles.

Reverend Doug Klukken was the officiator at the indoor ceremony at The Patrician and he had the emotions going from happy tears to wonderful out loud laughter. The room was packed with family and friends witnessing Jamie and Ryan's marriage.

A father gives away his daughter at her fall wedding ceremony.

Happy tears come forth as grandparents of the bride watch her get married.

the bride and groom solemnly pray during their indoor wedding ceremony at The Patrician banquet hall.

October sees night come early in Northwest indiana and we took advantage of this by taking some twilight bride and groom shots outside the gazebo.

The bride and groom stand outside the gazebo at The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana during the twilight hour.

The bride and groom embrace as night fall.

The reception was a rocking good time with the dance floor packed all night. The bride and groom certainly had the attention of the room as they did their traditional first dance with the Autumn colored uplighting in the background to continue the Fall theme.

The bride and groom take their traditional first dance at The Patrician banquet center in Schererville, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Jamie and Ryan's Fall wedding. Stay tuned here and on the Region Weddings Facebook page for more photo updates.

Wedding favor chocolates and a box with a keychain inside and decorated with a heart.

Fall Wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden

October 6, 2013 Steve Vansak

The bride and groom share a kiss in this dreamy wedding photo taken in the forest of Fernwood Botanical Garden.

I was expecting Fall / Autumn colors for Mike and Jennifer's outdoor wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden and this hideaway in Niles, Michigan did not disappoint. This nature preserve is a special place where people, plants, and nature come together. Several mini gardens are surrounded by a forest area with tall trees and many different paths leading to hidden areas such as a water wheel with a river and bridge. This was the perfect setting for Mike and Jennifer who were looking for earthy looking wedding photos featuring them surrounded by nature.

My assistant and I arrived early and started taking detail shots of the unique Fall wedding decorations that were set up in the outdoor tent area that would serve as the reception hall for family and guests.

Fall wedding decorations for an outdoor Autumn wedding.

A homemade, rustic looking wedding gift card box.

Soon the groom and his groomsmen arrived for photos. They took a stroll through the wooded area of Fernwood as we awaited for the bride's arrival and the much anticipated first look.

The groomsmen take a stroll through the woods of Fernwood Botanical Garden.

The groom is surrounded by yellow leaves for a photo at his Autumn wedding.

I have had some real touching first looks this wedding season, everywhere from Lake County Fairgrounds to Centennial Park and I'm happy to say that this streak continues with Jennifer and Mike. Just look at the grooms face as he sees his bride for the first time!!

An overjoyed groom reacts during the first look at Fernwood Botanical Garden.

We let the anticipation build as the bride slowly walked toward her soon to be husband as friends and family cheered them on.

The bride walks toward her soon to be husband in a beautiful green field surrounded by trees and Autumn leaves.

A beautiful bride reveals herself to her groom.

The bride and groom first look at the gorgeous pumpkin garden during their Fall wedding in Niles, Michigan.

We then walked deep into the forest area at Fernwood Botanical Garden taking bridal party shots along with portraits of our beautiful bride surrounded by the wonderful colors of the Fall season.

Beautiful bridal portrait taken in the Fall season with warm color.

I left the couple alone for awhile to soak in the beauty of the area while I took candid images of their moments together.

A candid photo of the bride brushing the grooms hair surrounded by wonderful greenery.

Soon it was time for the outdoor ceremony to begin and the groom got last minute advice from his mom. Okay, I admit it, I goaded her into giving him a lecture!! Either way, it was a fun shot. :)

The groom's mother gives some last minute advice to her son just before the wedding ceremony.

The bride and groom are surrounded by family for their first kiss captured from behind and showing their guests in the background.

The outdoor reception was held under an open air tent and featured earthy, homemade furniture for guests to lounge in while drinking wine and tasting delicious desserts.

A lounge area at an outdoor wedding reception.

Guests mingle and drink wine at an outdoor wedding reception in Niles, Michigan.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Mike and Jennifer's outdoor Fall wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, Michigan. Stay tuned to this Journal and give the Region Weddings Facebook Page a like for more photo updates.