Fall Wedding At Avalon Manor

October 10, 2016 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom display their Thank You sign on wedding day.

Fall is upon us with temperatures falling, Autumn leaves in all kinds of colors and wedding season at it's peak!! Stephanie and Brett's October wedding saw us going from getting ready at the groom's parent's home to a first look at Taltree Arboretum and our final destination of Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana.

Stephanie and her girls were in great spirits as I captured all of their laughs and all of their toasts! As their tee shirts stated - the bridesmaids got the bubbly, but Stephanie got a hubby!

Bridal prep for an outdoor Fall wedding at Avalon Manor.

Laughter and spirits during bridal prep.

Stephanie and Brett's first look at Taltree Arboretum in Valparaiso was filled with wonderfully real emotion. After this private moment that we captured from a distance, we went all around the nature preserve with the wedding party and eventually ended with some romantic photos of the soon to be married couple.

First look / reveal at Taltree Arboretum.

The bride and groom take a break on a bench at Taltree Arboretum.

Romantic wedding photos at Taltree Arboretum nature garden.

From the glistening sun poking through the colorful trees to the blue skies and the lake, we pretty much had a gorgeous backdrop every way we turned. We heard a few farm animals on the loose as well.

A sunstar appears through the trees as the bride and groom embrace.

The bride shows off her garter as she shares a romantic moment with her groom.

The bridesmaids each had their own sign showing their connection to Stephanie. It was a nice continuation of Stephanie and Brett's engagement photos from last Fall.

Stephanie's dress was just perfect and I especially loved the texture within it. We took a few wide shots to show off the dress as well as the picturesque nature all around us.

The bride shows off her dress at Taltree Arboretum.

We lined up the wedding party up on top of the rolling hills at the entrance of Taltree Arboretum with the sun shining brightly behind them. Then it was time for some cute blowing kisses pictures before we took off for the early evening ceremony.

The wedding party on top of the rolling hills at Taltree Arboretum in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The outdoor ceremony at Avalon Manor saw every seat full along with a standing crowd in the back. Two acoustic guitar players strummed and sang as the wedding party entered and exited. Stephanie and Brett were grinning ear to ear through their vows and raised their hands in the air in celebration as they were pronounced husband and wife.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Avalon Manor.

The bride and groom celebrate at their outdoor ceremony at Avalon Manor.

After family photos it was time to go inside for cake cutting and speeches. Oh, the decor and candy buffet from How Sweet It Is Events was simply SPECTACULAR!!

Party time at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana.

Father and daughter first dance at Avalon manor.

Mother and son first dance at Avalon Manor.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Stephanie and Brett's Fall wedding at Avalon Manor. Stay tuned to social media for more images. As always, please fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your wedding date.

Outdoor Fall Wedding Ceremony At The Patrician Banquet Center

October 3, 2016 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom share a kiss hidden by trees in St. John, Indiana with sun breaking through.

I think our bride Alyssa simply willed away the rain on her wedding day!! It did rain. However, when we were scheduled for outdoor photos the only water we felt was simply dripping from a few tree branches. When The Patrician asked if she wanted to move the ceremony indoors, she said 'nope' and outside it was with no rain.

Our day started with bridal prep as I got to know the 10 bridesmaids a little bit as they transitioned from hoodies and jeans to robes to eventually their lovely blue dresses.

Bridal preparation at Jay Marie Salon and The Patrician.

Alyssa and Dan had a wonderful first look / reveal at Lake Hills Clubhouse and surrounding lake in St. John, Indiana. The 20 person wedding party cheered them on and then second photographer Kerrie photographed the guys and off I went with the girls.

First look for the bride and groom at Lake Hills Clubhouse in St. John, Indiana.

Bride and groom portraits on wedding day.

The soon to be bride and groom live in the neighborhood and I imagine they have visited the lake pier many times. Mother of the bride brought us a chalkboard and we took a few images for their Thank You Cards.

Bride and groom at the edge of the Lake Hills pier in St. John, Indiana.

The girls stood no chance in their heels with the wet grass, but the guys didn't mind a bit of mud on their shoes.

Wedding party at the lake at Lake Hills in St. John, Indiana.

Since Alyssa and Dan lived so close, we hopped over to their home for a family portrait with the two dogs. Then it was a limousine ride back to The Patrician for their outdoor, Fall wedding ceremony.

A full house with standing room only was present for the outdoor ceremony at The Patrician Banquet Center in Schererville, Indiana. I love the happy, joyous look of the bride and groom just after the first kiss.

A large group of friends and family attend an outdoor wedding at The Patrician.

An outdoor October wedding ceremony at The Patrician.

Alyssa is a nurse and Dan is a police officer and the best man and maid of honor did their best to honor them / roast them by dressing in the appropriate uniforms during introductions. The wedding cake topper had the two dogs make an appearance and the room was beautifully decorated for Fall.

An October wedding reception at The Patrician Banquet Center.

First dance for an October wedding reception at The Patrician.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Alyssa and Dan's outdoor Fall wedding at The Patrician Banquet Center. Stay tuned to social media for more images. As always, please fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your wedding date.

Fall Wedding Ceremony At Radisson Hotel

November 16, 2015 Steve Vansak

The bride looks out the window of Radisson Hotel on her wedding day.

When Sandra and Andrew told me their wedding would be indoors at Radisson Hotel I told them they had made a great choice as Radisson is one of the premiere wedding venues in Northwest Indiana. The day started out in the Birch Room bridal suite with hair and make up, wine and music, and much laughter and friendship.

I took the bridesmaids photos while second photographer Kerrie photographed the guys. We then had a first look on the east side of the hotel by the piano and roamed the wonderful hotel taking photographs of the bride and groom and entire wedding party. Soon it would be time for the ceremony in Celebrity Ballroom East.

The bride and groom kiss in the hallway at Radisson Hotel.

Wedding photos at Radisson in Merrillville, indiana.

A toast on wedding day for the bride and groom.

The indoor wedding ceremony saw the Radisson Ballroom take on an amber, Fall glow as Sandra and Andrew were married on the stage with friends and family watching.

Fall wedding ceremony inside Radisson ballroom.

The party at Celebrity Ballroom West saw a large banner with the couple's names illuminating the dance floor. The Autumn amber glow was even more intense and the wonderfully decorated wedding cake let us all know what season we were in.

Wedding cake decorated for the Fall season.

I was thrilled to see all of the guests writing in the Wish Book that I designed from the couple's engagement session. The father of the bride gave a big thumbs up to the proceedings while polkas filled the room alongside dance tracks.

First dance for the bride at groom in Celebrity Ballroom West.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Andrew and Sandra's Fall wedding ceremony at Radisson Hotel. Stay tuned here and on social media for more updates.

Fall Wedding At St. Mary's Church In Crown Point, Indiana

October 20, 2015 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom hold pumpkins engraved with Thank You.

Krystin and Chachi's Fall wedding featured pumpkins, glowing amber uplighting on the dance floor, leaves, tall trees at Lake County Fairgrounds, a lovely Catholic wedding ceremony, high flying groomsmen on the dance floor and a whole lot of smiling faces from friends, family and the wedding party itself. Good times, indeed!! Oh, did I mention pumpkins?!!

Our day started at Krystin and Chachi's home with the bride and her beloved puppy. The adjective I heard about Krystin all day was the word 'stunning'.

The bride getting ready at her home in Crown Point, Indiana.

Portrait of the bride at her home on the morning of her wedding.

St. Mary's Catholic Church was filled all the way to the back for the ceremony. The full mass gave me opportunity to get shots from the balcony as well as floor level. The groom anxiously awaited his bride as Krystin's Dad walked her down the aisle.

Wedding ceremony at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The bride and groom are married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

After the ceremony we took family photos in the church and then it was off to the Crown Point Square for couple's photos and then Lake County Fairgrounds for some real Fall flavor.

Bride and groom on the altar at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The groomsmen and the bridesmaids at Lake County Fairgrounds.

Krystin's list of props included pumpkins, of course, but cute signs, thank you's, her dog Piper and more!! We had a lot of fun in the woods of Lake County Fairgrounds.

The bride and groom hold a sign that states To Love and To Cherish.

Wedding photos at Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, Indiana.

It was now time to get the party started at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana. The first order of business though was to photograph the spectacular multi tiered wedding cake and all of the October Fall decorations.

A multi tiered Fall decorated wedding cake at Villa Cesare Banquet Hall.

Fall wedding decorations at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

First Dance for the bride and groom at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

Entertaining toasts were met with some great stories and laughter and the dance floor was packed all night. From young to old, everybody shook their moneymaker!!

Everyone parties at a Fall wedding reception at Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana.

Perhaps you have been enjoying a pumpkin spice latte while viewing this sneak peek look at Krystin and Chachi's Fall wedding at St. Mary's Church in Crown Point, Indiana. Stay tuned for more on social media list below.