September Wedding At Briar Ridge Country Club

September 10, 2018 Steve Vansak

Kiss on the golf course under a beautiful blue sky.

Molly and Chris were married at Briar Ridge Country Club overlooking the expansive golf course scenery. We started our day with bridal prep with the crew from Jay Marie Salon in the bridal suite and second photographer Bridget covering the guys as they tested out their silver flasks.

Prep in the bridal suite of Briar Ridge Country Club.

The bridesmaids tend to the bride at Briar Ridge.

A vintage look for the bride inside the suite at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Molly did a first look with her Dad inside the venue then we went outside where her and Chris had a very fun reveal with the bridesmaids on hand to cheer them on.

First look for the bride and groom on Briar Ridge golf course.

Portrait on the golf course for the bride and groom.

The groomsmen went for the high five while the girls hit the low five for some fun wedding party group shots. The bride quad all formed a circle for a goofy group picture and there may have been some tickling of the bride. Even mom gave her daughter a big high five!!

Up high and down low for the wedding party group photo.

Fun bridesmaid pictures at Briar Ridge golf course.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen at Briar Ridge.

I then took Molly and Chris around the golf course for some beautiful scenery. When we arrived back to the clubhouse, we took all of their family group shots. Then it was ceremony time. This enabled them to enjoy their own cocktail hour and leisurely mingle with guests.

A romantic walk up a sun drenched hill for the bride and groom.

Bride and groom photos on the golf course at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Golden sun streams through the trees for a romantic wedding picture at Briar Ridge.

The ceremony took place on the back deck of the ballroom with a wonderful view of the picturesque golf course. A big thumbs up from Dad as he walked Molly down the aisle.

Outdoor wedding on the patio at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The ballroom looked beautiful with blue and white drapery. There was a lot of napkin waving at introductions and cake cutting. The dance floor was packed all night.

Wedding reception decor at Briar Ridge in Dyer, Indiana.

Party on the dance floor at Briar Ridge.

Fun moment on the dance floor for the bride and groom.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Molly and Chris’ golf course wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana. Please stay tuned to the Region Weddings Instagram feed listed below to view more images from this wedding and others. As always, contact me here to discuss your wedding and engagement photography.

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.

May Wedding At Sand Creek Country Club

May 17, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom walk near the covered bridge at Sand Creek Country Club.

Abby and Sean recently had a Disney inspired wedding at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana. We started with the girls in the bridal suite before a peek-a-boo photo of the happy couple where Sean passed along a card with a message for Abby to read.

Bridal prep at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana.

Bride and groom take e a peek-a-boo photo before getting married.

Bride reads a card given to her by the groom.

I took photos of the bride and her bridesmaids in the garden area of Sand Creek while second photographer Kerrie was with the guys out front. We had a lot of fun basking in the nature of this wonderfully landscaped country club.

The bride and her bridesmaids on the Sand Creek golf course.

Bridesmaids cheer at the clock tower at Sand Creek.

Portrait of the bride in the Sand Creek garden.

The indoor wedding ceremony was officiated by Reverend Doug and he brought his charming sense of humor to the proceedings as witnessed by all of the smiling faces in the congregation as well as the bride groom.

Indoor wedding ceremony at Sand Creek Country Club.

After family photos on the back deck overlooking the grounds, we took the "golf cart limo" deep onto the golf course for some romantic bride and groom pictures.

Bride and groom on the hills of Sand Creek golf course.

The newlyweds at Sand Creek golf course.

The Mickey and Minnie decor was on full display in the reception room as were the linens of Unveiled Weddings and the impeccable decorating skills of the venue itself.

A Disney inspired wedding reception at Sand Creek Country Club.

First dance in the reception room at Sand Creek.

Parent dances at Sand Creek Country Club.

The Father of the Bride speech was epic and the bouquet toss saw no injuries. Laugh Booth was on hand with photo booth props and the dance floor was alive.

Dance floor fun at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton.

To inquire about wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, Chicago, Michigan and beyond, please fill out the Contact Form. For more images from Abby and Sean's Disney inspired wedding at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana please follow the social media channels below.

Spring Wedding At The Pavilion At Sandy Pines

May 14, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom overlooking the lake at Sandy Pines Golf Course.

I photographed Ashley and Michael's engagement session last Fall and was able to learn what a passionate and loving couple they are. I had no doubt that I'd have a wonderful day with them at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines in Demotte for their wedding. Indeed. It was fun, sweet, loving, emotional and all of the adjectives you'd expect at a wedding.

Our day started in the spectacular bridal suite with myself covering Ashley's prep while second photographer Kerrie captured Michael and the guys.

Bridal prep at the wonderful Sandy Pines bridal suite.

When I set up a "first look" with the bride and groom, I usually instruct one person to slowly walk toward the other. I did this with Ashley as well. However, she was quite the anxious one as she fast walked toward Michael. They came together in an embrace and we left them alone for awhile so they could have their moment together before we ventured out onto the golf course for pictures. She definitely was excited to see him.

The bride and groom reveal / first look at Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana.

A loving moment between newlyweds at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

The groom dips his bride underneath some mile high trees.

Wedding photos at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana.

Portraits of the bride and groom on and off the golf course.

On the way back from strolling the golf course we got together with the wedding party who were all now prepped and dressed and we did some group photos before the ceremony.

Wedding party group pictures at Sandy Pines.

The outdoor wedding ceremony featured Ashley being walked down the aisle by her brothers and ceremonial heart shaped locks in which parents and the bride groom attached. The couple was awash in bubbles as they exited the sun filled ceremony area.

Outdoor Spring ceremony at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

After the family pictures it was celebration time with introductions and cake cutting. First dances had a nice late afternoon vibe to them as I shot behind some blooming flower petals. The flower girl decided to audition for the Sandy Pines teardown crew by flattening the ceremony chairs.

A late afternoon, open air reception underneath The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

A late afternoon first dance for the bride and groom.

Parent dances in the open air reception area of Sandy Pines.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Ashley and Michael's Spring wedding at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana. To inquire about having your big day captured, be sure to fill out the Contact Form right here.