June Wedding At Old Lake County Courthouse In Crown Point

July 8, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in the garden area of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

It was a real family affair when I showed up for Robyn and the girl’s bridal prep at their Crown point home. The bridesmaids were her daughters and they were super helpful getting mom ready for her big day.

While I took Robyn and the girls out to a nearby neighborhood fountain for pictures, second photographer Lauren was capturing the guys in their black and pink duds. Then it was off to the old Crown Point Courthouse for more pictures and the ceremony.

Summer wedding photos in Crown Point, Indiana.

If you have never attended a wedding at the Old Crown Point Courthouse on the Square, it essentially is as it sounds - a vintage courtroom untouched from 100 years ago. It has a jury box and everything and has stadium seating for the guests. The third floor has this incredible reflective flooring and I love taking portraits there.

Wedding ceremony in the vintage courtroom in Crown Point.

Wedding ceremony in the 1920’s era courtroom in the historic Lake County Courthouse building.

Bride and groom portrait on the third floor of the old Crown Point Courthouse.

Wedding photo on the lawn of the historic Crown Point Courthouse.

Bride and groom at the entrance of the historic Lake County Courthouse.

The reception was also in the same historic Crown Point building at the Maki Ballroom. Dinner and dancing took us into nightfall and soon Robyn and Stacey took off for their west coast adventure.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Robyn and Stacey’s June wedding at the historic Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point. Many more images to come. To inquire about your own wedding photography, please fill out the Contact Form right here.

Summer Wedding At Briar Ridge Golf Course

June 11, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom among the greenery of Briar Ridge Country Club.

Gabrielle and Matt had a wonderful summer wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club. The green hues of the expansive golf course were everywhere and made for some very romantic, nature filled photos.

Our day started in the brand new, modernized bridal suite with Hannah Nottingham providing make up and Texture Pointe Hair Salon also on hand. Kathy’s Florist designed some wonderful bouquets and flower arrangements as well. Second photographer Kerrie captured the arrival of the groom and his guys and soon it was time for our bride and groom reveal.

Detail shots at a summer wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The bride and bridesmaids get ready inside the new bridal suite at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The groomsmen arrive at the Briar Ridge clubhouse.

Matt practically leaped with excitement as he turned around to see Gabrielle in her dress for the first time. He walked all around her until they embraced with a kiss.

Bride and groom reveal at Briar Ridge Country Club.

We strolled around the gold course grounds taking romantic wedding photos as these two embraced, hugged, kissed and embraced. I played paparazzi to their celebrity status for the day. We had fun in the near perfect summer weather.

Loving eyes of the bride and groom with purple flowers in the foreground.

Wedding photos on the golf course of Briar Ridge.

Wedding photos at Briar Ridge Country Club golf course.

As we made our way back toward the clubhouse we met up with the wedding party for group pictures and family photos. Then it was time for the late afternoon outdoor ceremony.

Bride and her bridesmaids on the golf course of Briar Ridge.

Groom and his groomsmen at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Wedding party group photo at a summer wedding at Briar Ridge golf course.

Gabby made an entrance to the ceremony with her father and son as the SRO crowd of guests looked on. The location was incredibly scenic and vows were lighthearted and heartfelt.

The bride makes her ceremony entrance alongside her father and son.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Wedding ceremony at Briar Ridge golf course.

The cocktail hour was outside and inside with lots of laughter and banter between guests and congratulations for the bride and groom. The cake was provided by Calumet Bakery and the room drapery and entertainment by Ever After Events.

Cocktail hour at Briar Ridge Country Club.

A rousing introduction for the bride and groom at their Briar Ridge wedding reception.

First dance inside the clubhouse at Briar Ridge golf course.

We had two of the most excited recipients of the bouquet and garter for sure! And the dance floor was so full that I had to stand on chairs for many of my photos to capture all of the fun.

The exuberant dance floor at Briar Ridge during a summer wedding reception.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Gabrielle and Matt’s summer wedding at Briar Ridge Golf Course. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please do fill out the Contact Form right here. Stay tuned to the social media channels listed below for my latest work.

The 2018 Year In Review for Northwest Indiana and Chicago Weddings

December 31, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom steal a kiss on a hilltop at Briar Ridge Golf Course.

I’m typing this blog post on December 31, 2018 on what is supposed to be a slow day in the world of a wedding photographer. It’s not!! With several client meetings today and the final wedding of the year just this past weekend, one of my busiest years in Northwest Indiana and Chicago wedding photography is ending as it began with a very active schedule. No complaints here, but get ready because I have LOTS of images and wedding stories for the year down below. Let’s get to it…

Late winter 2018 weddings in Valparaiso, Indiana and Grant Park, Illinois.

After a busy December the previous year, I photographed Nicole and Luke’s wonderful church wedding in early March in Beecher, Illinois and followed shortly by Ashley and Adam at Aberdeen Manor.

Wedding Ceremony At Faith United Reform Church

In early Spring I found myself at Briar Ridge Country Club quite a few times starting off with Rachel and Matt with Sheri and Ryan the following Saturday. Both couples had some blazing sun for their golf course weddings.

Two Spring weddings at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana.

The previous Fall I had done Ashley and Michael’s engagement session and they had such a wonderful chemistry together that I was eagerly anticipating their outdoor wedding at the spectacular Sandy Pines Pavilion with it’s beautiful bridal suite and perfectly landscaped scenery. It was a wonderful Sunday wedding.

I was also back for another golf course wedding with a touch of Disney with Abby and Sean at Sand Creek Country Club.

Bride and groom hold hands on the lake pier at Sandy Pines Golf Course.

Weddings at two golf courses - Sandy Pines and Sand Creek.

In mid May it was the first of two weddings at County Line Orchard with Jaime and Tom. The groom’s family came all the way from England for this exquisite barn wedding.

The bride and groom exit the County Line Orchard south barn after their ceremony.

Spring wedding photos at County Line Orchard.

Late in May saw me heading to Chicago for Veronica and Adrian’s church wedding and then it was time for another trip to Valparaiso University and The Chapel of the Resurrection where Lauren and Edward declared victory.

May weddings in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

The groom rings the victory bell at Valparaiso University.

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

The groom and his guys at Valparaiso University.

Also in late May, I made it back to the beach for Nicole and Chad’s Memorial Day weekend wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion. Then it was back to Briar Ridge Country Club for Patty and Stephen’s outdoor nuptials.

Late Spring weddings at Marquette Park Pavilion and Briar Ridge Country Club.

June saw another golf course wedding reception with Jennifer and Carl and a stop by Meyer’s Castle two weekends in a row for Valerie and Anthony and then Mallory and Ryan.

June weddings at Briar Ridge and Meyer’s Castle.

The bride is soaked by sunlight at Meyer’s Castle during a summer wedding.

June wedding at Meyer’s Castle in Dyer, Indiana.

Summer rolled on with another County Line Orchard wedding where Ashley and Zach had their un-plugged wedding ceremony.

Bride and groom smooch in the farm fields behind County Line Orchard.

Gang of bridesmaids stalk the open fields of County Line Orchard.

July saw another Chicago wedding with Lauren and Mark at The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building and Katie and Patrick’s church wedding at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana with reception at The Munster Center for the Performing Arts.

July weddings in Chicago and Schererville, Indiana.

The groom kisses the bride at the edge of the Centennial Park Lake.

The summer weddings rolled on with Kim and Tim at St. Maria Goretti Church as well as Patti and David and their wonderful backyard wedding in Crown Point.

Summer weddings in Northwest Indiana during August of 2018.

Summer is the height of baseball season of course, so super fans Kaitlyn and Ryan took to the field after their wedding at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Griffith, Indiana. I also shot at the brand new Allure on the Lake for Katie and Arnie’s wedding reception.

August weddings at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Allure on The Lake.

Labor Day weekend brought an end to summer but the beginning of busy season with Josie and Victor’s bohemian outdoor wedding at Friendship Garden in Michigan City with a stop at The Market for the reception. It also saw another stop at Briar Ridge Country Club with Molly and Chris.

Kissing bridge at Friendship Garden in Michigan City, Indiana.

Outdoor weddings at Friendship Garden and Briar Ridge Country Club.

Boho bride from above during bridal prep for her big day.

A couple in love gazes romantically at each other.

It was my first “wedding selfie” shot at Tracey and Chris’ outdoor wedding at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois. The grain silo is just massive and I was so glad to take some images showcasing the bride and groom next to it. Early September also saw a stop at Centennial Park for an outdoor wedding with Julie and Jason.

September weddings in Illinois and Indiana.

The grain silo at Peck Farm Park towers over the bride and groom.

As September drifted into October, we saw the absolutely fun wedding of Emma and Kyle at Croation Center and then it was Nikki and Johnny’s wedding with a church ceremony at St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, Indiana and a rocking reception at St. Elijah Banquet Center in Merrillville.

The bride and groom sport a take no prisoners look for their wedding photo.

Bridal portrait at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

October also saw Captain America and SpiderWoman (Jess and Josh) get married at Lighthouse Restaurant as well as Erika and Mitch with a Great Gatsby themed wedding at The Allure in Laporte, Indiana.

Captain America marries SpiderWoman at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake.

A wedding picture during a hailstorm in Laporte, Indiana.

The bride and groom get mischievous at The Allure.

Karen and Jason had their hometown wedding in Crown point with a St. Mary’s Church ceremony with stops at the fairgrounds and a reception at the old Lake County Courthouse Maki Ballroom.

More October weddings at The Allure and in downtown Crown Point.

Late October and November Fall weddings saw me back at Sand Creek Country Club for Marz and Tom’s big day as well as Krueger Memorial Hall in Michigan City for Ashley and Terry’s beautiful Fall wedding with Autumn leaves everywhere.

Fall weddings at Sand Creek Country Club and Krueger Memorial Hall.

Leaves fall upon the bride and groom for their Autumn wedding.

As winter finally arrived, The Uptown Center got all lit up for Kristen and Patrick’s wedding and last, but certainly not least the grand finale, last wedding of 2018 was Sarah and Nick’s snow filled day at Sand Creek Country Club.

Winter weddings at Uptown Center and Sand Creek Country Club.

Whew, thanks for making it all the way though this long review of weddings in Northwest Indiana and Chicago in 2018. Please contact me here on the website to set up a meeting to discuss the photography for your wedding day. I service Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southern Michigan but I’m also available for travel. 2018 brought me to a few new venues as well as old favorites. I’m looking forward to seeing where you take me next year and beyond. A special Thank You to Kerrie, Bridget, Schylar, Michelle, Lauren, Doug and Jaime for their help in Wedding Season 2018. Happy New Year!!

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.