2021 Year In Review - Midwest Wedding Photography

December 29, 2021 Steve Vansak

Welcome to my 2021 Year in Review! What a year it has been for wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, southwest Michigan and the Chicago area.

Above is a short video slideshow to give you an overview of the entire year in pictures. Turn up the volume and enjoy.

Of course, scrolling through this blog / journal you will find the stories of the weddings days (with lots of images) of many of my clients dating all the way back to 2010. This post will concentrate on the images from 2021 (also check out Sarah + Brents’s Short Film embedded at the end) with a few comments from me.

As always, inquire on my Contact Form about openings for your big day for photography as well as Short Films.

Happy New Year!

I had one lone wedding in March at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana and then the season kicked off in earnest in late May. After that, WEDDINGS DID NOT STOP! In late June I recall 5 weddings in one 10 day period. This wedding season saw many weekday weddings.

Some of the early Spring wedding venues as seen above were Sand Creek Country Club, The Grand CP and Journeyman Distillery.

Wedding photo in the garden at Centennial Park.

June turned out to be the busiest month of the year for Midwest weddings in 2021. The Fall season usually takes that crown but this year was more traditional.

The beginning of Summer saw weddings in Monee, Illinois as well as Meyer’s Castle, Tying the Knot wedding venue in Michigan, Whiting Lakefront Park and The Lighthouse Lodge in Monticello, Indiana.

The bride’s veil flies in the air as she kisses her groom at a summer wedding in Northwest Indiana.

As summer rolled on, I photographed such diverse Northwest Indiana wedding venues such as County Line Orchard, The Pavilion at Sandy Pines as well as church weddings in downtown Chicago.

Yes, you are seeing an actual rainbow in the image above! After a rain delay of an outdoor ceremony at Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana a rainbow appeared in the sky. I can honestly that was a wedding first for me and no photoshop was involved.

Wedding ceremonies at County Line Orchard and Marquette Park Pavilion. — Weddings at County Line Orchard and Marquette Park Pavilion.

A Harry Potter themed wedding took place this year at The Grand CP in Crown Point, Indiana along with receptions at Maggiano’s, a Chicago wedding venue in River North area as well as a beautiful outdoor wedding at Gabis Arboretum in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Romantic wedding moments in Northwest Indiana.

Early Fall saw me back at Gabis Arboretum for another outdoor wedding at the scenic Northwest Indiana wedding venue as well as the venerable Avalon Manor.

Weddings at Gabis Arboretum and Avalon Manor.

Candid wedding photography at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. — Bride and groom in a candid moment at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana.

Fall is always busy for weddings in Northwest Indiana and throughout the Midwest. This year I had many church weddings in the Autumn with photos at locations such at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Centennial Park.

The Fall wedding season also saw me return to Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City along with photos at the gorgeous Friendship Botanic Gardens.

Silver Lake Country Club and Georgio’s Banquets in Orland Park, Illinois were two of my Illinois wedding venue destinations this year.

Midwest wedding photos taken in the Fall season.

The end of October into early November gave us some intense Fall color at a Briar Ridge Country Club as well as a return to County Line Orchard along with church nuptials.

Early winter weddings often mean it gets dark early. For an early December wedding at Four Season’s Clubhouse we ventured outside for blue hour in this winter wedding photo below.

A groom dips his bride outside at night during a winter wedding in Northwest Indiana.

Winter weddings at The Grand CP and Center For The Visual and Performing Arts.

Wedding Season 2021 ended with a December wedding at Center For Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana in mid December and a Christmas Eve wedding in Wilmington, Illinois.

Bridesmaids pose on the staircase during a December wedding at Northwest Indiana wedding venue Center For Visual and performing Arts. — Bride and bridesmaids on the staircase during a December wedding at Center For Visual and Performing Arts.

Christmas weddings in Northwest Indiana and Illinois.

It was a glorious year for weddings in 2021!!

As a bonus for making it this far down in my Year in Review post, press play below on the Short Film video that Sarah and Brent added to the wedding package of their winter wedding.

In case you didn’t know that there was an option to add video to your wedding photography package, more info can be found at this link.

Spring Micro Wedding At The Grand

May 17, 2021 Steve Vansak

Newlyweds kiss in front of The Grand in downtown Crown Point.

Ari and Mike had a beautiful day for their micro wedding at The Grand in downtown Crown Point, Indiana. It was a family affair all the way with sorority sister helping with bridal prep and 25 people attending the intimate wedding ceremony on the third floor of the historic Old Crown Point Courthouse.

I grabbed detail shots of the bridal prep as guests arrived and made their way across the checkered floor of the beautifully vintage wedding venue. Make up artist Myra Crawford attended to the bride in the brand new bridal suite.

Bridal details inside the the newly built bridal suite at The Grand.

The bride gets ready inside the bridal suite at The Grand CP wedding venue.

The bride and groom all prepped for their big day in downtown Crown Point.

Ari’s Dad walked her down the aisle as family looked on. I would describe the ceremony as sweet and intimate and the shy couple was taken aback at the applause at the end. We took family photos next and then picture of the bride and groom outside and inside the historic venue.

We then moved onto the afternoon reception which was decorated beautifully. Stacey and her crew at The Grand do an amazing job.

The father of the bride walks his daughter down the aisle at The Grand.

The bride and groom practice their first dance on the marble floor of The Grand in Crown Point, Indiana.

Reflections of light show off the beautiful bride on her wedding day.

Candid moments on wedding day at The Grand in Crown Point, Indiana.

Afternoon wedding reception at The Grand inside the Old Lake County Courthouse.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Ari and Mike’s Spring Micro Wedding at The Grand in downtown Crown Point. As always, contact me here to inquire about photography or hybrid photo / video coverage of your big day.

A romantic moment surrounded by brick inside the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Micro Wedding At Twilight At Barker Mansion

September 15, 2020 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom encircled by light at historic Barker Mansion.

Alyssa and Goran were married during twilight at the historic Barker Mansion in Michigan City. I met up with the bride inside the bridal suite while it was still light out and soon we were outside in the courtyard for the ceremony.

Barker Mansion is a terrific venue for micro weddings and elopements. The reception was held outside under a covered space in the courtyard and we did photos inside and out of the historic, 100+ year old building.

The bride has a laugh inside the bridal suite at Barker Mansion.

The bride on the red carpeted staircase at Barker Mansion.

A modern bride portrait with a vintage look.

While I definitely shoot in color at Barker Mansion weddings, the building begs for some vintage looks in some of the photos as well.

Guests arrived into the soon to be dark courtyard and were greeted by an illuminated backdrop where the couple would be married under the night sky. During cocktail hour I took the newlyweds throughout the mansion for pictures.

A micro wedding at Barker Mansion in Michigan City.

Twilight wedding ceremony in the Barker Mansion courtyard.

Newlyweds inside historic Barker Mansion.

The bride and groom take a tour of the historic Barker Mansion.

Outdoor wedding reception in the courtyard at Barker Mansion.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Alyssa and Goran’s micro wedding at Barker Mansion in Michigan City. Be sure to check out the Instagram channel listed below for more images from this wedding along with others.

To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, be it a micro wedding / elopement or full day wedding - please fill out the Contact Form right here.

Barker Mansion is a very classy and elegant wedding venue. Follow this link to view a bridal portrait session done during daytime hours recently. Enjoy!

Region Weddings Instagram Feed:

Wedding At Warsaw Biblical Garden

August 3, 2020 Steve Vansak

A romantic dip for the bride and groom underneath the gazebo in Winona Lake, Indiana.

We spent a wonderful morning and afternoon with Marissa and David and their friends and family for their summer wedding in Warsaw, Indiana.

The original plan was a large ceremony and reception in Michigan, but the current health scare in that state had them do a micro wedding instead with a big celebration to follow.

Our day started out with me covering bridal prep at an Air BnB and photographer Jaime with the guys at a nearby hotel.

Bridal details for a summer wedding in Warsaw, Indiana.

There was a flurry of gift giving going on between all of the girls, including mom. Honorary male bridesmaid Logan also received a gift. Mom helped with the dress and soon it would be time for two first looks.

Mother of the bride assists with the wedding dress.

On the groom’s side we had detail photos along with a very special “dudoir pose” on the hotel bed. You may want to keep scrolling as the following is NSFW. :)

The groom and his guys prep for the big day.

The father of the bride was the first of our two big reveals. Tears were had and a gift was given. Then it was time for David to make his entrance and present a specially made ring signifying the change of wedding date.

Ready for their outdoor wedding ceremony at Warsaw Biblical Garden.

The rain was unexpected and was light but constant all day. This really saturated the colors for photos during and after the wedding ceremony at Warsaw Biblical Garden.

The bride and groom were escorted in by their parents as a small group of family and friends looked on.

The outdoor wedding ceremony begins in Warsaw, Indiana.

Exchanging vows inside Warsaw Biblical Garden.

The bride and groom celebrate as they exit Warsaw Biblical Garden.

After family photos we strolled around the garden for pictures of the newlyweds along with their wedding party. Then we moved on to Winona Lake, Indiana for romantic beach photos of the bride and groom.

Garden kiss for the bride and groom in Warsaw, Indiana.

The “brides guy” takes a beating for not laughing enough at Minister Laura’s joke.

Wedding party group photo in Warsaw, Indiana.

Bride and groom take a stroll at the pier on Winona Lake.

I had recently photographed Marissa and David’s engagement photos in Winona Lake, Indiana at Kelainey’s Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Shoppe and we thought it might be nice to do the same on wedding day. We then made our way along Park Avenue with the lake as our backdrop.

The bride and groom visit Kelainey’s Sweet Dreams ice cream shoppe.

A candid moment for the bride and groom overlooking Winona Lake.

Taking a stroll in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Beach chairs in the foreground as the bride and groom share a kiss.

Back to the beach for the bride and groom in Winona Lake, Indiana near Warsaw.

While we were taking photos at the lake, family and friends were prepping the couple’s house where a cake cutting in the kitchen was to take place along with the first dance in the garage.

The bride and groom cut their wedding cake in the kitchen of their home.

A backyard wedding reception after a wedding in Warsaw, Indiana..

To inquire about your own wedding photography, please do fill out the Contact Form on my website. To see more images from this and other weddings, follow the social media channels listed below.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Marissa and David’s wedding at Warsaw Biblical Garden, much more to come!