June Wedding At Meyer's Castle

July 2, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in front of the Meyer's Castle fountain.

We began our day for Mallory and Ryan's summer wedding at Beauty and the Beach in Crown Point, Indiana. We had plenty of beauty on hand, but with temperatures in the high 90's, we definitely could have used more beach!! Seriously though, it's a great spa / full service salon and all the bridesmaids seemed to enjoy it there. Even Mallory's two doggies made a visit during bridal prep.

Bridal prep at Beauty and the Beach salon.

The bride's two doggies visit her on wedding day.

Bridal details for a Meyer's Castle wedding.

When we arrived at the castle, I took Mallory and her crew around the grounds for photos while second photographer Kerrie captured the guy's prep and group pictures.

The bride shows off her dress in the foyer of Meyer's Castle.

Bride and bridesmaid photos at Meyer's Castle.

The groomsmen showed off their American flag socks for Independence Day weekend and secured their bowties before rewarding themselves with a nice cold beer.

Groomsmen at Meyer's Castle for a June wedding.

Mallory and Ryan had their outdoor wedding on the back terrace of the castle as the castle peacock kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. As Mallory's bridesmaid sang, the bride and groom exchanged rings.

June wedding ceremony at Meyer's Castle.

We strolled all around the grounds of the castle as guests enjoyed cocktail hour. The greenery is incredible in the enchanted forest area and I love using the entrance lights for romantic pictures.

Bride and groom photos in the forest of Meyer's Castle.

The sun peaks through the trees at Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana.

The wedding party in front of the castle fountain.

The bride takes a break on the castle steps.

We had a packed dance floor all night and I had no problem capturing smiling, happy faces as they were everywhere. Let the adventure begin...

First dance for the bride and groom on the Meyer's Castle ballroom floor.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Mallory and Ryan's June wedding at Meyer's Castle. To inquire about photography for your wedding day, just fill out the Contact Form right here.

Summer Wedding At Meyer's Castle

June 18, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom among the greenery of Meyer's Castle.

Anthony and Valerie had a summer wedding this past weekend at the iconic Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana. It was full metal summer too - as in temperatures close to 100 degrees with full sun!!

Our day started in the A/C at the bride's sister Lisa's home with bridal prep pictures and detail shots. The kids had fun hanging out with grandma and soon after we were off for bridesmaid photos at Meyer's Castle while second photographer Kerrie took shots of Anthony and the guys.

The bride gets ready for her wedding at Meyer's Castle.

The bride and groom dressed and ready for their castle wedding.

The outdoor wedding ceremony took place at the back of the castle, but this is the view the guest's see as they ride the shuttle around the cobblestone road to the courtyard.

I know how wonderful it must have felt for Valerie to walk out with her Dad who had been recently ill and is still recovering. I wanted to make sure I got an image of the two of them alone during the wedding ceremony and they looked extremely happy as they walked out together.

Perhaps it was the heat, but the flower girls decided mid ceremony that is was time to take a break!! Afterwards we took family pictures and then I whisked Valerie and Anthony all around the grounds of the castle for pictures.

Summer wedding ceremony at Meyer's Castle.

The groom walks his bride down the path from the gazebo.

The wedding party having fun at Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana.

Romantic kiss for the bride and groom on the grounds of the castle.

Couples will sometimes bring a Thank You sign they they use later for cards and we took a variety of shots, but this "rock pose" from the bride and groom is probably my favorite.

I caught the happy couple in one final smooch and then we headed inside to cool off and take some portraits in the lounge just before the reception started.

The happy couple at their castle wedding.

Wedding reception decor at Meyer's Castle.

I usually show off first dances when I write these articles with the bride and groom first dance as the large image and the parent dances within a smaller collage. However, seeing as Valerie's Dad has gone through so much health wise this year AND it was the day before Father's Day - he gets the spotlight with this wonderful moment during the first dance with his daughter.

Father of the bride with his daughter during parent dances.

Good times at a summer wedding at Meyer's Castle.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Valerie and Anthony's summer wedding at Meyer's Castle. Stay tuned to the social media channels below for more image previews. Also, be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your big day.

Summer Wedding At Marquette Park Pavilion

June 5, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in silhouette at the Marquette Park Pavilion lagoon.

The last time I photographed a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion was before the big remodel. It was spectacular then and even more so now. So when Nicole and Chad told me their wedding would be at this classic venue AND there would be live music inside and out throughout the day, I was even more excited to capture their big day.

Nicole and her bride tribe got ready in one area while second photographer Bridget hung out with the guys in another location. While I took photos of Nicole's uniquely beautiful wedding dress, Bridget captured the guys swimming on this sweltering 95 degree summer day.

Bridal prep for a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride getting ready at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The groom and his guys before a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Nicole and Chad had their first look along the walkway of the lagoon behind the Marquette Park Pavilion ballroom. The bride and groom had a romantic moment together and then we took photos all around the picturesque venue.

First look for the bride and groom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride and groom on the bridge overlooking the lagoon at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride and groom wedding photos at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The bride on the bridge overlooking the lagoon.

A trio of singers performed an acoustic set as Nicole's Dad walked her down the aisle. The sand ceremony became a family pact and the officiant, wedding party and congregation made great light of the fact that we were all baking in sun in 95 degree temperatures!! If you think I'm exaggerating take a look at that big old sunstar below. It didn't matter as it was all beautiful anyway.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Marquette Park Pavilion.

A sunstar illuminates an outdoor wedding.

A bubble exit for the bride and groom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Summer wedding ceremony at Marquette Park Pavilion.

So we had live music outside, inside and the entire wedding party is playing air guitar in these photos. Can you guess what Nicole and Chad (and many of their wedding party and guests) do when they are not getting married on the beach? That's right - they sing, play guitar, beat on drums, compose on the piano and make beautiful noise!! Be sure to check out their music here and here.

The wedding party plays air guitar like a boss.

The cocktail hour continued an acoustic set of music and then it was inside the spectacular ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Wedding reception at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The ballroom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

First dance and parent dances at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Dinner is served in the main ballroom of Marquette Park Pavilion.

The Chicago Catz band had the crowd in a frenzy on the dance floor as a wedding crasher visited the photo booth (must be a bass player).

Live music at a summer wedding reception.

It certainly was great to be back at the spectacular Marquette Park Pavilion. I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Nicole and Chad's summer wedding there. Be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about photography for your big day.

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.