Fall Wedding At The Croatian Center

October 4, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in front of the gazebo at The Croatian Center.

Emma and Kyle had a lovely outdoor wedding ceremony right at the start of the Fall season at The Croatian Center. The day started out with Instax photos and bridal prep while Kyle and the guys prepared their Chicago Bulls jerseys for the big entrance later that night.

Bridal prep for a wedding at The Croatian Center.

Bride and groom ready for the big day ahead.

I handled photographing Emma and her bridesmaids and family at the Old Crown Point Courthouse and Square while Kerrie took pictures of Kyle and his guys at Lake County Fairgrounds.

Bride and bridesmaids in front of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Fun bridesmaids pictures in downtown Crown Point.

Groomsmen photos at Lake County Fairgrounds.

The outdoor ceremony at The Croatian Center featured the couple’s two adorable dogs coming down the aisle with the rest of the wedding party. Temperatures were cool so the provided wedding blankets were welcomed by guests.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at The Croatian Center.

After the ceremony we took family pictures and wedding party group shots as well as romantic wedding photos of the newlyweds. The wedding party donned their 9/29 Chicago Bulls jerseys and awaited the introductions by Trans Audio Entertainment.

Romantic wedding photos behind The Croatian Center.

Bride and groom kiss beneath a blue sky.

Plenty of decor was on hand at the reception, including a delicious donut wall and an inscribed pumpkin.

Wedding reception decorations at The Croatian Center.

At nightfall I took the bride and groom outside for a slow dance by the light of the glowing gazebo.

Night dance with the bride and groom outside by the gazebo.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Emma and Kyle’s Fall wedding at The Croatian Center. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form here. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings Instagram feed for more pictures from this and other weddings.

Wedding At Peck Farm Park

September 14, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom beneath the grain silo at Peck Farm Park.

Tracey and Chris had a true “family style” barn wedding at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois. Close family and friends gathered in a half circle for the outdoor ceremony and then it was time for an all day, open air reception. Let’s start at the beginning of the day with bridal prep at The Herrington Inn and Spa.

Bridal prep at The Herrington Inn and Spa.

Wedding day fun for the bride and her crew.

While I spent the morning in and out of the bathtub with Tracey’s bride tribe, photographer Grant was with Chris and the guys as they learned the art of tying ties.

Tracey got into her dress at the Peck Farm Park farmhouse and we utilized the classic front porch of the building for some portraits of the bride.

A vintage tone for the bride on the front porch of Peck Farm Park farmhouse.

The beautiful bride on her wedding day in Geneva, Illinois.

Black and white portrait of the bride inside the farmhouse.

The wedding party was also a family affair with Tracey and Chris’ children taking on bridesmaid and groomsmen duties.

The bridesmaids take a stroll at Peck Farm Park.

The groomsmen all dressed and ready to go.

The ceremony area is just beneath the grain silo with a half circle of seating. The view of farmland was especially picturesque on Tracey and Chris’ perfectly overcast day. Some emotional moments occurred as the couple read their vows and the nuptials were capped off with a “ceremony selfie” at the very end.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Peck Farm Park.

Wedding ceremony beneath the grain silo at Peck Farm Park.

Exchanging wedding vows at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, IL.

One of the attractions at Peck Farm Park is the famous butterfly house. We did some bride and groom portraits along with a flirtatious butterfly and then it was outside with the Illinois heartland as our backdrop.

Bride and groom photos inside the butterfly house at Peck Farm Park.

Bride and groom embrace in the Illinois fields.

Farmland wedding photos in Geneva, Illinois.

For the reception (which essentially started the minute the ceremony was over) there was an enclosed barn that housed desserts and another open air barn where the bar and dancing was. Roaming servers came around and served food to guests throughout both areas. The party favors of inscribed blankets were perfect for this slightly chilly night.

Wedding reception decor at Peck Farm Park.

Wedding reception fun at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois.

I took the bride and groom out for a night portrait as the sky turned deep blue just after sunset. It was a beautiful day and a lovely barn wedding with Tracey and Chris in Geneva, Illinois at Peck Farm Park. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, be sure to fill out the Contact form here. Stay tuned to the social media channels below for more images from this wedding and others.

Wedding At Friendship Botanical Garden

September 5, 2018 Steve Vansak

Josie and Victor were married in an homegrown tropical paradise Friendship Botanical Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana. We had some light rain the morning of the wedding which gave the incredible greenery an even more saturated look as the bride and groom traveled the grounds with me for romantic wedding pictures.

Our day started in the morning with bridal prep as Josie took on her striking bohemian bride look. Second photographer Bridget met up with the guys at the ceremony site and soon enough guests were arriving.

The beautiful bride on her big day as taken from above.

Groom and groomsmen arrive at Friendship Botanical Gardens.

The ceremony took place at the Romanian Garden within the vast Friendship Botanical Gardens and was an intimate affair with only immediate family attending.

Family photos took place in the ceremony area and then it was wedding party group pictures. Soon after, the newlyweds took a tour of the many scenic spots of International Friendship Garden for romantic wedding photos.

Wedding party group photo at Friendship Botanical Garden.

The newly wed bride and groom in a tender moment.

Give me a spectacular background along with a rustic bridge and you can bet I'm going to do some photos with my bride and groom there!!

Sunlight gleams through the trees onto the bridge at Friendship Botanical Garden.

Bride and groom gaze off into the distance on a rustic bridge.

The Friendship Botanical Gardens has many smaller and themed gardens within it. One of Josie's favorite spots was the Poland Garden with it's metal gazebo. We also ventured off to the lake where some tall willow trees overlooked.

Wedding photo collage at Friendship Botanical Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana.

Bride and groom take a rest on a park bench at International Friendship Garden.

The wedding reception took place at the elegant The Market venue in Valparaiso, Indiana. The romantic candle lit background was great for photographing the decorations as well as the first dance. 27 Entertainment had the place moving ALL NIGHT and that is not an exaggeration!!

Wedding decor at The Market in Valparaiso, Indiana.

First dance for the bride and groom at The Market.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Josie and Victor's wedding at Friendship Botanical Garden in Michigan City, Indiana. For more images from this and other weddings, please follow the Region Weddings Instagram feed. As always, to inquire about your own wedding photography, do fill out the Contact Form here.

Beautiful Backyard Wedding In Crown Point, Indiana

July 30, 2018 Steve Vansak

Sun streams though the trees onto the bride and groom.

“Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right”

— George Harrison / Here Comes The Sun

Patty and David had a wonderful backyard wedding in Crown Point, Indiana and I was there to capture all of the love between them and family and friends. It truly was a special day and I was floored by all of the warmth between all who attended.

The couple's home was surrounded by rustic wedding decor, including hay bales and memorable quotes.

Wedding decorations at a backyard wedding.

Reverend Doug presided over the ceremony as friends and family looked on in seats on the lawn. Patty and David were always looking into each other's eyes and celebrated with excitement after being married.

Outdoor wedding ceremony moments in Crown Point.

After family pictures, we took a very short trip to Lake County Fairgrounds for bride and groom photos. David mentioned that he loved the tall oak trees and we spent some time letting these newlyweds take romantic strolls among the wooded area and old covered bridge which conveniently has a heart drawn inside.

Bride and groom wedding photos at Lake County Fairgrounds.

Bride and groom take a stroll underneath the tall oak trees of the fairgrounds in Crown Point.

A romantic walk in the woods by the bride and groom.

The outdoor reception was simply a blast and very much saw a lot of family moments with the various children in the lives of the couple. There was dancing on the deck, a cupcake tower, wine and mixed drinks as well as popcorn and snow cones for the little ones. The night ended with an emotional remembrance of loved ones who had passed away. This was signified by the lighting and letting go of many sky lanterns. Family members took turns sending them into the night sky.

Outdoor wedding reception in Crown Point, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Patty and David's beautiful backyard wedding in Crown Point, Indiana. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form here on the website. If you are on social media, be sure to follow at the links below.