Outdoor Wedding At Lighthouse Restaurant In Cedar Lake, Indiana

June 20, 2016 Steve Vansak

A just married couple stands alone on the pier as the sun sets off Cedar Lake.

Wendy and Kelly were married on a gloriously sun filled day at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake. The outdoor wedding took place on the balcony facing the lake as friends and family looked on.

Our day started with warm and tender love between the couple as they opened each other's gifts as well as handed out presents to their moms. I knew happy tears were going to fall during the first look. There was no doubt!

Getting ready for the big day at Lighthouse Restaurant.

Wendy's mom assisted with her dress in the wonderful bridal suite as the light and airy wedding flowers hung from above. Soon it was time for our emotional first look out on the sun filled pier in the back of Lighthouse Restaurant.

I positioned Kelly toward the middle of the pier and photographed Wendy's long walk toward her. Second photographer Kerrie captured another angle from the side as videographer John Zale of Chicago Wedding Films captured action and sound.

First look for the soon to married couple on the pier at Lighthouse Restaurant.

The words "I Love You" were first spoken by Wendy and Kelly on the beach near Lighthouse Restaurant. We strolled around this same area, including the very bench they sat while dating. The original love note was redrawn in the sand as Wendy and Kelly kissed in the background.

Romantic wedding photos along Cedar Lake near Lighthouse Restaurant.

A huge thank you to the wedding party for enduring the hot sun beating upon them as we took photos. This group was certainly there for the couple on their big day!!

Wedding party at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

The balcony for the ceremony was quite packed and with two photographers and one videographer we were somewhat limited in movement. So I want to give a big shout out to the wonderful lady who gave up her seat in the center to allow me to capture Wendy and Kelly's nuptials from an ideal location. I lost track of her after the ceremony, so now is my chance to thank her.

Outdoor wedding ceremony on the balcony at Lighthouse Restaurant.

First kiss during an outdoor wedding in Cedar Lake.

The beach theme continued with the decor at the reception as we hung the rings from a fishing lure. Dancing was off the charts as the sun went down. Oh, and the food was delicious too!!

Wedding reception at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

For more images from Wendy and Kelly's outdoor wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant be sure to follow the social media channels below. Happy summer!!

Summer Wedding At Saint Maria Goretti Church

May 30, 2016 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom walk among the beautiful scenery of Wicker Park in Munster, Indiana.

Sometimes I go into a wedding and I just know... I can tell right away that the couple is tailor made for each other and that they come from loving families. This was certainly the case with Megan and Garrett. From the groom's love letter that Megan read during getting ready to the bride singing to her new husband on the altar later that afternoon, the proof just kept on coming.

I arrived at Megan's childhood home to a very welcoming group. If there was any doubt I was at the correct house, it was erased by the outside wedding decor and gigantic 'I do' sign. I noticed that the computer was playing a Wedding Playlist of songs. Song #9 on the list would come into play a bit later.

Bride and her bridesmaids get ready for the summer wedding.

Wedding day getting ready at the bride's parent's home.

After getting into her wedding dress, Megan descended down the stairs as I'm sure she did many times in her childhood. This time however, she was "going to the chapel" as the song of the same played in the other room.

The bride descends from the staircase at her childhood home.

Before we left for St. Maria Goretti in Dyer, Indiana, we took a few fun bridesmaids photos in the front yard. Second photographer Bridget did the same with the guys at the church.

Fun bridesmaids photos before the ceremony.

Fun groomsmen photos before the ceremony.

Now, I've photographed many weddings and I'm "on the job" so to speak so I'm not supposed to get emotional. However, when the bride sings "Grow Old Along With Me", written by John Lennon and does it beautifully at that and on the altar to her groom in front of friends and family... well, you get a lump in your throat. It was a wonderful wedding ceremony at Saint Maria Goretti capped off by the bride and groom exiting with bubbles surrounding them.

Wedding ceremony at St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana.

Bride and groom exit St. Maria Goretti Church in Dyer to friends blowing bubbles.

Immediately after the ceremony we began family pictures inside the church as well as a few with the newlyweds, including a silhouette in front of the stained glass windows.

Family wedding photo at St. Maria Goretti Church.

A silhouette of the bride and groom in front of stained glass windows at Saint Maria Goretti Church in Dyer, Indiana.

Bride and groom on the altar as light streams in through stained glass windows.

The whole gang then took off to the reception site - Wicker Park Social Center. After a quick lunch of Jimmy John's subs, it was outside for photos of the wedding party and the newly married Megan and Garrett.

The wedding party having fun at Wicker Park.

Bride and groom portrait at Wicker Park on a bright, sun drenched summer day.

Sun was bouncing off the lake and the gazebo as we went around Wicker Park taking photos. We had to take a few featuring the wedding sunglasses as well as megan's spectacular train and veil!! Then it was back inside for the party...

Wedding photos at Wicker Park in Munster, Indiana.

The cake topper said Best Day Ever and I believe it was. Garrett was handcuffed, but he still managed to get the garter. The crowd was with the couple the entire way and the dance floor was filled at all times.

Wedding reception at Wicker Park Social Center.

First dance for the bride and groom at their reception at Wicker Park.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Megan and Garrett's summer wedding at Saint Maria Goretti Church and Wicker park. Stay tuned here and on various social media for more!!

Wedding At The Croatian Center

September 1, 2015 Steve Vansak

First dance for the bride and groom at The Croatian Center in Merrillville, IN.

Wedding day for Erica and Jonathan started out at the wonderful Radisson Hotel for getting ready with the bridesmaids, the ceremony and reception at The Croatian Center and wedding party pictures in downtown Crown Point.

I was a fly on the wall for hair and make up and even followed the girls to lunch at TJ Maloney's Authentic Irish Pub.

We took the girls and guys photos separately before the evening ceremony in the gazebo area of The Croatian Center. We finished up just as the rain started and the decision was made to move the ceremony inside.

The wedding party fast walks toward the camera.

The bridesmaids show off their wedding flowers.

If any law enforcement are reading this, I'd like to report some rogue wedding party members - the bouquet theif as seen above and the violent groomsmen roughing up the groom as seen below. General public - be on the lookout!!

Erica requested a "divider shot" before the ceremony and then it was time to walk down the aisle with family and friends looking on.

Bride and groom divider shot before the wedding.

Wedding ceremony inside of Croatian Hall.

Erica and Jonathan had some great moment during their wedding ceremony. It started off with the flower girl abandoning her basket of flowers and one of the highlights (besides the first kiss) was the giving of flowers to moms and grandmothers in attendance.

After family photos, we jetted off to downtown Crown Point for some shots in the street - literally...

Wedding party on Main Street in Crown Point, Indiana.

The bride and groom take to the streets of the downtown Crown Point Square.

The reception saw dinner by Dimitri's Catering and showed off the green wedding colors. Team Bride ruled the dance floor!!

Wedding reception at The Croatian Center.

Baseball Themed Wedding At Duneland Falls Banquet Center

June 21, 2015 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom kiss on the pitcher's mound of a baseball field.

Erica and Alex had a sports themed engagement session, so it was no surprise to find baseball themed (softball and hockey too) wedding decorations at Duneland Falls Banquet Center in Portage, Indiana.

The sports theme made its first appearance as the bride and her bridesmaid's got ready for the big day. Traditional wedding decor such as handkerchiefs of past family weddings sat alongside Hebron softball jerseys. The guys were decked out in athletic shoes too and the ring bearer (the boss) kept an eye on things.

The Catholic wedding ceremony at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Valparaiso saw the rings placed upon a baseball glove. Sun was beating down as Erica and Alex made their escape amidst family and friends blowing bubbles outside the church.

Wedding ceremony at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.

The bride and groom get married at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Valparaiso, IN.

We did our fair share of sports themed wedding photos, but I also had the bride and groom walk alone for awhile so I could capture them in some beautiful scenery with the natural light of the sun backlighting them.

The bride and groom kiss as the late day sun shines upon them.

We did a simulated baseball game with the bride at the plate, the groom playing catcher and pitcher and the wedding party as the angry fans when I called a strike on the bride.

Fun photos from a sports themed summer wedding.

The sports theme continued at Duneland Falls Banquet Center in Portage, Indiana. Guests signed the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith Jersey" as the batter and pitcher faced each other atop the wedding cake. We placed the rings atop the softball decorated macaroon cookie.

Wedding reception at Duneland Falls Banquet Center.

Sometime during the reception came word that the Chicago Blackhawks had won Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Championship against Tampa Bay and the crowd errupted in joy. All the more to celebrate, a joyous wedding and a hometown sports win!!