Interview: How Sweet It Is Events

March 7, 2016 Steve Vansak

Bride walks along the waterfall at The Restaurant At Fair Oaks Farms.

It's wedding planning season and my interview series continues with one of the sweetest (pun intended) vendors around, Linda Valdivia Walker of How Sweet It Is Events. Linda and I have worked at many weddings together. So much so that I couldn't decide which ones to showcase here. I decided on a gold themed wedding shoot from The Restaurant At Fair Oaks Farms and a green themed candy buffet at The Patrician. No matter what your color or flavor may be, I know that Linda can be of help.

How long has How Sweet It Is Events been in business? How did you get your start?

We established our business in 2005 as How Sweet It Is Chocolate Fountains. Chocolate Fountains were fairly new at that time and I was interested in getting into the wedding industry. We were so excited to see how many requests we were receiving from bridal couples to corporate events. Soon after, every weekend we had the honor of serving guests warm flowing Belgian chocolate with our 34” Chocolate Fountain! We quickly became partners with The Avalon Manor and serviced all of their chocolate fountain requests. Really now…..who doesn’t like chocolate?

After being in the wedding industry, it was very clear there were so many new opportunities. We changed our name to How Sweet It Is Events, and ventured out of our comfort zone and began offering Favors, Candy Buffets & Reception Design Packages. We have currently added DIY Rentals & Specialty Linens to our Menu. My mother once told me, if you’re going to do something, do it right….so we added an Etsy Shop ☺ with a lot of fun wedding accessories! After ten years of chocolate fun, we have decided to retire our chocolate fountain and focus on our new opportunities, but I do miss it!

Let’s start with wedding favors. What kind of goodies can one get and what type of packaging is there?

Favors are a fun way to say “Thank You” to your guests and can be given in many different forms. However, we find a candy favor is one that your guests will enjoy and take with them at the end of the evening. We are a vendor with Albanese Confectionery and South Bend Chocolate and have an unlimited amount of candy choices for you to choose from. My most popular favor box at this time is our Chocolate Bar Box in gold, or silver foil with a personalized label. Mini mason jars filled with colored sixlets, mini take out boxes with tags and boxed truffles are just a few of the items we can custom make for you.

Tell us about candy buffets. Once again, what flavors and types of candy can we expect and how do guests get served?

Candy Buffets are an upscale interactive way to say “Thank You” to your guests. Our Candy Buffets are designed to complement the décor and color palette of your event. We love to add fabrics, plateaus to layer your jars and candlelight to your table! For us it’s all about helping our clients choose candy they love and a design with their vision in mind. Then we run with it and add all the fun details that will make their Candy Buffet become a centerpiece for their room! Some of the most popular candy choices include: white pretzels, malt balls, Sixlets, Jelly Belly’s, turtles, mint meltaways, rock candy, lollipops, licorice and of course gummi bears. We also offer a Nostalgic Candy Buffet package with all of the old time favorite candies.

Gold wedding palette from How Sweet It Is Events at The Farmhouse At Fair Oaks Farms.

Let’s get into Reception Design. What is involved in that?

We created a Reception Design package for our clients who would like the details done for them at their venue the day of the wedding. As the bride and groom and their families prepare for the big day, our team is busy setting their venue making sure every detail is done and their room is perfect before their guests arrive. We offer many table-scape designs including candelabras and crystal globes in gold and silver to mention a few. Specialty linens such as sequin and rosette, an upscale chair cover with a colored band and rhinestone brooch, crystal cake stands and crystal card boxes. Our team sets your room, lights your candles and returns at the end of the evening to take everything down. You have fun and let us do the work!

Do you do a venue walkthrough?

Yes, we love doing a venue walk through with our bridal couples! This gives us a chance to view every area within the venue for proper placement of their tables and to work on a design that is perfect for them. That’s when the vision becomes real!

Do you have rentals?

Not every bride has a huge budget to work with, or has chosen other areas they would like to use their funds, so we have created a DIY Rental Program that allows bridal couples to have beautiful centerpieces at a much lower cost. This package is perfect for the bride & groom that have family members available to set their venue and take it down at the end of the night. Rental items can be picked up two days before the event and returned the following Monday. We also offer rentals for bridal showers and other small events.

What are your top tips to couples for reception design?

Some of my top tips for my bridal couples is have fun with your design!! Your venue has many areas, use them all! If your venue has a loft, personalize it by adding things that mean something to both of you! If there is a large foyer with furniture, add some fun elements like pillows and candlelight. This is your big day, make sure you do what you both like, not what others suggest. My biggest tip for MY bridal couple, is enjoy your day!!! We have planned together, designed together and finalized together!! We’ve got this!!! ;)

Green decorations to match the cake as the bride and groom enter the ballroom at The Patrician.

The groom dips his bride at their Fall wedding at Our Lady of Grace Church.

Interview: Northwest Indiana Make Up Artist Krissy V.

February 29, 2016 Steve Vansak

Collection of bridal clients of make up artist Krissy V.

I've been wanting to do some interview articles with some great wedding vendors in Northwest Indiana for quite awhile. I do have my Vendor Page with website links, but I thought some in depth articles would be great for new clients to really get to know some of the great talents and personalities I see every wedding season.

I'm so glad to feature the wonderful Krissy V. for the debut of interviews. When I arrive to the Getting Ready portion of the wedding day and I see her there, I know that I not only do we have a professional on hand who is going to "get it done", the warmth of her personality is going to already have calmed any potential nerves in the room. So thank you Krissy for warming up the crowd and making it that much easier to point my lens toward the bride and her bridesmaids. And thank you for teaching me about the artistry of what you and other make up artist do!! Now, on with our interview...

How did you get your start as a make up artist?

Although I have always had a love for makeup and art, I was not sure what direction I wanted to go after high school. I decided to start working at my dad’s photo studio, until I could decide what career path I wanted to take. He specialized in photography for actors and models, so there was always a new beautiful woman walking out of that dressing room for her photoshoot, after spending time in the hair and makeup chair. I was mesmerized with the transformational power of makeup and how much it made their already beautiful features stand out even more.

The makeup artist he worked with at that time was planning to make her move out to LA and she was actually the first person to put the idea in my head, that I could do something I loved and make a living. She said “Krissy, you seem so interested in makeup, and are always asking questions. Is this something you would ever consider doing yourself?”. From that point forward, there was no turning back. She helped me put my kit together, told me where to begin my training, and left me with a lot of her connections when she moved. I will never forget her and the way that she helped inspire my start as a makeup artist.

You obviously enjoy doing make up for weddings. Can you tell me what makes it a fulfilling job?

Weddings are definitely where my heart is, when it comes to the world of makeup. I love to do makeup in a way that doesn’t necessarily change the way that a woman looks, but enhances what is already naturally beautiful about her. That is exactly why weddings are the perfect match for me, because that is how a bride should look on her wedding day…the most beautiful version of herself. And then there is the atmosphere! Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by happy people, celebrating love? It’s my favorite!

How far in advance should a wedding couple book their make up artist?

If getting married during a peak wedding month (May-October), I would say a minimum of one year in advance for Saturday dates (all of my June Saturday’s for 2017 are already booked, and it’s February 2016, to give you an idea). I would say that as soon as the bride knows her wedding date, and is set on having a professional makeup artist, I’d look into securing the date. If it’s a more “off season” date, or a Friday wedding, it may be easier to secure an artist a little closer to the date, but I’d still book with your artist as soon as you know.

Tell me about trials and what they involve?

A trial run is a time where I meet with the bride, typically 2-3 months prior to the wedding day. This involves a thorough consultation, discussing what type of look she is going for on the wedding day, while also going over all of her details (dress, flowers, colors, themes etc). Once I have those details in place, a full makeup application is completed & I work with her to finalize the wedding day makeup look.

What can you do for the person who doesn’t know what they want?

I love making suggestions and trying different things in these situations. However, it all starts with the right investigative questions, so that I can get a little better idea as to what her comfort level with makeup is. I will ask her questions like “Is your fiancé used to seeing you with makeup?”, “What makeup do you wear on a daily basis”, “How often do you wear makeup?” If she says that she barely wears any, then I know that I’ll be keeping her look very clean and natural. If she says she’s very comfortable with makeup and never leaves home without it, I’ll know that I have room to play a little more with the intensity of the look. This is not the time to try out the newest makeup trends, as you don’t want to look at your photos in 10 years and question your decision to wear that look. Wedding day makeup should be classic and timeless.

Should a bride go first, last, or in the middle on wedding day?

I feel that the best spot for the bride to go is somewhere in the middle, or second to last (at the latest). I almost never recommend that she go last. There is too much going on at that time, and this can make the bride feel very flustered, rushed and pressed for time. She will want to have time to take a few deep breaths, maybe sip on that mimosa, and relax a bit before getting into her dress.

What are some of the things that can be done to stay fresh all the way to the first dance?

I personally leave my brides with a little touch up bag, to maintain that fresh look throughout the day. This will include a mini translucent loose powder & puff, to eliminate shine, as well as a lip product to touch up lip color throughout the night. Fortunately, the makeup is SO long wearing that there is usually not much of a need to touch up, outside of that. I use the highest quality makeup in my kit, and I like to waterproof everything that I can, while also using primers to extend the wear of the makeup.

In my photography, I like to use lighting to bring out the eyes in my clients. What do you do as a make up artist to achieve the same thing?

The eyes are always my favorite feature to play up in general, but especially on a wedding day. I use color theory when selecting eyeshadows, to best enhance the bride’s eye color. I also love to strategically place highlights on the eyes, to catch and reflect light in photographs. Another must is false lashes! They may sound intimidating at first, but I promise that once you try them you will be in love. They instantly pop the eyes and make them look so much bigger and brighter.

What can men do for their skin to look their best on wedding day?

If the skin is problematic, I would highly recommend seeking the advice of a licensed esthetician several months prior to the wedding day. The esthetician will be able to help balance the skin and calm any inflammation before the big day. At a minimum, beginning weeks before the wedding, (and certainly to be used on the wedding morning), I highly recommend a good exfoliating face wash. This will help to remove dead skin cells & reveal fresher looking skin. If shine is a problem for the groom, blotting papers can be used to keep that to a minimum throughout the day.

What are your top tips for adding make up and general prep on wedding day?

It is very important to make sure that your skin is properly prepped and hydrated for the wedding day. As I mentioned in the above comment, (regarding men’s skin), if you feel that you have problematic skin, (whether that be dealing with acne, dryness, excessive oil, etc), it is best to begin seeing an esthetician about 4-6 months prior to the wedding. This is not something you will want to start only weeks before the wedding, as it will initially purge the skin of toxins and may cause a temporary breakout. Your esthetician will be able to custom suggest a regime for you, that will have your skin in tip-top shape for that big walk down the aisle.

Here are some basic wedding skin prep tips and tricks:

Use an exfoliating face wash/scrub 1-3 times per week, to eliminate dead skin cells and dull looking skin.
Use a daily moisturizer and sunscreen (do not use higher than SPF 15 on the wedding day, as it will cause your face to look white in photos)
Do not have your face waxed closer than 5 days prior to your wedding. The skin will be so fresh that often times the makeup does not want to adhere to the area that has been freshly waxed.
To eliminate puffiness and water retention, limit sodium and alcohol the night before the wedding. Also sleep with your head elevated on a few pillows, so that fluid doesn’t pool under the eyes. If you do notice that you have puffy eyes on the wedding day morning, you can always try the age old “cold spoon” trick, or apply a cold, wet washcloth to the eyes.

To learn more about Krissy, please visit her website and inquire about your big day. I know she will treat you well and if booked, she is known to recommend some other terrific artist for your make up and wedding day needs.

Ten Tips For A Stress Free Wedding Day

February 8, 2016 Steve Vansak

Bridal portrait at The Restaurant at Fair Oaks Farms

I recently had a mother of the bride call me to ask a few questions and get some suggestions about her daughter's big day. I gave her some tips on making the morning go smoothly and hence an easier wedding day altogether. She was appreciative and yet surprised by a few of the tips. I thought I'd share a few these here to help you have a stress free wedding day.

Make sure you have enough make up artist and hair stylists for the amount of participants you have. If the company you hire is only one person for make up and one for hair, you may need to schedule longer prep time.
When it comes to trial preparation, a common mistake is the "bride should go last" way of thinking. The thinking is that the bride will "remain fresh." The bride should NOT go last and here is why. Typically something gets off track and bridal prep goes overtime. If the bride goes last, hair and make up are either rushed or we run late. I suggest you have hair / makeup done in the middle. This way, if things run a little late, we can at least get photos of you getting into your dress and even some solo bride photos while the other girls finish up. A little touch up can freshen you up and will keep you on schedule.
Have someone deliver the boutonnières to the guys. Typically all of the flowers get delivered to the bridal prep location leaving the guys getting their photos taken elsewhere without being fully decorated. Also, if you leave them on their own to pin themselves, you may be disappointed at the outcome. :)
I strongly encourage a First Look with the person you will be marrying. Having your photos done before the ceremony greatly reduces the stress in your day and frees you up to really enjoy the festivities. If you are a traditionalist and dead set against the idea, we will still get all of your photos in, but may have to schedule a bit more time in the day to do so. We can discuss it at your pre-wedding meeting.
Consider not having a receiving line after your ceremony. If you have a lot of time between the ceremony and reception and the venue has the time for your post ceremony family photos, then by all means greet your ceremony guests. However, if you have a late afternoon ceremony and have limited time before your introductions - fitting in family photos, wedding party photos and couples photos is going to be tough. We work quick, but why rush and stress yourselves and your family out.
Be sure you tell the family members that you want in photos to stay close by after the ceremony. Start telling them right now and again next month. And again the month after that and the week of the wedding, at rehearsal dinner, at the wedding.... you get the idea. People tend to wander off. I want you to enjoy your reception and have fun. I don't want you to have to be doing family pictures when you could be dancing. :)
A growing trend is guests placing cell phones and tablets and themselves into the main aisle during the ceremony. They are excited and mean no harm, but this could impede your photographs. Consider an "unplugged wedding ceremony" by asking your officiant to ask that guests not do this. Check out the linked article for some examples.
Be in the moment during your ceremony and first dances. Don't be shy and look down. Your photos and video will reflect this.
Don't get too caught up in perfection. A smudge on your dress isn't going to ruin your photos. If a blemish on your face appears the night before the wedding, I will make sure it doesn't exist in the finished photos.
Take some time to eat and drink water throughout the day. Take a breath and realize that you can't please everyone. Family and friends have your best interest at heart, but ultimately it's your day.

Those are ten tips for a stress free wedding day. However, I feel like I'm on a roll, so here are some bonus tips:

If you tan (especially a spray tan), do so a good 5 days beforehand. Tanning the night before or that morning can often result in orange skin in the photos.
I mentioned it above, but I will stress it again - enjoy yourself!! As your photographer, I want you to look back on some outstanding images, but I don't want that to be in expense of you missing out on the fun of your big day. I will work quickly and efficiently to make sure you have the time to enjoy your party.
Pinterest is wonderful for cataloging ideas and even for getting a feel for the styles you like in photos, decor, mood and more. Keep in mind though that some images you find will not translate to your day and imitating exact poses, down to hand placement, etc. can be a little bit "posey" and stiff sometimes. Let's make sure we keep the essence of the two of you intact. Let's get inspiration, but create our own magic at the same time.

In March I'm going to be featuring interviews with several local wedding professionals - from make up artists to DJ's and more. Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss that. I'm sure they are going to be chock full of tips and inspiration. I have more of a photographer's perspective on things so it's always good take in others thoughts and work together as one, for you.

I hope these all made sense and are helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or would like to inquire about the availability of your date. You can do so via the Contact Form here.

Best Wedding Venues In Northwest Indiana 2015 Edition

December 16, 2015 Steve Vansak

One of my most popular posts every year is my Best Wedding Venues In Northwest Indiana article. It is never meant to be comprehensive as I photograph weddings in a LOT of different locations in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. However, at the end of every wedding season I like to look back at the year and write about a couple of venues I photographed at in that year. I also don't list any venues I recently featured or have shot at in past years. If you'd like to read last year's article, follow the link below:

Best Wedding Venues In Northwest Indiana 2014 Edition

Let's get started. In no particular order....

Trinity Banquet Hall

Trinity Banquet Hall is part of St. Patrick's Parish in Chesterton, Indiana. I photographed two weddings there this year. It's a great spot for an outdoor wedding as well as reception. The gazebo area where the outdoor weddings occur is a hidden garden that can't be seen from the main road. It's surrounded by beautiful landscaping and is very private. The reception hall is a few steps away and has an outdoor balcony overlooking the garden.

Weddings At Trinity Banquet Hall in Chesterton, Indiana.

Old Crown Point Courthouse

Three minutes away from my office is the Old Crown Point courthouse, a terrific and popular location for Northwest Indiana weddings. The downtown Crown Point Square provides a lot of photo opportunities and the staircases and marble floor inside make for some very elegant wedding images. Ceremonies take place in the old court room. This past Spring, one of my clients held a 1920's themed wedding there.

A 1920's Themed bride and groom at the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Weddings at the Grand Old Lady - Courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana.

County Line Orchard

For a rustic wedding, many couples turn to County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. An old tractor escorts guests to the apple orchard area where refreshments are served. This past year saw string players entertaining guests as the bride came down the aisle. The inside has plenty of room for dancing and displaying all of that rustic wedding decor. I love to shoot down onto the floor from the balcony there. Oh, and the bridal suite is a spectacular area for wedding photos as well.

The bride and groom take a stroll on the grounds at County Line Orchard.

Centennial Park

I shoot at this Munster, Indiana wedding venue quite often, but with such a vast area to shoot I always end up with unique images from each wedding. While the outdoor weddings are often on the open terrace of the clubhouse, we have access to the entire grounds which consists of a large lake, two bridges, two gardens, curved walkways and a golfing area. The hard wood floors give it a very classy look for your reception as well.

Wedding ceremonies at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

Gamba's Ristorante

Gambas is a great spot for a medium to small size wedding reception. Their three course meals are spectacular and the ballroom just oozes class and elegance. There is an outdoor courtyard for cocktail hour and some night dancing shots for the bride groom too.

The Allure

Going in the complete opposite direction, The Allure in Laporte, Indiana is the perfect location for a large wedding. The venerable ballroom has it all - indoor ceremony area, large bridal suite, a wedding party lounge area and of course - a truly spectacular dance floor.

Villa Cesare

A first class banquet hall in Schererville, Indiana - Villa Cesare holds a 20 year tradition of weddings. I've shot there many times in the past, but 2015 was my first visit there in a couple of years. The foyer is as elegant as it ever was and the entire facility has a lushness to it.

A Fall wedding reception at Villa Cesare.

Sand Creek Country Club

For an elegant outdoor wedding ceremony, Sand Creek in Chesterton fits the bill. Even if you were to move your ceremony indoors, the venue is so lovely that it would not be a downgrade to do so. I've shot many indoor as well as outdoor wedding photos at this posh venue.

Wedding photos from Sand Creek Country Club.

I hope you have enjoyed this 2015 look at The Best Wedding Venues in Northwest Indiana. There are many venues that I shot at this past year that I could not fit into this post or I also recently wrote about them. So here are a few more links to check out:

The Farmhouse Restaurant At Fair Oaks Farms - another terrific rustic venue.

The Pavilion At Sandy Pines - a terrific outdoor venue on a golf course.

Duneland Falls - a beautiful banquet hall in Portage, Indiana.

Avalon Manor - the cherished hall of many wedding located in Merrillville, Indiana.

Happy wedding planning!!