Tara and Ken: Deep River Park Wedding Sneak Peek

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Earlier this year, Tara and Ken went to Chicago with me for their engagement session.  As we walked the streets of the windy city, I learned they are fun loving sports fans and are made to be together.  I knew their wedding would be a fun one and it was!!

This is just a sneak peek at their ceremony at Deep River Park and the reception at Our Lady of Consolation in Crown Point, Indiana.  The wedding took place just last week with many more images to follow at a later date.

The day started at the house of Tara's parents.  Just before I helped her Dad with the frustrating task of tying his tie (it's a miracle I got it right), we got this casual shot of the bride and her daughter Zoe.

The dress hung in waiting beneath the family creed in their lovely home...

This is a family that shows their love for each other all the time.  Here Tara's Dad gives her a kiss just before driving out to the ceremony.  Soon it would be time for mother and daughter to arrive for the ceremony at Deep River as well.

Sisters of the bride were all in a great mood as they arrived to the ceremony site in a stretch limousine with Tara's bouquet of flowers along for the ride as well...

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When the bride and her Father walked down the aisle, the heat index had risen dramatically.  Judge Judy Cantrell conducted a very brief, but poignant ceremony and soon guests were able to find some shade.

Underneath the Deep River gazebo, our groom Ken reads his vows to his soon to be wife....

One of the nice things about Deep River Park are the many great spots for formal shots all within walking distance....

The morning wedding left time for pictures in the park and a chance for the bride and groom to head home and take in a couple of innings of the Cubs game.  Soon it was reception time at Our Lady of Consolation in Crown Point, Indiana.

Here the groom is beaming during the first dance with the starlights of the hall in full glow...

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The reception hall was decorated throughout with many balloons.  It appears as though our bride Tara is trying to snatch this set of ballons from one of her guest...

The daughter of the bride certainly had fun as she spun away on the dance floor....

Look for many more images coming soon from Tara and Ken's summer wedding.  Subscribe to this Journal page via the RSS feed or follow on Facebook for more updates.

Outdoor Formals at Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell, Indiana

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Zach and Olivia referred me to a wedding site called Green Wedding Shoes for ideas for their outdoor wedding at Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell, Indiana.  They were looking for a sun drenched, 1970's era vintage look.  The above collage combines their wedding rings along with the bouquet and a sun soaked bride and groom.

Our formal "posed" photo session actually started in the late morning at Olivia's parents house in Crown Point. They have an old rustic barn that made for a great contrast between pretty bride and grungy, textured metal.

I call this next one Bridesmaids on Deck and it was also taken in the backyard in Crown Point....

I arrived at the ceremony site ahead of Olivia and took the groomsmen into one of the gardens for some formal and casual pictures.  Soon it would be time for Olivia and Zach's first look before the ceremony.

One of the most famous areas of Gardens on the Prairie is the Ruins Monument.  A perfect place for a wedding party group shot...

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Perhaps my favorite image of the session is this Garden shot of the bride and groom about to kiss and surrounded by greenery...

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The soon to be married couple naturally fell into this eskimo kiss while I had them sit down on a break from our garden walk...

In an effort to be unique with ring shots, my assistant and I placed the wedding rings upon this old, rustic chair in the gardens along with the bouquet...

After the ceremony we went to Croation Hall in Crown Point and snuck in a few more formal shots.  Another 1970's washed out approache with this one.  The rays of the sun shined upon the happy (now married) couple just before the reception...

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After you take a look at the this "country girl bride" wedding picture, go visit the entire gallery of Outdoor Formals at Gardens on the Prairie and elsewhere.  More Olivia and Zach in another posting in the Journal soon.

An Intimate, Family Wedding - Stephanie and Jordan

I never thought I'd say the words "cornhole toss" along with bride and groom, but there is a first for everything.  The above shot is from an outdoor reception in Villa Park, Illinois.  You may have seen the sneak peek a few weeks back.  Stephanie and Jordan are online gamers and this is how they met.  A very unique courtship has led to their very fun, intimate family wedding.  Family members from the Great West and the West Coast attended the nuptials as well as friends from the Illinois area.

This intimate family wedding had Stephanie getting ready at the church she would marry Jordan - Griffith Lutheran on Broad St.

Here is a close up of Stephanie's beautiful dress...

One thing I noticed about this couple was the "let's do this" attitude.  They were not nervous up on the altar at all.  I thought it was great that the priest mentioned their unique meeting as online gamers.

Although my eyes are usually on the bride and groom and ceremony up on the altar, a longer proceeding with a mass often gives me time to capture candids like these two cute kids...

Then, from the little girl giving her friend a quick kiss we turn to the bride and groom and their first kiss as man and wife.  Congratulations!!

Right after the ceremony we had the couple pose for some formals at the altar along with their best man and maid of honor....

We then trekked out to Villa Park, Illinois to a beautiful park tailor made for wedding pictures.  This sun kissed summer embrace is one of the couple's favorites...

My pick for favorite couple's picture is what I call the "leaning kiss"....

Strolling around the park, we came across the fountain of love.  Don't worry, I tested this ledge out before putting our bride and groom up on the pedestal...

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Here is the one I believe the bride and groom coveted the most.  Gotta love the little nose nudge kiss!!

After our formal session, it was all candids at their outdoor reception.  Hey, if a cute kid jumps in a tree, better grab the camera...

I'd now like to introduce my youngest assistant...

A big thank you to Stephanie's mom Sue for giving me a heads up on the day's festivities and the changes that happened throughout the day.  She was a big help in coordinating and making my job easier and thus enabling me to capture the day effectively.  I hope she enjoyed the champagne on ice...

When Stephanie and Jordan revealed their love of the Chicago Bears, along with wedding veil and bouquet - my zoom lens was smiling about as broad as I was.  I sense a winning season around the corner.

Venue Spotlight: Weddings at Deep River Park

Deep River Park has been a mainstay for outdoor wedding in Northwest Indiana for many, many years.  Located in Valparaiso just north of Rt. 30, the venerable park offers much greenery, old rustic barns, the river itself and of course the gazebo.  Yes, that wonderful gazebo.  A place where many couples have married and many families have visited.  I'd love to know how many young brides have followed in their mom's footsteps by having their ceremony at the steps of the gazebo.

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With the wide open spaces and endless picturesque backdrops, it's a natural area for a wedding photographer to zoom in on tight candids of guests and wedding party alike.  Here's one of a father catching up to his runaway flower girl daughter...

Speaking of kids, they are going to feel less nervous outdoors and tend to give some wonderful expressions during the ceremonies...

The Deep River Park gift shop is a great area for a retro looking, vintage type of photo.  I caught these kids blowing bubbles right after a wedding ceremony and thought it would look great with a sepia, brown tone retro look....

With outdoor ceremonies there is always the risk of rain.  I've had a few of those this year.  However, a couple strolling through the park under an umbrella can make for a very romantic photo...

Of course, when the sun peaks out you can have something very dramatic with the flare coming through the trees and the green river and foresty look of the east side of the park.  

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The old time grist mill is another photo opportunity.  I decided to go with black and white on this one while turning the bride's flowers back into color, a classic wedding effect.

The Sugar Shack is an old rustic barn located deep in the park and can make for casually posed family pictures as well as bride and groom formals.

If you catch the park right after a rain, the area takes on a very rich green and makes for a great backdrop of a tight shot of a just married couple...

So, whether you are walking down the aisle outside or just need a place to get some great scenery into your wedding photos, Deep River Park in Valparaiso is a terrific destination and a wedding tradition that continues to live on and thrive.