Bridal Show at Wicker Park on January 27th, 2013

Wicker Park Social Center in Highland, Indiana along with Bride's Guide Magazine and Dining Solutions will once again be having their annual bridal show featuring fashion shows, 60 wedding exhibits, cake tastings, wedding planners and more.  Multiple prizes will be awarded throughout the show. 

  • Sunday - January 27th, 2013
  • 12:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Located at Wicker Park Social Center (corner of Indianapolis Blvd. and Ridge Rd.) in Highland, Indiana.
  • Ticket are $25 at the door.  
  • SHOW SPECIAL: Receive one FREE ticket with the purchase of three or more tickets by phone only.  Deadline: January 20th, 2013.  Call: 219-662-9245 to get your discounted tickets.

 

Last year many brides to be stopped by my booth where we chatted wedding photography and more.  It's always fun meeting engaged couples, so be sure to say hello.  In addition to my photography booth, many wedding vendors such as cake stylist, food decorators, wedding planners and more were available to meet.  Just about everybody was giving away a prize of some sort.

The atmosphere is very festive with many musical performances as well as food tastings and fashion.

Does your fiance need guidance in picking out a tuxedo for himself and his buddies?  While not as prevalent as fashion choices for brides, I've always seen options for men at past shows.

If you are newly engaged, be sure to drop by the Bridal Show at Wicker Park Social Center and visit the Region Weddings booth and drop your name in for a chance to win a free photography session.


Vote For Your Favorite Wedding Collage of 2012

I love to create custom collages for my clients.  I usually combine a few images of the couple with interesting decor I photographed at the wedding.  I do this with ring shots quite often.  While taking a look back at the incredible season of wedding I just finished - from wedding venues like Dewey Cannon Winery in Michigan, The Allure in Laporte, Indiana to incredible churches like St. Ann's in Lansing and St. Stanislaus Kostka in Michigan City - I came across 5 of my favorite collages.

This poll will close on January 31st.  The collage with the most votes gains the happy couple a free print of the image.  

Please vote and tell me which one is your favorite!!  Click on the images to see them larger.  Happy voting!!!

Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer's Year in Review 2012

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As we say goodbye to 2012 and get ready for the 2013 wedding season, it's time to look back at the Northwest Indiana weddings of the past year.  I have to start off with the New Years Eve wedding of Jessica and Alan at the Bethel Church in Crown Point.  It's an anniversary date they will never forget!!

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My next winter wedding took place in Laporte, Indiana at the spectacular The Allure Ballroom.  This image is our bride Heather checking her self in the mirror of the bridal suite.  I love the texture of the brick walls inside this historic building...

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As we headed into Spring, we had some warm spells with the Chicago area weather and Stacey and Steve's Catholic wedding at St. John the Evangelist Church.  We were able to take some outdoor wedding photos overlooking the Shrine of Christ's Passion on Rt. 41 in St. John, Indiana.

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During this warm Spring of 2012 many engagement photos were taken in the Northwest Indiana area as well as our most popular engagement package - The Chicago Sessions.  I'm going to save that for another wedding journal post on another day.  I want you to get through this one before 2013 arrives!!  :)

Natalie and Greg live on the East coast, but the bride gew up here in Chesterton.  Her wedding ceremony took place in Michigan City at the grand St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.  I'm still breathing hard from climbing up those stairs for this balcony photo!!

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Ryan and Sara were married in Portage and we did many of their formal photos at the Portage River Walk beach area.  Once again, the weather gods treated us good...

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Michele and Nick were married at St. Ann's Church in Lansing, Illinois.  We had done their engagement photos a few month earlier so we were good buddies by the time the wedding came around.  The wedding party gathering around the golf carts was taken at a very popular area these days - Centennial Park in Munster.  I've already got a couple of 2013 weddings booked here already as well folks just wanting photos done at this gorgeous park.

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Candy and Chris did what I call a wedding photo shoot out.  I met them at the Hobart Lakefront for a first look. We then spent the entire afternoon creating fun and unique wedding photos at various venues until we landed at their ceremony and reception site - Avalon Manor.

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Friendship Garden in Portage, Indiana was the venue for Colie and David's outdoor wedding.  It was very hot as summer had arrived.  We got our first rain of the wedding season, but managed to escape from the ceremony and the formals afterwards by a few seconds of the torrential downpour.  Power was out all over Northwest Indiana that night, but their reception was not affected.

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The military wedding of Nathan and Nichole at Wicker Park Social Center was a wonderful affair.  Nichole had contacted me a year earlier from Colorado and she booked me just from a phone conversation and the images on this site.  I want to thank her for that confidence she had in my skills.  Here's a few from her epic wedding...

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Dewey Cannon Winery in Three Oaks, Michigan is a very cool venue for a summer wedding.  You get ready in the two upstairs rooms - for groomsmen and brides + bridsemaids alike and then get wisked off to Willow Harbor Wine Vineyard for the outdoor ceremony.  I had already had experience shooting there when I photographed Mat and Kelly's big day...

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Kathy and Larry had a Big Fat Greek Wedding at St. Demetrios Church in Hammond, Indiana.  We did formal wedding photos inside the old church and stopped at Centennial Park on our way to Andorra Banquet Hall for the reception.

Up next was an Indian wedding at Radisson Hotel and then onto Kari and Greg's beach wedding photos in and around Marquette Park Pavilion...

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Some people take a limo to the reception hall, but this family went with horse and carriage right over I-65!!

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Emily and John had a wonderful heartland wedding in Wolcott, Indiana and then it was time for me to head home for the nuptials of Dustin and Jenny at Our Lady of Grace Church.

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Ogden Garden in Valparaiso is a popular summer wedding destination.  Maureen and Brett got married outside at the famous gazebo.  Their ceremony was filled with humor and emotion...

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It was time for another stop at Centennial Park with Kelley and Marcus.  Their ceremony took place in Gary with formals and reception at the clubhouse in Munster.

I will never forget David and Jessica's wedding because of their willingness to take such unique and fun wedding photos.  Here's one of my favorites taken behind Avalon Manor where their ceremony and reception took place.

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27 Entertainment brought the atmosphere and the sounds for this epic first dance photo inside one of the ballrooms of Avalon Manor.

The Halls of St. George was the site for Dan and Abra's Fall wedding.  We got hit by some rain, but had a ball inside with lots of laughs between the bride and groom...

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I said I would not post any of my other photography in this post, but I can't resist at least one image from my Trash the Dress session with Michele.  I also want to publicy commend her for doing such a great job.  I knew she was nervous about it, but in the end she said it was the most fun she had throughout the whole wedding process.  I hope to see more brides in 2013 try out this unique photo oportunity.  I know it's not for everybody, but for the person it is for - you know it, so let's book that session!!

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Have a Happy New Year everybody.  See you for the 2013 wedding season.

I hope you have enjoyed the Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer's Year in Review 2012.  To keep updated and to see more images, subscribe here to the Journal and give us a "like" on the SBV Photography Facebook page.  More to come!!

  

Wedding Ceremony at the Halls of St. George

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The goal is to always come out with some unique wedding photos at every couple's event, so when Abra and Dan told me they'd like to pay homage to the How I Met Your Mother television show, I was all for it.  The above image is one of a couple of those images.  You will see another below.

For now let me take you through some highlights of their wedding day, from Getting Ready at Riah Salon to the wedding ceremony and reception at the Halls of St. George.

Abra and her bridesmaids had a lot of laughs with me acting as paparazzi.  Riah is a wonderful salon and day spa in St. John and a great atmosphere for getting ready on wedding day.

It was looking to be a windy and rainy day and not what we were looking for in an outdoor Fall wedding, but Abra had a great attitude and knew the Halls of St. George could do the ceremony inside and that I could deliver her some great images from the day.  Perhaps me telling her I had super powers over the weather helped as well (just kidding - I wish I did).  :)

Then again, an Hermosa cocktail will often calm the nerves as well...

When my assistant and I arrived at the Halls of St. George in Schererville, we came across all kinds of fun wedding decor that Abra and her mom had on display.

While the girls got into their dresses, I took the groom and his groomsmen outside to capture some of the Fall colors...

At this point, the wind had really kicked in and it was obvious that we were going to have an inside ceremony and no outdoor Autumn pictures of the girls.  No problem, after the traditional shot of mom lacing up the dress, we took advantage of the lovely curtain in the ballroom, uplighted with red accent lights.

The family did a fantastic job making this sign for the junior groomsmen.  It looks professionally done!!!  Either way, what a cute kid and a wonderful moment for the entire family.  I hope he will show this one off at his own wedding years from now.  I'd be honored for that to happen.

The late afternoon ceremony was a standing room only affair with a large number of family and friends witnessing a touching exchange of vows between this fun couple.

Abra had a gorgeous dress with incredible detail.  This one deserves to be large...

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The pouring of the sand, a wedding tradition...

We immediately started family and wedding party portraits after the ceremony ended.  We had some rain coming down so we stayed inside where I had my portable studio lights ready.

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At this point, the pressure was off and we got some great, natural smiles from the newlyweds...

Abra and Dan's wedding party were a fun bunch and when they were introduced at the reception, a funny mugging for the camera took place from each couple, including the bride and groom...

The fun continued with the cutting of the cake.

Their first dance saw the Schererville banquet hall lit up with flash bulbs as the couple soulfully danced...

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We were able to sneak outside for a few more shots, including another How I Met Your Mother tribute with the Fall colored yellow umbrella.

I'm currently designing Abra and Dan's wedding album for them and busy meeting with 2013 wedding clients. I've had to turn away a few inquiries already due to already being booked.  Please fill out the contact form today and schedule a meeting so I can hear all about your big day.  It's looking like another busy year coming up and open dates evaporate fast.

Have a great holiday!!