Fall Wedding at The Patrician

October 23, 2013 Steve Vansak

Wedding cake decorated for the Fall season awaits wedding guests at The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana.

Ryan and Jamie had their Fall wedding at The Patrician banquet hall in Schererville, Indiana. It was a chilly day outside, but warm hearts were everywhere inside. We began the day at the hall's bridal suite with the girls attending to make up and laughing it up with me.

A make up artist attends to the bride inside of the bridal suite at the Patrician.

The make up artist applies eyeliner to the bride revealing a tattoo of the word "beautiful".

I'm not above being a little sneaky to get a good candid shot, but I was eventually busted by the maid of honor as I took this photo through the doorway as she worked on her speech for later that night.

the maid of honor writes her speech for her sister's wedding.

I would occasionally walk into The Patrician's main banquet hall to give the girls a break from my camera and i was astounded by the wonderful homemade Autumn wedding decor that Jamie and Ryan's family had assembled. Yellow and orange hues filled the entrance to the ballroom.

Fall wedding table cards made of miniature logs with the seating card inside the carved out slit.

Wooden Fall themed bride and groom table placards.

When Jamie's mom and her sister, the maid of honor began tying her dress, I knew it was almost time for the first look with her Dad.

The bride's maid of honor helps tie the lacings on the wedding dress.

The mother of the bride embraces her daughter on wedding day.

I ran into Jamie's dad while taking detail shots of all her decor. He told me he couldn't stop pacing at home, so he might as well do his pacing at the hall. We got to talking and it was obvious that he loves his daughters and family. I knew the Dad's first look was going to be special...

A father awaits his daughter, the bride, for his first look at the bottom of the staircase at The Patrician banquet hall.

A father has his first look at his daughter's wedding dress.

A bride kisses her Dad after he sees her in her wedding dress for the first time.

It was especially touching when he gave her earings for a gift and presented it to her right after the first look.

While I was inside with Jamie and her bridesmaids in the warm Patrician, our second photographer Stephanie Wallace was taking the guys out for some Autumn portraits at a family estate in Crown Point.

The groomsmen pose for Fall portraits in Crown Point.

If you ever wondered what the guys do on the morning of the wedding, it usually involves a TV, sports and if there is a billiard table around - a quick game of pool...

The groom shoots pool to shake the nerves on the morning of his wedding.

The groom's mother helps him with the cufflinks on his suit.

The temperatures had dipped into the 40's at one point during the day so we did not do too many outside shots with the bridesmaids. However, we were able to bring a little bit of Fall inside to The Patrician.

The bride's sister and maid of honor poses for a portrait surrounded by autumn decorations at The Patrician.

We did finally brave it for a few outside images. we were in and out of the gazebo and ended with a group hug to show their support for Jamie and to keep warm too!!

Bridesmaids give a group hug to the bride while surrounded by Fall colors.

It was decided that it would be an indoor ceremony and I took Jamie into the darkened room from a dramatic bridal portrait to show off the back of her dress. The orange hue in the room played nicely with our Fall color theme.

The bride shows off the back of her dress in a darkened room with orange hued candles.

Reverend Doug Klukken was the officiator at the indoor ceremony at The Patrician and he had the emotions going from happy tears to wonderful out loud laughter. The room was packed with family and friends witnessing Jamie and Ryan's marriage.

A father gives away his daughter at her fall wedding ceremony.

Happy tears come forth as grandparents of the bride watch her get married.

the bride and groom solemnly pray during their indoor wedding ceremony at The Patrician banquet hall.

October sees night come early in Northwest indiana and we took advantage of this by taking some twilight bride and groom shots outside the gazebo.

The bride and groom stand outside the gazebo at The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana during the twilight hour.

The bride and groom embrace as night fall.

The reception was a rocking good time with the dance floor packed all night. The bride and groom certainly had the attention of the room as they did their traditional first dance with the Autumn colored uplighting in the background to continue the Fall theme.

The bride and groom take their traditional first dance at The Patrician banquet center in Schererville, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Jamie and Ryan's Fall wedding. Stay tuned here and on the Region Weddings Facebook page for more photo updates.

Wedding favor chocolates and a box with a keychain inside and decorated with a heart.

Outdoor Themed Wedding at The Patrician

October 23, 2013 Steve Vansak

Wedding rings sit atop orange and yellow Autumn leaves.

When I first met Maggie and Joe they told me they were hunting and fishing enthusiast and that it would be incorporated into their wedding. I also noticed they were one of the most jovial couples I've ever met - always laughing.

With temperatures falling into the 40's even the most avid outdoor enthusiast would have their wedding indoors and The Patrician was full of family and friends for the couple's fun and lighthearted ceremony.

A fun and jovial couple have a laugh at their wedding ceremony at The Patrician.

I started off the day with Getting Ready shots of the bridesmaids up in the bridal suite. I got to know the girls a little bit until I just became a fly on the wall capturing various moments as they occured.

Make up gets applied to a bridesmaid in the bridal loft at The Patrician.

Mom and bride share a laugh on her wedding day.

In the above image, mom and bride share a laugh over the camouflage styled garter that Maggie would be wearing and eventually Joe would toss to the single men in the crowd.

We paired up each of the bridesmaids with Maggie and they giggled their way through some portraits with their Fall flowers. A real fun group.

A bride and her bridesmaid shows off their Fall flowers in a portrait.

The groom arrived late afternoon just before the evening ceremony and we braved the cold for some shots out by the gazebo.

Bride and groom outside The Patrician gazebo in Schererville, Indiana.

The bride sang her way through her first dance as the groom chimed in on the chorus and family and friends looked on.

Bride sings to her new husband during their first dance.

An outdoor themed wedding of hunting and fishing enthusiast couldn't be complete with a bride and groom deer cake topper, now could it?!!

This is merely a sneak peek of wedding images from Maggie and Joe's outdoor themed wedding. For more updates, please like the Region Weddings Facebook Page.

Unique Church Wedding Photos

October 20, 2013 Steve Vansak

A balcony view of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Michigan City.

Today's post is all about unique wedding photos inside and outside of churches. This isn't meant to showcase the pivotal wedding images such as the bride coming down the aisle or the first kiss. Those are important images for sure, but today we look at how to get creative during and after a church wedding.

I always strive to provide something different and unique for my clients and still provide the utmost respect to the church. My winter weddings often are in churches with not much daylight left for after the ceremony couples shots in an outdoor scenic location, not too mention the cold. One of my favorite approaches is to use the darkness of the church to our advantage to create some dramatic bride and groom photos.

An intimate bride and groom photo taken at St. Mary's Church in Griffith, Indiana.

In the following image I wanted to make show off the back side of the bride's incredible dress. I don;t often show my lighting in a shot, but the rays shooting off the light made for an interesting take on a standard wedding image. Of course, we took a nice portrait from the front as well.

A dramatic looking image of the back of the bride's dress inside a dark church.

The bride clutches her blue bouquet of flowers while posing for a wedding photo inside of St. Mary's Church in Griffith.

Leave it to the kids to provide some unique ceremony shots. The flower girl obviously decided it was time to take a break and took a seat on the stairs that lead to the altar. All i had to do was be aware and capture a great moment (and a terrific smile).

The flower girl takes a break during a Catholic wedding ceremony.

Details are a great aspect of any wedding, but those loving hands clasp together with the contrasting red bible in the background caught my eye, as did the writing on the back of the groom's shoes...

The bride and groom clasp their hands together while the priest reads from a red bible during their church wedding ceremony.

The groom shoes engraved with the words 'me too' are shown as he kneels down at the altar during a church wedding ceremony.

For family or wedding party group shots inside the church, I simply provide great light in addition too a bit of direction on how to stand to look good in the photograph. sometimes i like to stagger people inside the pews and other times a simple, classic photo is what's needed.

The wedding party group photo at the altar inside of a church in Valparaiso.

Parents of the groom pose with him and his bride at the altar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Church exits can make for unique wedding photographs as well. Here is one taken from the congregations perspective at the Free spirit church in Crown Point as well as a unique perspective on the classic bubbles shot.

The bride and groom exit the Free Spirit Church with a glow of bright light upon them.

The bride and groom exit among big bubbles as their church looms large behind them.

I hope you have enjoyed this look at some unique church wedding photos. For more photo updates, please visit the Region Wedding Facebook Page. To take a look at another church wedding, check out this recent one at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or do a search below for 'church weddings'.

Fall Wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden

October 6, 2013 Steve Vansak

The bride and groom share a kiss in this dreamy wedding photo taken in the forest of Fernwood Botanical Garden.

I was expecting Fall / Autumn colors for Mike and Jennifer's outdoor wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden and this hideaway in Niles, Michigan did not disappoint. This nature preserve is a special place where people, plants, and nature come together. Several mini gardens are surrounded by a forest area with tall trees and many different paths leading to hidden areas such as a water wheel with a river and bridge. This was the perfect setting for Mike and Jennifer who were looking for earthy looking wedding photos featuring them surrounded by nature.

My assistant and I arrived early and started taking detail shots of the unique Fall wedding decorations that were set up in the outdoor tent area that would serve as the reception hall for family and guests.

Fall wedding decorations for an outdoor Autumn wedding.

A homemade, rustic looking wedding gift card box.

Soon the groom and his groomsmen arrived for photos. They took a stroll through the wooded area of Fernwood as we awaited for the bride's arrival and the much anticipated first look.

The groomsmen take a stroll through the woods of Fernwood Botanical Garden.

The groom is surrounded by yellow leaves for a photo at his Autumn wedding.

I have had some real touching first looks this wedding season, everywhere from Lake County Fairgrounds to Centennial Park and I'm happy to say that this streak continues with Jennifer and Mike. Just look at the grooms face as he sees his bride for the first time!!

An overjoyed groom reacts during the first look at Fernwood Botanical Garden.

We let the anticipation build as the bride slowly walked toward her soon to be husband as friends and family cheered them on.

The bride walks toward her soon to be husband in a beautiful green field surrounded by trees and Autumn leaves.

A beautiful bride reveals herself to her groom.

The bride and groom first look at the gorgeous pumpkin garden during their Fall wedding in Niles, Michigan.

We then walked deep into the forest area at Fernwood Botanical Garden taking bridal party shots along with portraits of our beautiful bride surrounded by the wonderful colors of the Fall season.

Beautiful bridal portrait taken in the Fall season with warm color.

I left the couple alone for awhile to soak in the beauty of the area while I took candid images of their moments together.

A candid photo of the bride brushing the grooms hair surrounded by wonderful greenery.

Soon it was time for the outdoor ceremony to begin and the groom got last minute advice from his mom. Okay, I admit it, I goaded her into giving him a lecture!! Either way, it was a fun shot. :)

The groom's mother gives some last minute advice to her son just before the wedding ceremony.

The bride and groom are surrounded by family for their first kiss captured from behind and showing their guests in the background.

The outdoor reception was held under an open air tent and featured earthy, homemade furniture for guests to lounge in while drinking wine and tasting delicious desserts.

A lounge area at an outdoor wedding reception.

Guests mingle and drink wine at an outdoor wedding reception in Niles, Michigan.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Mike and Jennifer's outdoor Fall wedding at Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, Michigan. Stay tuned to this Journal and give the Region Weddings Facebook Page a like for more photo updates.