Literary Themed Wedding at Centennial Park

July 6, 2015 Steve Vansak

Shadow of a heart with a wedding ring placed inside a book.

Katie and Kurt are fans of the Harry Potter series of books and avid readers. It made perfect sense for them to have a literary themed wedding complete with books on every table at their reception at Centennial Park in Munster.

The day began at Hampton Inn where the girls got ready. It was there amongst all the laughter and hairspray that I first spotted the library due date cards that would be serving as table placards later in the night.

The bride puts on earrings as window light shines upon her.

Katie looked resplendent in her veil and we definitely showed it off in pictures. I took the girls into the hotel lobby for posed as well as goof off photos and I took Katie outside for a walk.

Bridesmaids wedding photos in Munster, Indiana.

The ceremony took place at Ridge United Methodist Church with Father Steve as officiant. The tall building gave me opportunity to get some nice wide shots of the altar and the center aisle was perfect for up close shots as Katie and Kurt were married.

Wedding ceremony at Ridge United Methodist Church.

We were concerned about storms as the couple exited the church with bubbles surrounding them. However, I put in a text to Mother Nature and the rain held off!!

Bubbles surround the newly married couple at Ridge United Methodist Church in Munster, IN.

Centennial Park was our last stop of the day for photos as well as the literary themed wedding reception. The newly married couple walked alone across the bridge while we loaned out a golf cart for a fun group wedding photo.

The bride and groom walk across the bridge at Centennial Park.

The literary themed wedding really showed at the reception with books adorning each table and the library due date cards for each guests. Boris from Precision Sound kept them dancing all night and handed the microphone off to the groom and the single guys who serenaded the bride just before the garter toss.

Literary themed wedding reception at Centennial Park.

Wedding season is in full swing and this is only a sneak peek look at Katie and Kurt's literary themed wedding at Centennial Park. Stay tuned for more at the social media links below!!

Wedding At United Methodist Church In Hebron, Indiana

July 3, 2015 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom kiss at United Methodist Church in Hebron.

To me, Lauren and Ryan are the perfect "early summer" couple - laid back, breezy, calm and cool. Their June wedding at United Methodist Church in Hebron was just that. The temperature was perfect and we we're able to go to the beautiful Ogden Gardens as well as the rip roaring, open air reception at the Valparaiso YMCA Pavilion.

The day started at His and Hers Salon with lots of laughter and continued to the church where Lauren got into her beautiful dress.

The bride's dress hangs in front of stained glass windows at the church.

The couple had a private first look inside the church before letting in friends and family for the ceremony. It was a great moment as Lauren came down the aisle and Ryan slowly turned to see her for the first time on their wedding day.

First look for the bride and groom at United Methodist Church in Hebron, Indiana.

The church was packed with well wishers as the couple were married. A crowd waited outside afterward to salute the newly married couple and send them off.

Wedding ceremony at United Methodist Church.

After family photos inside the church, we stopped by Ogden Garden in Valparaiso where we took fun wedding photos with the bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as romantic pictures of the bride and groom. Lauren and the girls showed off their "epic swag" while Ryan sheepishly showed the bridesmaids his "bling".

Fun wedding photos at Ogden Garden in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Romantic wedding photos at Ogden Garden in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The wedding reception was held at the open air venue of the YMCA Pavilion in Valparaiso. The couple danced in front of the Mr. and Mrs. sign that was handcrafted by the groom. As night approached, the dance floor heated up. The bride and groom even got in a quick corn toss.

Wedding reception at the YMCA Pavilion in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Engagement Photos At Buckley Homestead

June 24, 2015 Steve Vansak

A couple talks and laughs on a bench for their engagement photos on a farm in Lowell.

Gwen and Keith told me recently that they wanted to showcase Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana for their engagement photos. It seemed like a great location to me, surrounded by rural farmlands, rustic barns and scenic greenery. The killer sunset we got was icing on the cake!!

Engagement photos at Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana.

Gwen and Keith brought along a few props such as their wedding date banner, but everything else was naturally there for us. Their September wedding is also in Lowell, Indiana and the old time buggy, paths of farmland and the grain silo will be perfect decor for their big day.

A couple in love walk out of a 1916 era barn at Buckley Homestead.

There were a couple of different outfit changes during our session as we went for a variety of different looks. One of the scenes that caught my eye was this lone tree set against a wonderful blue sky.

A couple shares a kiss next to a lone tree underneath blue skies.

We finished up the engagement session surrounded by trees and some rustic buildings. We said our goodbyes and headed for our vehicles. It was then that I turned the corner and saw the wonderful color in the sky. We had us a beautiful sunset!! Ah, but where is my couple?!! As fate would have it, they were leaving down the same road and I stopped them for a few extra shots with our radiant sky in the background.

This is only a sneak peek of Gwen and Keith's engagement photos at Buckley Homestead. Stay tuned for more. If you would like to book your own engagement session, please fill out the Contact Form to inquire. Weekends are are pretty booked up right now, but various weekdays are open. Enjoy summer!!

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!!