Fall Wedding Ceremony At Radisson Hotel

November 16, 2015 Steve Vansak

The bride looks out the window of Radisson Hotel on her wedding day.

When Sandra and Andrew told me their wedding would be indoors at Radisson Hotel I told them they had made a great choice as Radisson is one of the premiere wedding venues in Northwest Indiana. The day started out in the Birch Room bridal suite with hair and make up, wine and music, and much laughter and friendship.

I took the bridesmaids photos while second photographer Kerrie photographed the guys. We then had a first look on the east side of the hotel by the piano and roamed the wonderful hotel taking photographs of the bride and groom and entire wedding party. Soon it would be time for the ceremony in Celebrity Ballroom East.

The bride and groom kiss in the hallway at Radisson Hotel.

Wedding photos at Radisson in Merrillville, indiana.

A toast on wedding day for the bride and groom.

The indoor wedding ceremony saw the Radisson Ballroom take on an amber, Fall glow as Sandra and Andrew were married on the stage with friends and family watching.

Fall wedding ceremony inside Radisson ballroom.

The party at Celebrity Ballroom West saw a large banner with the couple's names illuminating the dance floor. The Autumn amber glow was even more intense and the wonderfully decorated wedding cake let us all know what season we were in.

Wedding cake decorated for the Fall season.

I was thrilled to see all of the guests writing in the Wish Book that I designed from the couple's engagement session. The father of the bride gave a big thumbs up to the proceedings while polkas filled the room alongside dance tracks.

First dance for the bride at groom in Celebrity Ballroom West.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Andrew and Sandra's Fall wedding ceremony at Radisson Hotel. Stay tuned here and on social media for more updates.

Fall Engagement Photos At Lemon Lake Park

November 5, 2015 Steve Vansak

Engagement photo with Fall colors reflecting off the lake.

I have a bit of a history with Amanda and Zach. See, I took Amanda's senior pictures a number of years ago. Then I started to see her as a guest at many of the weddings I was shooting. Soon I noticed she was slow dancing with the same guy at the receptions. Oh oh, I see a budding romance here!!

It was a thrill to photograph their Fall engagement session at Lemon Lake County Park with the Fall colors at their fullest. We started with the sun still high and peeking thru the trees and went until sunset.

The sun peek through the trees at a Fall engagement photo session.

I asked these two to have a seat on the many logs around the park and chat for awhile for some intimate candid photos. We also took a walk deep into the swampy section of the lake for a moody silhouette. Of course, a smiling portrait was in order too.

Autumn engagement photos at Lemon Lake County Park.

The Great Leaf Fight Championship of 2015 saw a truce occur between the soon to be married couple. Truth be told, I do think Zach landed a few more leaves than Amanda. Perhaps we can have a rematch at the wedding!!

An engaged couple has a leaf fight for their photo session.

The orange and yellow colored trees reflecting off of the lake was simply breathtaking. As the couple snuggled on the pier, I captured them with the reflections as our backdrop.

A young couple snuggles on the pier as trees reflect onto the lake.

Our session ended with a final stroll along the lakefront and showing off the special Starbucks cup as the couple kissed in the background.

A stroll among the Autumn leaves at Lemon Lake County Park.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Amanda and Zach's Autumn engagement photos at Lemon Lake County Park. Stay tuned here and on social media for more updates.

Chicago Wedding At St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church

October 29, 2015 Steve Vansak

Wedding ceremony at St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church

Jennifer and Nathan were married at the spectacular St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church in Chicago. This Fall wedding had it all - beautiful colors of Autumn, great architecture in the church and all around Chicago, celebrity sightings, and fun, fun fun...

The day started in Northwest Indiana with preparations for the trip to the windy city. We photographed the details and then it was time to hit the highway. Nathan had a gift ready for Jennifer to open before she left as friends and family looked on.

Bridal prep at the home of the bride's parents.

St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church was built in 1902 in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. I definitely wanted to show off the architecture of the storied church during photographs of the bride and groom as well as during the ceremony itself.

Bride and groom at St. Josaphat Church in Chicago.

There was plenty of emotion during the ceremony from Jennifer's happy tears to Nathan's exhilarating fist pump during the first kiss.

Wedding ceremony photos from St. Josaphat Church in Chicago.

The bride and groom pray at Saint Josaphat Roman Catholic Church.

After family photos inside the church, we trekked around Chicago to Lincoln Park Zoo area as well as Adler Planeterium for wedding party photos. My goal was to showcase the bride and groom of course, but to also show off the wonderful Fall color as well as the city itself.

Fall colors in the background as the bride and groom kiss near Lincoln Park.

Jennifer and Nathan were great when I requested that they do crazy things such as climb up a stone wall so I can shoot the incredible sky, get a Chicago building AND some fall color into one shot!!

The bride and groom kiss at their Fall wedding in Chicago.

We took a PARTY bus back to Indiana for the reception at Cloister In The Woods. The room was decked out for Fall with an orange and amber hue as fun times ensued with hilarious toasts and a full dance floor.

Wedding reception at Cloister In The Woods in Munster, indiana.

First dance for the bride and groom at Cloister In The Woods reception venue.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Jennifer and Nathan's Fall wedding. Stay tuned to social media below for more updates!!

Wedding At St. Mary's Catholic Church In Griffith, Indiana

October 27, 2015 Steve Vansak

The newly married couple exits St. Mary's amid bubbles.

Michelle and Derrick's Fall wedding at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Griffith saw them surrounded by a large group of family and friends. And, as you can tell from the image above, some very large celebratory bubbles as well.

Our day started with bridal prep at The Patrician where the reception would also take place. It was a whirlwind of activity with hairspray, make up, laughter, champagne and more.

Bridal prep at The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana.

Derrick's mom brought along baby pictures of the groom to show off while Kristina, MOH and sister of the bride displayed stuffed bears representing the bride and groom as part of the decor.

I photographed the bride and bridesmaids at The Patrician while my second photographer photographed the guys near the church. Then it was off for a first look with Dad and then the ceremony.

The bride just before her Fall wedding ceremony.

I love the long aisle way at St. Mary's Church in Griffith and the balcony that gives me a bird's eye view of the ceremony. It's a lovely church and it was filled with love and laughter during Michelle and Derrick's wedding vows.

Wedding ceremony at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Griffith, Indiana.

A view from the balcony at St. Mary's Church in Griffith, Indiana.

The newly married couple were radiant as they exited the church...

The newly married couple exits St. Mary's Church.

After family pictures it was off to Carmelite Shrine in Munster for some hidden forest, Fall wedding photos.

The bride and groom stroll through the walkways of Carmelite Shrine in Munster, Indiana.

The Patrician was filled with a purple hue for the celebration. Wine was distributed to every guest and also served as a table placard. The toasts were funny and heartfelt and the cake was cut and eaten. It was now time for dancing and fun!!

Wedding reception fun at The Patrician Banquets.

First dance awash with purple and blue uplighting.

Bouquet toss at The Patrician Banquet Center.

For more Derrick and Michelle photos and all kinds of wedding photography updates, please visit the social media links below. Happy Fall everyone!!