Spring Engagement Session At Gabis Arboretum

June 18, 2018 Steve Vansak

Nature was in full bloom at Gabis Arboretum (formerly Taltree Arboretum) for Erica and Stephen's Spring engagement session. Their son Ace tagged along to make sure Mom and Dad didn't get lost in the woods and he even jumped in for some family pictures.

Family time at Gabis Arboretum in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Engagement photos along the wooded paths of Gabis Arboretum.

Erica and Stephen are getting married in 2019 and are new to the area. I suggested the famed Valparaiso nature preserve for it's scenic landscaping and the unique colors it often produces.

Purple hues in the garden at Gabis Arboretum.

Romantic engagement photos at Gabis Arboretum.

I have a feeling Erica and Stephen will be bringing their son back to the Arboretum for all of the events and railway garden. It's a great spot for family outings as well as photo sessions like theirs. Please use the Contact Form to inquire about your engagement session here or elsewhere.

Summer Wedding At Meyer's Castle

June 18, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom among the greenery of Meyer's Castle.

Anthony and Valerie had a summer wedding this past weekend at the iconic Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana. It was full metal summer too - as in temperatures close to 100 degrees with full sun!!

Our day started in the A/C at the bride's sister Lisa's home with bridal prep pictures and detail shots. The kids had fun hanging out with grandma and soon after we were off for bridesmaid photos at Meyer's Castle while second photographer Kerrie took shots of Anthony and the guys.

The bride gets ready for her wedding at Meyer's Castle.

The bride and groom dressed and ready for their castle wedding.

The outdoor wedding ceremony took place at the back of the castle, but this is the view the guest's see as they ride the shuttle around the cobblestone road to the courtyard.

I know how wonderful it must have felt for Valerie to walk out with her Dad who had been recently ill and is still recovering. I wanted to make sure I got an image of the two of them alone during the wedding ceremony and they looked extremely happy as they walked out together.

Perhaps it was the heat, but the flower girls decided mid ceremony that is was time to take a break!! Afterwards we took family pictures and then I whisked Valerie and Anthony all around the grounds of the castle for pictures.

Summer wedding ceremony at Meyer's Castle.

The groom walks his bride down the path from the gazebo.

The wedding party having fun at Meyer's Castle in Dyer, Indiana.

Romantic kiss for the bride and groom on the grounds of the castle.

Couples will sometimes bring a Thank You sign they they use later for cards and we took a variety of shots, but this "rock pose" from the bride and groom is probably my favorite.

I caught the happy couple in one final smooch and then we headed inside to cool off and take some portraits in the lounge just before the reception started.

The happy couple at their castle wedding.

Wedding reception decor at Meyer's Castle.

I usually show off first dances when I write these articles with the bride and groom first dance as the large image and the parent dances within a smaller collage. However, seeing as Valerie's Dad has gone through so much health wise this year AND it was the day before Father's Day - he gets the spotlight with this wonderful moment during the first dance with his daughter.

Father of the bride with his daughter during parent dances.

Good times at a summer wedding at Meyer's Castle.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Valerie and Anthony's summer wedding at Meyer's Castle. Stay tuned to the social media channels below for more image previews. Also, be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your big day.

Summer Wedding At Marquette Park Pavilion

June 5, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in silhouette at the Marquette Park Pavilion lagoon.

The last time I photographed a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion was before the big remodel. It was spectacular then and even more so now. So when Nicole and Chad told me their wedding would be at this classic venue AND there would be live music inside and out throughout the day, I was even more excited to capture their big day.

Nicole and her bride tribe got ready in one area while second photographer Bridget hung out with the guys in another location. While I took photos of Nicole's uniquely beautiful wedding dress, Bridget captured the guys swimming on this sweltering 95 degree summer day.

Bridal prep for a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride getting ready at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The groom and his guys before a wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Nicole and Chad had their first look along the walkway of the lagoon behind the Marquette Park Pavilion ballroom. The bride and groom had a romantic moment together and then we took photos all around the picturesque venue.

First look for the bride and groom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride and groom on the bridge overlooking the lagoon at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Bride and groom wedding photos at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The bride on the bridge overlooking the lagoon.

A trio of singers performed an acoustic set as Nicole's Dad walked her down the aisle. The sand ceremony became a family pact and the officiant, wedding party and congregation made great light of the fact that we were all baking in sun in 95 degree temperatures!! If you think I'm exaggerating take a look at that big old sunstar below. It didn't matter as it was all beautiful anyway.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Marquette Park Pavilion.

A sunstar illuminates an outdoor wedding.

A bubble exit for the bride and groom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Summer wedding ceremony at Marquette Park Pavilion.

So we had live music outside, inside and the entire wedding party is playing air guitar in these photos. Can you guess what Nicole and Chad (and many of their wedding party and guests) do when they are not getting married on the beach? That's right - they sing, play guitar, beat on drums, compose on the piano and make beautiful noise!! Be sure to check out their music here and here.

The wedding party plays air guitar like a boss.

The cocktail hour continued an acoustic set of music and then it was inside the spectacular ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Wedding reception at Marquette Park Pavilion.

The ballroom at Marquette Park Pavilion.

First dance and parent dances at Marquette Park Pavilion.

Dinner is served in the main ballroom of Marquette Park Pavilion.

The Chicago Catz band had the crowd in a frenzy on the dance floor as a wedding crasher visited the photo booth (must be a bass player).

Live music at a summer wedding reception.

It certainly was great to be back at the spectacular Marquette Park Pavilion. I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Nicole and Chad's summer wedding there. Be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about photography for your big day.

Wedding At Valparaiso University Chapel of the Resurrection

May 29, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom walk down the aisle at Chapel of the Resurrection.

Lauren and Eddie had an epic Memorial Day weekend wedding at The Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University. The church is probably one of the largest in the Northwest Indiana area and we will showcase that fact a little further down.

First let's catch up with the bridesmaids at Combing Attractions where Make Up by Krissy V. readied the girls for a hot summer day.

The bride and her bridesmaids prep for the Dream Wedding.

Mother of the bride assists her daughter on wedding day.

The bride gets ready for a summer wedding at Valparaiso University.

While I was with the bridesmaids, second photographer Kerrie captured the guys prep which consisted of dressing and meditating in a moment of zen.

The sun was blazing down upon us and I'm sure we all considered a jump into the fountain at Aberdeen!! I captured the bridesmaids photos at the fountain while Kerrie photographed the guys at Valparaiso University. Soon it would be time to walk down the aisle of the big church.

The bridesmaids huddle up with the bride at a Valparaiso wedding.

Groomsmen outside the Chapel of the Resurrection.

Fun bridesmaid photos at the Aberdeen fountain.

I mentioned earlier that Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University was a large church and I think you will agree at seeing Lauren walk down the aisle with her Dad as seen from the balcony.

Father of the bride walks with his daughter at Chapel of the Resurrection.

Wedding ceremony at Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.

A summer wedding at Chapel of the Resurrection.

One of the most compelling areas of the church is the spiral staircase and Lauren was very excited to take photos in this area as well as show off the wonderful stained glass inside the building.

Bride and groom at the bottom of the spiral staircase at Valparaiso University.

Bride and groom in front of the wonderful stained glass of Chapel of the Resurrection.

One of our outdoor stops was the famed kissing bridge on the outer edge of campus.

Bride and groom on the kissing bridge at Valparaiso University.

Wedding photos at Valparaiso University campus.

I had never visited the Victory Bell on campus before, but what a great spot for a triumphant just married picture. After a few here, it was off to Aberdeen Manor for the reception.

The Victory Bell outside the Valparaiso University football stadium.

Aberdeen Manor is always spectacularly decorated and Lauren and Eddie's reception there certainly was. After the cutting of the hanging cake, speeches and dinner it was time for first dances and another dipping of the bride.

Fun wedding reception at Aberdeen Manor.

The groom dips his bride at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Wedding reception fun at Aberdeen Manor.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Lauren and Eddie's wedding at Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University. More images to follow on the social media channels below. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form to set up a meeting to discuss photography.