Indian Wedding in Skokie, Illinois: Mehndi and Sangeet

December 26, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom own the stage at Skokie Banquet & Conference Center.

Day 1 - Mehndi Party

Ahsan and Molly’s wedding was a traditional 4 day celebration which began with covering the Mehndi Party at the parent’s of the bride while associate photographer Jaime was with groom and his family at another nearby home. This is Part 1 covering Day 1 and Day 2. To view highlights from Day 3 and Day 4, please follow this link here.

Henna artist were on hand at both locations and lots of well wishes, good food and laughter were on display.

Henna and make up are applied at the Mehndi Party for the bride.

The bride displays her henna art for the camera.

The Mehndi Party is a pre-celebration and was our shortest day of coverage. It was wonderful to meet everyone involved and we all hit it off really well. I knew we were in for a terrific next 3 days of intense celebration. Many thanks to Raag and Isha of Paraagon Films for being so welcoming as we worked together.

Day 2 - Sangeet

I love music so I was looking forward to the Sangeet taking place at the Skokie Banquet & Conference Center. Friends and family would be performing later in the evening but first we captured the colorful decor of the room before the bride and groom’s pithy (good luck ritual) and the “egging of the groom” which lead to a break in the festivities for a changing of clothes. Let’s just say this was one time where the groom was probably going to take a little longer than the bride to get ready!! See below…

Colorful decorations at the Sangeet celebration.

The groom was brought in first…

The groom’s pithi ceremony at Skokie Banquet & Conference Center.

Now, I had been told of the “egging of the groom” but I had not anticipated the level at which the groomsmen would take this ritual. Let’s just say, when Ahsan becomes a groomsman for one of these guys - look out, I think revenge will be off the charts!! Vinegar, salmon, flour, ketchup are just a few of the ingredients seen below. Even the bride did a cake smash on her husband to be.

If you have a groom to be who isn’t carrying his weight with wedding planning, just show him these next set of images to set him straight!! haha

The “egging of the groom” with a healthy showering of white vinegar.

After a pause for a changing of clothes for Ahsan and Molly, the Sangeet music party began with introductions and performances. I was able to snag the bride and groom for a few portraits after dinner before round 2 of the musical celebration began.

Introduction of the bride and groom with musical performances from friends and family.

The bride and groom on their colorful stage.

Happy moments for the bride and groom during their Sangeet celebration.

Molly looked exquisite during some quick portraits in between musical performances.

The performances came from children, family members, friends, members of the wedding party and finally the bride and groom themselves took to the floor. Then they invited guests up as the room engulfed with sound.

Music and dance performances from friends and family and the bride and groom.

The dance floor opens up to guests for the finale of the Sangeet.

I hope you are enjoying Day 1 and Day 2 of Ahsan and Molly’s traditional Indian wedding at Skokie Banquet & Conference Center. To view Day 3 and Day 4, please follow this link.

To inquire about wedding photography, please fill out the Contact form right here.

Surprise Marriage Proposal At Gabis Arboretum

December 11, 2019 Steve Vansak

Newly engaged couple take a walk in the woods.

Bill wrote to me via my Contact Form here on the website and told me he was going to propose to Ashley and wanted it captured in pictures. He also was looking for a location in nature. I happened to be photographing an engagement session at Gabis Arboretum the next day so he met me there before the session and we plotted out how we might pull this off.

In late November, weather is always an issue too. He told Ashley there was a “fall festival” happening that day. Problem was, the parking lot was nearly empty aside from my car and a few others and the forecast was threatening rain and snow. Mmmm…. was Ashley suspicious?

I literally was hiding behind some giant bushes of the famed nature preserve as they walked up. Perhaps it was nerves, but Bill had forgotten which path he was to take and paused briefly. I heard Ashley say “this is like a horror movie and someone is going to jump out of the bushes at any time”. Yep, that would be me!!

He told her they needed to go down this path to get to the mythic festival and off they went. He then got on one knee and presented her with a ring. I trotted up a few steps (I thought he was going further down the path) and then knelt down myself and zoomed in to capture the moment.

A surprise marriage proposal down a leaf filled path at Gabis Arboretum.

I told Ashley when she finally spotted me that I was sorry to have to ruin her hot cup of coffee but we had us some pictures to take. Bill and I had talked about certain locations at Gabis Arboretum and it was amazing how much things had changed in just a few weeks. This nature preserve is always amazing as it changes naturally in all seasons with color and more. It truly is an amazing place to shoot all year around.

Capturing romantic moments of a newly engaged couple.

Red leaves surround the happy couple as they frolic in nature.

Nature portraits after a surprise marriage proposal.

I felt tremendous as I left the park for having been able to capture this once in a lifetime moment. Thank you Bill for calling on me to be the “stalker guy in the woods” with camera in hand to forever preserve the occasion.

If you are thinking of surprising your significant other with marriage proposal photography, please contact me here and let the planning begin!!

Engagement Photos At Tabor Hill Winery and Restaurant

November 25, 2019 Steve Vansak

Engagement photo of a walk along the vineyards at Tabor Hill Winery.

Tabor Hill Winery is a beautiful wedding venue nestled within the Southwest Michigan city of Buchanan. These engagement photos of Amanda and Chris were taken in the Fall months on a sunny late afternoon.

We definitely wanted to take some classic shots within the grape orchards but the property also has some wonderful trees with lots of leaves scattered beneath them and of course wine barrels for props along with a vintage truck.

Fall engagement photos at Tabor Hill Winery in southwest Michigan.

Portrait of an engaged couple with a vintage truck and yellow fall leaves in the background.

A young couple in love walk the grounds of Tabor Hill Winery during their engagement session.

Although I am based out of Northwest Indiana, I photograph weddings and engagement sessions in Southwest Michigan as well. So I was thrilled to go out to Tabor Hill Winery for a late afternoon of photos. The sun was truly bright but this really brought out the glow of the yellow leaves.

Late afternoon sun shines upon an engaged couple at Tabor Hills Winery and Restaurant.

Autumn leaves cover the grounds at Tabor Hills Winery in October.

Warm sun illuminates the leaves in the background of a Fall portrait in Southwest Michigan.

To see more wedding and engagement photos from Southwest Michigan, Northwest Indiana and Chicago, be sure to follow the Region Weddings Instagram feed. To inquire about wedding and engagement photography, please fill out the Contact Form here on the website.

Fall Wedding At Fair Oaks Farmhouse

November 25, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom take a walk behind Fair Oaks Farmhouse on a chilly November day.

It was all about the orange at Kim and Dusty’s Fall wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse Restaurant. This particular November day had a winter vibe with snow on the ground, yet we still had Fall color to work with. It made for some unique wedding photos on the rustic property. Jello shots were dispersed to all those involved in the wedding and girls gladly played along for a faux passing out picture.

Bridal prep and groom prep was all at the adjacent Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott at Fair Oaks Farms. It has a convenient tunnel that leads to the reception area in case of bad weather.

I covered the girls getting ready while second photographer Lauren was with the guys. Soon it would be time for our first look on the porch of the farmhouse.

Bridal prep at the Fairfield Inn at Fair Oaks Farms.

Sadly, a fight broke out among the bride and her bridesmaids… JUST KIDDING!! These girls were a lot of fun and I encouraged them to have duel with their winter shawls.

Bride has fun with her friend and bridesmaid on her wedding day.

Groom prep for a wedding at Fair Oaks Farms.

It was quite chilly this mid November day so after Dusty bravely waited for Kim to arrive for their first look / reveal, we stepped inside for these guys to warm up a bit. Then we were in and out for pictures all around the property of Fair Oaks Farms.

First look for the bride and groom on the porch at Fair Oaks Farmhouse Restaurant.

A kiss and an embrace with Indiana farmland in the background.

Wedding party photos during a fall / winter wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Bride and groom portraits with fall color at Fair Oaks Farms.

The ceremony was held inside with the couple’s friend as officiant. Family photos followed and then we stepped away for a sunset picture. We then made our way to the reception area where dancers of all ages were awaiting as Trans Audio rocked the ballroom.

Indoor wedding ceremony at Fair Oaks Farms.

Wedding ceremony vows at Fair Oaks Farms.

Bride and groom take a walk at sunset at Fair Oaks Farms.

On the way back to the reception room, my assistant Michelle noticed the tunnel connecting the hotel to the farmhouse was lit and encouraged me to do a photos of the couple and we did just that. Then it was onto the party!!

Bride and groom inside Fair Oaks Farmhouse Restaurant.

Fall wedding reception at Fair Oaks Farmhouse Restaurant.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Kim and Dusty’s Fall wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please use the Contact Form right here. As always, more images can be found on the social media channels below.