Real Wedding At Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana

March 15, 2021 Steve Vansak

A romantic dip on the golf course at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines.

Golf course weddings are a great way to have built in photo opportunities into your wedding day with their professional grade, scenic landscaping. Of course, a wedding at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines brings this and much more including the spectacular bridal suite.

In the case of Amanda and Ben, it also helped that the groom and his groomsmen are avid golfers.

Press the play button below for Real Weddings - Episode 7: Amanda + Ben, part of my IGTV series on my Instagram account.

The vendors:

Make Up Artist - Make Up by Krissy V.
Hair: Under the Veil
Dress: Something Blue
DJ: TransAudio
Venue: The Pavilion at Sandy Pines

Enjoy!!

A always, Contact me here for wedding photography for your big day!!

Real Wedding At Uptown Social In Michigan City, Indiana

March 12, 2021 Steve Vansak

Michael and Colleen at the doors of Uptown Social in Michigan City.

One of the more elegant wedding venues in Northwest Indiana is Uptown Social in Michigan City, Indiana. Michael and Colleen had their reception and the majority of their wedding photos done there just last year.

As part of my Real Weddings video series on IGTV, I am featuring them on Episode 6. You can view that down below as well as on my Instagram feed. It’s just a short overview covering the beginnings of the day through the church ceremony onto the reception.

Enjoy!!

Hair and Make Up at CJ Warren Salon and Spa in Crown Point, IN
Ceremony at St. Matthias Parish in Crown Point, IN
Reception at Uptown Social in Michigan City, IN

Real Weddings - Episode 6: Colleen + Michael

As always, to inquire about wedding photography for your big day please do fill out the Contact Form right here.

Look at those grins! My Tuesday afternoon newlyweds after their #microwedding @meyerscastle

Together Stronger, Together Better, Together As One. Thanks @chicagotheatre , it’s as though you knew we were coming!

A 1950’s themed wedding at Hall of Justice.

The 2020 Year In Review - Weddings In Indiana and Illinois

December 29, 2020 Steve Vansak

A newly married couple hops into a classic car on their wedding day at Uptown Social wedding venue.

2020 has been one of the most challenging years the world has faced during my lifetime. The simple tasks of going to the grocery store or visiting your favorite coffee shop became quite the endeavor. Seeing the loss of life and illness due to the pandemic can really crush one’s spirit.

When you are young and in love with wedding plans and dreams of gathering with family and friends in celebration these new and uncharted circumstances can double the stress that is already involved. When you are a wedding and event photographer who makes one’s living documenting togetherness, I also felt just as helpless.

Some of my 2020 clients understandably moved their dates to 2021 and some stayed the course for 2020, but not without many second guesses. Those who moved forward did so knowing some major adjustments would have to take place. What’s the biggest wedding fashion trend of 2020? The face mask of course! Who would have thought?

As I take you through the year in this post, keep in mind the love is still there and the same with the camaraderie, the fun and hopefully the art as well. A big thanks to my 2020 wedding clients and their friends and families for sticking with the wedding photographer in a black mask whom you could not hear because he’s not used to speaking in a mask!! Ha - enjoy…

Bride and groom under the arch at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana.

Late Spring saw Amanda and Taylor’s wedding at Village Church in Dyer, Indiana with close friends and family only. They had a wonderful outdoor cake ceremony outside at Centennial Park for their reception and loved ones cheered them with bubbles.

Northwest Indiana wedding photos from Spring.

With Spring blurring into summer, it was also Samantha and Zach’s big day at The Patrician wedding venue. They also added the Wedding Short Film to their package as seen below.

Bride on the altar of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Crown Point.

Kaley and Adam had quite a bit to juggle for their June wedding with two ceremonies - inside at St. Mary’s in Crown Point with their parents only attending and to other friends and family in an outdoor setting in Valparaiso. Then it was off to Aberdeen Manor for the reception.

Indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies in June in Northwest Indiana.

It’s always great to be back at County Line Orchard for a summer barn wedding. This time is was Hallie and Jordan with an emotional first look and rocking reception at the big red barn.

Summer barn wedding at County Line Orchard.

Bride and groom take a stroll along the fencing at County Line Orchard.

Before 2020 I had never heard of the term Micro Weddings but this past year saw a number of these elopement style, small wedding gatherings. Enough so that I now have wedding packages for these intimate weddings.

As seen below, Friendship Botanical Garden in Michigan City is a perfect spot for Micro Weddings along with full size wedding days.

Elopement style portraits at Friendship Botanical Garden.

August saw an outdoor ceremony in Warsaw, Indiana with Marissa and David along with a chapel elopement in Illinois with Elizabeth and David. The end of the month saw Jessica and Matt tie the knot at Ravisloe Country Club in Illinois.

Bride in the ballroom window at Ravisloe Country Club.

I always love weddings at Aberdeen Manor and Jasmine and Jacob’s ceremony was in the outside garden. We shot at the Aberdeen Inn as well as Family Express, because… why not?!!

A candid moment for the bride and groom with a water fountain in the background.

A late summer wedding at Aberdeen Manor.

September saw Taylor and Jesus have a beach wedding and reception at Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana.

Outdoor wedding at Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana.

Alyssa and Goran’s micro wedding at Barker Mansion was quite unique as it all took place at night. After the twilight ceremony we went inside the historic mansion for creative portraits.

Photos from a night time micro wedding at Barker Mansion in Michigan City.

Bride and groom kiss with a circle of light around them in the halls of Barker Mansion.

Colleen and Michael were up next with a church ceremony in Crown Point at St. Matthias Parish with a reception at Uptown Social.

September wedding at Uptown Social in Michigan City, Indiana.

Bride and groom beneath the stage at wedding venue Uptown Social.

It was great to be back at The Pavilion at Sandy Pines for Amanda and Ben’s outdoor, golf course wedding. What a beautiful Northwest Indiana wedding venue this is.

A romantic walk in the woods at Sandy Pines in Demotte.

Golf course wedding in Demotte at Sandy Pines.

There’s nothing like a Greek wedding to keep you on your toes and Maggie and Ben’s big day was a blast.

October continues to be busy with another micro wedding with Bianca and Austin in the Northeast portion of Indiana and the very next day a wedding in Davenport, Iowa with Allison and Nathan.

Greek wedding at St. George and The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana.

The bride and groom embrace in a field in Davenport, Iowa on their wedding day.

The end of October saw me back at Aberdeen Manor for an Autumn wedding with Stephanie and Tim with some gorgeous Fall color. Kinsey and Kevin and brought their fun the very next day for their Halloween wedding.

Fall color takes over for an October wedding at Aberdeen Manor.

October wedding at Aberdeen Manor and Ballroom.

Temperatures cooled in November, but things were hot at County Line Orchard for Sofia and Daniel’s big day.

The bride opens the doors of the grain silo at County Line Orchard.

Winter barn wedding at County Line Orchard.

December wedding in Crown Point, Indiana.

Tori and Steve finished out 2020 with a December wedding in downtown Crown Point with Christmas lights and a church ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

So there you have it, the 2020 Year in Review of weddings in Northwest Indiana and Illinois. I hope you are doing well and staying safe as you read this. As always, please contact me via the Contact Form here to inquire about your big day. Happy New Year!

A night time kiss in downtown Michigan City.

Winter Wedding At Maki Ballroom

December 7, 2020 Steve Vansak

Christmas tree lights surround the bride and groom outside the Old Lake County Courthouse.

Tori and Steve had originally planned to have a Spring wedding but this is the year 2020 and well, we all know that plans for this year had to be flexible to put it mildly.

So a winter wedding it ended up being and what a beautiful day it was.

I started off with bridal prep at the Old Lake County Courthouse inside the spacious Accessor’s Room on the third floor while Kay covered guy’s prep at the couple’s home.

Bridal details at the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

The bride and her bridesmaid’s get ready for the big day in Crown Point, Indiana.

In between taking details photos of fun moments, mementos and the flowers provided by Kathy’s Florist I also snuck down to the Maki Ballroom as was amazed at how Stacey and crew of The Grand CP had created a winter wonderland for the reception later that night. Stay tuned for those images down below.

Bridal prep at the Old Crown Point Courthouse

The ceremony took place just down the street at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Crown Point. Before we left the downtown Square to see Tori walk down the aisle, we had a first look with Dad and Kay took some portraits of the groom outside the venerable church while I shot the girls in the downtown area.

First look with Dad on the 3rd floor of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Portraits of the bride inside the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Bride and bridesmaids outside the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Groom and groomsmen prep at a Crown Point winter wedding.

Groom and groomsmen photos outside St. Mary’s Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

The bride escorted down the aisle by her parents.

Winter wedding ceremony at St. Mary’s Church in Crown Point.

After the ceremony we took family photos and bride and groom photos inside the church. Then we made our way to downtown Crown Point for some unique, night time bride and groom pictures outside and inside the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Bride and groom portraits on the altar at St. Mary’s Church.

The bride and groom take a stroll down the center aisle of St. Mary’s Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

The newlyweds before they exit the church parking lot.

A nighttime wedding photo during the holiday season in front of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Under the veil wedding photo in downtown Crown Point during a December wedding.

Bride and groom on the stairs leading to the 3rd floor of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

As I explained earlier, Maki Ballroom truly was a winter wonderland. Musician Denny B. entertained guest before and after dinner. Spotlight was on the bride and groom for the first dance and the father of the bride got a bit emotional during the dance with his daughter.

Winter wedding decorations at Maki Ballroom.

A winter themed wedding inside Maki Ballroom.

First dance for a winter themed wedding at Maki Ballroom.

Winter wedding reception at Maki Ballroom inside the old Crown Point Courthouse.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Tori and Steve’s winter wedding at Maki Ballroom inside the Old Crown Point Courthouse. Be sure to fill out the contact form to inquire about your big day right here. Stay tuned for more wedding photographer here and on the social media channels below.