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Region Weddings

1031 Pratt Street
Crown Point, Indiana 46307
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Wedding At Thornton Distillery

February 28, 2022 Steve Vansak

Robert and Ivana chose Thornton Distillery for their winter wedding in Thornton, Illinois. It is one of the most unique Midwest wedding venues I’ve been in.

Thornton Distilling Company was built in 1857 as a brick and limestone brewery and grain tower by John S. Bielfeldt Brewing Company on the west bank of Thorn Creek.

The bridal suite is very spacious with adjacent rooms available for groomsmen and guests. I was greeted by a fun group with lots of laughter and wedding moments galore.

Venue: Thornton Distillery

Coordinators: Ginger Peach
Live Music: The Jolly Ringwalds

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View fullsize  The bride receives a kiss from her daughter during bridal prep at a wedding in Illinois.
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View fullsize  The bride preps for her winter wedding at Thornton Distillery.
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We had a series of first looks before we did portraits of the bride and groom. First up was the groom and his daughter and then Robert got to see his bride for the first time.

We had a first look with their young sons as well and then an “accidental first look” with Dad as he arrived just as Ivana was making her way toward the ballroom. It was a sweet wedding moment with tears from the father of the bride.

View fullsize  A young girl greets her Dad for the first time on his wedding day.
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View fullsize  The groom with his daughter at Thornton Distillery.
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View fullsize  First look moment for the bride and groom during a wedding at Thornton Distillery in Thornton, Illinois.
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Father of the bride starts crying after seeing his daughter on her wedding day.

For the couples creative portraits, we explored the entire building from the billiard room to the actual distillery where the spirits are made.

View fullsize  A passionate bride and groom photo in the billiard room in Thornton Distillery.
View fullsize  A kiss in the billiard room of Thornton Distillery for the bride and groom.
View fullsize  A romantic wedding photo amongst the wine barrels at Thornton Distillery in Illinois.
View fullsize  A portrait of the bride and groom with wine barrels in the background.

We surely appreciated the venue allowing us into the room where they make the spirits and also use of the bar area. It made for some unique wedding photos while also showing off this historic venue.

Bride and groom gaze at each other inside the well of Thornton Distillery.

View fullsize  Bride and groom beneath hanging lanterns inside rustic wedding venue Thornton Distillery.
View fullsize  The bride stands upon the staircase at 100 year old wedding venue Thornton Distillery.

The ceremony took place just off the dance floor of Coopers Hall (the main event room) as guests sat in their seats.

The bride was walked out by her brother and her father. She flexed a bit of muscle before the sand ceremony and they all danced and exited as a happy family.

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The reception saw live band The Jolly Ringwalds provide the soundtrack with the couple’s daughter Mila showing that she is ready to compete on Dancing with the Stars!

The dancing, the decor and especially the candid moments were all captured as everyone celebrated a wonderful wedding.

Oh, and we can’t forget to mention our special guest singer - the bride!!

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The bride sings with the band at her wedding reception.

As usual, please fill out the Contact Form to inquire about wedding photography and Short Films for your own wedding day.

This has merely been a sneak peek of images from Ivana and Robert’s big day at Thornton Distillery. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings social channels below for more images from this and other weddings.

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In Rustic Weddings, Serbian Weddings, Winter Wedding Tags Thornton Distillery, winter wedding, rustic wedding venue, Illinois wedding

Winter Wedding At Aberdeen Manor

February 17, 2022 Steve Vansak

Snow falls upon the dance floor at Aberdeen Manor.

Carrie and Brandon had been planning their winter wedding at Aberdeen Manor Ballroom in Valparaiso, Indiana for quite sometime. The day had finally come and snow was falling when I arrived for bridal prep photos.

I found non-stop laughter and plenty of moments to capture. I even got to pop over to see the groom and his crew as they were nearby.

*click or tap on images to enlarge and advance*

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Carrie had two first looks / reveals. The first was a great moment with her sons who had looks of amazement as they saw mom in her dress. This all lead up to the big reveal with Brandon.

View fullsize  First look with the bride and her sons at a winter wedding at Aberdeen Manor.
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View fullsize  Emotional moment between the bride and her sons.
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View fullsize  First look for the bride and groom at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana.
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After coming down from the emotional moments of the reveals we realized - it’s cold outside! It was time for portraits of the bride and groom and the wedding party as began arriving for the chapel ceremony.

Flowers by La Petite Fleursite.

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View fullsize  Bridal portrait inside the Aberdeen Manor Ballroom.
View fullsize  Black and white winter portrait of a bride and groom at the Aberdeen Manor Ballroom wedding venue.
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The wedding ceremony took place inside warm confines of the Aberdeen Chapel. Carrie’s eldest son walked her down the aisle as friends and family looked on. There were plenty of laughs during the proceedings but also some emotional moments that required a few tissues.

Soon we were walking across the street for the rocking reception.

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The Aberdeen Manor Ballroom looked elegant as ever and introductions lead into the cake cutting and some spirited speeches. Then it was time for first dances and the opportunity for everyone to celebrate the winter wedding of Carrie and Brandon.

Backdrop and props by Laughbooth Photo Booth.

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I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Carrie and Brandon’s winter wedding at Aberdeen Manor Ballroom. This is merely a fraction of the images taken on their big day. Stay tuned to the social media channels below for more images from this and other weddings.

As always, Contact me here to inquire about wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southwest Michigan.

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In Winter Wedding, Church Wedding, Ballroom Weddings Tags Aberdeen Manor, The Chapel at Aberdeen Manor, winter wedding

Top 5 Wedding Planning Podcasts

January 19, 2022 Steve Vansak

I love listening to Podcasts and as a wedding photographer I gravitate toward camera gear shows. I also have a backlog of episodes to get to about music and current events. January is the slow season for weddings here in the Midwest so I’m definitely in a podcast listening mood as I hibernate.

This month is also known for its wedding planning as many couples get engaged during the preceding holidays.

I’ve found 5 wedding planning podcasts that may be very helpful to you no matter what stage of planning you are in. A few of them are downright entertaining as well. Save time and get wedding planning ideas during your commute to and from work!

You can listen to them on various different platforms. Copy the show names into your favorite podcast app or follow the links for more options. My podcast app of choice is the fantastic Overcast.

  • The Big Wedding Planning Podcast - hosted by Michelle Martinez

  • Till Stress Do Us Part - hosted by Riannan

  • Toni Time / Wedding Planning Podcast - hosted by Toni Darcy

  • The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast - hosted by Ashley C.

  • Wedding Planning Collective Podcast - hosted by Kate McClellan

Of course, as your wedding photographer I will help guide you through the day at our pre-wedding meeting where I provide you with online forms such as family group shot list and more.

In the meantime, happy podcasts listening and happy planning!! As always, you can Contact me here.

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In Wedding Planning, Wedding tips Tags wedding planning

2021 Year In Review - Midwest Wedding Photography

December 29, 2021 Steve Vansak

Welcome to my 2021 Year in Review! What a year it has been for wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, southwest Michigan and the Chicago area.

Above is a short video slideshow to give you an overview of the entire year in pictures. Turn up the volume and enjoy.

Of course, scrolling through this blog / journal you will find the stories of the weddings days (with lots of images) of many of my clients dating all the way back to 2010. This post will concentrate on the images from 2021 (also check out Sarah + Brents’s Short Film embedded at the end) with a few comments from me.

As always, inquire on my Contact Form about openings for your big day for photography as well as Short Films.

Happy New Year!

I had one lone wedding in March at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana and then the season kicked off in earnest in late May. After that, WEDDINGS DID NOT STOP! In late June I recall 5 weddings in one 10 day period. This wedding season saw many weekday weddings.

Some of the early Spring wedding venues as seen above were Sand Creek Country Club, The Grand CP and Journeyman Distillery.

Wedding photo in the garden at Centennial Park.

June turned out to be the busiest month of the year for Midwest weddings in 2021. The Fall season usually takes that crown but this year was more traditional.

The beginning of Summer saw weddings in Monee, Illinois as well as Meyer’s Castle, Tying the Knot wedding venue in Michigan, Whiting Lakefront Park and The Lighthouse Lodge in Monticello, Indiana.

The bride’s veil flies in the air as she kisses her groom at a summer wedding in Northwest Indiana.

As summer rolled on, I photographed such diverse Northwest Indiana wedding venues such as County Line Orchard, The Pavilion at Sandy Pines as well as church weddings in downtown Chicago.

Yes, you are seeing an actual rainbow in the image above! After a rain delay of an outdoor ceremony at Sandy Pines in Demotte, Indiana a rainbow appeared in the sky. I can honestly that was a wedding first for me and no photoshop was involved.

Weddings at County Line Orchard and Marquette Park Pavilion.

A Harry Potter themed wedding took place this year at The Grand CP in Crown Point, Indiana along with receptions at Maggiano’s, a Chicago wedding venue in River North area as well as a beautiful outdoor wedding at Gabis Arboretum in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Early Fall saw me back at Gabis Arboretum for another outdoor wedding at the scenic Northwest Indiana wedding venue as well as the venerable Avalon Manor.

Bride and groom in a candid moment at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana.

Fall is always busy for weddings in Northwest Indiana and throughout the Midwest. This year I had many church weddings in the Autumn with photos at locations such at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Centennial Park.

The Fall wedding season also saw me return to Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City along with photos at the gorgeous Friendship Botanic Gardens.

Silver Lake Country Club and Georgio’s Banquets in Orland Park, Illinois were two of my Illinois wedding venue destinations this year.

Midwest wedding photos taken in the Fall season.

The end of October into early November gave us some intense Fall color at a Briar Ridge Country Club as well as a return to County Line Orchard along with church nuptials.

Early winter weddings often mean it gets dark early. For an early December wedding at Four Season’s Clubhouse we ventured outside for blue hour in this winter wedding photo below.

Winter weddings at The Grand CP and Center For The Visual and Performing Arts.

Wedding Season 2021 ended with a December wedding at Center For Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana in mid December and a Christmas Eve wedding in Wilmington, Illinois.

Bride and bridesmaids on the staircase during a December wedding at Center For Visual and Performing Arts.

It was a glorious year for weddings in 2021!!

As a bonus for making it this far down in my Year in Review post, press play below on the Short Film video that Sarah and Brent added to the wedding package of their winter wedding.

In case you didn’t know that there was an option to add video to your wedding photography package, more info can be found at this link.

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In Chicago Weddings, Candid Wedding Photos, Church Wedding, Creative Wedding Images, Micro Weddings, Modern Wedding Photography, Northwest Indiana Wedding, Wedding Planning Tags northwest indiana wedding venues, northwest indiana wedding video, candid wedding photos, modern wedding photography
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