June Wedding At County Line Orchard

July 9, 2018 Steve Vansak

It was a hot summer day for Ashley and Zach's rustic barn wedding at County Line Orchard. Fans were working overtime keeping the girls cool as they prepped for the day in the grain silo that overlooks the orchard fields.

Bridal prep in the grain silo at County Line Orchard.

The bride gets into her dress at County Line Orchard.

The grain silo isn't just a great spot for bride and bridesmaid prep and an area to pop champagne, it's also great for bride portraits and Ashley certainly had a great dress to show off. She asked for a traditional wrap around dress photo like her mom had at her wedding in addition to my usual "bride in the doorway" image that I love to take at this venue.

Bride portraits inside the County Line Orchard grain silo.

Second photographer Kerrie was with the guys as they poured a pitcher of beer in lieu of champagne. Zach had his boutonnière placed by his mom and then it was out into the orchard fields for pictures.

I took the girls out for pictures while Kerrie took the guys. Ashley looked incredible in her dress and Zach was rocking his custom made boutonnière for sure.

Bride and groom are ready for their big day.

I love the wooden fences out in back of the barn and I thought Ashley's flowers would really pop against the background. To show off her train once again, we blocked off the road a bit to capture the silo as our background.

The bride leans back against the wooden fences of County Line Orchard.

A beautiful bride shows off her dress with the County Line Orchard grain silo in the background.

A big shout out to Ashley's bridesmaids who let me take them out into the punishing heat and sun in back of the big barn. You can see exactly what they think of the idea in the photo next to the silo. At one point I told them to wear sunglasses and walk toward me like I was the weatherman!! :) It looks like Kerrie kept the guys sheltered under the tractor limo for their pictures.

Bridesmaid photo fun at County Line Orchard.

Groomsmen photo fun at County Line Orchard.

Ashley and Zach had an unplugged wedding ceremony which can be really helpful to keep everyone focused on the very reason for this day - to witness the official coming together of a couple deeply in love. With two photographers and a videographer, there isn't any reason for guests to wander the aisle taking cell phone pictures or posting to social media. They all mean well, but hey - we got this! :)

Wedding ceremony at the Room of Trees at County Line Orchard.

After the ceremony we took family group pictures and then it was time for wedding party and the newlyweds. Soon the sun would go down and time to light up the dance floor.

Bride and groom portraits in the apple orchard.

Wedding party group photos at County Line Orchard.

Bride and groom share a romantic kiss in the farm fields underneath a blue sky.

The iconic red barn of County Line Orchard.

We don't always get an opportunity to capture the wedding venue decorated and not filled with guests yet, but on this day we did and it's a spectacular venue as seen from above.

The decorated reception ballroom at County Line Orchard.

Rustic wedding decorations inside the big barn.

After Ashley's 1993 commitment to "never get married" was revealed, it was time to celebrate that broken promise on the dance floor.

A blue hour wedding portrait at County Line Orchard.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Ashley and Zach's June wedding at County Line Orchard. Please do fill out the Contact Form to inquire about wedding photography for your big day. Follow the social media channels listed below for more images from this wedding and others.

Barn Wedding At County Line Orchard

May 16, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom walk along the apple orchards.

Jamie and Tom's barn wedding at County Line Orchard was an incredibly fun day filled with laughter, rain, English accents, Game of Thrones poses, confetti throwing, more rain, speeches worthy of performance art, sorority girls and more.

Our day began at Kara's Hair Studio in Hobart and made it's way into the grain silo bridal suite for getting ready.

Bridal prep for a barn wedding in Hobart, Indiana.

The bride inside the rustic silo bridal suite on her wedding day.

Second photographer Kerrie visited with Tom and his guys who are all lovely blokes who came all of the way from England for the big day.

Groomsmen getting ready for a County Line Orchard barn wedding.

The groomsmen arrive at County Line Orchard.

Jamie's sorority sisters even paid her a visit for a big group photo in front of the red barn doors.

The bride's sorority sisters visit her on wedding day.

Bridesmaid fun inside the grain silo at County Line Orchard.

The weather was on and off rain, but everybody was in good spirits about it. Jamie decided to move the ceremony indoors and made her descent down the steps from the second floor balcony of the barn. As they exited, guests threw confetti. You can even see me from one of Kerrie's shots on top of a wood crate to capture all of the fun from above.

Indoor wedding ceremony at County Line Orchard.

Bride and groom are congratulated with confetti at County Line Orchard.

After family photos it was time for wedding party group photos. I didn't have to coax this group too much to get some fun expressions.

Wedding party group photo at County Line Orchard.

Wedding party fun at County Line Orchard.

The grounds were pretty wet at this point, but Jamie was game for getting out into the orchard for some photos. Showing off their happiness of course is the main goal, but we did take a few showcasing the grain silo and the rustic texture of the big barn itself.

The happy couple at their barn wedding at County Line Orchard.

Bride and groom kiss with the rustic grain silo in the background.

Fun bride and groom pictures at County Line Orchard.

The reception had live music along with 27 Entertainment as DJ. The bride even sang a surprise song to the groom.

Barn wedding reception at County Line Orchard.

Dancing fun at a barn wedding reception.

This is merely a sneak peek look at Jamie and Tom's barn wedding at County Line Orchard with many more images to come. To inquire about photography for your big day, be sure to fill out the Contact Form so I can answer all of your questions and set up a meeting.

The 2017 Northwest Indiana Wedding Photography Year In Review

December 26, 2017 Steve Vansak

Bride applies lipstick at Barker Mansion in Michigan City, Indiana.

Welcome once again to the Region Weddings Year In Review for wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southern Michigan. Settle in as it was another full year of weddings and this my longest article of the year with lots of images. To see a video slideshow of this post, check out The 2017 Year In Review video.

The 2017 wedding season saw me photograph for the first time at the historic Barker Mansion in Michigan City. My goal with this series of bridal portraits was to showcase the vintage history of the iconic building with a very modern bride. This resulted in some glorious color right next to sepia tones.

Bride on red staircase at Barker Mansion in Michigan City, IN.

There were quite a few winter wedding this year starting with Annie and Paul at Fair Oaks Farmhouse and then Lynne and Dale with a church ceremony at a stop at One Trick Pony brewery. Samantha and Dale were married at Saint Maria Goretti Church with a very chilly stop by Centennial Park.

As winter gave way to Spring (very begrudgingly), Sam and Alex and Amanda and Mike were on board for a pair of church weddings along with stops at Buckley Homestead.

Spring wedding photos in Northwest Indiana.

Bride and groom strike a magazine style pose at Centennial Park.

Late summer and early Spring saw Emily and Zach with an outdoor ceremony at Villa Cesare and Amanda and Josh at St. Michael's Church.

High fives, neon love, sisters / bridesmaids and church wedding ceremonies.

Summer weddings saw the flowers of Northwest Indiana in full bloom at Hans and Karla's outdoor ceremony at The Inn At Aberdeen with lakeside photos for Jill and Johnny.

July wedding photos in Northwest Indiana.

Bride and groom kiss in front of the old Crown Point Courthouse.

Ashlee and Ryan took a tour of downtown Crown Point for their wedding photos while Samantha and Tyler stayed in Valparaiso for their Aberdeen Chapel ceremony with pictures at Taltree Arboretum and a reception at The Market.

August weddings in Crown Point and Valparaiso.

Post ceremony kiss at The Chapel at Aberdeen Manor.

The groom spins his bride near the cornfields of Indiana.

Late summer say another new venue, Meadow Springs Manor with Karlie and Corey and a spectacular day at The Pavilion At Sandy Pines with Bethany and Keenin and their classic Mustang.

Late summer weddings at Meadow Springs Manor and Sandy Pines.

Bride and groom ride away in a classic Mustang.

September and October were definitely the busiest for weddings as well as engagement sessions. This part of the season saw Christina and Melvin at the incredible Uptown Center and Emily and Todd who were married at the final event at the bride's (soon to be torn down) childhood church next to her parent's home.

Bride on stage at The Uptown Center in Michigan City.

Bride and groom kiss in front an old chapel in Hebron, Indiana.

Romantic wedding photo in downtown Michigan City.

I photographed two Serbian weddings in 2017 with Jessica and Marinko at St. Simeon Church in Chicago and Tanja and Kevin at St. George in Schererville. The circle dances never stopped on either day.

Serbian weddings in Chicago and Schererville, Indiana.

The sun sets as the bride and groom gaze at each other beneath the tall trees in the forest.

As Fall kicked in, I photographed two weddings on opposite ends of the region both in style and geography - Katie and Mike at Lighthouse Restaurant with it's nautical vibe and The Allure in South Bend with Morganne and Chris.

Fall weddings at Lighthouse Restaurant and The Allure.

Bride and groom on the pier at Lighthouse Restaurant.

Bride and groom on a leaf filled bridge near Coffee Creek in Chesterton, Indiana.

The Autumn weddings also saw stops at Sand Creek Country Club with Jessica and Mitchell and The Spa in Porter, Indiana with Julia and Evan. Both weddings featured a deluge of leaves and Fall color.

Autumn leaves at wedding venues Sand Creek Country Club and The Spa.

The bride and groom share a kiss surrounded by Fall color at The Inn At Aberdeen.

November saw a pair of church weddings with Gina and Marcus at The Chapel At Avalon Manor and Emily and Jeff at Holy Name Catholic Church and reception at The Center For Performing Arts. Both had an abundance of unique Fall colors.

Bride in mirror before walking down the aisle.

I certainly can't forget Jeremiah and Kevin with their big Christmas wedding at The Uptown Center or Whinchester and Whinchester (aka Jennifer and David) - my first ever bride and groom with the same last name.

Christmas red and a bride and groom in blue.

Thank you so much for a terrific 2017 in weddings!! I have one more on December 30th so be sure to stay tuned here for the final wedding of 2017. To inquire about your big day, as always please complete the Contact Form. I hope you have a terrific New Year and let's hope for a 2018 filled with love.

Bride inside the "red room" at Barker Mansion.

Winter Wedding At Fair Oaks Farmhouse

January 17, 2017 Steve Vansak

Evening stroll for the bride and groom at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Annie and Paul had an epic winter wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse with a country theme provided by the bride and her western boots and the incredible Americana band at the reception. Oh, and hearty macaroni and cheese to go along with your choice of steak, chicken or salmon. You can't beat that!!

Things started out in the morning with Annie and her girls prepping for the day ahead. Her dress was beautiful and the remembrance charm attached to her bouquet was a nice touch.

Bridal prep for a wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

I gathered the bridesmaids together for a slumber party shot, but something wasn't quite right. One of the "bridesmaids" looked a little bit.... out of place.....

A groomsman photobombs the bridesmaids and gets paid back with a tickle attack.

In another room the guys were prepping for the big day. Their red vests and ties really popped.

The groomsmen prep for the big day at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Second photographer Kerrie took the guys out in back of the big red barn while I was in front with the girls.

The bridesmaids attack the bride with their winter shawls.

The bridesmaids visit a cow at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Keep in mind that is was pretty cold out at this point, but that did not bother Annie as she ditched her shawl for a few pictures showing off the big barn.

The bride in front of Fair Oaks Farmhouse at her winter wedding.

Soon it was ceremony time with the Fair Oaks ballroom packed with family and friends from all over. The bride and groom were serenaded with Your Song by Elton John in a live vocal from a friend in a ceremony filled with love and laughter.

Indoor wedding ceremony at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Winter wedding ceremony at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Immediately following the ceremony we took family photos as well as a wedding party group shot and some night time bride and groom pictures. Then it was time for introductions, dinner and getting the band tuned up for the big party.

Wedding party group photo at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

The bride and groom share a kiss in the ballroom at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Bride and groom at their winter wedding in Fair Oaks, Indiana.

The mighty WheelHouse band is an Americana and Bluegrass band from Madison, Wisconsin. They were the perfect soundtrack for Annie and Paul's epic reception. They had the dance floor full all night. They have their own brand of Wheelhouse Whiskey, but I'm unclear if any was being served up this night. :)

The WheelHouse Band on stage during a wedding.

After the incredible dinner - desserts were served up, drinks were flowing and the dancing began. It may still be going on! :)

Wedding reception at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Annie and Paul's winter wedding at Fair Oaks Farmhouse. Stay tuned to social media below for more images and as always, please fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your big day. Stay warm!