Weddings In Indiana, Chicago and Michigan - The 2019 Year In Review

December 30, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride in Converse All Star shoes in front of a red door in Chicago.

It was another action packed year of wedding photography in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southwest Michigan. There are a TON of images from February weddings all the way through November so let’s get started.

I had two winter weddings in 2019 with Sarah + Robert and Erin + Mason. Yep, we had some snow and even the Village People showed up to rock the reception.

Black and white winter wedding photo in the snow.

Early Spring saw torrential rain almost every single weekend. Like the postal service though, we deliver in ice, rain, sleet or snow. For Beth + Chad we had that all in one day!! Cherise + Thomas had some sunshine for their big day at Sand Creek Country Club and for a bridal portrait session in Chicago we had to dodge some puddles for sure.

Rain and wind and fog surround the bride and groom in a wedding photo at Sand Creek Country Club.

Bridal portraits on the streets of Chicago.

The wet Spring continued for Breana + Kevin’s Chicago wedding and Sarah + Billy’s hometown wedding in Crown Point, Indiana. Both had wonderful church ceremonies.

Bride and groom walk back down the aisle after their wedding ceremony at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.

May weddings in Chicago and Crown Point, Indiana.

The month of May was very busy with Northwest Indiana weddings of Tessa + Luis as well as Dan + Tea.

Vintage bridal portraits in Northwest Indiana.

June saw Gabby + Matt at Briar Ridge Country Club and Becky + Chuck along with the summer weddings of Rachel + Brandon at County Line Orchard and back to the Crown Point Courthouse with Robyn and Stacey.

First dance at Briar Ridge Country Club.

June wedding photos at Briar Ridge Country Club and Centennial Park.

Weddings in late June in Crown Point and County Line Orchard.

July saw me at the height of summer and back at County Line Orchard for an outdoor wedding with Emily + Tyler and Whiting Lakefront Park for the beach wedding of Maureen + Carlos.

July summer weddings at County Line Orchard and Whiting Lakefront Park.

Newlyweds kiss between two Golden Delicious sign in the apple orchards.

July also saw me heading east to Heston Hill wedding venue for Maggie + Eric and staying close to home for Cynthia + Zachary at Avalon Manor wedding venue.

Summer weddings at Heston Hills and Avalon Manor.

Bride and groom share a moment at Heston Hills wedding venue in Laporte, Indiana.

August began with a themed wedding from Isela + Thomas and Jackie + Kevin for the first time a bride has ever arrived via boat at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Early August weddings in Northwest Indiana.

Wedding photo with a sunset over the lake.

Mid to late August saw the 4 day Indian wedding of Molly + Ahsan in Chicago and the church wedding of Brie + Ryan at St. Michael’s Parish and reception at Sand Creek golf course.

Mid to late August weddings in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

A candid moment underneath the willow tree at Sand Creek Country Club.

Early September saw the first of two weddings at Four Corners Winery with Holly + Ethan and then it was onto The Allure in Laporte, Indiana with Mary + Jeff.

Wedding photos at Four Corners Winery and The Allure.

Photo at the rustic wedding venue Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso, Indiana.

I’d always wanted to photograph at the Naperville Riverwalk in Illinois for a wedding and did just that with Vilda + Brandon and weddings at Aberdeen Manor are some of the most elegant and the nuptials of Kristen and Zach did not disappoint.

September weddings in Naperville, Illinois Riverwalk and Aberdeen Manor.

Wedding photo on the staircase at Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Candid wedding moment at a lake in Aberdeen neighborhood in Valparaiso, Indiana.

A photo at night in front of the chapel at Aberdeen Manor.

September is still the most popular month for weddings and I was back at Avalon Manor for Violet + Jeremiah and an epic wedding with Jordan + Matt at Centennial Park where it snowed on the dance floor.

Late September weddings in Northwest Indiana.

It snows on the dance floor at the Centennial Park clubhouse for a wedding reception.

October is football season and we celebrated that with Francesca + Zane at Wicker Park and also wine tasting season at Four Corners Winery with Ammie + Matt.

Reema + Corey donned two wedding dresses and two suits at their Meyer’s Castle wedding in Dyer, Indiana and Mary + Ben braved the rain at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana for their late Fall weddings.

Late Fall weddings in Northwest Indiana.

Rain falls at night in this wedding photo at Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

I certainly can’t forget about Annie + Michael at Aberdeen Manor as well as the 2019 wedding season finale of Kim + Dustin at Fair Oaks Farmhouse.

Late November weddings in Northwest Indiana.

I’m looking forward to next year’s weddings in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Michigan. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please do fill out the Contact Form on this website and set up a meeting so I can show you more of my work. Happy New Year to all!!

A bride in front of graffiti art in the Bucktown area of Chicago, Illinois.

Summer Wedding At Four Corners Winery

September 3, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in front of the historic building at Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Holly and Ethan had a wonderful day for their summer wedding at Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso, Indiana. As you will see from the photos here, Four Corners Winery is an expansive open air venue that can host your outdoor or indoor wedding ceremony and reception.

Our day started with me covering bridal prep and second photographer Lauren capturing the groomsmen’s NFL Fantasy League draft at a nearby hotel.

Bridal details for a wedding at Four Corners Winery.

Groom and groomsmen prep their NFL Fantasy League draft picks before dressing for the wedding.

We had a private first look of the bride and groom on the property at Four Corners winery and then started pictures before all of the guests arrived for the outdoor ceremony.

bride-groom-solo-portraits-Four-Corners-Winery 1.jpg

First look for the bride and groom at Four Corners Winery.

The bride and groom take a stroll through the grape orchards.

Wedding photos at Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso, Indiana.

We then invited the wedding party to join us and utilized some of the farm equipment as props. Guests were arriving and soon it would be time for the ceremony overlooking the orchards.

The wedding party takes a walk through the fields at Four Corners Winery.

Bride and groom share a kiss with Indiana farmland behind them.

Kissing between the grape orchards at Four Corners Winery.

Wedding party prepares to plow the land.

There were lots of cute little kids mingling with the big kids before and after the outdoor ceremony which saw Holly’s Dad walk her down the aisle as friends and family looked on.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso, Indiana.

For wedding receptions, Four Corners Winery has a covered open air structure for dinner and dancing. However, weather was great so dancing took place outside along with games as well as a dessert bar area. And yes, that is a red rooster you see following around our newlyweds!!

Wedding reception at Four Corners Winery.

Outdoor wedding reception at Four Corners Winery.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Holly and Ethan’s summer wedding at Four Corners Winery. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, please do fill out the Contact Form right here. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings instagram feed below for more images for this and other weddings.

August Wedding At Sand Creek Country Club and St. Michael's Parish

September 2, 2019 Steve Vansak

Newlyweds snuggle at the base of a weeping willow tree at Sand Creek Country Club.

I would describe Brie and Ryan’s wedding day as picturesque, complete with a small town trolley as transportation. The day started at the bride’s parent’s house where hair and make up crew Brook’s Beauties and Make Up by Riem had transformed the kitchen into a salon. The beautiful dress came courtesy of Paris House of Bridal and video of the day by Elegante Media.

Bridal prep at the bride’s parent’s home.

Bridal details at an August wedding at St. Michael’s parish.

One of the items on my list to capture for the day was the bridesmaids decorating Polly the Trolley who would be transporting the wedding party to St. Michael’s Parish and again to Sand Creek Country Club. The groomsmen were already waiting after second photographer Kerrie captured their prep at a nearby hotel.

The bridal crew all aboard Polly the Trolley on wedding day.

Soon after the trolley arrived at church, the ceremony began with Dad walking Brie down the aisle and sister Alyce escorting the couple into the sanctuary of St. Michael’s Parish.

August wedding ceremony at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana.

Bride and groom inside the sanctuary at St. Michael’s Parish.

Bride and groom, post wedding ceremony photos inside St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana.

The wedding party at church board Polly the Trolley.

We strolled the grounds of Sand Creek Golf Course in Chesterton, Indiana until it was time for the reception to begin. We visited the covered bridge deep inside the course as well as the famed weeping willow tree near the lake.

A candid moment between bride and groom underneath the covered bridge at Sand Creek golf course.

Wedding photos at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana.

Bride and groom walking in the sunshine over the bridge at Sand Creek Country Club.

All this wedding stuff can get exhausting you know, so sometimes a nap for the wedding party is in order. Gotta save up that energy for the dance floor!!

Wedding photos all around Sand Creek Golf Course during an August wedding.

Wedding party in the garden area of Sand Creek Country Club.

The sun shines upon the newlyweds at Sand Creek Golf Course in Schererville, Indiana.

While I finished up bride and groom photos, second photographer Kerrie covered cocktail hour where guests mingled on the deck balcony that overlooks the beautiful course at Sand Creek Country Club. Soon it would be time for introductions, surprise visits, cake cutting and dancing with a soundtrack courtesy of 27 Entertainment. Cake was by Beck’s Crown Bakery in Crown Point.

Reception decorations, surprise visits and more during the wedding cocktail hour at Sand Creek.

First dances during an August wedding at Sand Creek Country Club.

Wedding reception fun inside the ballroom at Sand Creek Country Club wedding venue.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Brie and Ryan’s wedding at St. Michael’s Parish and Sand Creek Country Club. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings Instagram feed for more images from this and other weddings. As usual, please do use the Contact Form to inquire about your big day.

Summer Wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant

August 19, 2019 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom take a stroll on the Lighthouse Restaurant pier at sunset.

We had quite the sun filled skies for Jackie and Kevin’s summer wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana. We also had many unique moments with a celebration that day of the bride’s parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary and also Jackie arriving to her ceremony via boat.

Let’s begin at her parent’s house for bridal prep and an impromptu dance rehearsal from her mom and Dad while Alex Garcia handled make up duties along with Lerin Johnson Bridal Beauty.

Bridal details for a summer wedding in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

John and Kathy have a beautifully landscaped area behind their home where we did some bridesmaids photos along with a portrait of this 50th Anniversary couple.

Bride and her bridesmaids on wedding day.

Bride at her parent’s home on her wedding day.

While I was on my way to the boating dock to capture Jackie’s boarding of the boat that would take across Cedar Lake to the ceremony, second photographer Bridget was taking Kevin and the guys pictures nearby.

Jackie met up with her crew that would take across the lake to Lighthouse Restaurant where Kevin and friends and family would be waiting on the deck. Her walking down the aisle consisted of coming down the long pier and eventually up the stairs where she married Kevin while overlooking the lake.

The bride boards a boat that will take her to her wedding ceremony.

The bride arrives via boat for her summer wedding ceremony at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

Summer wedding ceremony on the outdoor deck of Lighthouse Restaurant.

After family photos on the outdoor deck, we strolled the nearby lakefront taking romantic summer wedding photos of the bride and groom.

Romantic wedding photos along the lakefront at Cedar Lake.

Vintage looking wedding photo of the bride and groom.

The bride twist toward her groom as the sun shines over the lake.

The wedding reception saw two cake cutting and two first dances as Jackie and Kevin and the bride’s parent’s John and Kathy took turns in the spotlight.

Wedding reception decorations at a summer wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant.

First dances for the bride and groom and the 50th Anniversary couple.

Dance floor fun at Lighthouse Restaurant during a summer wedding reception.

This has been merely a sneak peek look at Jackie and Kevin’s summer wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings IG feed listed below and as always, please fill out the Contact Form right here to inquire about your big day.