Wedding Venue Spotlight - Sand Creek Country Club

February 19, 2020 Steve Vansak

Today’s Northwest Indiana wedding venue spotlight is the absolutely beautiful Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana. This classy venue can be your all in one location for a wedding with its bridal suite, elegant ceremony area, spacious ballroom and scenic outdoor photo opportunities.

I’ve photographed there in many different seasons, from Fall weddings to Winter weddings to glorious sun filled Spring and Summer nuptials. See Jessica and Mitchell’s Fall wedding at Sand Creek right here.

Fall wedding photo from Sand Creek Country Club.

Winter wedding photo at Sand Creek Country Club.

A bride and groom kiss on the golf course at Sand Creek Country Club.

The indoor ceremony area is separate from the reception ballroom so guests can go directly to cocktail hour or lounge on the back deck overlooking the golf course.

Wedding ceremony at Sand Creek Country Club.

Besides the “clock garden” directly behind the building, some of my favorite locations for photos at the venue include the weeping willow tree and the nearby lake. I also love casual group shots on the patio.

An intimate moment among the vines of a tall willow tree at Sand Creek Country Club.

Fog and rain over the lake as the bride and groom kiss at Sand Creek Country Club.

The wedding party chills on the patio chairs at Sand Creek golf course.

The ballroom is surrounded by windows but when night falls it can become quite the dance club. Sometimes it even snows inside!!

Snow falls upon the dance floor at Sand Creek Country Club during first dance at a wedding.

I hope you have enjoyed this spotlight article on one of the premiere Northwest Indiana wedding venues located in Chesterton, Indiana - Sand Creek Country Club.

For wedding photography, do fill out the Contact Form here to inquire about availability for your big day.

The happy couple takes a walk in the clock garden on Sand Creek golf course.

Wedding Venue Spotlight - Briar Ridge Country Club

February 19, 2020 Steve Vansak

Romantic wedding photo on the rolling hills of Briar Ridge Golf Course.

One of the things I love about Briar Ridge Country Club as a wedding venue is that the entire wedding can be shot in this one beautiful spot. The newly remodeled bridal suite has a nice modern vibe to it and overlooks the golf course and is right down the hall where the reception ballroom is. This gives me the opportunity to break away and capture all the decor as it gets set up throughout the day.

Are your bridesmaids getting “hangry” for some breakfast during prep time? No problem, the restaurant is mere steps away! :)

To see a wedding from bridal prep to reception, check out this summer wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club right here.

A boho bride tosses her dress on the golf course at Briar Ridge Country Club.

We all love sunshine but it can be difficult and harsh for photos sometimes. When I’m doing wedding photos at Briar Ridge Country Club, I either use the sun there as a beautiful backlight or tuck my couples away underneath the many trees on the golf course.

If possible, we should definitely sneak out for some sunset images as golden hour as it is quite nice on the golf course with the sun setting over the western trees.

Two newlyweds come together in the shade of a tall tree at Briar Ridge golf course.

Eskimo kiss in a vintage tone at Briar Ridge Country Club.

I’ve photographed wedding ceremonies on the back deck as well as my preferred spot east of the ballroom. I like this area because it is more shaded and less chance of harsh sun upon the wedding party and guests. The ballroom is available should the weather not cooperate for an outdoor wedding ceremony.

To view more of this outdoor wedding ceremony, follow the link to this summer wedding with Patty and Stephen.

An outdoor wedding ceremony at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Under the veil at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The reception ballroom overlooks the golf course and has access to a back deck where guests can get some fresh air. The chandeliers in the rooms give an air of elegance for dinner and dancing.

First dance inside the ballroom at Briar Ridge Country Club.

I hope you found this wedding venue spotlight of Briar Ridge Country Club (located in the Dyer / Schererville area) helpful for your wedding planning. When you are ready to see more of my work for your own wedding photography, please do fill out the Contact Form right here. To see another wedding I’ve shot at Briar Ridge, head over to view this Spring wedding with Sheri and Ryan right here. Happy planning!!

Wedding photo during a gorgeous summer day at Briar Ridge golf course in Schererville, Indiana.

Wedding Venue Spotlight - Lighthouse Restaurant

February 10, 2020 Steve Vansak

Sunset on the pier at Lighthouse Restaurant.

Today’s Northwest Indiana Wedding Venue spotlight is Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana. If you love water, sunsets, a beach / boating vibe and delicious food, then Lighthouse Restaurant may be the right venue for you.

I always love when a venue has its own bridal suite and I often take portraits in there in addition to bridal prep photos and dress details. The mirror inside the suite gave me some interesting views of Jessica and her dress right after she got into it.

The beautiful bride in the mirror inside the bridal suite at Lighthouse Restaurant.

The beachfront adjacent to the building can provide a gorgeous backdrop for romantic wedding photos with sun reflecting off the water as well as the classic shots of couples on the pier.

Kelly and Wendy in a romantic moment as the sun reflects off the lake.

Bride and groom take a stroll along the pier at Lighthouse Restaurant at an October wedding.

Wedding ceremonies take place on the back deck overlooking the lake (a favorite spot for reception guests to get some fresh air after dinner) or inside the clear, covered gazebo.

The sun is high in the sky during an outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking the lake.

Wedding ceremony inside the covered gazebo at Lighthouse Restaurant.

If you love sunset photos, Lighthouse Restaurant is one of the best Northwest Indiana wedding venues for that gold hour look. The venue faces west with no obstructions. We may have to run outside in the middle of dinner to get these shots, but it’s definitely worth it.

Newlyweds take a stroll at golden hour before the start of their reception at Lighthouse Restaurant.

The dance floor can fit quite a few people and the room never seems too crowded. I think this is due to the back deck, as a number of people (even on a chilly Fall day) will go outside to chat.

First dance at Lighthouse Restaurant as colored lights illuminate the room.

From time to time I like to do a Northwest Indiana Wedding Venue spotlight article and I realized I had not showcased Lighthouse Restaurant despite photographing many weddings there. I hope it helps if you are still searching for a venue. Perhaps you are already booked there but wondering what it may look like for your big day. Well, here you go.

For wedding photography, please do fill out the Contact Form here to inquire about availability. Happy planning!!

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!!