This past year again took me all around Northwest Indiana, Michigan and Illinois for some outstanding weddings with some great people. I got to shoot at some new venues as well as many old haunts. As I always say, it never gets old because every client brings a different flavor to the mix no matter where I'm photographing.

This is going to be a long post with commentary and images. If you are short on time and would like a quick overview of my year photographing weddings, please view my Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer Year in Review video. I will embed it into this post as well, but first let's go back to earlier this year for some winter and Spring weddings.

Overhead view of the historic Allure ballroom in Laporte, Indiana.

The year started at the spectacular Allure Ballroom in LaPorte with the winter wedding of Kevin and Rachel. The cold and snow kept us from doing much outside, but that doesn't inhibit anything when you are at a wonderful venue like this.

Bride and groom toast their glasses together during their reception at The Allure in Laporte.

A few weeks later, in typical Midwest fashion the temps had risen to the high 70's for Lisa and Aaron's Spring wedding. This was my first time shooting at Casa Maria Banquet Hall in Dyer and the ceremony at Free Spirit Church in Crown Point. We took advantage of the warm weather for some outdoor bride and groom photos.

Silhouette of the bride and groom about to kiss on a warm Spring night with the sun setting in the background.

A bride and groom portrait just outside Casa Maria Banquet Hall in Dyer, Indiana.

I still find June to be the busiest month for weddings. It's the kick off for summer weddings and Krystyne and Todd got it going in high fashion. It was an emotional day, especially when the bride read the card from her soon to be husband at her parent's home in Thornton, Illinois.

The bride reads a card from her groom on the morning of her wedding.

The bride wipes away tears in an emotional moment on the morning of her wedding.

Todd and Krystyne were married at The Parish of St. Joseph in Homewood, Illinois with friends and family surrounding them with congratulatory bubbles. We then walked to a nearby park for romantic images of the newlyweds.

the bride and groom exit the Parish of St. Joseph amidst bubbles.

A candid moment between a newly married couple sitting on a park bench in Thornton, Illinois.

A romantic embrace between bride and groom after their summer wedding ceremony.

Pure fun is how I would characterize Kelly and Mike's June wedding at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point, Indiana. I accidentally broke a few rules by getting these girls onto the course in their heels, but hopefully the golf police will forgive me!!

The bridesmaids have a little fun with golf clubs on the course at White Hawk Country Club.

First dance at a wedding reception at White Hawk in Crown Point.

Weddings are very much a family affair and Evan and Stephanie's June wedding was exactly that. From the wonderful ceremony at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso to the reception at Aberdeen Manor, family was at the forefront. I still remember those wonderful reception speeches.

Wedding ceremony at St. Elizabeth in Valparaiso.

Father and daughter dance at Aberdeen Manor Ballroom.

The bride and groom did a peek-a-boo shot in which they held hands for the camera, but waited to see each other until she walked down the aisle.

The bride and groom pose for a wedding photo on each side of a door before their ceremony.

The groomsmen walk across an Indiana farm field.

Jeff and Kendelle had guests with longest travel time for their wedding day - family who flew in from Australia!! A downpour interrupted their first look but that gave us a wonderful moment of her Dad walking her across the puddles on the Centennial Park bridge. Oh, and some awesome dancing for me to capture as well.

First look of the bride and groom on a rain soaked bridge in Centennial Park.

The bride celebrates as her new husband cuts their wedding cake.

Father and daughter boogie down on the dance floor at the Centennial Park clubhouse.

Another June wedding saw another first look on a bridge. This time we have Justin and Stephanie seeing each other for the first time at the rustic landmark at Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

The bride and groom reveal at the Lake county Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

The outdoor ceremony at the Halls of St. George was a celebration with many laughs as friends and family packed the lawn in front of the gazebo. One of my favorite captured moments of the year was when grandpa joined the bride on the dance floor later that evening.

The bride raises her bouquet as she walks back down the aisle after getting married.

Bride kisses grandpa on the dance floor of her wedding reception captured in a candid wedding photo.

Danielle and Mike were married as part of the Lake County Courthouse "Get Hitched" program in which they get use of the historic and retro styled government courtroom and the ballroom their for the reception. It was a grand party in the building known as the Grand Old Lady.

Get Hitched promotional poster for the Lake County Courthouse.

A couple is pronounced man and wife at the Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point.

The July wedding of Amanda and Josh featured a railroad theme as he is a worker for the railroad. After their outdoor ceremony at Halls of St. George, we went to downtown Griffith for bridal party shots on the old rail cars on Main Street.

Bride and groom kiss atop an old railroad car on Main Street in Griffith, Indiana.

The bride and her bridesmaids pose for wedding photo on the porch of her home in Cedar Lake.

Rays of sun shine upon the bride in front of the gazebo before her outdoor summer wedding ceremony.

Eunjin and Matt's ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crown Point was my first ever Korean-American wedding. The bride's parents and family flew in from Korea for an international flavor. The bride looked like a princess for her wedding portrait in her tiara.

Korean bride wearing a tiara poses in her wedding dress on a beautiful summer day.

Wedding ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

Whew, we are only at the half way point of wedding season 2013. Hopefully you are still with me and will come back tomorrow for Part 2. Below is my rocking video that sets highlights of wedding photos taken in Northwest Indiana, Illinois and Michigan this past year. Feel free to share it your social network of choice. Enjoy, see you back here tomorrow!!

Highlights of 2013 wedding photos from Northwest Indiana wedding photographer Steve Vansak of Region Weddings.