As the sun sets on the 2023 wedding season, I’m looking back at all the weddings I photographed (and filmed) this past year. I’ve visited many venues in Northwest Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, some very familiar and some brand new to me.
Read moreThe 2018 Year In Review for Northwest Indiana and Chicago Weddings
Bride and groom steal a kiss on a hilltop at Briar Ridge Golf Course.
I’m typing this blog post on December 31, 2018 on what is supposed to be a slow day in the world of a wedding photographer. It’s not!! With several client meetings today and the final wedding of the year just this past weekend, one of my busiest years in Northwest Indiana and Chicago wedding photography is ending as it began with a very active schedule. No complaints here, but get ready because I have LOTS of images and wedding stories for the year down below. Let’s get to it…
Late winter 2018 weddings in Valparaiso, Indiana and Grant Park, Illinois.
After a busy December the previous year, I photographed Nicole and Luke’s wonderful church wedding in early March in Beecher, Illinois and followed shortly by Ashley and Adam at Aberdeen Manor.
Wedding Ceremony At Faith United Reform Church
In early Spring I found myself at Briar Ridge Country Club quite a few times starting off with Rachel and Matt with Sheri and Ryan the following Saturday. Both couples had some blazing sun for their golf course weddings.
Two Spring weddings at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana.
The previous Fall I had done Ashley and Michael’s engagement session and they had such a wonderful chemistry together that I was eagerly anticipating their outdoor wedding at the spectacular Sandy Pines Pavilion with it’s beautiful bridal suite and perfectly landscaped scenery. It was a wonderful Sunday wedding.
I was also back for another golf course wedding with a touch of Disney with Abby and Sean at Sand Creek Country Club.
Bride and groom hold hands on the lake pier at Sandy Pines Golf Course.
Weddings at two golf courses - Sandy Pines and Sand Creek.
In mid May it was the first of two weddings at County Line Orchard with Jaime and Tom. The groom’s family came all the way from England for this exquisite barn wedding.
The bride and groom exit the County Line Orchard south barn after their ceremony.
Spring wedding photos at County Line Orchard.
Late in May saw me heading to Chicago for Veronica and Adrian’s church wedding and then it was time for another trip to Valparaiso University and The Chapel of the Resurrection where Lauren and Edward declared victory.
May weddings in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
The groom rings the victory bell at Valparaiso University.
Bride and groom at the bottom of the spiral staircase at Valparaiso University.
The groom and his guys at Valparaiso University.
Also in late May, I made it back to the beach for Nicole and Chad’s Memorial Day weekend wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion. Then it was back to Briar Ridge Country Club for Patty and Stephen’s outdoor nuptials.
Late Spring weddings at Marquette Park Pavilion and Briar Ridge Country Club.
June saw another golf course wedding reception with Jennifer and Carl and a stop by Meyer’s Castle two weekends in a row for Valerie and Anthony and then Mallory and Ryan.
June weddings at Briar Ridge and Meyer’s Castle.
The bride is soaked by sunlight at Meyer’s Castle during a summer wedding.
June wedding at Meyer’s Castle in Dyer, Indiana.
Summer rolled on with another County Line Orchard wedding where Ashley and Zach had their un-plugged wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom smooch in the farm fields behind County Line Orchard.
Gang of bridesmaids stalk the open fields of County Line Orchard.
June wedding at County Line Orchard.
July saw another Chicago wedding with Lauren and Mark at The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building and Katie and Patrick’s church wedding at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana with reception at The Munster Center for the Performing Arts.
July weddings in Chicago and Schererville, Indiana.
The groom kisses the bride at the edge of the Centennial Park Lake.
The summer weddings rolled on with Kim and Tim at St. Maria Goretti Church as well as Patti and David and their wonderful backyard wedding in Crown Point.
Summer weddings in Northwest Indiana during August of 2018.
Summer is the height of baseball season of course, so super fans Kaitlyn and Ryan took to the field after their wedding at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Griffith, Indiana. I also shot at the brand new Allure on the Lake for Katie and Arnie’s wedding reception.
August weddings at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Allure on The Lake.
Labor Day weekend brought an end to summer but the beginning of busy season with Josie and Victor’s bohemian outdoor wedding at Friendship Garden in Michigan City with a stop at The Market for the reception. It also saw another stop at Briar Ridge Country Club with Molly and Chris.
Kissing bridge at Friendship Garden in Michigan City, Indiana.
Outdoor weddings at Friendship Garden and Briar Ridge Country Club.
Boho bride from above during bridal prep for her big day.
A couple in love gazes romantically at each other.
It was my first “wedding selfie” shot at Tracey and Chris’ outdoor wedding at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois. The grain silo is just massive and I was so glad to take some images showcasing the bride and groom next to it. Early September also saw a stop at Centennial Park for an outdoor wedding with Julie and Jason.
September weddings in Illinois and Indiana.
The grain silo at Peck Farm Park towers over the bride and groom.
As September drifted into October, we saw the absolutely fun wedding of Emma and Kyle at Croation Center and then it was Nikki and Johnny’s wedding with a church ceremony at St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, Indiana and a rocking reception at St. Elijah Banquet Center in Merrillville.
October weddings in Northwest Indiana.
The bride and groom sport a take no prisoners look for their wedding photo.
Chicago bride on North Avenue Beach.
Bridal portrait at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
October also saw Captain America and SpiderWoman (Jess and Josh) get married at Lighthouse Restaurant as well as Erika and Mitch with a Great Gatsby themed wedding at The Allure in Laporte, Indiana.
Captain America marries SpiderWoman at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake.
A wedding picture during a hailstorm in Laporte, Indiana.
The bride and groom get mischievous at The Allure.
Karen and Jason had their hometown wedding in Crown point with a St. Mary’s Church ceremony with stops at the fairgrounds and a reception at the old Lake County Courthouse Maki Ballroom.
More October weddings at The Allure and in downtown Crown Point.
Late October and November Fall weddings saw me back at Sand Creek Country Club for Marz and Tom’s big day as well as Krueger Memorial Hall in Michigan City for Ashley and Terry’s beautiful Fall wedding with Autumn leaves everywhere.
Fall weddings at Sand Creek Country Club and Krueger Memorial Hall.
Leaves fall upon the bride and groom for their Autumn wedding.
As winter finally arrived, The Uptown Center got all lit up for Kristen and Patrick’s wedding and last, but certainly not least the grand finale, last wedding of 2018 was Sarah and Nick’s snow filled day at Sand Creek Country Club.
Winter weddings at Uptown Center and Sand Creek Country Club.
Whew, thanks for making it all the way though this long review of weddings in Northwest Indiana and Chicago in 2018. Please contact me here on the website to set up a meeting to discuss the photography for your wedding day. I service Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southern Michigan but I’m also available for travel. 2018 brought me to a few new venues as well as old favorites. I’m looking forward to seeing where you take me next year and beyond. A special Thank You to Kerrie, Bridget, Schylar, Michelle, Lauren, Doug and Jaime for their help in Wedding Season 2018. Happy New Year!!
The 2017 Northwest Indiana Wedding Photography Year In Review
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.
Bridal portraits at Barker Mansion.
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.
Winter weddings in 2017.
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.
Two heartfelt September weddings.
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.
November wedding photos.
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.
The Northwest Indiana Wedding Photography Year In Review 2016
Bride at Meyer's Castle walkway.
Wow - going through wedding photos from 2016 has simply been overwhelming!! So many moments - fun, serious, emotional, unexpected - the list goes on. The year started with winter weddings and freezing temperatures and ended like that as well. There is so much to share and not enough space, so I'm going to dive right into it.
My year started off photographing a winter wedding at Meyer's Castle with an indoor ceremony. However, I had to venture outside with Lisa and Mandeep for a few shots. Our next stop was in Crown Point with the winter wedding of Marissa and Dennis.
Winter wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
Spring weddings in Northwest Indiana can vary from 75 degree days to snow. Our April wedding saw all 4 seasons in a span of 8 hours!!
Spring wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
A sudden snowstorm breaks out during wedding photos in Crown Point, Indiana.
Bride alone at Holy Spirit Church in Crown Point, Indiana.
Late Spring saw stops at Notre Dame Basilica as well slightly warming temperatures. From Harley Davidson boots for the bride to a groom getting serenaded at church - the 2016 wedding fun was just beginning.
Spring weddings in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
Bride and groom take a stroll at Wicker Park in Munster, Indiana.
June is traditionally a busy month for weddings in Northwest Indiana as the temperatures tend to settle in, although it can get quite warm. June weddings in 2016 saw more Harley Davidson motorcycles along with stops at County Line Orchard, The Patrician as well as a church wedding at St. Michael's Parish in Schererville.
The bride and groom roar away on their Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Summer wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
The classic wedding party jumping shot.
I was very proud to capture the new Mrs. and Mrs. Wendy and Kelly at Lighthouse Restaurant in June 2016. We had a blast covering their big day and I'm so glad mother nature gave us a nice sunset overlooking the pier.
Summer 2016 wedding at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.
Sunset wedding photo at Lighthouse Restaurant.
June continued on with many stops at the beach and an epic Chicago church wedding with a reception at The Halls of St. George.
June wedding photos in Northwest Indiana during 2016.
July saw stops at Sand Creek Country Club for Kelly and John's big day as well as a Catholic wedding ceremony at St, Kasmir Church in Hammond. We stopped by Centennial Park a few times as well.
Bride and groom at the fountain at Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.
July weddings in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
August saw another stop at County Line Orchard along with The Pavilion at Sandy Pines. Lets open the balcony door and take a look...
The bride opens the balcony door at County Line Orchard.
Northwest Indiana wedding photos in August of 2016.
The bride and her bridesmaids take a walk at The Pavilion At Sandy Pines.
September and October have increasingly become the busiest times of the year. The 2016 Fall wedding season was exactly that!! We started things off on Labor Day weekend at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point with the outdoor golf course wedding of Amanda and Zach and then it was onto The Allure in Laporte, Indiana where BB8 delivered the wedding ring.
Bride and groom on the golf course at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point, Indiana.
September 2016 wedding photos in Northwest Indiana.
The second half of September saw us at barn weddings, riding tractors and exploring some nearby forests.
Wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in September 2016.
October 2016 was one of the busiest with outdoor weddings at Briar Ridge and church weddings and receptions back at Lighthouse Restaurant and elsewhere.
Bride and groom sit on logs at Coffee Creek Park in Chesterton, Indiana.
October wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
Bride and groom at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana.
Bride and groom walk in front of the courthouse in downtown Valparaiso, Indiana.
One theme of the Fall weddings here in Northwest Indiana and the surrounding Chicago area in 2016 was the Chicago Cubs playoff games and of course, World Series win!! Almost all of the receptions had updates. As we made our way into November, fall color was at it's peak.
Fall wedding photos in Northwest Indiana in 2016.
A romantic moment between bride and groom during a Fall wedding.
December 2016 saw the train roll in for some winter weddings in Crown Point as well as Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso. Warm hearts melted the falling snow...
Northwest Indiana winter wedding photos in 2016.
A winter wedding photo at Cloister In The Woods in Munster, Indiana.
So there you have it, the Northwest Indiana Wedding Photography Year in Review 2016. So many wedding images to share and simply not enough room here. Please check out the Region Weddings Instagram feed to see even more. To inquire about your date, the Contact Form is the best method.
Happy New Year!!