Best Northwest Indiana Wedding Venues for 2010

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I'm only going to list my favorite wedding venues in Northwest Indiana that I photographed in 2010.  There are many other great spots that I shot at in 2009 and others that I haven't gotten to quite yet.  I'm certainly anxiously awaiting White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point this coming year.

Best Venue for Scenic Formals

Marquette Park Pavilion is a fantastic location if you like scenic wedding pictures.  I had my first opportunity to photograph there for Rebecca and Jack's wedding.  Besides the beautiful lagoon behind the building, the beach is within walking distance and they have a wonderful area for outdoor weddings and the building has three levels and could easily host an indoor wedding as well as reception.  It's a great all in one location for any Northwest Indiana wedding.

Above is the scenic lagoon behind the Marquette Park Pavilion and a great location for formal wedding pictures.

The building is big enough to have a large area for bride and bridesmaids to get ready without being bothered or seen.  At the same time, the banquet room can be set up as well as the ceremony area.

A photo from the wedding reception room at Marquette Park Pavilion....

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Best Value for Outdoor Wedding

The Revelli Bandshell in Hobart, Indiana is a great value for an outdoor wedding.  Heather and Flo had their ceremony there this past Fall.  It does invite onlookers who are taking a stroll around Lake George, but people are very considerate and tend to not get noisy until the bride and groom are pronounced man and wife.  Then it is only natural to cheer them on.  Brides tell me they choose this spot for the great value and also the scenic background of the lake and the large Gazebo.

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Best Place for an Intimate Wedding Reception 

If you are considering a smaller venue for your reception with great food, a small town attitude with a classy atmosphere, then take a look at Amore Restaurant in Crown Point, Indiana.  Andrew and Megan had a small, but packed dance floor with a live band.  It's a great place to be able to constantly and easily interact with your guests.  So, if the big ballrooms aren't your style then give them a call.  I especially like the idea of the grande piano overlooking the room with jazz music playing during dinner.

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Best Place for a Large Reception

The Patrician in Schererville continues to be a great place for a wedding reception.  The ballrooms are beautiful and well kept.  Austin and Megan had a spectacular celebration there in October.  The huge dance floor was packed all night long.

 

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Best Church for Large Dramatic Wedding Ceremony Images

The Chapel of The Resurrection is part of Valparaiso University.  It will knock your socks off with it's large size and incredible stained glass windows that burst with color.  The woodgrain of the seating and the choir loft also make for wonderful indoor wedding formals as well.

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These are just a few of the venues I have photographed at this past year.  Many more are deserving of mentions - Avalon Manor in Merrillville for Receptions, Ellendale Farms for nice  wedding Gazebo pictures - and many more. If you search the Wedding Photographer Journal you will find images and commentary.  

I can't wait to start compiling my list for 2011.  If you are just beginning your search for venues in Northwest Indiana I hope this helps.  Feel free to call if you have any questions about wedding photography in any of these or other venues you are considering.


Rebecca and Jack's Beach Wedding Pt. 3

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I've been referring to Rebecca and Jack's "beach wedding", but where has the actual beach been?  Well, today it is finally here.  After the ceremony, we immediately began family shots at the lagoon behind the Marquette Park Pavilion.  After parents and grandparents were all done, we then took the wedding party and the happy couple onto the sands of Lake Michigan where the temperature really began to drop.  This was october and we were actually very lucky to be able to walk out there at all.

Let's start with some of the lagoon shots...

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Below is the Maid of Honor Rose, sister of the bride....

Our first shot at the beach was this semi-silhouette of Jack and Rebecca having a moment...

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We had a faint haze in the air that day, but were still able to see the city of Chicago in the background of some of our shots.

Below is the image Rebecca and Jack chose for the cover of their wedding album...

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For the guys, I had them pile up in Jack's vintage car that was parked in front of the Marquette Park Pavilion.

The fake getaway of the bride and groom...

The day provided us with some dramatic skies and I especially like this one of our bride on the steps of the pavilion.

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I want to finish up this post with one of my favorite images from the beach, this candid shot of Jack trying to keep his bride warm as they made their way toward the beach.  If you are thinking of an outdoor wedding, definitely keep Marquette Park Pavilion in mind.  I really enjoyed the fact that Rebecca and jack decided to have everything in this one location - Getting Ready, Ceremony, Formals and as we will see in the next posting - Reception too.

Heather and Flo's Autumn Wedding Pt. 2

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The above image is Heather and Flo's first kiss as husband and wife.  It was taken at the Ravelli bandshell right off of Lake George with family and friends looking on.

They always say the groom is nervous while he awaits his bride, but the shot below proves that brides get nervous as well.  

While we were waiting for the ceremony to begin, I captured one of my all time favorite candid kid shots of Lexie and Matthew preparing to make their way in the procession.

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As Heather's daughter starts things off, we have kid brother as the intruder.  She happily kept spreading the leaves down the path for mom to soon come down.

Here comes the bride, arm and arm with her mother as the sun bathed them both.

When I met with Heather at the ceremony site a month previously, she mentioned that she was considering walking over a large grassy hill and through the crowd.  A very dramatic entrance for sure, but this safer walk down the stone path was probably the wise choice for her mom, the kids and the wedding party.

Emotions begin to take over as the ceremony commences...

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Heather tells me that Flo was also choking up at this point, but I did not capture that and he's not talking!!  lol

Here is a wide shot of the entire ceremony area....

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When I got together with the happy couple for their Premiere Night, Flo mentioned how much he liked this shot and they ordered a large print of it to display in their home.

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Mr. and Mrs. Acevedo leave the area as man and wife.  Congratulations!!

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In Part 3, we will take a look at some highlights of the formal shots.  Click this link to visit the entire gallery of Heather and Flo's Outdoor Wedding Ceremony shots.