June Wedding Reception at Aberdeen Manor

Evan and Stephanie's June wedding reception at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso had some of the most emotional speeches of any wedding I've photographed.  Incredibly heartfelt words from the maid of honor, best man, brides brother and the respective fathers of the bride and groom.  Their summer wedding also featured some incredibly fun moments on the dance floor.  Aberdeen Manor was decorated beautifully as the bride and her father took to the floor for their dance.   Music was provided by 27 Entertainment.

Father and bride dance together at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The bride and her maid of honor spent their college years supporting one another and many emotional and fun stories were told during her toast to the bride. 

Bride and maid of honor share a tender moment at a wedding reception at Aberdeen Manor.

Stephanie and Evan's summer wedding actually started out in Crown Point at the Thomas William Hair Salon for hair, makeup and a few laughs with mom and the bridesmaids. 

Bride has lipstick applied for her wedding day at Thomas William Salon in Crown Point, Indiana. 

Mother of the bride and a bridesmaid share a laugh at a Crown Point hair salon on wedding day.

Beautiful window light falls upon the bride as she gets ready for her summer wedding in Crown Point.

The laughs continued at the parents of the bride's home in Lakes of the Four Seasons. We took detail shots as the girls got dressed and did a few fun photos in the living area of their home.

The bride's earrings are draped over her garter and her shoes with her wedding dress in the background. 

The bridesmaids blow kisses to the wedding photographer in their pink single strap bridesmaid dresses.

It was my female assistant's idea to have all the girls blow kisses at me up in the balcony, but i certainly didn't mind.  They are a fun bunch and we went back and forth between some staged fun shots and candids as they prepared to take off for the ceremony at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

We used window light once again for a bridal portrait and it gave Stephanie a wonderfully warm glow.  We backlit her beautiful veil with some of our lighting during this rare moment of wedding day tranquility. 

The bride looks out the window of her childhood home as sun bathes her in warm light illuminating her beautiful wedding veil.

When we arrived at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso, we immediately took the groom out to the farm field for an outdoor portrait in his tuxedo.  We also took formal shots of his family inside the church as we waited for Stephanie's arrival.

The groom smiles for his wedding portrait amongst the farm land outside Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Emotions were all over the place for the ceremony.  The ring bearer made a stop to visit me as he made his way toward the altar.  This brought on quite a bit of laughter. Minutes later,  joyful tears ran down the bride's face as she walked down the aisle with her Dad. 

Tears of joy stream down the bride's face as she walks down the aisle with her Dad at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Friends and family fill up the pews at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for a June wedding ceremony.

Family photos took place inside the church after the ceremony along with a few portraits of the bride and groom at the altar. 

A formal wedding photo of the bride and groom at the altar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso.

The bridal party and I snuck off to Deep River Park in the late afternoon for couple's shots and some fun wedding party group photos before taking off for Aberdeen Manor Ballroom for the reception.

Bride and groom kiss as they cross over the bridge at Deep River Park in Hobart, Indiana.

Bride holds her summer bouquet of wedding flowers in the garden at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana just after her wedding.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Evan and Stephanie's June wedding ceremony at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and reception at Aberdeen Manor Ballroom in Valparaiso, Indiana.  For more updates, stay tuned to this Journal and like the Facebook Page listed below this posting.

Bride and groom hold out wedding thank you signs in front of the garden gazebo at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, Indiana. 

Ceremony at Bethel Church

I first met Kelley and Marcus at the Wicker Park Bridal Show in Munster, Indiana.  One of the first questions they asked me was how I would go about photographing an African American wedding and darker skinned people in general.  That was a great question as dark skinned people very often suffer at the hands of inexperienced photographers with nuclear bomb like flash thrown upon them as well as other photographic sins.

Without getting needlessly technical, as I take you through Marcus and Kelley's wedding day from Bethel Church in Gary, Indiana to the Centennial Park clubhouse in Munster, you will notice the wonderful skin tones and lack of hot spots upon their skin.  I take great care to soften the light when using flash and to also look for great natural light as well.  When the harsh lights of a church aren't something we can avoid, then a bit of work in the digital darkroom is in order.

While Kelley was getting ready in the rooms below the regal church, the groom was busy getting his groomsmen their buttoners as ceremony time approached.  The cute flower girl roamed the aisle of church pew while keeping an eye on my camera lens.  She was always ready for a smile!!

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Bethel Temple church in Gary is a large and beautiful room that filled with family and friends for Marcus and Kelley's wedding day.  The bride's father is a pastor and her both gave her away and performed the ceremony!!

The traditional puring of the sand took place and was color coordinated to match the bride's color of choice - ruby red.

The pastor (and father of the bride) told the groom to kiss his daughter, but not to go on for too long.  :)

We started with family photos inside the church after the ceremony before taking off to Centennial Park in Munster, Indiana.

Centennial Park was a bit chilly in October, but the bride and groom braved it for some wedding photos by the lake and it's wonderful fountain.

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After arriving at the clubhouse, Kelley immediately went inside to see her decorated room.  She was very excited to see all that she had planned come to life.

Several family members and friends took to the microphone to good naturedly roast the happy couple before dinner and dancing began.

The grooms mom got a bit emotional during the parent's dance while Kelley and her dad laughed it up.

A big thank you to Marcus and Kelley for entrusting me to capture their big day.  Can't wait to do those studio newborn shots we talked about!!  Also, special thanks to their wedding coordinator Mia Mack who helped my assistant and I gather groups together and more.

 

Wedding Ceremony at Our Lady of Grace Church

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Dustin and Jenny's wedding ceremony was a classic catholic ceremony at Our Lady of Grace Church in Highland, Indiana.  The mass was complete with singing and the grand building was filled with family and friends.

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All eyes were on the flower girl and ring bearer as they walked arm in arm down the long aisle toward the altar. I often find the children will just veer off from fear after entering a cavernous room of people, but these two held it together admirably.

The soon to be bride and groom were all smiles as they exchanged vows while holding hands....

The ring exchange was perfect and I'm especially glad that they were aware of the photographs and held their hands within view.  I was then able to zoom in from the middle pf the pews to capture the rings being placed.

The first kiss was filled with emotion as the bride and groom held it for several seconds before taking in the applause from friends and family.

As the newlyweds walked to exit the church they stopped for one more display of affection...

The bride and groom left the church amidst bubbles as they headed for their limousine and fake getaway.

Stay tuned for a future post as we detail some fun and unique photographs of Dustin and Jenny at Centennial Park in Munster.  Here is one of the happly couple walking toward sunset across the bridge.

 

 

Fall Wedding at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

The Fall wedding of Dustin and Jenny began at Salon Capellani where the bride was having her make up done by artist Shannon Grimmer of Beauty Concepts with lit candles in the foreground of the upscale salon in Munster.

The service there was impeccable with congratulatory wine being served while the bridesmaids had their hair and make up attended to.

The Getting Ready session continued at the bride's home where my assistant and I took detail shots of the blue garter along with the wedding shoes, jewelry and more.  A dedicated army of bridemaids were on hand to help with the tying of the dress...

Our bride Jenny was absolutely beaming while she walked down the aisle with her Dad at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Highland.

During these usually longer Catholic wedding ceremonies, I like to zoom in for some candids of the bride and groom as they whisper to each other and have a sneak laugh.

Our groom Dustin was smiling throughout the gorgeous Fall day, but none more so as when he and Jenny took their vows and exchanged rings.  He truly is a happy man!!

Friends and family awaited outside Our Lady of Grace ready to celebrate the newly married couple by covering them in bubbles as they walked out into the sunlight.

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One of my favorite images so far is this off kilter photo of the bride and groom as they share a kiss on the bridge at Centennial Park in Munster.  I love the Simpson like clouds in the blue sky during this crisp Autumn day in September.

Seeing as it's now football season, why not have the groomsmen line up in an offensive scrimmage and play a few downs?!!

The day ended at Cloister in the Woods banquet hall in Munster with the gride and groom dancing amidst the blue uplighting.

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I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek of Dustin and Jenny's Fall wedding at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Highland, Indiana.  To keep updated and to see more images, subscribe here to the Journal and give us a "like" on the SBV Photography Facebook page.  More to come!!