April 18, 2018

Introducing The Hive Wedding Collective! Our Friends at Wood Grain & Lace Just Got a New Look

April 18, 2018/ Catalyst Wedding Co

The badass team of Wood Grain & Lace has taken on a rebrand in the last few months, and we are in love with the new look and vibe! Rebranding can have its ups and downs, but we know that for The Hive Wedding Collective, there will be nothing stopping this amazing team!

We got some time with founder, Christine, to hear more about the rebranding process, what their new brand means to them, and what she wishes they knew when they started the process.

September 21, 2017

Ask A Wedding Planner // Why Do I Need A Wedding Planner?

September 21, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

As a wedding planner for a little over three years, I get asked quite frequently what a wedding planner does. Being a black woman, I’ve grown to understand that it’s just not common to hire a wedding planner in the black community. It’s just not the cultural norm. Typically the mother of the bride, Auntie FeeFee, or the family’s self proclaimed fashion guru handles the “coordination.” There is the possibility that the wedding day can run smoothly using such “coordinators,” but isn’t it easier to hire a professional? Yes!

So recently, I’ve been making it a point to make random posts on my social media page about what it is a wedding planner does and ask my followers why they would or would not hire a planner. So, to counteract the feedback I’ve received, here’s why you NEED a wedding planner.

August 14, 2017

Ask A Wedding Planner // 9 Ways to Be A Kick-Ass Wedding Guest

August 14, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

As a wedding planner, logistics are a huge part of my job: timing the guest transportation to and from the venue, timing the catering staff, ensuring there is enough time budgeted for the "shot list" the couple provided to the photographer, etc.

If you are between the ages of 20 and 40, you've probably been invited to a few weddings, and if you haven't recently planned your own fête, there can easily be rules of etiquette you are breaking without even realizing it.

Here are some helpful tips to be a kick-ass wedding guest.

May 25, 2017

Ask A Wedding Planner // How to Handle Plus Ones

May 25, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Dear Ciera,

So my partner and I are pretty much paying for our wedding ourselves. We have an amazing group of supportive friends that we’ve known for years, and we are the first of the group to tie the knot. While some of the couples are engaged, others are still casually dating, and we’re not too keen on covering the bill for basically strangers, but we don’t want to make our friends feel bad without a date. How do we figure out who to offer plus ones to?

Sincerely,

Over this Guest List

May 11, 2017

Ask A Wedding Planner // Is it tacky to ask for money?

May 11, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Dear Heather,

My partner and I are set to be married this fall and have invited lots of family and friends to celebrate with us. Already we have been peppered with questions about where we are registered and when the registry will be available on our wedding website. The thing is, we are two people in our 30s who have lived together for several years. Our home is furnished with all of our favorite things and we see no reason to upgrade anything or accumulate more needless things. However, we would like to go on a honeymoon and cash would really help us out with that! Can we ask our friends and family for money? Is that tasteless?!

-Experiences, Not Things

March 23, 2017

Ask a Wedding Planner // Cutting Costs for Budget-Friendly Weddings

March 23, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Dear Ciera,

My partner and I are recently engaged and can’t wait to get started planning our big day! We are hoping to buy our first home soon, so we’d like to keep our wedding budget under $15k. Any tips on how to manage this budget?

Sincerely,

Newly Engaged & Economical

March 23, 2017

Out of the Box Challenge // Richmond Association of Boss Babes AKA Girls! Girls! Girls!

March 23, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Our goal for this shoot was to have fun and highlight color and love! Our theme was Girls! Girls! Girls!, and we were able to put together an amazing team of women, The Richmond Association of Boss Babes. We thought, what would a real life couple do when they woke up together on the day of their wedding? Morning sex, obviously! Boudoir images are usually just of one woman, and even less often do you see images of lesbian boudoir featuring an actual couple. We wanted to capture our girls in their element, being themselves together, whether that was dressed or undressed.

January 27, 2017

Ask A Wedding Planner // Weddings for Introverts

January 27, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Most couples have anxiety about their ceremony, after all it is the highlight of the day and movies have taught us that we’re meant to freak out. Consider instead a quieter ceremony with just your immediate family. Your friends can join you at cocktail hour, and I promise they will be fine with it! When you say private ceremony, guests understand. If they don’t, tough for them. Remember, you can always get married in total privacy with just the two of you and still have a wedding reception with everyone! It’s a thing, and it’s awesome.

December 07, 2016

Urban Set Bride: Mother and Daughter Team Up to Change the Face of Bridal Boutiques

December 07, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Overall, my experience as a wedding planner, a feminist, a millennial, and a newlywed gave me the insight I needed to create my own career and fulfill a need in the bridal market. I trusted my instinct, I embraced my mom’s wisdom and knew she was the person I wanted to stand by my side, and we never let anyone tell us our ideas weren’t good enough.