November 02, 2017

Amy of Modern Rebel Talks "Donut-Gate"

November 02, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Amy: I had so many back-to-back weddings with donuts (they're very in right now), and so at a client's wedding, while I totally knew in my heart of hearts they were not donuts, I had a brain fart and had the band announce that the donuts were now out at the dessert table! I was literally looking at these NOT DONUTS and saying, would you like a donut? Then, the photographer's assistant came up to me and said, “Amy, those are not donuts, right? They're like muffins, right?" And I was like, "no, they're donuts!" And then my assistant and I realized: WHAT THE HECK, THESE ARE CUPCAKES. I had a grandma or two ask for some donuts, and I had to sadly tell them we only had cupcakes. I'm a very on-top-of-my-shit lady, but that was the one moment I broke. Could have been worse! You have to laugh.

August 22, 2017

Art + Design Wedding Inspiration in San Francisco

August 22, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

This inspiration shoot emerged from a pattern design created by Teresa Reynolds who is also the talented hair and makeup artist for this collaboration. Her design exudes an energetic flow and ease with the organic movement which we loved seeing with clean straight lines and minimal elements. Its playful color palette was fun to interpret across all vignettes, keeping a balance of liveliness and sophistication.

June 13, 2017

Inside the Fitting Room // Embracing Genderless Design When Branding Your Wedding Business

June 13, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

As the designers of their own businesses, wedding professionals have the choice to design gender neutral spaces to better accommodate folks who do not identify with the gender binary. I hope they embrace this approach because creating more inclusive businesses benefits us all.

The boundaries are blurring and evolving into a new normal. To put it simply, wedding industry professionals who claim to care about inclusive feminism need to put in the work it takes to create gender sensitive businesses.

April 12, 2017

Woke Wednesday // Meet Ashley Gaffney Design Studio

April 12, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Liz: I love that. When you speak of challenging clients, are you challenging them in specifically creative/design ways? Or are you willing to challenge client's assumptions around race, gender, sexuality, etc.?

Ashley: Yes. I'm constantly fighting the fight to change people's perspectives about people and how we approach them. Talk to them. Have a conversation with them. I speak of "target markets" in regards to connection points. They can be purple, gay, short, whatever...if a person connects to your message, it's because it's been crafted in authenticity, and their micro-qualities don't dictate generality. And the message part is indifferent...truly it's about authentic connections, no matter the person's make-up.

January 15, 2015

Catalyst Takes New York // Anna Thompson Design

January 15, 2015/ Catalyst Wedding Co

One of the many fantastic people we met with in New York was the graphic designer for Catalyst Wedding Magazine, Anna of Anna Thompson Design. We met her, along with her two sisters, at The East Pole on the Upper East Side for dinner. After chatting about sibling dynamics, we got down to business. Anna will be adding her own flare to the magazine's clean layout, quirkifying some of the pieces with custom graphics.