April 11, 2017

Bohemian Elopement with One on the Way

April 11, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

When Brittany and Alex, owners of SCULPTEDFILMS learned that their family will be expanding come this July, they knew that they had to expand their business as well, because a triple-faceted business is hard enough for a two-person team without anticipating a birth in the middle of wedding season. Cue their new, fabulous second shooter, Brianna, who photographed this shoot. As an exercise to train Brianna, and to show off some SCULPTEDFLORALS, we put this elopement inspiration shoot together about as spontaneously as a real elopement might happen.

April 10, 2017

Real Couples // Love & Board Games: Alex + Brooke

April 10, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Brooke and Alexandria are a couple who exude warmth. Spend 2 minutes with them, and you feel like you have known them your entire life. They are a couple whose love grew quickly and deeply, and you could not imagine one without the other. Brooke wanted to surprise Alexandria with a session that captured who they are as a married couple and that included some board games, some cuddling, laughter in spades, and that warmth that just brings you into their story.

April 07, 2017

Real Couples // Love Fest at Home: Nina + Josh

April 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Josh: In 2014 Nina had just moved to Tampa from Lakeland. Her first weekend in town we met each other out through some mutual friends. Her sarcastic and goofy attitude instantly caught my attention. Over the next few months we learned more about each other, and in June 2014 we decided to make it official. Over the past three years we have spent time doing things we love to do with each other, like traveling, playing sports, attending sporting events, exercising, playing board games, exploring restaurants/bars, and just being our goofy selves together. Seems like every day we learn something new and interesting about each other. What I love about Nina the most is her intelligence, sense of humor, and her big warm heart. Nina would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. (She's always cold which makes this act even more selfless...lol.)

April 06, 2017

Real Couples // A Dinosaur Love Story: Colleen + Alex

April 06, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Alex proposed to Colleen in front of the Spinosaurus skeleton at the National Geographic museum in Washington DC. Their wedding date was actually on their seven year anniversary. They really added some very unique personal touches to their wedding day like the birch program scrolls which were made by Alex's mom in honor of his Russian and her Native American heritage. They also included a sage smudging ceremony and instead of the traditional unity candle lighting the couple opted to create a "Unity Cocktail" an Manhattan to be exact! This was just an overall fun wedding to shoot at the Green Point Loft.

April 05, 2017

Real Couples // Surprise Proposal & Wedding in One Day: Andrew + Judah

April 05, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

In the middle of October, Andrew posted an ad looking for a photographer to assist in a surprise proposal to his boyfriend of 4 years, Judah. They moved from Louisiana about a year ago, and he wanted to propose to Judah at one of their favorite places. Both of their families flew to New York on the 5th (per Andrew's directions without Judah having any idea) to surprise Judah at the proposal.

April 03, 2017

Real Couples // The Real Thing: Leah + Darius

April 03, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We met in January of 2014 while attending Tuskegee University. I was apart of the Golden Voices Choir, and Darius was apart of the ROTC program. I was asked to sing the national anthem at their battalion by one of the members in the choir who also happened to be in the ROTC program. When I arrived to the program, out of everyone in uniform Darius stood out the most. He was standing up tall and had a huge grin on his face. I then asked my friend who he was, and she was clueless, especially on his relationship status. So then the investigation began. As she returned with answers she said, “He is single and will be talking to you after the program.” My body flooded with nerves, excitement, and acute nausea.

March 31, 2017

Real Couples // Intercultural Interfaith Wedding Mash-Up: Noreen + Pritesh

March 31, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

For anyone who has met Noreen and Pritesh, it is instantly obvious they only have eyes for each other. They met in the UK at Saïd Business School and recently relocated to New York City, where they decided to get married at The Foundry in Long Island City. Staying true to their diverse backgrounds, the couple incorporated their Christian and Hindu family traditions to represent their union—which came together in a very ambitious wedding timeline!

March 29, 2017

Real Couples // High School Sweethearts & Best Friends: Erika + KaShawn

March 29, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

"So KaShawn and I met when he was just a freshman and I was just a junior, in high school. It started as a usual high school relationship but the longer we lasted...the more I realized that this was different. We are going on four years in April, which will be the longest we've ever been in a relationship point blank period. Growing up, the awkward stages in high school, and going through real life adult struggles with him wasn't what I expected at all, but I'm so glad it turned out to be him. He turned me back to God, changed my life completely... We're literally the best of friends, and I couldn't see it any other way. We know all of our weaknesses and strengths, but we are definitely still learning a lot about each other. He brings out the absolute best in me, and he's the best he can be. It's imperfectly perfect."

March 27, 2017

Real Couples // Finding a Home in Each Other: Nick + Luis

March 27, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I’m going to be honest for a second. As a photographer, while I always feel a connection with my couples, I don’t feel every story and couple equally. It is safe to say I got a little extra emotional at Nick and Luis's wedding. Starting during the ceremony I became aware of a different depth to the day. Luis was looking at Nick, and his eyes said it all: love and gratitude.

March 24, 2017

Real Couples // Dating App Love Story: Marilee + Nicole

March 24, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

"I met this beautiful woman on a lesbian dating website. On the surface, we had only a few things in common, but we emailed each other for two months before we met—turns out, she absolutely spoke to my heart. I never thought I would get married, let alone meet someone. Things in my life led me to believe that I was meant to be alone and that merely surviving in this world was the best it would ever get. But Marilee completely transformed my world; now we have a beautiful home, a dog, and a bright future ahead."

March 22, 2017

Real Couples // Classmate Love Story: Nicole + Stephen

March 22, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

It was a perfect fall day in the East Bay. Nicole hung out with her best friends, sister and grandmother while getting her hair and makeup done while Stephen and his mom practiced their first dance, and his dad was there to help with his tie. The ceremony took place in the beautiful redwood grove at Piedmont Community Hall with many friends and family in attendance. A special chair was set aside with flowers in remembrance of Nicole’s mom.

March 20, 2017

Real Families // A Long Awaited Love: Roxann + Trey + Lark

March 20, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Roxann and Trey have traveled in the same orbit since they were 18 years old, their lives circling around each other and convening at certain points. When tragedy struck they got closer, but it just was not the right time yet. Through relationship after relationship, they stayed in each other's orbit being that shoulder for each other but declaring nothing because the orbit was just not perfect. After a decade of love, support, and caring it all finally clicked, and they knew the other was their person. Seeing them together, it's obvious that even though it took a while to get to this point, it was the exact perfect point for them both. They are already a family, and their wedding in June of this year will just solidify what was known by all.

March 17, 2017

Real Couples // Married in the Spotlight: Mitch + Erynne

March 17, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Mitch and Erynne are a special kind of special, man. Mitch met Erynne at a show they played together at Chicago's Double Door, and the rest was quickly history. So it seemed only fitting they'd marry in a place where they met: onstage. They wed at the Bottom Lounge, a venue in Chicago's West Loop, surrounded by over 200 of their closest friends and family.

March 15, 2017

Real Couples // Resilient Love: Jess + Crystal

March 15, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Jess and I met at Arizona State University when we were 18 years old and freshly out of the closet to our very religious families. We started dating in 2011, without acceptance or support from our families. My sisters were the only supportive ones from my family. We lived at the dorms for a semester because we had no where to go. We moved into our first apartment when the semester ended and slept on the floor for months. We didn't have anything but a few blankets, pillows, clothes, and towels. We saved the first nine months together to buy our first couch and continued saving for other basic things. Five years later, on our 5th year anniversary (10/26/16), we tied the knot! Our parents aren't fully on board, but Jess's are a little more supportive. I'm still struggling with my parents. We have been through very rough lows and some good highs, we have grown stronger together, and been there for each other when it's most needed.

March 14, 2017

Wedding Inspiration // Best Friends in Love: Cammie + Marie

March 14, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

These ladies are a beautiful couple madly in love. They were just friends for years, both dating other people. When they both found themselves single, a love blossomed. Both are simply divine people...and both are hilarious. The shoot was a blast. Cammie is a coach and is back in school. Marie is an area food safety and nutrition agent. They live together in a cute lil' house in Greenville, South Carolina.

March 13, 2017

Real Couples // Long-time Sweethearts: Mike + Ashlee

March 13, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We met at church; his mom was my Girl Scout troop leader. He was always trolling and dropping in on our Girl Scout meetings. We were like kindergarteners. I'm pretty sure he picked on me because he was so in love, lol. We became really close friends and remained that way through college.

March 10, 2017

Real Couples // A Long Time in the Making: Jennifer + Quinton

March 10, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Jennifer and Quinton's love story is that was a long time coming. In eighth grade he fell for her quickly; she took some time. They dated for a brief period before she called it off. He stuck by her, being a great friend and over the years, as these stories tend to evolve, she, as he says it, finally got it right! Their wedding was a celebration of not just a love story a long time in the making but a blending of families and friendships. Each person involved in the wedding, from the vendors to the wedding party, were people who had a place of significance in each of their lives and in the story of their love. From getting ready until they said "goodnight," it was not just about Jennifer and Quinton, but about family.

March 08, 2017

Real Couples // We Knew After A Month: Amanda + Lauren

March 08, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Our ceremony was, and is, the most meaningful aspect of our wedding for the both of us. Lauren wrote the whole thing. (Amanda: I would love to take even partial credit for it, but I can't. I contributed maybe ten words total. The rest of the time she just read me what she wrote while I cried. Good tears, obviously.) We loved that our vows were written to reflect our lives together—our joys, our struggles, our shared experiences—but it was also important that we each repeated those same vows to one another

March 06, 2017

Real Couples // Long-Distance Lovers: Remy + Mohan

March 06, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Throughout our relationship we have had to deal with long distance and being far apart for months at a time. After we lived in Shanghai, I moved to Amsterdam, and Remy moved to New York City for university. It is not easy doing long distance but we have managed to make it work over time. We've been together now for six years, and I think what makes our relationship so special is that we've become accustomed to traveling to see each other and love traveling together to new places.

March 03, 2017

Real Couples // Oklahoma City Love: David + Blanca

March 03, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We first met in our high school algebra II class my junior year and his senior year. He started to sit by me everyday. Then one thing led to another, and our small talk over homework turned into flirting. He would randomly ask, “Why are you blushing?” in order to make me blush. I refused to let him win and make me blush. But no matter what I did, without knowing, my cheeks would automatically get a little rosy each time he asked me. For my birthday that year he showed up to class with a present for me. Of course he had to ask me, “Why are you blushing?” in order to embarrass me a little. I never imagined he thought of me as anything more than a friend until that day.