May 26, 2017

Beautiful Rainy Engagement: Kaylee + Vincent

May 26, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Kaylee and Vincent met about a year ago and immediately had a connection. They both knew that dating wasn't something they wanted to do just for fun; they wanted to be serious about the person they spent the rest of their lives with. They knew within a couple of months that they were the ones for each other. They started dating August of 2016 and will be getting married in August of 2017! When you know, you just know. They knew how much they loved each other, and the rest was simple. During their engagement session, it rained the entire time, but it didn't phase them one bit. They danced to Nirvana and played in the rain. They were goofy and sweet and couldn't stop smiling.

May 23, 2017

Real Couples // Pantsuit Glam at the Courthouse: Chloe + Mike

May 23, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I LOVE SF City Hall! It is hands down one of my favorite venues ever! So of course I was going to make sure we got to tie the knot there, and since we knew we didn't want to jump through all the hoops needed to legally get married in Mexico, like the blood test, my City Hall Dream worked out perfectly.

May 22, 2017

Real Couples // From the Beach to the Mountains: Ty + Jarred

May 22, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

These two decided to elope and have a simple ceremony that included just the two of them. For their official wedding photos they wanted photos to reflect their time spent together in Utah. They met by fate one night outside of a club and have not been apart since. They loved to take drives out to the flats and watch the sun set over the city. We spent the day adventuring together doing just that.

May 19, 2017

Real Couples // Intimate 14-Person Airbnb Wedding: Tazz + Sunny

May 19, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We got all that and more with our small, simple wedding in Woodstock. Both my husband and I wanted the day to be special but not overwhelm us with everything we’d need to do for it. We figured the easiest and most low-key way would be to rent an Airbnb that would sleep 14 people. We limited our guest list to 14 and basically had a weekend getaway-turned-wedding with our closest friends.

May 17, 2017

Real Couples // Barcelona Love Story: Jose + Toni

May 17, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

"We met on a night when we went out with friends we had in common. Several nights later, on February 8th, Toni's birthday, my friends made a surprise dinner, and Jose was there, too. It was a crush at first sight, as if Cupido, the God of love, united us with his arrow of love. We are still in love! After 10 years together!"

May 16, 2017

Real Couples // Vintage & DIY Wedding: Jackie + Luis

May 16, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

As we got to know each other more, the more I fell head over heels for this man. In 2015 on Memorial Day weekend, Luis had asked me if I wanted to go to Virginia Beach for the weekend with family. I said yes, and on that Saturday morning he woke me up at a few minutes before sunrise to go to the beach and watch the sunrise. I was livid. I huffed and puffed the ride down the elevator stating, "it's vacation time so we shouldn't be up this early; it's just wrong." He of course thought that it was hilarious. As we walked the beach and watched the sunrise, my eyes drifted toward the beautiful view, but then quickly remembered that sleeping in has its beauty too. Luis didn't risk any minute longer and called my name and got on his knees and proposed to me. I was stunned, and so many emotions were squeezing through my brain that I was mute for a minute or two. And he asked again. This time I had to pay him back for waking me up so early, so I said I would think about it, and oh boy I have never seen a man blush so hard in my life. And I reacted quick and said yes.

May 12, 2017

Real Couples // Seattle is for Lovers: Allie + Angie

May 12, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Recently I have been getting more involved with my engagement sessions and spending the whole day with my couples. When we are hanging out we really get to know each other and create photos together that reflect real aspects of their lives. So I spent all day with these two, and we had a blast. We started the day chillin' at their home and then eventually adventured out to Rattlesnake Ridge. They met at a bar, so it felt only natural to end the night at a few bars.

May 10, 2017

Real Couples // Bridal Overalls & City Hall: Nora + Ben

May 10, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Nora and Ben were married at San Francisco City Hall surrounded by their families and a good friend. I loved that they weren't afraid to do things a little differently. Nora wore the white, embroidered overalls her mother was married in paired with a lacy, backless top and gold shoes. For their flowers, which were made by a friend, Handsome Flowers, Nora asked for a bouquet that looked like it could have been foraged in the forest. Ben's only request: mushrooms. Which resulted in one of the coolest boutonnieres I've seen!

May 08, 2017

Real Couples // High Line Engagement: Nina + George

May 08, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Samantha had us meet her at the High Line at the perfect time: just before the morning crowd and runners. She and her assistant put us at ease because we were both anxious about having our photos taken, and they reassured us that we were going to be 'natural' rather than posed. We were anxious about how the morning would pan out, but to our pleasant surprise and relief we had the most amazing time walking the High Line with Samantha and her assistant. A year later I still remember how we both felt at the end of that photo shoot—relaxed and completely at ease and completely in love! We are so glad we picked Samantha to do our engagement shoot. She is an incredibly talented photographer who is creative and someone who I would highly recommend to anyone. We cherish her photographs and displayed them at our wedding, and they grace the walls in our home.

May 05, 2017

Real Couples // Mehndi, Nikah, and Shaadi Ceremonies: Saleha + Sameer

May 05, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

These two had a very traditional two-day celebration filled with modern elements, so much color, and love. On the first day they hosted the Mehndi Ceremony and Nikah Ceremony. The Mehndi Ceremony is when the bride gets her hands and feet painted in henna. The patterns are completed with intricate details, and she sports them for the rest of the ceremonies. The Nikah Ceremony is the traditional signing of the marriage contract. The couple repeats the word qabul, which means "I accept" in Arabic three times to demonstrate they are freely marrying each other. The Shaddi Ceremony is the actual wedding day. They held a huge reception and at the end of the night performed the traditional giving away of the bride. The bride's family walks them to their get away car and reflects on the joining of their new families.

May 03, 2017

Real Couples // College Sweethearts: Elena + Frandy

May 03, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

"We have been together for five years. We met in college on an Alternative Spring Break trip to Alabama to work with Habitat For Humanity. We spent the week helping to rebuild a house, and during the process we developed a connection. In the summer of 2016 we got married, and since we were college sweethearts we decided to have our wedding on the campus. It was a beautiful day that we will remember always."

May 01, 2017

Real Couples // Rooftop Cree Wedding: Onowa + Paul

May 01, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Their wedding was not just centered on Onowa and Paul's love for each other, but on their love of each other's family, friends, and community. Their wedding started with a Cree smudging ceremony and a beautiful musical performance, followed by promises made to each other, and an exchanging of rings. Onowa, Paul, and Onowa's youngest daughters then shared what they were each bringing to the marriage, which brought looks of tenderness as well as lots of laughter. Both Onowa and Paul wore items that reflected their cultures; Onowa wore a beaded hair piece with her veil, and Paul wore a traditional Maori necklace and tie with Maori designs.

April 28, 2017

Real Couples // A Day in the Life of Lovers: Bonnie + Vince

April 28, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

This session melts my heart for a few reasons. First of all, I had the opportunity to really get to know a friend from school and meet her boyfriend—something that wouldn’t have happened otherwise if we didn’t all share a passion for photography. At our initial meeting, they began to explain how different they both are but how great their relationship works. They both agreed that once I saw their apartment, everything would make sense. And it did.

April 26, 2017

Real Couples // Rooftop Engagement: Brandon + Traci

April 26, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

"Brandon proposed on March 15, 2016. It was a Tuesday at 5:30 pm to be exact! (laughs) He got my best friend to lure me to the Sheraton rooftop in downtown Columbia. Right before I walked to the bar, he popped out of the stairwell, got everyone's attention, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him!!!"

April 24, 2017

Real Couples // A Garden Wedding & Board Games: Mahsino + Graham

April 24, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

These two bonded online with their shared love of laser tag. They wanted a intimate ceremony with a family-style dinner and games. Being chill and artistic, it was important for them to have their wedding reflect them as a couple. Mahsino designed the invites and baked the cakes. The ceremony was held at Parsons Garden and was short and sweet. The reception at Bastille Cafe was spent laughing under the twinkle lights and passing delicious food around the table. The night ended with fun games like Uno.

April 21, 2017

Real Couples // San Francisco City Hall Resistance Wedding: Thomas + Craig

April 21, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

The pair was planning an August wedding at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens, but given the current political climate they decided to move up their legal ceremony. I donated this session as a part of Catalyst Wed Co’s movement to support LGBTQ and undocumented couples in the wake of the election. Thomas, Craig, and I gave $500 to the Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth, in lieu of the session fee.

April 19, 2017

Real Couples // City Hall Elopement: Natalie + Lucie

April 19, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Natalie and Lucie were visiting from London and got in touch with me before their trip because they knew that while here on holiday they wanted to tie the knot. I was not only their photographer, but also their witness at City Hall. They told me they both love architecture, so after their ceremony at City Hall in Manhattan, we went over to Brooklyn and took photos in DUMBO with the Brooklyn Bridge as an awesome backdrop, as well as the rest of the fun feel of the neighborhood. The colorful murals were perfect for their white outfits to pop against! They wanted intimate and romantic mixed with fun, and I think we accomplished that well!

April 17, 2017

Real Couples // Coworkers Turned Lovers: Myeshia + Derrick

April 17, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We met in Washington, D.C. while working as armed security officers at the U.S. State Department. Both of us worked in the Control Room during most weekends. Those long shifts brought us time and conversation, and I began to fall for his charismatic and funny personality. In December 2012, it was time for me to re-qualify with our work weapons. I knew that he previously helped other officers prepare for their qualification, so I used it as my opportunity to get to know him outside of work. While I failed to inform him that I had already passed my qualification, I mustered up the courage to ask him for his "assistance" anyway.

April 14, 2017

Real Couples // Downtown Memphis Wedding: Joe + Andrea

April 14, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

As a coach, it's awesome to talk about teamwork, but I think when you exemplify it off the court, the field, the track, etc. that's when you earn the respect of your athletes. Likewise, perhaps the same principle applies to marriage. It's easy to talk about, to say what you should do, but a little bit harder to live out. I've never known Joe and Andrea as anything but a team, and I’d venture to say their approach to marriage is pretty similar to their approach on the basketball court.

April 12, 2017

Real Couples // New York Elopement: Katie + Sylvester

April 12, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Online two years ago, they both swiped right, despite no written profile. They went out for a quick glass of wine on their first date, but Katie had made dinner plans (as an escape option), not that she really needed them as they got on very well and had quite a bit in common. She was headed to the Cayman Islands for the holidays, and then they lost touch a bit as Sylvester’s matches disappeared! Sylvester remembered what Katie did and found her on LinkedIn; she accepted his request to connect, but she was headed away again skiing in the French alps! He wondered who this jet-setting woman was… Date two was again just a drink (as Katie “conveniently” had dinner plans, again), but Sylvester persevered, and they had a lovely third date at Beauty & Essex on the Lower East Side, followed by ‘pint-size’ glasses of red wine in a nearby hotel lobby. They discovered a photo booth in the basement where they had their first kiss (yes we have the photos still) and the rest is history!