Catalyst Wedding Company highlights weddings by and for game-changers. We seek to amplify and empower voices and viewpoints that are usually missing from the Wedding Industrial Complex. We're a community of badass wedding professionals who love all things funky, fresh, diverse, unique, and personality-driven; we convene twice yearly for (un)convention, a collaborative workshop, styled shoot, and dinner party. We're also the publishers of Catalyst Wedding Mag, a resource for couples looking for inspiration and affirmation that doing things differently in wedding-world is not only ok, it's wonderful!
You just got engaged! Congrats! Don't freak out. Here are 12 questions to ground you and lay the foundation for your wedding priorities. And if you're already partnered, these questions are a good way to check-in with your loved one.
Read MoreOnce upon a time, the societal formula for weddings was pretty limited: boy + girl + religious ceremony = wedding. Period. Anyone who deviated was...well...a deviant, subject to social and legal marginalization. Similarly, for many years our culture supported a narrow definition of family, namely family = a husband + a wife + their biological child(ren). Period. Unmarried parents, same-sex parents, interracial families, immigrant families, blended families, families of color, families without children, and even adoptive families struggled to find their place in society, facing a range of difficulties and indignities at every turn.
Read MoreWe got married at the courthouse, and most of it was a fantastic experience except for the man who officiated our marriage. He made it clear that he thought a marriage between two women was absurd. He did not allow us to say vows, kiss, put our rings on each other, not to mention he officiated for us right in front of the front doors of the court house. As hurtful and maddening as that was, my wife and I decided to not let it bother us. We decided that the important thing was that we were married and could celebrate our love for the rest of our lives. Our daughter, Cassidy is a beautiful, clever, hilarious child. We are in the long process of trying to get legal custody of her. We are so happy to have the privilege of loving each other and getting to provide a safe, stable home for a very deserving little girl.
Read MoreThis modern, edgy, and glam shoot was inspired by punk and rock n' roll with a little bit of sparkle. We paired textures like leather and studs with soft velvet and sequins. These two grooms channel their inner rock stars with fashion-forward outfits and unique hairstyles. A black, red, and silver palette keeps the look edgy yet chic. Lyrics from rock stars like David Bowie and Billy Idol incorporate a love of music. Vertigo event venue in Glendale, California provided the ideal backdrop with brick exterior and a chic and sleek event space.
Read MoreSherri and Erron had a 10 day engagement. That’s right, only 10 days! They just knew that they were meant to be, and they didn’t want to wait. They were full of laughter and had huge genuine smiles during the whole session. He had her cracking up the entire time, and it was contagious! It was so easy to see how much they love one another.
Read MoreThe internet is crawling with playlists to match your wedding morning joy. If you rise like a flower, float to your bridal party, and arrive at the venue on a magic carpet — those playlists are for you. For all the betrothed who are hoping to speed through their makeup routine so they have more time to dance in the hotel room with their best friends, turn this up.
Read MoreJami and Keri's wedding took place on October 7th at Firehouse Chicago, one of my all time favorite U.S. wedding venues in the quaint neighborhood of Andersonville. Jami’s pale blue and lace wedding dress was handmade. Kerri wore a dapper suit from J. Crew with a handsome bow tie and boutonniere. Hillary Bullock officiated their outdoor ceremony under the ivy where Jami walked down the staircase to meet Kerri and a knot tying ceremony was included to signify their union.
Read MoreThen they enacted wedding ceremonies from three different eras — the 1700s, the 1950s, and the present — with costume changes for each. At the end of each ceremony, a certificate was handed to Levana that said: “You are now a full woman,” with an asterisk — the asterisk was “pending children.”
Read MoreEarly Mountain Vineyards in Madison, Virginia provides a welcoming, scenic space for ALL couples marrying in central Virginia.
Read MoreCharmi Patel Peña is a woke wedding photographer in New Jersey. In this interview with editor Liz Susong, she talks about forming her identity as an Indian-American woman, defying pressures to pursue a numbers-based career, and disrupting patriarchal culture from the inside.
Read MoreEveryone stop what you are doing, and check out this ridiculously gorgeous duo!! From the moment we met Deena and Brian, we knew instantly that these two were something incredible. Not only are they some of the most beautiful people inside and out, they are also two of the kindest and most genuine people we've ever photographed. Deena and Brian just radiate pure love and happiness! We had such a great time exploring the West Loop with these two, and are even more excited now for their big day at Bridgeport Art Center.
Read MorePrior to marriage, I’d lived alone for twenty years with no housemates other than felines; Steve had been bach’ing it with two boys for nine. Marrying at midlife comes with a lot of challenges: negotiating shifting family roles, re-learning how to share a bathroom, ensuring the bride’s cats don’t blind the groom’s dog in a territorial rage. But I’m not sure anything could have prepared us for the sheer amount of stuff.
Read MoreLauren and Adrian met at her brother’s wedding and even walked down the aisle together as part of the bridal party! They hit it off right away in all their quirky glory. Adrian proposed in Paris on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower with a gorgeous ring he had specially-made for the Disney-loving Lauren (can you see the hidden Mickey Mouse?).
Read MoreAnd you thought we were done! The Columbus team of vendors that brought you One Couple Three Ways: Grunge, Sweet Floral, and Royal also styled Elaina under the theme of Hunger Games. Enjoy!
Read MoreMost 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.
Read MoreThey got married last year and searched a long time to find a place in their home state that felt right for them. They landed on Siesta Key Beach, a natural and wild white quartz beach on the Gulf of Mexico. A year later, they knew they wanted their anniversary shoot to involve swimming and playing on that same beach.
Read MoreOnce upon a time, women were considered no more than chattel. We had no property rights, and it was widely believed that our brains were shaped like high-heel glass slippers. If divorce or death ended a marriage, women were usually forced to make do with a shack deep in the forest, twelve cats, and several coffee-table books on witchcraft. Prenuptial agreements were introduced specifically to avoid this outcome.
Read More“Let’s do a shoot that involves cats…and motorcycles!” That was the sentence that began this project. Later we’d add to the list: deer teeth, parachute pants, and a grungy bouquet of flowers with roots still attached.
Read More“I wanted to be part of the styled shoot because it seemed like something Elaina and I would have a lot of fun doing. I also thought my mom would be thrilled to see us dressed up in wedding clothes…I’ve learned more about event planning, floral arrangements, photography, hair and makeup in one day than I ever had before. It was just such an unusual day for me that when I think about it, it feels like a breath of fresh air.” —Bryce, Groom
Read MoreRussell and Dave describe themselves as opposites who bonded over their shared love of music. Russell is outgoing and free-spirited and Dave is the more reserved and introspective. They met early in 2015 and were engaged by the end of the year. Russell proposed to Dave during a visit to NYC in late December. They are enjoying a long engagement as Dave finishes his doctorate in clinical psychology. Russell works in the pharmacy at a children's hospital. These two share everything together and have established a tiny family with their dog baby Suzie Q.
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Catalyst Wedding Company highlights weddings by and for game-changers. We seek to amplify and empower voices and viewpoints that are usually missing from the Wedding Industrial Complex. We're a community of badass wedding professionals who love all things funky, fresh, diverse, unique, and personality-driven; we convene twice yearly for (un)convention, a collaborative workshop, styled shoot, and dinner party. We're also the publishers of Catalyst Wedding Mag, a resource for couples looking for inspiration and affirmation that doing things differently in wedding-world is not only ok, it's wonderful!
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