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!
This stylized shoot showcases Bermuda's unique wedding style, with a local model playing the groom and a yan, a Para-Olympic hopeful athlete and bartender in the groom role. She is wearing a blush pink BHLDN gown, and he is rocking traditional Bermudan formal attire: iconic Bermuda shorts and a smart blazer.
Read MoreAfter meeting and falling in love in D.C. while on deployment, Mack brought Jeanne back to Cincinnati to continue their love story. And so, on a warm, spring day, adoring family and friends near and far traveled to witness Mack and Jeanne wed in an intimate ceremony nestled in the woods. Light poured in through the trees, shined onto the couple, and illuminated their faces during this mystical moment. Jeanne’s mother performed a chant ritual bringing goodness, gratitude, and love into the space. The ceremony concluded with handwritten vows and a joyful exit. Back at the barn, Jeanne’s sister presented a slideshow of the story of Mack and Jeanne, filling the reception with laughter and the happiest tears. The evening ended with a gorgeous golden sunset, and a dancing celebration.
Read More{un}convention London was hosted in the View Studio at JJ Wimborne, which includes a wonderful rounded white cove that provides a photo backdrop that has no sharp edges where the wall meets the floor and is away from any harsh direct light. The large original windows mostly face north, so the natural light is subtle while still providing gorgeous views of Shoreditch Park across the road. The floor to ceiling corner window is the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony, and behind a velvet curtain is a dressing room perfect for getting ready on your big day. Once your vows are exchanged, you won’t need to move locations, as the View Studio has plenty of space to accommodate tables for a full dinner and space for dancing late into the evening.
Read MoreThese two handmade gowns are handmade by an Indian street vendor who knows the model's mom, and all of the jewelry is authentic Indian decorative wear and collected by the model's family.
Read MoreCleveland holds such a special place in their hearts. It is where they first met, bought their first home, are raising their fur baby Napoleon together, and are saying their "I DOs" this summer. Of course, Edgewater Park was the perfect location for this beautiful couples engagement photos!
Read MoreWhen photographer Hannah Yoon approached me about collaborating on a styled shoot highlighting a model of color and a crepe paper flower crown designed by 622 Flowers, the obvious answer was YES! While chatting, we decided to build a shoot that would focus on handmade details and lots of DIYs. We drew inspiration from the bold colors of the flower crown with the goal of creating a mysterious and enchanting vibe.
Lastly, we wanted this shoot to inspire an audience who is often underserved in wedding blogs. People of color are often underrepresented online in the wedding industry, and this is exactly who we hope to reach!
We wanted to showcase some fantastic attire for these two handsome men - and we wanted to be sure that they coordinated without matching. By mixing the burgundy tux with a classic black, they each got to showcase their personalities in a way that would feel suitable for them.
Read MoreSally says, "Ours is a story of stars aligning... which is the moment that only comes when you've finally found the one you were meant to be with. On a gorgeous summer night in 2013, and among mutual friends, we met and spoke for the first time, and a lasting impression was made. Call it love at first sight. Whatever it was, it was enough for us to continue wondering about the other, until we (virtually) ran into each other again a few months later. After months of cyber-stalking, we finally met on an official date and have been inseparable ever since.
Read MoreVarun and Amanda met up with me early in the morning on a weekday, on a day when the world was still too cool in the morning to not wear coats, but it warmed up quickly. They told me they met getting their MBAs and joked that their hands brushed while using excel, and the rest was history. We traipsed through the tiny bit of forest we found near the water in Georgetown, DC, as we discussed all things Wes Anderson, and Amanda talk about how Varun has taught her a lot about South Indian food and culture. We ended the session just as most coffee shops were opening and as the sun started to warm the city.
Read MoreTaylor and I planned to surprise Lexa about half way through their session so we could have time to photograph them together after Taylor popped the question. Our plan was this: Taylor would put the ring in my camera bag when Lexa was not looking at the beginning of our session, and we would shoot their first outfit as if nothing was out of the ordinary — just a casual couples session, or so Lexa thought! I told Taylor I would get Lexa alone in front of my camera down by the river, give Taylor the signal, and let her walk up behind Lexa and pop the question! Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch!
Read MoreToday, three in four couples in the U.S. decide to get married outside of a religious institution. Couples report making the choice to write their own ceremony because they do not share a common faith tradition, have experienced bias or trauma through organized religion, or simply envision gathering in a place that feels more meaningful to their story than a house of worship.
Read MoreThe heat was impossible, but Keisha and her girls handled it like champions for pictures before the ceremony, and although we didn't get to shoot outdoors with the guys, Larry and Keisha's outdoor portraits make it hard to believe it was so hot outside! Watching Larry with his family and friends, it is easy to see why he is liked by everybody, and he could hardly make it down the aisle for his ceremony because he made sure to acknowledge everyone and say hello.
Read MoreSix weeks ago, my fiancé Nathan and I were in Park Slope with a jewelry saleswoman encouraging me to try on a $19,000 vintage ring from early 19th-century Europe. That’s right: $19,000.
Seeing that rock, my stomach sank — not because the ring was way out of price range, which it was, but because I didn’t know how to express my diamond ambivalence to the clerk without being rude. After all, her hands were bedazzled with five diamond rings of her own. With the price tag, it should have been easy for me and Nathan to tell her we were going to pass. But as we explained our preferences, I started to feel like my value was under the spotlight — as though the worth of the ring was a reflection of my worth.
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.
Read MoreThey were married on the coast, celebrated under a tent filled with everyone they loved, and only escaped for a moment to hold hands and walk on the sandy beach. Two men in love, married by the water, dancing through the night.
Read MoreJulie and Kevin met in Edmonton during High School. Some like to call them High School sweethearts, although they didn't start their relationship until they entered University. It was important to them to host the wedding in their vibrant hometown, surrounded by their community, family and friends. Julie and Kevin’s vision was to have a traditional wedding (church ceremony, reception, dance party) that had a mix of cultural elements. With Julie's mother from Trinidad and father from Ghana, they were thrilled to include Caribbean dancers and African drummers as part of their celebration.
Read MoreI am typing this while our little dude naps in my arms. I know, I know, there are probably a dozen reasons why that will cause detrimental habits with his sleeping or may cause him not to go to college. But, for now, I am not worried about that. I just picked him up from daycare, and those cheeks burrowed on my chest are exactly what the end of the day calls for. One thing I have learned in eight months as a new parent is that there is an abundance of information, personal opinions, and stories about how things used to be in terms of raising a child that inundate us (and feed our anxiety) every day. However, with the abundance of information available about parenthood, there is a major gap in information and resources available for same-sex parents. I have thought about writing up a bit about our experience and chickened out a few times, but I struggled a lot with becoming a mom (by way of my wife), and I am hoping to give voice to the growing complexity and great diversity in what constitutes a family.
Read MoreNorth Carolina photographer Latoya Dixon and her husband, Lee, are just as gorgeous on the inside as they are on the outside. When I started planning this shoot, I knew they would be perfect for the spot! They had a courthouse elopement and didn't have a big wedding. So, we treated her like a bride. She went dress shopping for the first time with her mom! We had her makeup done on site by my amazing makeup artist friend. It was amazing!
Read MoreTrupti and Patrick met a few years ago at work. They got to chatting over Star Wars, and the rest (as they say) is history. Their friendship grew into romance, and eventually they adopted a cat and a fluffy white puppy. Getting married was in the stars. We had the honor of photographing their wedding. It was extra special to us, as the bride and groom are friends of mine. The rain came and went during the day, and a few thunder rumbles added a bit of extra drama to the tented outdoor ceremony. But nothing could ruin this day (not even a terrible mishap with a safety pin in the bride’s sari). Just look at their faces, and it is plain as day: these two are madly in love. Their wedding was beautiful, the food was amazing, and it really was difficult to pick a favorite between Trupti’s traditional Indian attire and the stunning white wedding dress she changed into for the reception.
Read MoreWhen planning a wedding, typically you do so without ever thinking you will virtually undo all of it. The endless coordination of vendors and schedules, guests and wedding party — there is an emotional investment in each of these phone calls, emails and appointments. They all become a part of this process leading to a day when you will pledge your life and love to another person. However, when the wedding is called off just weeks before the big day, and everything comes to a halt, you are left with...what exactly? I was not sure. It was a painful decision to make, but somehow I knew it was the right one for myself and my son.
Read More
Catalyst Wedding Co. may receive compensation or products from these companies. This helps support our site.
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!
For DMCA takedown notices or other concerns related to possible infringing content, please email jen@catalystwedco.com.
Catalyst Wedding Co. is made possible by the support of our vendors and partners, as well as through the revenue generated through a number of affiliate programs. This means we include monetized links across our site and we may earn a commission if you purchase a product via these links. We will do our best to indicate these links when possible, and will only promote products we believe in.
Copyright ©2020 Catalyst Wedding Co.
