September 11, 2017

A Mod Minimalist Wedding in LA: Lucy + David

September 11, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I fell in love with David during a 600-mile road trip when he started singing "It's Just My Imagination,” complete with trademarked dance moves. David says he fell in love with me during a 2-hour lost-wallet-scavenger-hunt in which I demonstrated a keen sense of direction, wit, and adventure all at once. I’m not so sure about all that, but we did find his wallet. And four years later, we decided to get married in LA.

Neither of us grew up in LA, but it’s a place where my family has roots and we both have loved ones. That’s what we wanted most for our wedding: to be with as many loved ones as we could possibly manage. We wanted a ceremony that felt authentically us, recognized the many unknowns of the enormous leap we were about to take, and celebrated the love, commitment, and vulnerability that had gotten us this far. We were lucky enough to get all those things on our wedding day, but nothing could have prepared us for the feeling — the sheer and overwhelming joy — of being surrounded by so much love. It was so much more than I know how to put into words.

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.

July 19, 2017

Real Couples // Firefighters in Love: K + K

July 19, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Kim & Katy’s Livermore wedding was a celebration after my very own heart: chock-full of love, funky, and homemade, the most one-of-a-kind event you can imagine. The pair met volunteering at Pride 2008 in the city, and apparently it was magnetic attraction at first sight! Katy did some shady underhanded redistribution of teams to end up working with Kim, while Kim “lost” her truck to give them more time to talk. They were on the phone the very next day, and the rest is a story that’s just begun!

July 07, 2017

Real Couples // Carmel-by-the-Sea: Jess + Karolyn

July 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

This wedding between two incredibly talented Irish photographers on a cliff in Carmel was fairly unplanned in that they were married the day before they intended, in a city they didn’t plan, on a cliff they hadn’t seen before, but in the end it was perfect. Their home in Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK and Ireland that doesn’t have marriage equality, so they’d been planning their Big Sur ceremony so they could get married somewhere beautiful—to finally have a piece of paper that said they married. But the week of their ceremony, the storms had been brewing in Big Sur and didn’t seem like they weren’t letting up. Warnings of weakened bridges to Big Sur, the intended wedding destination, and pictures of washed away cliffs filled my inbox as I drove from the airport to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Karolyn and Jess realized that I was there an extra day, the one day it was expected to not rain, so they decided Carmel would be the place they would get married. They were married with the sun shining down on them, hands clasped together, over the rushing sounds of waves, while greenery was hanging off cliffs for as far as the eye could see. And this is the story of how they were finally married.

June 12, 2017

From Tropical Fruit to Silk Wedding Gowns // Silviyana's Indie, Eco-Friendly Bridal Boutique

June 12, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

From weave to wedding, the purchase of a Silviyana gown represents an environmentally sustainable choice, and one that supports every person involved in making the dress, from weaver to designer.

June 01, 2017

Elopement Inspiration // Bommer Canyon Hip Outdoor Wedding

June 01, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Molly and Liz are a real couple. We approached them after visiting their super adorable home. We knew right away we loved their style, and they would be perfect as our models. They really went beyond the call of duty and even asked their friend Katy, who is actually going to marry them next year, to be a part of this with us. The laughs are real, and we couldn't have asked for a better couple. Our goal was to showcase a DIY wedding with a ton of style. When we designed the table, we used the couple's dishware and rented a few pieces to make the decor feel special. When we got to deciding what to wear, they both asked if they could make it more personal and wear their favorite jean jackets and fedoras. We wanted to show how you don't have to be traditional to be beautiful.

May 26, 2017

12 Photographers You Need to Follow on Instagram for Nontraditional & Diverse Wedding Inspiration

May 26, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

While wedding websites and blogs are a great destination for inspiration, wedding photographers are the original sources for beautiful wedding images, most of which are never published on blogs, in magazines, or on websites. If you are looking for original, nontraditional, and diverse wedding inspiration — or just a daily dose of love — then do yourself a favor and follow these talented artists:

March 28, 2017

A Day in the Life of Oakland Ring Maker, Kendra Renee

March 28, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Kendra Renee is a metalsmith in Oakland who truly brings couples’ stories to life through their wedding bands by involving them in significant elements of the ring-making process, from collecting the raw materials to pouring the metal in the cast, creating the actual ring — talk about an awesome date night! Kendra says, “It’s kind of magical.” Recently one of her clients brought in gold nuggets that her grandfather had once been paid in for his work as a dentist. With Kendra, the client alloyed them and melted them into her wedding set so she will always have a little piece of family history with her. “People love to see the process behind the scenes — they literally see their ring take shape and become a part of its story.”

March 21, 2017

Elopement Inspiration // Ska, Psychobilly, + Punk Rock

March 21, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

The inspiration for this shoot came, for the most part, from my own personal experiences. I knew that I wanted to embrace the romance of an elopement (my husband and I eloped!) and that I wanted to showcase the beauty of unconventionality by adding subcultural elements. I wanted there to be courtship and passion without losing a sense of self; I wanted there to be strength and individuality as well without losing the aspect of soft femininity. Three of my favorite styles of fashion and music are 1960-1970s ska (Rudies), psychobilly, and punk rock; this was the driving force behind making my vision a reality. There are no fancy venues or elaborate décor here. This is meant to be the down-to-earth, private, backyard celebration you’d love to have with the people closest to you.

March 07, 2017

The Avowed Podcast // Episode 04: This Glorious Mess

March 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

The wildly in love photographers behind Kindred Wedding Co., Elle Wildhagen and Zach Domes, open up about rejoicing in the dark, messy moments of love, gendered narratives, silent discos, the evolving language of “we” and how familial sagas of love and divorce help shape our contemporary perspectives on love.

February 20, 2017

Real Couples // Redwoods Sanctuary: Scott + Anali

February 20, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Both of our parents walked each of us down the aisle, Anali’s brother officiated the ceremony, Scott’s sister was his best person, and our best friends and cousins occupied the rest of the wedding party. Nadya, Anali’s youngest cousin, sang to a beautifully played cello by a dear friend Daniel while we all walked. There standing under the glass globes hung from the redwood trees and filled with symbolic Persian elements, we said our vows.

February 16, 2017

Out of the Box Challenge // Bay Area Creatives

February 16, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

For me this photo challenge prompted a natural response to the current sociopolitical backlash to diversity, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community. I put out a casting call in my local model group looking for alternative and underrepresented women. I knew from the start I wanted to show a same sex wedding, so when Gigi and Nicole were among my applicants the choice was easy.

February 13, 2017

Real Couples // A Genderqueer Vineyard Wedding: Liz + Braz

February 13, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I prefer 'they' or 'Braz.'...I would say it was a queer wedding because we are queer, although I would also acknowledge that it was a pretty traditional/normative wedding as far as 'queer weddings' go...I think it's important for queer people to know that they have options. They can have the kind of traditional wedding they've seen in the movies and magazines their entire lives or they can do something totally different that's whatever the hell they want it to be.

February 07, 2017

Rockstar Glam Wedding Inspiration in Glendale, California

February 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

This 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.

January 23, 2017

Real Couples // Dreamy Redwoods Engagement: Nausheen + Husam

January 23, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Nausheen, a marketer from San Jose, and Husam, a consultant from Chicago, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. They first met in San Francisco and spent countless weekends exploring the city together — which is why they chose San Francisco staples for their engagement shoot locations. They wanted a rustic backdrop focusing on the natural beauty of San Francisco so they picked the redwoods of the Presidio.

December 20, 2016

Wedding Inspiration // Lace and Quartz: A Vibrant Urban Elopement

December 20, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

For this shoot, we sought a unique and unexplored space. The interior of the recently opened Cambria Gallery in the SoMa neighborhood just south of City Hall was an inspiring discovery. We fell in love with the combination of colors and textures and the urban, modern décor. Marble, quartz, and exposed brick give the showroom a very dramatic and industrial look, particularly when paired with a bold, graphic print. The space inspired an urban, yet feminine vibe and a chic, modern, yet approachable look for our shoot.

December 16, 2016

Real Couples // Married on a Helicopter Pad: Thea + Maylin

December 16, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Thea and Maylin were cosmically thrown together one fateful night in the Lower West Side of Manhattan in 2011. Maylin was the romantic and sensitive Pisces while Thea the pragmatic, brutally honest Aquarius. They fell deeper in love during their five years of being together and decided to show their friends and family that they were intent on this being forever.

Their ceremony was held at the haven & heaven that is Malibu Rocky Oaks Vineyard in Malibu California. The ceremony took place on a helipad suspended in the clouds with Thea & Maylin literally surrounded by their family and friends circling them. During the last moments of their ceremony as guest left the site, the couple danced their first dance alone to Adele’s “A Lovesong”. Perhaps the most romantic thing was their looks. You know the look. The entire night they gazed lovingly at each other, never leaving the other's side for the rest of the evening.

They opted for tons of arguably some of the best appetizers one can have at a wedding instead of a sit-down dinner with the logic that “finger food is better when you want people to be dancing the whole night.” Even the cake was in the form of cake pops. A-Freaking-Dorable.

Both ladies wore black suits, each accentuating their particular style and even further diminishing the gender roles they had discarded in their relationship, poignantly pointing out the equality between them.

Congrats to this couple and their unwavering love, the kind of love that inspires.

Words and photos by Christy Kendall

LGBTQ Helicopter pad wedding in Malibu California photographed by Christy Kendall

Christy Kendall is a Los Angeles wedding photographer specializing in the magic of outdoor weddings. After shooting for 10 years Kendall is just as in love with her niche as she was the day she started on her first "stumbled upon" wedding. "The world has plenty of sex, drugs and rock n roll in it. I'm just here to even the playing field and put more of an emphasis on connection. That magical, un-encompassing, beautiful thing that makes us try the sex, drugs and rock n roll in the first place."

October 12, 2016

Real Couples // A Pacific Northwest Beach Wedding: Geoff + Ederlyn

October 12, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We became friends again through the power of Facebook (breaking and making relationships since 2004!) and managed a reunion in Las Vegas. Geoff says it was love at first sight. I am a much more emotionally oblivious person, so Geoff took another trip to Seattle where I inadvertently set up the perfect first date. It took a subsequent trip together to Vancouver for me to catch on.

September 28, 2016

Wedding Elopement Planned and Executed in 6 Hours: Gabby + Callie

September 28, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Gabby and I were engaged and planning a wedding for November 2016. We had joked about eloping, both of us not wanting a big spectacle, and one morning it became more than a joke. Around 11:00am on a Wednesday morning, it just clicked for both of us. We knew we wanted to get married that day so we jumped off the couch and started scrambling. Seven hours later, with our beautiful daughter and two amazing friends, we were getting married in a little chapel in LA. We had a tiny little cake, a few flowers, a photographer and the clothes we picked out in ten minutes at a Banana Republic on the way. After the short ceremony we went to a restaurant nearby for champagne and dinner.

May 13, 2016

Real Couples // A Stress Free, No Fuss Wedding: Miranda + Andrew

May 13, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Miranda and Andrew spent more time deciding how to celebrate tying the knot than actually planning the occasion. From city hall, to small beach ceremony, to a grand celebration at Nixon Library, it took them some time to figure it out. They had their share of stubborn moments, overstepping family members, and budget challenges, but they knew when to stick up for each other, and when things weren’t worth the stress.