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!
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.
Read MoreIn this follow up to "Love is Love" Jasmine questions New York City Wedding Photographer Amber Marlow about what it was like to go through a divorce, dating, and second marriage while working in the wedding industry.
Read MoreJasmine speaks with New York City wedding photographer Amber Marlow about how she creates an elopement experience, the centering of whiteness in our wedding culture, eviscerating the seeds of intolerance, and being aggressively authentically yourself.
Read MoreSearching for wedding rings can be exhausting. There are seemingly millions of options — and you don’t want to choose something flippantly because it is something you plan to wear for the rest of your life. It should be special. It should mean something. You should love your ring, right? After all, the wedding ring symbolizes your never-ending, unbroken devotion to your chosen life partner. It’s a big deal.
Read MoreAmber Marlow is a New York City wedding photographer who opens up in this interview about her challenging upbringing and the journey that followed to find ease with her racial identity and a sense of self worth.
Read MoreThroughout 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.
Read MoreJoin Jasmine in a no bullsh*t conversation with Lauren Caselli, owner and creator of Boss Lady Bash, as they discuss working in the cutthroat NYC wedding industry, creating a supportive space for female entrepreneurs, getting over "The Princess Complex," and speculate on marriage contract negotiations.
Read MoreAs Meghan says, "Andre is the romance type!" After meeting in the computer lab when their class times overlapped, he asked her out and their first date was a scenic nighttime stroll through a field of fireflies. They found an alcove by a creek and talked in the moonlight for hours. When Andre proposed, he did it in a bed of flowers decorated with lights outside their favorite restaurant, and Meghan asked through her tears if she was dreaming. These picture-perfect milestones in their relationship reflect how picture-perfect their love is. It was such a delight to photograph them, the joy and affection just radiates off of them. It's like standing in the sun. It was an absolute treat to photograph them and I can't wait for their summer wedding!
Read MoreAmy of Modern Rebel & Co. is an alternative event planning company that gives back to local New York City non-profits that serve survivors of domestic violence, provide homes for the homeless, prevent suicide, and bridge education and art. She recently planned an immersive theater experience in a cemetery. She also happens to be a delightful person, and her website is the bomb.com.
Read MoreBjörn VW is the owner of Björn & Company, a New York event planning and design company, who also organizes Forks, Corks, & Cocktails, an annual LGBTQ Food, Wine, and Cocktail show.
Read MoreWe could not be more thrilled to share this idea with you for an alternative bridal shower, bachelorette party, or a wedding gift. League of Kitchens offers small cooking workshops for you and your friends hosted by immigrant women in their New York City homes.
Read MoreWe had a cocktail style dance party first and foremost: guests will come have a snack and a drink and mingle, we'll then have an "impromptu" Jewish-Southern-Gay Wedding (figuring out whatever that is!) before they drink too much, and that'll just lead to a full on cocktail style affair with...lots and lots of dancing.
Read MoreWell, this is quite a story (and it’s mostly true), so if you are easily offended, you might just take a look at our photos and be done with it. One Saturday evening in November, many, many years ago, two boys met in a bar on the dance floor of Roscoe’s in Chicago. This is all pre JDate, Match, eHarmony, OkCupid, and all of that nonsense, as the internet had barely even been invented.
Read MoreI wore a yellow dress because that's my fav color and it makes me happy. My mom wanted me to wear a more traditional dress. But I'm not a traditional girl. We also didn't have a traditional bridal party; instead we asked our closest friends to be in our "entourage" and kinda had them make a commitment to help us throughout our marriage (not just the wedding) and be our support system, advisors and stewards through this journey (not just the day of).
Read MoreI remember our wedding ceremony so completely — the light breezy air coming through the wide open windows of the Quaker meeting house, the bright sky showing through a skylight over our heads, and the smiles of loved ones all around us. I remember the absolute joy and the palpable energy that my husband and I shared as we sat together in what will surely be counted as one of the best moments of our lives.
Read MoreValdora and Isabel put their love and their desires for the day first. Which meant an early morning intimate wedding ceremony under the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park with only their closest friends in attendance. Later in the afternoon they invited a larger group of friends and family to celebrate a small ceremony, dinner and dancing a few hours north of New York City. It reflected their goals to create a day that invited their loved ones to be a part of their love, all while sticking to their guns in regards to having a small and beautiful wedding where they felt comfortable sharing vows and tears and promises.
Read MoreChelo Keys is a woke wedding photographer in New Jersey. In this interview with editor Liz Susong, she talks about growing up in New York, bringing her whole self to her creative work, and growing in her social justice values.
Read MoreAubrey is an actress, and Jake is a trendsetter in the Brooklyn restaurant scene. I photographed Aubrey and Jake’s wedding this past October 3rd. It was a rainy and cold day but the camaraderie, love, and joy made the weather not matter. The wedding was held at the Inn at West Settlement, located in the gorgeous Catskills and the fall foliage was in full bloom. The amazing skirt on Aubrey’s dress was handmade by her mom! Aubrey’s jewelry for the event was a ring from her grandmother, and the box that held the ring happened to also have Aubrey’s birth year on it. The ceremony was officiated by their close friend.
Read MoreBen and Paul wanted to keep their engagement session casual yet classy and chose to contrast their dapper looks with the more industrial feel of the borough of Queens — in particular the Queensboro Bridge in Long Island City and Hells Gate Bridge in Astoria Park. Additionally, they finagled their way into a badass view of Manhattan by utilizing their wedding hotel's rooftop deck (Ravel Hotel) for their engagement session, avoiding the need to shell out any extra funds for an exclusive location. They made sure their tailoring was bold and vibrant to celebrate their ability to marry. They got engaged shortly after the repeal of DOMA, and their backgrounds are in theater.
Read MoreValdora and Isabel put their love and their desires for the day first. Which meant an early morning intimate wedding ceremony under the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park with only their closest friends in attendance. Later in the afternoon they invited a larger group of friends and family to celebrate a small ceremony, dinner and dancing a few hours north of New York City. It reflected their goals to create a day that invited their loved ones to be a part of their love, all while sticking to their guns in regards to having a small and beautiful wedding where they felt comfortable sharing vows and tears and promises. Most important to them was that their ceremony reflected their feminist values. In keeping with this, they entered their ceremony space together: this was a visual reflection of supporting each other's decision to proactively commit to continuing their partnership founded on equality, communication, and personal growth. They left the order of reciting their vows up to chance.
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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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