Real Weddings, Advice, & Inspiration

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!

Keith proposed at one of their favorite little restaurants in Charlotte called Cajun Queen. Ariel was knee-deep in a two week trial (they are both civil litigation attorneys), so Keith decided to pamper her with a spa day and dinner over the first weekend of trial. He Skyped her family in at the restaurant (which wasn't unusual because Ariel talks to them constantly), but then he got down on one knee as the server came in with a camera that he'd given her prior to entering the restaurant. He proposed and the server captured the moment!

When asked about their engagement shoot and wedding plans, Keith and Ariel say, "We just wanted a session full of color, and with the city of Charlotte as our backdrop. We're looking forward to celebrating our love at our wedding with those who are closest to us."

Words and photos by Nikia Williams Photography

Black couple engagement photos with vibrant tones

engagement session in bright yellow dress and timberlands

Engagement session poses with engagement ring

Nikia Williams Photography engagement photo

Downtown Charlotte cocktail engagement photos

NIKIA WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

Nikia Williams, owner of Nikia Williams Photography, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She specializes in lifestyle, engagement, and wedding photography. She is also a licensed attorney, cupcake connoisseur, and shoe addict!