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!

For this styled shoot, I wanted to emulate one of my favorite directors and a source of inspiration. Wes Anderson is known for his use of color, symmetry, iconic locations, and quirky characters. This styled shoot was loosely inspired by his film, The Darjeeling Limited, and was done to showcase local vendors in a simplicity that felt unique and would help others in their inspiration for their weddings or elopements.

Working in collaboration with the vendors we chose a pallet of rich greens and vibrant yellows, a simple lightly sea-foam green Alexandra Grecco gown. The invitations by Iris and Marie Press are embroidered and hand letterpressed, and the florals are a stunning fall pallet that perfectly complimented the space of Hotel Trundle.

Hotel Trundle is a new boutique hotel in Columbia, SC. They pride themselves on creating a handcrafted luxury experience for their guests in the heart of Columbia's Historic District.

Words and photos by Alexis Schwallier.

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina small cake with floral garnishes

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina invitations and rsvp envelopes, small gourds scattered on table

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina ring on gourd stem

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina simple BOUTONNIERE

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina colorful bouquet resting on plush seat

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina bride sitting on plush seat in wedding gown

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina bride lounging on bench seat, full shot of gown

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina bride looking over shoulder holding bouquet, back of gown featured

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina bride and groom on sofa, bouquet and mismatched tea set on table, portraits on wall behind them

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina couple on couch smiling

wes anderson inspired wedding styled shoot columbia south carolina groom posing with hand on jacket lapel

VENDORS

Photography | Alexis Schwallier Photography LLC

Venue | Hotel Trundle

Makeup | Carly Wilson Artistry

Hair | Kristy Ramos of Sunflowers and Scissors

Ring designer | Moseley's Diamond Showcase

Bakery | M and M Sweets SC

Floral designer | Margaret Kelly Weddings

Invitation designer | Iris and Marie Letterpress

Dress store | London and Lace

Dress designer | Alexandra Grecco

ALEXIS SCHWALLIER

Alexis Schwallier is a South Carolina wedding photographer based out of Columbia. She currently works throughout the Southeast and is available for worldwide wedding coverage. She advocates for LBGTQA rights and the #blacklivesmatter movement, and enjoys working with ‘non-traditional’ clients. In fact, Alexis especially loves photographing fun, progressive couples who are crazy about each other and comfortable in their own skin.