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!

Alex Bee Photo Inclusive Feminist body positive LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer knoxville tennessee appalachian region

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In case you couldn't tell, we have a community of wedding photographers in our vendor directory that are simply amazing. Alex Blackwelder of Alex Bee Photo has been a long-time member of our community, and it's about time we formally introduced her to all of you! She is that magical unicorn in the Appalachian region that will capture the hilarious moments of your wedding day, the quiet moments between you and your partner, and the unexpected moments with your family and friends that will lift your heart for years to come.

Alex is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, but serves the entire Appalachian region, and we think it's time you got to know her a little bit better!

What is your company's mission?

My mission is to provide inclusive, body-positive, and couple-centric wedding photography coverage to the Appalachian region. I reject the narrative that weddings must be perfectly styled & presented like a fairytale.

What is Alex Bee Photo's origin story?

Alex Bee Photo started in 2010 as a side project to help pay for my college tuition. Little did I know, I would fall in love with weddings & running my own business. Years later, here I am!

What is one of your favorite projects you've ever worked on?

I love every wedding for different reasons. Sometimes the party is killer! Other times, the emotions are so intense and wonderful. Trying to name a favorite wedding is like trying to pick a favorite kid!

How are you a "wedding space disrupter”?

I believe so much of the industry focuses only on the expected moments & portraits of the day. I make a living capturing the full day — the strange, the hilarious, the heartbreaking. Bringing authenticity to wedding coverage is a revolutionary act in the age of Pinterest & perfect wedding blogs.

What three ingredients are necessary for a great day at Alex Bee Photo?

Here's what I need to successfully edit a wedding: a bowl of sunflower seeds, re-runs of the Office, and a purring kitten!

What are some traits of your ideal client?

I've found my ideal clients prioritize authenticity, but they don't take themselves too seriously. They won't be upset when the first image I share of their wedding isn't a perfect portrait but an irreverent shot of their cousin stuffing his face with cupcakes. They care more about the people at the wedding than the stuff at the wedding.