January 04, 2018

An Intimate, Eclectic Austin Wedding: Jennifer + Juan

January 04, 2018/ Casa Rio de Colores/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Before we were even engaged, a friend of mine told me he KNEW where we were getting married. After we were engaged, we booked a tour of the venue he suggested, on my birthday. He was absolutely right. It was the best birthday gift to book our wedding venue, Casa Rio de Colores! We fell in love with the eclectic and ornate decor, and the laid back vibe of the property. Our reception (and our ceremony due to rain) was held under one of the stilted river homes in an area that looked like a cantina on steroids. It was perfect!

January 03, 2018

How to Plan A Wedding When Civilization is Doomed

January 03, 2018/ Catalyst Wedding Co

7 ways to mitigate the frivolity of planning a big-ass party when neo-Nazis are marching, the planet is melting, and POTUS is leading the Confederate States of America with “alternative facts.”

January 02, 2018

Real Couples // An Engagement Session in the Forest: Casper + Ulises

January 02, 2018/ Circle Oak Ranch/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Casper was the one to propose to me. I had just started my Master's program at SDSU and he was adamant that we take a trip up to Seattle. I was excited, but nervous because of my program. I had a lot of homework that I needed to complete and wasn't too thrilled to be going up North because of my school, but I went up anyway. We strolled around the city for a day. Then he took me on a one-day trip to Bainbridge Island. I was very excited because I had never taken a ferry to the island. We were at a beautiful park sitting on a bench with an amazing view of Seattle when Casper popped the question.

December 31, 2017

Our 10 Favorite Weddings and Elopements from 2017

December 31, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We have published more real weddings and engagement this year than ever before and we have been absolutely blown away by the love stories of all of the couples we've featured, but these 10 couples and the ceremonies to share their love and commitment to each other have helped us get through this dumpster fire of a year. Thanks for helping us to keep believing in love, beauty, and happiness!

December 30, 2017

Real Couples // A Fun Private Estate Wedding in Boone, NC: German + Laura

December 30, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We met back in 2011. He was definitely the last person in mind to fall in love with! We both were dating other people, but we developed a great friendship and respect for each other. As time passed and our other relationships ended, we looked at each other in a “this can actually be a thing” kind of way.

December 29, 2017

Real Couples // A Pizza and Ping-Pong Wedding in Downtown Seattle: Arin + Katie

December 29, 2017/ Sodo Park/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Arin is from Sequim, WA. She's the youngest of four brothers and very close with her family who fortunately live nearby. She works as an Occupational Therapist in an outpatient neurology clinic. She enjoys all outdoor activities like rock climbing, paddle boarding, hiking, and kayaking. Most recently, she's been doing some amazing yard work on our new house! Katie is from the Bay Area, California. She's the middle of three children, is also very close with her family and loves being an aunt to her nieces and nephews. She works as a Nurse Practitioner in community health at a family practice clinic and a homeless youth clinic. She loves animals and dreams of living on a small farm someday. She enjoys running and recently has discovered gardening.

We met online and fell in love quickly. Our first date lasted an entire day! We went out to brunch and ended up spending the entire day together, and saw each other every day after that.

December 22, 2017

Get the Wedding Gifts You Really Want with The Wedding Nest Registry

December 22, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Created by interior designer Katie Burt, The Wedding Nest Gift Registry lets couples create unique registries full of designer pieces. Many gifts that couples receive are unwanted, or simply aren't meant to stand the test of time. The items available via The Wedding Nest are all high quality and couples will find items for their home that will last as long as their marriage.

December 21, 2017

Real Couples // An Indian Wedding with Nods to Filipino Culture: Ronjay + Sonia

December 21, 2017/ Nanaskar Gurdwara/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We had a traditional Indian wedding. Growing up I always dreamed to have an Indian wedding, wearing the beautiful dresses and having beautiful ceremonies. I didn't realize what extent these traditions went to, which got frustrating at one point, but it was all worth it at the end! As the bride, my wedding time frame with all the ceremonies (Jagoo, Miyan and Henna night) consisted of four days in total, where some brides celebrate anywhere from four to seven days! I was happy with just four days.

December 20, 2017

Evergreen Era Films Creates Wedding Films with Authenticity

December 20, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

One of the things I love most about my films are the honest interactions I'm usually able to capture from my couples. My favorite moments are the unscripted ones, and I've found that if I keep my gear simple and unobtrusive I am able to fade into the background enough for them to feel comfortable to be themselves — so important for my filmmaking process!

December 19, 2017

Styled Shoot // Brooklyn Industrial Glam at the Williamsburg Hotel

December 19, 2017/ Williamsburg Hotel/ Catalyst Wedding Co

A significant focus of this inspiration shoot was on impactful and stylish details. From the unique mix of geometric pattern and calligraphy of stationery and signage by Cut Above Stationery, the custom written vows by Daniela at Once Upon a Vow, sustainable linens from The Bayith, the incredible pop of color in the florals by Rose Red and Lavender, and the classic pieces with modern flourishes from Party Rentals Ltd. all of the decor was carefully styled by Soiree & Cabernet to highlight but not overpower the features of the Williamsburg Hotel.

December 18, 2017

5 Reasons You Need a Wedding Photo Album from QtAlbums

December 18, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Why rely on the Internet and unknown future technologies to be the keepers of your most important memories? Having a printed wedding album means knowing that in 50 years, you will still be able to flip through it with your grandchildren and tell the tales of how old Uncle Frank got way too drunk and made that really embarrassing toast before falling down on the dance floor. Those are memories you never want to lose.

December 15, 2017

Real Couples // Glam Baltimore Ballroom Wedding: Eric + Laura

December 15, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We were business associates for many months before we officially started dating. I tried to keep it professional, so I rejected his advances. But what can I say? The guy was persistent! After about six months of using him on a consulting basis, I was completely intrigued by his strong work ethic, his integrity, and his determination. As a first time property owner and landlord, I was full of questions on how to best handle obstacles, and he was my go-to-guy. He's been my go-to-guy, my travel partner, my ace, and my friend ever since.

December 12, 2017

Real Couples // A Wedding at the San Diego Museum of Art: Kevin + Stefan

December 12, 2017/ San Diego Museum of Art/ Catalyst Wedding Co

With much trepidation and nervousness, we met up at a local bar in San Diego. After the initial chit-chat (and a tiny bit of liquid courage), we felt a sense of comfort and compatibility that neither of us had expected. We talked for hours, sharing our pasts, and discovering we had quite a bit in common. Before we knew it, the bar was making last call and neither of us wanted the night to end.

December 11, 2017

Propose On The Beach, Then Handcraft Matching Rings // With These Rings

December 11, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Tory planned the most elaborate and heartfelt proposal for her girlfriend, Kate, and a run-of-the-mill engagement ring would not do. After dating for seven years and living together for two, Tory and Kate knew they wanted to get married, but both felt ambivalent about engagement rings, as neither wears much jewelry. Tory says that after guessing at Kate’s finger size based on a mood ring, she went into Tiffany’s one day after going for a run, “which was one of the funniest experiences. I was like, can I just look at bands with no bling, and they were very confused why this sweaty woman with no engagement ring wanted to try on wedding bands.” In the end, Tory decided they would make their own wedding bands together at With These Rings in Port Townsend, Washington, and she planned an elaborate proposal leading up to the making of the rings.

December 07, 2017

Real Couples // Multicultural Ballroom Wedding in North Carolina: Liz + Pedro

December 07, 2017/ Noah's Event Venue/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We both work at Best Buy. I was fairly new to the store, and he had just transferred from Ohio. We instantly became friends and grew that friendship for almost two years before we decided to start dating. We got engaged when I surprised him with a birthday weekend with all his best friends from Ohio. He made a proposal video, and played it at his birthday party, and we celebrated the next two days with all of our closet friends.

December 05, 2017

Real Couples // A Tattooed Garden Wedding in San Antonio: Mykel + Orlando

December 05, 2017/ The Gardens at West Green/ Catalyst Wedding Co

My boss had told me about this girl I needed to meet. She was new at work, but I had no idea that I had already met her. The first thing that caught my attention about her with those beautiful eyes and her smile. She thought I didn't notice her, but how could I not? She invited me out for coffee and after staring into each other's eyes we shared our first kiss, and after that I knew that she was the one.

December 04, 2017

8 Geometric Accessories to Gift to Friends, Family, and Yourself // Elaine B Jewelry

December 04, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Elaine was trained in metal smithing and glass blowing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. "Inspired by minimal but inventive designs, rough stones and geometric shapes, and the versatility of jewelry meant for work or play, she created her small business, Elaine B Jewelry."

Elaine's designs are perfect for gifting to dear friends or family members who have played a part in your wedding day, or for the holidays.

December 02, 2017

Real Couples // UC Botanical Garden Wedding in Berkeley: Laura + Lark

December 02, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We didn’t have engagement rings - instead we exchanged engagement kittens! A few months after our engagement, we adopted our kittens Comet and Nova from the SF SPCA. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our commitment than by expanding our family with two furry beasts.

November 30, 2017

Mindfulness on Your Wedding Day // Meditate Because Everything Else Can Wait

November 30, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

There is a Zen teaching that goes “when you have only a little time, meditate for 10 minutes. And if you have no time at all, then meditate for 20.” This teaching acknowledges that a sense of not having enough time is not an objective law, but rather a subjective experience, one that we can change.

November 30, 2017

Real Couples // Mountain Backdrop Elopement at Sapphire Point, CO: Amber + Katie

November 30, 2017/ sapphire point/ Catalyst Wedding Co

About three years later, still not married and a two-year-old son later, I decided it was about time we finally did it. Laying in bed one night I told her "We're getting married this year in Colorado."