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!

Diamond engagement fin in a soft gray hexagonal ring box at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Glass invitation with couple’s names near soft gray ballet flat at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Wedding stationary suite laid out with velvet grey pointed flats and jewelry in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried

Portrait of groom sitting on a window sill smiling out the window in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride holding her bouquet and posing on a tall iron spiral stair case in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Portrait of bride with a big smile at Engine Company 12 in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride holding bouquet with soft pink and warm earth tone roses at Engine Company 12 Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride posing with table set for two in a large brick room at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Table set for two with a large bouquet and tall tapered candles at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried

Table set for two with apples on each plate labeled bride and groom at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Close up of bridal bouquet with soft pink white and warm earth tone flowers in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Bride tapping groom on the shoulder before their first look at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Groom smiling at his bride at Engine Company 12 in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride fixing her groom’s hair as they get married at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom kissing surrounded by boho decor at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom posing in opposite directions on spiral staircase at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom holding hands on a spiral staircase at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom smiling and holding hands sitting at their decorated table in Engine Company 12 Jessica Seyfried DC photography

Bride smiling and leaning on the groom’s shoulder at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Soft pink wedding cake with a love cake topper at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Floral detail of wedding decoration at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried photography

White wedding cake topped with flowers at Engine Company 12 Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Two wedding cakes displayed on cake stands at Engine Company 12 in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Bride and groom feeding each other cake at Engine Company 12 DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Bride and groom holding rings and apples labeled with Bride and groom in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Bride and groom smiling at each other by red window at Engine Company 12 in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Groom holding his bride with her bouquet and smiling in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Groom kissing brides smiling cheek in black and white Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom smiling together seated at a wooden bar in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom holding hands walking on a sidewalk in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Portrait of bride smiling near red flowering bush in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried Photography

Bride and groom posing together on a sidewalk in Washington DC Jessica Seyfried photography

Words & Photos by Jessica Seyfried Photography.

What was your overall motivation for this elopement styled shoot?

Arielle of Summer & Co. Events and Samuel of Baked by Samuel collaborated to design an intimate bohemian elopement styled shoot with an eye towards minimalism, focusing solely on the love between this couple. Each aspect of this editorial shoot was carefully planned to inspire modern couples, from the acrylic invitations to the homemade cakes.

I photographed the color palette of rich tones of red, dusty blues, wheat and gray. It effortlessly blended with the classic red brick and dark wood backdrop of Engine Company 12, located in the hip neighborhood of Bloomingdale. Our models, Raleigh and Kyle, are a real couple who recently wed in the District this past October! We so enjoyed showcasing their love and excitement for each other.

We really wanted to hit home the idea of a minimalistic approach. Sometimes weddings can become all about the bells and whistles. We wanted the simplistic decor to shine while also showcasing the amazing talent of each vendor. The ability to find beauty in the small details in sometimes forgotten, but it was the focus during this styled shoot!

How does this shoot fit within Catalyst’s mission?

As the photographer of this shoot, I have the mission to authentically document every love story, no matter who is in love. I have been bullied for my own sexuality, so I have made it my mission be an inclusive wedding vendor. As a bisexual woman married to a man, I experienced quite a bit of bullying in the beginning. Being called "fake gay" or told that it was a "phase," was extremely disheartening. I didn't "choose a side," I chose my best friend. The bullying has stopped since I began photography. I use this as a way of expressing myself, but my most important mission is to authentically portray EVERY love story, no exceptions.