November 14, 2016

Elopement at the Rocks: Leonor + Katryna

November 14, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Leonor and Katryna have a soft, quiet, comfortable but strong love. I could see it in the way that Leonor's eyes sparkled when she looked at Katryna when she was getting animated over talking about some adventure, or the way Katryna's hand held onto Leo's. They cheer each other on through challenges and hardships -- through graduate school life and military life and everything else. Katryna, a pilot instructor, volunteers to fly dogs from overcrowded shelters across the country with Leonor happily keeping the dogs comfortable in-flight. They have five dogs between the two of them and are more adventurous than even these elopement photos would suggest. Katryna is the live-life-to-the-fullest, no-holds-barred type of soul, with Leonor, her strong champion and companion, quietly but equally as passionate for life.

November 11, 2016

Real Couples // A Sweater Weather Engagement: Jeremy + Sean

November 11, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Jeremy and Sean’s friendship began in college. Actually, Sean took Jeremy to his audition room when he auditioned to get into The University of the Arts. They became friends during Jeremy’s freshman year, and their relationship began the next year. They fell in love with each other and became an inseparable pair. Jeremy brought Sean home to his family not too far away from school and Sean brought Jeremy home to Georgia. On the day they moved into their first apartment together, Sean popped the question surrounded by candles, rose petals, flowers, and with a ring in his hand. A few months later, Jeremy popped the question and gave Sean his ring. Since then, they have been very much enjoying their engagement and loving planning their wedding. The big day is this October and they could not be more excited. They fall more in love with each other every day and are lucky to call each other their best friends.

November 08, 2016

Real Couples // 50 Years Together: Alva + Alvin

November 08, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

My grandparents really are my role models for love. They have taught me that no matter what, love will always win. My grandparents have been together for over 50 years! They married, separated for a few years, and remarried again. Even with their separation they still stood by each other's side and continued to love deeply. Ever since they met, they knew they were each other's person. No matter what, they have to be with each other. They really are a cute couple too. They accidentally dress alike...almost everyday. They will say it's an accident, although I'm sure my grandpa plans his outfits after my grandma has laid hers out and goes to shower. He will swear he got dressed first though. When my grandma is out of town, we have to force my grandpa to eat because he forgets without her around. Their need for each other strengthens my belief in the gift of love and how it can truly empower us all. The way they still always hold hands and steal quick kisses from each other when they think no one is looking gives me life. They are a couple to look up to. :)

November 07, 2016

Real Couples // A Desert-Fabulous Wedding: Jenny + Chris

November 07, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Jenny and Chris follow their own rules. She works in theater and both of them are whiskey loving, desert obsessed, and all around fun-lovin' folk that aren't afraid to "get a little weird." They DIY'd their entire wedding and used an online calculator to figure out how much booze they need, which they ended up doubling out of fear of running out! Their wedding was a little bit Rock n Roll mixed with desert fabulous. A bunch of guests stayed on site in the cabins (this is where the film crew for old westerns that were filmed at the fake town next door would stay) and partied the night away. Chris constructed the photo booth, they had BBQ ribs and pulled pork, whiskey and lemonade, and some kegs followed by an epic dance party.

November 04, 2016

Real Couples // I'll Give You the World: Camaro + Cameron

November 04, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We are really glad we stayed through the failed sparkler send-off at the end of the night. We were able to take in every last possible minute with our people and soak up all the love and light. Everyone says the wedding day is a blur for the people getting married but we were truly present for the entire celebration and enjoyed every minute of it.

October 31, 2016

Real Couples // Cozy Engagement at Home: Amanda + Lauren

October 31, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Amanda and Lauren met about seven years ago when they were both teaching in Mississippi. They became fast friends and were friends for several months before they realized and admitted that they were crazy about each other.

October 28, 2016

Real Couples // Minneapolis Romance: Theresa + Brenda

October 28, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Theresa and Brenda are examples of strong, modern individuals who do great work in the world: Theresa has a PhD in Child Psychology and is a university professor, and Brenda is an MD who practices medicine. This couple lives in Portland (OR) but traveled back home to Minneapolis to get married and celebrate amidst their loved ones. They are the kind of couple that is not only so happy and in love, but they are also incredibly deserving of the happiness and love they have found. They are kind and gentle, and their joy is truly contagious.

October 26, 2016

Styled Inspiration // Crimson Bridal Boudoir

October 26, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

For this photo shoot, I got in touch with Ashley, from Ash+OAK to create a flower dreamcatcher, and I asked her to create something as unique as every woman and to use reds. Red symbolizes strength and confidence, and it is a super sexy color. She included local wild flowers, bold reds, moss, and sticks into the design of the dreamcatcher and the bouquet.

October 25, 2016

Real Couples // River Romance: Felisity + Laine

October 25, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

When Felisity saw Laine for the very first time, the word "home" immediately came to mind. There was something that felt familiar about this vivacious actress with the killer smile and fun-loving spirit. And for Laine, Felisity's sense of adventure and affectionate personality inspired her to chase new experiences. During hiking trips and romantic in-home dates, Laine and Felisity fell in love without thinking twice. The way that they look at one another says everything about their relationship. Their engagement session on Missouri's Eleven Point River was the perfect fit for their personalities and created some of the most emotional images I have ever shot.

October 24, 2016

Real Couples // A New York City Adventure: Leonard + Michelle

October 24, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Leonard and Michelle had a full wedding in Korea and then a wedding party in NYC at the Norwood Club, but they wanted to do a portrait session of just the two of them at some of their fave places in NYC doing a few of their favorite things. We hit up the High Line Park and wandered all around their old neighborhood of the West Village. We did some sunset rooftop photos at Leonard’s old apartment (where the kind doorman he used to know let us in!) and finished by getting cocktails at Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel.

October 21, 2016

Real Couples // Cincinnati Sign Museum Wedding: Megan+Dustin

October 21, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Having your wedding in an Electric Sign Museum in the heart of Cincinnati and your portraits taken in the middle of a cemetery are some bold moves, but that's just what Megan and Dustin did with their day. Their whole day was cool, creative, and reflected the things they love. They had a small wedding party with just their best friends and kept everything as simple as it should be. I explained to Megan that fighting against the lighting inside of a neon sign museum would be pretty much worthless, and we might as well just embrace the warm glow of the lights — and she was all for it! The whole day was full of positive energy, laughter, and amazingly bright neon lights.

October 20, 2016

Men's Rings Online: For Last-Minute Shoppers Who Want Variety

October 20, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Meet our editor's husband, Adam. Liz jokingly referred to him as "groomzilla" during the wedding planning process because he thought of and constructed many DIY decorations and had strong preferences in terms of the music, food, and the bar to name a few. But one detail he didn't think of until a few weeks before the wedding was his wedding band. In the end he rush-ordered something online that he ultimately didn't care for and only wore on the wedding day. Men's Rings Online exists for this very reason: to provide a large variety of wedding rings that can be rush shipped for free and easily exchanged, all for a fraction of the cost that you would pay using a traditional jeweler.

October 19, 2016

Real Couples // Summer Evening Engagement: Aisha + Rachel

October 19, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We met at a bar. Rachel's friend bailed but she decided to go out anyways so she was standing by the wall. I walked past her at first but stopped and turned around to talk to her for some reason. Neither of us were expecting to meet anyone that night; neither of us were looking for a relationship at that point actually, but we started hanging out constantly after that night and we've basically been together ever since.

October 18, 2016

Ireland's Road to Marriage Equality

October 18, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

On 22 May 2015, more than 60 percent of Irish voters turned out to have their say on legalising same-sex marriage. An overwhelming 62 percent of them said “Yes” — and now gay couples in Ireland are saying “I do.”

October 17, 2016

Real Couples // A Tiny Wedding: Ralph + Avison

October 17, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

It was great to meet Tampa couple Ralph and Avison on their wedding day at The Reunion Resort. They have been together for 10 years, and we could tell. They were playful, in love, and so happy together.

October 14, 2016

Real Couples // Spring Frost Engagement: Sally + Sophia

October 14, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Sally and Sophia are two incredibly fun and in-love individuals who made the trek [twice] to Charlottesville from their home in Washington, DC. Due to some crazy winter temperatures (10 degrees, plus 20 mph wind chill) we ended up postponing the original session date and, instead, met up for a delicious brunch at The Clifton Inn. Many amusing stories were told, along with much discussion over some recent movie theater experiences.

October 13, 2016

Real Couples in Video // 18 Years in the Making: Markus + Carl

October 13, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

When I first spoke with Carl late last year to learn about his marriage to Markus, I knew I was in for a good story. Markus and Carl have been together for 18 years and engaged for 15 of those years. Their love for one another is an absolutely incredible thing to witness in person, and it was hard for us to hold back the tears as they gave their vows to one another.

October 12, 2016

The Language of Love: 10 Tips for a Bilingual Wedding

October 12, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Some couples opt to have a wedding celebration in each of their native countries (my husband and I had one in Munich, Germany where he’s from and a second one several months later in California). If it isn’t feasible to have two weddings, another option is to have one ceremony and include as much of both cultures in it as possible.

However, hosting a wedding for guests who don’t speak the same language runs the risk of many people feeling out of the loop. Here are some ways to keep everyone engaged and make all guests feel included.

October 12, 2016

Real Couples // A Pacific Northwest Beach Wedding: Geoff + Ederlyn

October 12, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

We became friends again through the power of Facebook (breaking and making relationships since 2004!) and managed a reunion in Las Vegas. Geoff says it was love at first sight. I am a much more emotionally oblivious person, so Geoff took another trip to Seattle where I inadvertently set up the perfect first date. It took a subsequent trip together to Vancouver for me to catch on.

October 11, 2016

Real Couples // Couples' Boudoir: Monique + Rochelle

October 11, 2016/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I've shot many couples' boudoir sessions before, but when Monique and Rochelle first expressed interest in being photographed, I realized this was our chance to do something different, something a little more wild than I had ever done before. I did everything I could to establish a safe environment for the session, but mostly let this amazing couple do their own thing. I did receive one of the best compliments of my life after the session: "Kinzie! You're so easy to get naked in front of!" But really, the magic was all them; I was just there to document the journey.