Catalyst Wedding Co. Blog
60th Wedding Anniversary Shoot in New Jersey: George + Ginger
This shoot promotes love in all it's stages! You don't often see older couples displayed on wedding blogs, and when you see love that has held on strong for 60 years, it's refreshing and inspiring.
Vendor Feature: Meet New York City Wedding Photographer Justin McCallum
Meet Justin McCallum, a New York City wedding photographer, who describes how he found his passion and shares advice on wedding planning. Justin sat down with writer and photographer Nina Brady to share more.
A Photographer Who Can Capture Your Unique Love Story // Teresa Johnson Photography
Teresa Johnson is a photographer based in Connecticut and serving the Northeast U.S., and she is dedicated to equality and providing an amazing experience to all of her couples. Teresa believes everyone deserves to be seen as they are: beautiful and full of love.
Real Couple // A Sweet, Fun Wedding in Pittsfield, MA: Jenn + Mark
"We knew we wanted to have it in the Berkshires since most of my family and friends back in Virginia had not been there yet, and we wanted to give them a chance to experience the community and see why I decided to live in this area. We decided to go with the simplest (and most affordable) wedding venue option so that we can spend the money to customize a few details to our liking.
"I hate being the center of attention, so if I had my way, I would just magically appear at the front of the aisle, say "I Do", and then immediately poof away. Unfortunately, technology isn't there yet. So we settled on a very short ceremony so that there was minimal looking at me. But it was a very special moment because we had our dear friend, Ethan, perform the wedding ceremony. He quoted Bob Dylan, as requested, and really made the ceremony specific to us."
Finding Beauty in the Imperfection and Chaos that is a Real Wedding Day // Corey Torpie Photography
"My goal when photographing weddings is to capture the story of the day. I’m just as interested in showcasing the small subtle moments and quirky personal details, as I am with documenting the big showstoppers. I find beauty in the imperfection and chaos that is a real wedding day. When my clients look back at their photos I want them to have more than just a record of their day, I want them to be reminded of how the day truly felt.
"What Love Looks Like" // A Queer Photography Project by Debbie-jean Lemonte
Love is to be taken at face value; a bond between two individuals who just get each other.
Real Couples // Engagement Photos in NYC: Jálynn + Tiffany
"Tiffany and I met for the first time on a January evening in New York City. It was my birthday, and I was celebrating with friends. Tiffany had been invited to the same bar by a mutual acquaintance. Tiffany recalls she was amazed by how quickly we connected, despite just meeting that night. I was taken with Tiffany’s quiet confidence, charming intellect, and sweet smile.
After discovering Tiffany and I had both attended boarding school in the Northeast, had the same major in college, and were both passionate about careers in public service, I was smitten. We closed down the bar that night, and after hanging out a few more times, we finally went out on a proper date."
Out of the Box Winner // Confetti Unicorns
As soon as we saw the wrapping papers included in our mystery box, we were transported to the end of the 80s and early 90s. All the textures, patterns, and shapes brought us back to a time of bright makeup, Saved by the Bell, flashy clothes, and fun music. We wanted to make sure those textures and patterns were felt and seen throughout the shoot as our inspiration, but with a contemporary modern twist.
Real Couples // Lin-Manuel Miranda-Assisted Engagement: Leah + Rachel
Leah is a theater director in New York City. Rachel is a history teacher. What better place to get engaged than the set of Hamilton with the assistance of Lin-Manuel Miranda?! Yes, that actually happened. These two are the quintessential New York City couple. For our engagement session, we started at their place in Bedford-Stuyvesant and then headed out to the New York Transit Museum (which is my favorite place in NYC), ending in their old neighborhood of Prospect Heights, where they lived together for years.
Woke Wednesday // Meet New York Photographer Amy Anaiz
Liz: So what does your business look like today, nine years later?
Amy: Prosperous.
Liz: That's great to hear. And reassuring to all of us who are younger in our businesses.
Amy: I've had opportunities that I never would have imagined nine years ago. I moved here with 2K in my bank account with a hope and a dream. I had no apartment; I slept on my aunt's couch for months, but slowly I've made a way. Nine years later, I live in a brownstone and make enough money to support myself, my family, and then some... So that makes me proud of myself.
Real Couples // College Sweethearts: Elena + Frandy
"We have been together for five years. We met in college on an Alternative Spring Break trip to Alabama to work with Habitat For Humanity. We spent the week helping to rebuild a house, and during the process we developed a connection. In the summer of 2016 we got married, and since we were college sweethearts we decided to have our wedding on the campus. It was a beautiful day that we will remember always."
Woke Wednesday // Meet New York Photographer Amber Marlow
Amber Marlow is a New York City wedding photographer who opens up in this interview about her challenging upbringing and the journey that followed to find ease with her racial identity and a sense of self worth.
Real Couples // Long-Distance Lovers: Remy + Mohan
Throughout our relationship we have had to deal with long distance and being far apart for months at a time. After we lived in Shanghai, I moved to Amsterdam, and Remy moved to New York City for university. It is not easy doing long distance but we have managed to make it work over time. We've been together now for six years, and I think what makes our relationship so special is that we've become accustomed to traveling to see each other and love traveling together to new places.
Woke Wednesday // Meet Charmi Patel Peña, New Jersey Wedding Photographer
Charmi Patel Peña is a woke wedding photographer in New Jersey. In this interview with editor Liz Susong, she talks about forming her identity as an Indian-American woman, defying pressures to pursue a numbers-based career, and disrupting patriarchal culture from the inside.
Modern Rebel & Co. Brings Activism to Weddings
Amy of Modern Rebel & Co. is an alternative event planning company that gives back to local New York City non-profits that serve survivors of domestic violence, provide homes for the homeless, prevent suicide, and bridge education and art. She recently planned an immersive theater experience in a cemetery. She also happens to be a delightful person, and her website is the bomb.com.
Woke Wednesday // Meet Björn VW, New York City Wedding Planner
Björn VW is the owner of Björn & Company, a New York event planning and design company, who also organizes Forks, Corks, & Cocktails, an annual LGBTQ Food, Wine, and Cocktail show.
Real Couples // Rainy Catskills Wedding: Aubrey + Jake
Aubrey is an actress, and Jake is a trendsetter in the Brooklyn restaurant scene. I photographed Aubrey and Jake’s wedding this past October 3rd. It was a rainy and cold day but the camaraderie, love, and joy made the weather not matter. The wedding was held at the Inn at West Settlement, located in the gorgeous Catskills and the fall foliage was in full bloom. The amazing skirt on Aubrey’s dress was handmade by her mom! Aubrey’s jewelry for the event was a ring from her grandmother, and the box that held the ring happened to also have Aubrey’s birth year on it. The ceremony was officiated by their close friend.
Real Couples // A Whimsical Shower for Two Brides: Kori + Sam
Kori and Sam's beautiful bridal shower took place at Peony's Envy, a magical peony garden in NJ. Kori is a floral designer and owner of Colly Flowers, so it's no surprise that their celebration took place amongst hundreds of peonies at peak bloom. Flowers continued to be central to the theme as friends and family crafted their own flower crowns and explored the peony garden for hidden raffle tickets. Kori and Sam are undoubtedly loved, and this was the perfect gathering for family and friends to honor their upcoming union.
Find Inclusive Wedding Vendors - Photo by Leise Jones Photography