The Four Pillars of Catalyst
Who is Catalyst?
Catalyst Wedding Co. exists to challenge what the wedding industry has traditionally looked like. At our core, Catalyst is a movement built for industry game changers. We are talking about the couples rewriting the rules, the vendors creating space for authenticity, and the communities pushing the wedding world toward something filled with all queer joy.
Catalyst was born in 2015 from the belief that the “Wedding Industrial Complex” has too often centered tradition over individuality. Liz Susong realized the need for this magazine after asking the question… “Can a Wedding be Feminist?”when planning her wedding.
Over the years Liz Susong, Jen Siomacco, and Carly Romeo (along with a team of so many other fabulous contributors) expanded Catalyst while exploring the wedding industry through a queer lense. Through thoughtful journalism they pushed the boundaries of what a wedding can be, constantly rewriting the rules and amplifying the voices, stories, and celebrations that have been overlooked. Catalyst was born with the belief that weddings should reflect the people at the center of them, not family expectations, gender norms, or one-size-fits-all traditions.
Today we have expanded even further to create a community filled with Queer vendors and Allies dedicated to celebrating weddings for people who are doing things differently and are often overlooked by traditional media.
Photo by Cassandra Zetta
Our Four Pillars
Catalyst is here to help lead that change through our four pillars.
1. Community
At Catalyst, we believe meaningful change happens when people gather together, through connection and support. That’s why our mission includes creating spaces where wedding professionals can build relationships beyond networking and to collaborate and hold each other accountable. We can all learn from one another, challenge one another, and share resources when we create a community of vendors that promise to do more than the norm and break boundaries like our couples do.
Through our in-person local vendor meetings, we bring together wedding professionals committed to doing business differently. We support vendors who believe in inclusion, authenticity, and community. These gatherings foster connection and support for those who want to build better businesses while building a better industry, advocating beyond the status quo… We Gather, Because no one changes an industry alone.
2. Education
Every vendor deserves the opportunity to do the best they can for their couples. At Catalyst we believe that a more inclusive wedding industry starts with better education.
We are equipping our wedding professionals with the tools, language, and confidence to serve all couples more thoughtfully and authentically. Through our online community, educational resources, and course curriculum, we help vendors examine outdated practices, rethink their marketing, and create businesses that truly welcome everyone.From understanding inclusive language to reimagining client experiences, we help vendors move from good intentions to meaningful action. We believe that in order to transform the industry, we need to be staying on the forefront of all topics including inclusion training, DEI, and overall professional development. Our vendors are already leaders in their fields and will continue to remain so through thoughtful coursework.
3. Supporting Queer Couples
Catalyst was built for couples who want more than a wedding that looks good, we’re here for couples who want a wedding that feels like them. Through our blog, social media, vendor directory, and community events, we connect marriers with inspiration, resources, and trusted professionals who have dedicated their careers to being a supportive business.
We spotlight weddings that challenge expectations, honor the identity of our marriers, and celebrate love in all its forms. For queer couples, feminist couples, unconventional couples, and anyone planning a wedding outside the mainstream, Catalyst is a resource for you.
“You do not have to fit the mold to have an extraordinary wedding.”
4. Giving Back to the Community
Access matters. Weddings are powerful, affirming, life changing celebrations but they are not equally accessible to everyone. That’s why giving back through the Big Queer Wedding is a cornerstone of our work.
Through The Big Queer Wedding, Catalyst offers up to four couples a free wedding ceremony and a joint reception experience, removing financial barriers and creating opportunities for love to be celebrated fully, loudly, and without compromise. We prioritize couples with a financial need and couples that may not have the family support to justify having a “big wedding”. As Queer vendors we understand the need for chosen family and through the Big Queer Wedding everyone can have a packed dance floor to celebrate their love story. Catalyst believes that community means showing up for one another, not just in words, but in action too.
We are a Catalyst for Change
We are keeping the name Catalyst, because it truly embodies what we strive to be in the wedding industry, which is a catalyst of change. We aim to be a safe haven for couples seeking representation, vendors seeking education, and an industry that is ready to give back.
We believe weddings can be powerful acts of self-expression. We believe vendors can build successful businesses rooted in values. We believe that true community can transform industries. And we believe love has the power to push change.
CARISSA CAMPBELL
Executive Director
Carissa Campbell is the owner of Campbell Events, a New York-based wedding and event planner known for whimsical weddings which transform Raw Spaces into immersive experiences. With 11 years of experience, she has taken on the role of Executive Director of Catalyst.