We’re seeing custom illustrations pop up more and more in weddings, and we absolutely love the variety of options available to create fun and personal artwork for your wedding decor and for your home. Need help envisioning how a custom illustrated portrait can be used for your wedding? Here are 5 ways to use artwork to add a personal touch to your wedding day.

Anne Barge has been creating stunning designer wedding gowns for twenty years, and in recent years has made a significant effort to create a more inclusive designer brand. In addition to offering Blue Willow, which is a collection that offers high end gowns at a more affordable price point, Anne Barge also offers Curve Couture, a line of designer gowns for sizes 16 and up. The Curve Couture collection includes dozens of looks with a variety of shapes, cuts, and materials.

Here at Catalyst, we are always on the look out for inclusive wedding wear and so we were thrilled to hear that our friends at Urban Set Bride has created a new collection of gowns available only at their boutique in Richmond, Virginia. Christine Haines Greenberg and Jennifer Haines have been bringing plus size and inclusive wedding attire to the Central Virginia area for the last five years, and we were lucky enough to sit down with Christine and hear more about the new collection.

“We wanted to present an alternative option for couples in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area who want to get married in the city. All of the vendors are able to accommodate vegan couples in every aspect, from fabrics, to beauty products, to food.”

You might be used to seeing couples light a unity candle or blend sand together in a jar, but there are lots of other meaningful unity ceremonies you can choose from for your wedding. There are plenty of unity rites with religious ties such as the lazo, or Catholic wedding cord, but here are nine great non-traditional alternatives you can incorporate into your ceremony regardless of your faith or religion.

The struggle to find inclusive wedding cards for your favorite couple is REAL. There is no reason why wedding cards need to be specific when it comes to race, gender, or sexuality, and yet cards for LGBTQ+ couples are hard to find, and cards that are inclusive of couples of color are even more rare. Here are 30 of our favorite inclusive wedding cards on Etsy so you can share all your good wishes with the couples in your life who are getting married this year.

Anne Barge has been designing gowns since 1999, and the attention to detail is always phenomenal. I was so pleased to see that this year that her entire collection’s campaign images featured a black model. More often than not, when we see a runway show, we see a few nonwhite faces on the catwalk, but as soon as the formal collection images are delivered it is once again a sea of white faces. I’m so pleased that Anne Barge didn’t take that route, and as a result her designs TRULY shine.

For this engagement inspiration shoot at Feminist Photo Vaycay in Palm Springs the models were Janet and Gabe. When they sent us images of themselves, their smiles were absolutely infectious and the team knew they’d capture that “in love and on vacation“ attitude. 

Catalyst co-founder Carly Romeo started the Feminist Photo VayCay a few years ago, a retreat where photographers can participate in styled shoots using local vendors and gorgeous couples who are PoC, and/or queer/non-binary. This the first of two styled shoots from the retreat: an elopement inspiration in the high desert at the Tumbleweed Sanctuary. Mia and Sasja are our real-life couple and models, and they were incredibly brave in what was shockingly cold weather.

I was so thrilled to come across the Brooklyn, New York based wedding accessory line from Hushed Commotion because it is full of unique and modern designs. They offer creative alternatives to your standard veil, hair pieces, tiaras, and belts, and they even have accessories for your pets!

We at Catalyst love all of the jewelers in our Vendor Directory, and here are just a few of their rings that will change how you think about the traditional engagement ring, with some starting at just $420.

Futura, distinct colors, a symmetrical living room “scene,” and simple vintage style set the scene for this styled-shoot dream-land. Specific prop choices and 60s mod funky wedding attire and furniture choices allowed a real couple to step into a world inspired by Wes Anderson while in the heart of Brooklyn at Berg'n Beer Hall.

Radical Wed Retreat is a photo conference hosted by Justine Broughal and Jamie Carle that we at Catalyst had the privilege of sponsoring. They created a gorgeous, two-part editorial shoot using real life couple Karla, one of the officiants from Once Upon a Vow, and her girlfriend Mary, on the Oregon coast.

If you’re engaged, then it’s likely you’ve already come across Minted and its stellar collection of Save the Date and wedding invitation suite designs by independent artists. Minted recently released its new line of 2019 Save the Date designs and let me tell you, there is something for EVERYONE with this collection. Here are six trends we’re loving. (And a promo code!)

I loved the idea of pairing paper flowers in the centerpieces and an origami bouquet to show that unconventional does not have to be all modern and you can use alternatives to real or silk florals. I used rose gold to add a bit of luxury to the dusty rose and paired with champagne linens.

The neon colors, the upbeat music, that hair. The 80s were a booming decade for music, pop culture, fashion, and expressing one’s authentic self. For Brooklyn Pride 2018 (back in June), I decided to embrace all the colors and crimped hair the era had to offer in an 80s-themed Pride party. Donations were taken at the door in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, which was established in New York City in 1983. All bartender tips were donated as well.

Elodie from Tall and Small Events and I wanted to do a styled shoot that mixed traditional elements of a wedding (white gown, crisp tuxedo, gorgeous florals) with hip modern design (velvet linens, whimsical engagement rings, and a fun cake). We did this at the NoMad Hotel’s wedding space, which has this exact vibe, and gave us a few creative places to work. Bridal Stylist Liana from Be Brilliant Styling selected the perfect gown for this shoot from The Bridal Garden along with our model, Ana Maria.

With so much pressure to have a Pinterest-perfect wedding day, choosing the backdrop for saying your “I Do’s” can be a tough decision. Thankfully, there is no one way to choose a backdrop for your wedding ceremony. As with anything on your wedding day, choose a backdrop that really reflects who you are as a couple. Here are some of our favorites to inspire you and show you that any choice can be beautiful!

My first time to Philadelphia was this past summer, and while I spent a mere few hours with some favorite wedding photographers, I got a glimpse into why people love the City of Brotherly Love. There is so much to explore, it’s no wonder couples love being united in Philly.

For this styled shoot, I wanted to emulate one of my favorite directors and a source of inspiration. Wes Anderson is known for his use of color, symmetry, iconic locations, and quirky characters. This styled shoot was loosely inspired by his film, The Darjeeling Limited, and was done to showcase local vendors in a simplicity that felt unique and would help others in their inspiration for their weddings or elopements.