Catalyst Wedding Co. Blog
Everything to Know If You're Thinking of Inviting Kids to Your Wedding
It’s a regular question couples have as they’re creating their guest list: Should kids be invited to the wedding? The answer isn’t a simple one, because whether or not kids are a good fit for your wedding day depends on a number of factors.
The Perfect Wedding Gift for the Adventurous LGBTQ+ Couple in Your Life
Tinggly is a gift box that you can give the soon-to-be-married couple in your life that allows them to pick from over 400 experiences in more than 100 countries. Think of it as the “Choose Your Own Adventure” of wedding registries that can be redeemed for up to 5 years after purchase, making it great as an add-on to any honeymoon, usable for an escape close to home, or perfect for an anniversary getaway.
What Modern Couples Put on Their Wedding Registry
Gone are the days of registering for full sets of china and silver, but the truth is most guests are still going to feel the need to buy you a gift and if you don’t provide them some guidance with a registry, you may end up with a lot of things you neither want or need.
Surprise Proposal at Wm. Mulherin's Sons Hotel In Philadelphia, PA: Ashley + Kimberly
Something in both of us just 'clicked': that desperate, heart-yanking feeling of “you aren't even gone yet and I miss you” type gushy love. We didn't even know we were waiting for each other.
A Beach Elopement in San Juan, Puerto Rico: Ruby + Sheila
We met less than a year before we got married. Our connection was almost instantaneous and grew quickly. We share a background of struggle and resilience, and a passion for our Black identities and social justice. We knew we wanted to get married on a beach, and finding an LGBTQ+ friendly island in the Caribbean narrowed down our options substantially. Puerto Rico fit, however, and our desire to support the island after the hurricane of 2017 sealed the deal.
The Invisible Labor Women Endure While Wedding Planning
What are all the unacknowledged ways that a bride labors over her own wedding? A big part of it is emotional labor. More often than not, the bride is the wedding’s emotional referee. She fields dozens of requests, needs, and opinions (so many opinions!) from family, friends, and other guests. The stakes are high, too. If she messes up and shows any sign of frustration or anxiety or stress, there’s a nasty word to put her back in her place (it rhymes with “Godzilla”).
A Persian-Canadian Wedding at Prestige Hotels and Resorts in Sooke, Victoria, CA: Amin + Golly
A family-centric wedding with a combination of Western and Persian traditions in Sooke, Victoria, Canada.
Yes, Videography Should Be a Necessity for Your Wedding Day
While having a photographer is typically viewed as a necessity, significantly fewer couples plan to have a videographer present at their wedding — and nearly all of those couples deeply regret the decision.
Longwood Gardens Engagement Session in Kennett Square, PA: Angelo + Yasmine
“We met in middle school!”
A Pavilion Wedding Full of Greenery in Kansas City, MO: Hannah + Meredith
One tradition we made up was how our bridal party, family, and each of us walked down the aisle. We had a bridesman with a bridesmaid on each arm. Our mothers escorted each other down, and our fathers walked each one of us down.
The Socially-Conscious Wedding Invitations Modern Couples Have Been Waiting For
Ephemora is the new independent stationery studio ready to change the world of wedding invitations and paper goods. Owners Molly Cichy and Natalie Shaw have already made a strong name for themselves by focusing on gender inclusivity, breaking down heteropatriarchal wedding industry norms, and working to reduce the negative impact that weddings have on our planet.
Styled Shoot: Vintage Vegan Glam in Washington D.C.
“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.”
7 Things To Do at Your Wedding Reception Other Than Dancing
Let’s be real — not everyone can clap on the twos and fours. For your friends and family who are rhythmically challenged, save your money on a DJ and build a different experience that’s fun for them, and for you, too. Here are 7 alternatives to dancing that can take your wedding from status quo to status whooooa.
9 Wedding Ceremony Unity Rituals to Symbolize Your Love
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.
A Rainy Elopement in Downtown Portland: Linda + Moreno
The ceremony took place inside of Portland’s City Hall with the backdrop of a spiraled staircase, historic vault, and city employees who peeked from around the corners of their office doors to catch a glance as we strolled the marbled interior halls and staircase before and after the ceremony.
The Real Reasons for the High Cost of Quality Wedding Photography
There are a LOT of wedding photographers out there and pricing is all over the place when it comes to what different photographers offer. With so many newly engaged couples out there who have questions about why pricing is the way it is — and why some photographers aren’t willing to work for a lower price than others — it seems time to shed some more light on why wedding photography pricing seems to be so freaking high.
5 Reasons Why Bride-Centrism in Weddings Is Hurting ALL of Us
Carly Romeo, and her team at Carly Romeo & Co., wants us to envision a world where all people looking to get married get honored, celebrated, and respected as individuals, and the bride-centrism that we commonly see in the wedding industry isn’t letting us (and our unions) be great. Here are just a few reasons why.
3 Reasons to Have a Small Micro-Wedding
I love suggesting micro-weddings to couples on a tight budget or couples who don’t want to deal with the emotional labor of planning a highly detailed wedding. Micro-weddings are small celebrations that don’t skimp on style but do cut a majority of the costs. But there are a few other benefits to having a tiny wedding, as well.
30 Inclusive Wedding Cards to Celebrate Your Favorite Couple
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.
20 Simple Ways to Have a Green Eco-Friendly Wedding
It’s no secret that weddings generate a huge amount of waste. With the pressure to have the perfect picturesque day comes the impulse to buy lots of items to make your wedding more beautiful. If you care about our planet, then here are just a few things you can do to cut down on waste during your wedding day.
Find Inclusive Wedding Vendors - Photo by Leise Jones Photography