Inspiration

Radical Wed Retreat is an annual retreat and workshop for inclusive wedding vendors hosted by wedding coordinator and stylist Justine Broughal of Together Events and photographer Jamie Carle. In addition to talks and workshops around intersectional topics, the retreat included a styled shoot for a colorful double ceremony for two LGBTQ+ couples.

Women and femmes are not the only ones that love jewelry, and that’s why we love that all of the jewelers in our vendor directory offer a variety of masculine engagement rings for all the men, masc, and non-binary folks looking to get engaged this year.

Three years ago the Catalyst team was orchestrating the third {un}convention conference and was lucky to be host to this amazing styled shoot at The Quirk Hotel. Erik & James are a real-life couple and they agreed to be the models for the shoot. It was such a fun day, both while celebrating in the hidden courtyard and while looking out over the Richmond skyline from the rooftop.

Inspired by celestial elements, geodes, and gemstones, we set out to create a wedding inspiration photoshoot that captured these trends in a new and unique light.

When picking out household items for your registry, we always recommend going with a more minimal style. You’re likely to change your style over the years, and sticking with neutral tones and clean lines means that your registry picks will always fit in no matter how much your tastes change. Here are 25 of our minimal faves to keep your kitchen functional and beautiful for years to come.

“I’m a huge fan of packing as much color and texture as possible into my work. Between the multicolored sequined gown and velvet suit, the otherworldly florals, and all of the funkiest art Milwaukee has to offer, I was in heaven. Nothing is quite as heavenly and sweet as Kitty and Liam, though.”

Because the Catskills and Scribner’s Lodge are both already so stunning, I wanted our design to complement the natural surroundings rather than attempt to upstage it. Scribner’s in-house florist, Andrew, put together a gorgeous spread of florals grown from right on the property’s farm! 

Thankfully, there are hundreds of great ring dish options out there for every style and taste. Here are 24 of our favorite wedding ring dishes from Etsy that will keep your wedding rings safe while you’re snoozing, showering, or out on a rugged adventure.

She installed a floral chandelier in the Seven Springs pavilion that can serve as a ceremony statement piece and a frame for the sweetheart table. We strive to spend our clients money wisely by encouraging them to invest in creative pieces but we find ways to repurpose things throughout the event.

This shoot was a true collaboration to create a luxury wedding scene for a sophisticated and fun queer couple living in NYC to celebrate their love, including their real life pet, Scout. We had so much fun dreaming up ways to highlight the stunning views that 50 Bowery Hotel displays while also celebrating its downtown vibe and unique artwork.

We strive to spend our clients’ money wisely by encouraging them to invest in creative pieces, and we find ways to repurpose things throughout the event. We loved how the freestanding floral ceremony pieces framed the couple without being the typical wooden arbor or truss, and they can be moved and repurposed at the reception.

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.

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!