Vendor Spotlight | Vol. 14

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Are you recently engaged and ready to book your wedding vendors? Newly married or attending a wedding, and in search of gifts that affirm the vocation to marriage?

We are proud to serve you through the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, the first online resource for distinctively Catholic wedding vendors: hand-selected professionals from around the U.S. with not only an abundance of talent, but a reverence and passion for the sacrament of marriage that brings a uniquely personal, prayerful dimension to their client experiences.

From photographers and videographers who understand how to capture the most significant moments of your nuptial Mass, to coordinators who understand the needs of Catholic couples, artists whose jewelry, stationery, and prints become enduring keepsakes long after your wedding day, clinical and theological experts in the fields of fertility and relationships, and beyond, Spoken Bride Vendors view their work as a call and find deep joy in putting their talents at the service of the Lord.

What’s more, our vendors are truly engaging and fun. With a range of stories, hobbies, and devotions, it’s our privilege to share who they are and connect them with their ideal clients--you, faithful Catholic couples who are energized by working with like-minded, prayerful individuals. Each month, we’ll be introducing, or re-introducing, you to members of Spoken Bride’s vendor community, and we encourage you to learn more through their full vendor listings.

Our Vendors for This Month:

I’m Mary Katherine

Dallastown, Pennsylvania; Serving Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and available for travel

Mary Kate Anthony fell in love with photography at a young age. Her desire to be a professional photographer naturally became a reality shortly after high school. She reflects, “I believe that God gave me a gift and love for photography and with that gift is the responsibility to use this gift the way he intended me to use it.” Mary Kate brings her whole heart into her work as she builds meaningful relationships with the couples she photographs and entrusts her business to Christ.

Favorite saints and devotions: I have a huge love of St. Faustina and a devotion to Divine Mercy. I also love St. John Paul II (Theology of the Body is my favorite area of theology). St. Joseph and St. Therese of Lisieux are a few of my other favorites.

Favorite place I’ve traveled: This is so hard to narrow down because I love to travel and have been blessed to have been to a lot of places. I don't think I can pick a favorite location but I can say my favorite trip I've ever taken was when I walked the entire Camino de Santiago during the summer of 2018.

Favorite books, movies and podcasts: I LOVE books so I'll try to narrow down this list. Some of my top favorites include all of C.S. Lewis's books, any book by Henri Nouwen, I Believe in Love, the entire Harry Potter series, The Book Thief, and A Man Called Ove. My massive praise and worship Spotify playlist is pretty much always my top choice of music and some of my current favorite songs include "House on a Hill" (Amanda Cook), "Yes I Will" (Vertical Worship) "Known" (Tauren Wells), and "We Dance" (Bethel Music). Also, not exactly music, but I also love to listen to podcasts so top two favorite podcasts are "Abiding Together" and "The Place We Find Ourselves".

Learn more about I’m Mary Katherine.

 

Elizabeth M Photography

Baltimore, Maryland; available for travel

Elizabeth Mahon purchased her first camera to document a semester abroad in Austria; little did she know, it would become a pivotal tool in forming her vocation as a wedding photographer. Elizabeth’s love for people—and her extrovert personality—is a source of inspiration, energy and passion in her photography and client-relationships. Even more, her identity in Christ is the ultimate foundation for who she is and how she lives each day.

Favorite professional sports teams: I'm a die hard Cheesehead. Go Pack Go! (If you know, you know)

Favorite memory from my wedding day: My husband and I were married in a historical Gothic church in downtown Baltimore complete with intricate stained glass, towering white pointed arches, and a ribbed vault ceiling. I remember picking the church because of its physical beauty. Gothic architecture is designed to incline oneself to heaven. Being present in that setting with all of our family and friends, I will never forget how it truly felt like a little taste of heaven. The nuptial mass was definitely my favorite part of our wedding day!

3 things on my bucket list:

1. Visit all 50 states...33 down, 17 to go!

2. Do a great American Road trip from coast to coast

3. Celebrate the 4th of July in Pawhuska, OK with The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond (I love her)

Learn more about Elizabeth M Photography.

 

Visual Grace

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; available for worldwide travel

For artist Kate Capato, truth, goodness, and beauty are both the origin and destination for her creative work. She is inspired by the goodness of God and strives to reveal God’s goodness in meaningful ways through her photographs (and other forms of art). When photographing weddings, Kate savors the moments when she is a witness to the Holy Spirit moving through the bride and groom.

Favorite saints and devotions: Our Lady of Guadalupe and St John Paul II, both artists and lovers of beauty. JPII plays a special role in my work due to his teaching on Theology of the Body and his love of the arts. Our Lady of Guadalupe is quite present in my life as well; a mother of the Americans and an artist in so many ways, she is a witness of profound love and openness. I could go on all day about the two of them.

Favorite place I’ve traveled: Cinque Terra, Italy. It is a beautiful hiking experience that over looks the sea and brings you into the cute tiny italian villages. Every step is breathtaking, not to mention the wine is phenomenal.

Ministries I’m involved in: The Culture Project

Learn more about Visual Grace.

 

Horn Photography

Dahlonega, Georgia; available for worldwide travel

Husband and wife team, Brandon and Michelle Horn, offer hospitality, mentorship, and charity though their relationships with clients. They strive to make the invisible movements of the heart visible through their wedding photography; in so many ways, they reveal God’s glory as stewards and artists. “We share our faith with every client we have through the love, care and exceptional customer attention we provide each and every client no matter where they come from or what they believe. We believe that all people deserve that because they are a child of God.”

Favorite thing about working on weddings: We love it when we get to have our clients over to our house for their grand reveal where we make them dinner and show them their final wedding film and their edited photos in a gallery. To see the joy on their faces and sometimes even the tears of joy while they sit and recall that glorious day makes it all worth it.

Favorite books, movies, and music: Wild at Heart, Captivating, Theology of the Body; The Goonies; The Head and The Heart

Favorite memory of ou wedding day: We had several members of our congregation, family and friends, all come up around us and pray over us after communion was over. It was a very touching moment.

Learn more about Horn Photography.

Vendor Week 2020 | Vendors Share: First Steps, Priorities, + Working With Non-Catholic Vendors

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As you book your wedding vendors and plan your wedding-day timeline and events, take advantage of your vendors’ expertise! As pros in their respective fields, your vendors are a valuable source of information and assistance with time management. 

We asked Spoken Bride vendors to share their best, tried and true tips for working with your vendors--either Catholic or non-Catholic--from your first days of engagement and on through your wedding day. Here, their responses:

What first steps can newly engaged couples take as they look into wedding vendors?

Set clear boundaries. I recommend that everyone involved in planning the wedding--bride, groom, and parents--create a personal list of three priorities for the wedding and three things that are not a big deal. Then, compare. Have a conversation with everyone and create a master priority list. This will help guide your decision-making, as well as your budget. to make decisions. 

Online budget creators are a great tool. Once you have your master priority list, [you’re empowered to] create a budget that reflects your personal priorities, not just industry standards. Together, your priority list and budget will help you narrow down the big selection of vendors. -  Savanna Faulkner, Saving the Date (Wedding Coordination)

 This is quite simple, but so crucial: find a resource that lists potential categories of all the wedding vendors you could possibly need. This will help you to nix the vendors you might not want and then hone your list to those that are non-negotiable. From there, you can play with what’s within your budget for the extra niceties, like a photobooth or décor. -Nia Husk, Prolific Services (NFP Instruction and Fertility Education)

Talk with friends and family who have recently gotten married. For instance, if you are looking for a photographer, ask the couple about their experience, and ask for the link to their entire wedding gallery. With these vendors, as well as others you’re considering, ask yourselves: Do they share my same style + wedding vision in their work? Is creating an authentic relationship with clients a priority for their business? Do they reflect love in their work?

Also, ask your venue if they have a list of preferred vendors whom they enjoy working with; those who take amazing care of their couples and provide a fabulous product. And before booking anyone, meet with them in person first! Make sure you vibe together and that they are a fit both creatively and personality wise. - Michelle and Brandon Horn, Horn Photography & Design

What’s distinctive about what Catholic vendors can offer their clients?

Prayers! As I sew a wedding quilt, I always pray for the recipients-:for peace during their wedding preparations, for grace on their wedding day, and for strength in marriage. I also ask the couple (or the gift-giver!) if there are other intentions they would like me to specifically pray for. - Kathleen Wills Causapin, Handmaid Home (Custom wedding quilts)

Choosing practicing Catholic photographers means you will have photographers who know, understand and value the sacredness of the Mass. They will know when and where they can move in the church for the best photos without ever being seen or disrupting the liturgy. Also, a side perk, is that practicing Catholic vendors tend to know most of the priest and staff in the diocese, as they work with them often and see them at mass. The same holds true for Catholic wedding planners and florists - Michelle and Brandon Horn, Horn Photography & Design

My business is relationship-based (which I love!), and I think most Catholic vendors have a similar business model. When your vendor has a relationship-based business and is someone with similar values to you--and your styles jive on top of that!--I think a deeper amount of trust is built more easily. This trust is important when you're investing with so many different vendors for a very important day! 

 Also, as a Catholic vendor, I pray for my clients during their engagement and during the week of the wedding as I’m designing their wedding flowers. Having extra prayers from those who are helping execute your special day is awesome. - Ashley Krupp, Ashley Eileen Floral Design

I always pray for my couples leading up to their wedding day, and keep them in my intentions long after). It's helpful to have vendors who understand the Mass, and know how to be respectful during the ceremony. All in all, I think catholic vendors can help ease some of the stress, and give you a sense of peace as you prep for the sacrament! - Sarah Wirth, Sarah Wirth Photography

Prayer! Whether the day-of or the months leading up to your wedding, the power of prayer that a fellow Catholic can offer you is awesome. Knowing you can ask for that prayer and share that beautiful aspect with your vendors is so cool! I love being able to tell my Catholic clients I am praying for their relationship from day one. - Lauren Noa, Lauren Emily Photography

What are your favorite ways to help couples incorporate their faith into their wedding day?

My favorite way is to encourage a First Prayer prior to the ceremony. This may be back-to-back or a shared Rosary. It is a wonderful moment to add to your day and takes little time to incorporate. - Sinikka Rohrer, Soul Creations Photography

Encouraging couples to provide a beautifully made and thorough Mass program. This is truly an easy opportunity to evangelize non-Catholic guests and encourage everyone to participate in the Mass through song, Liturgy of the Word, and Liturgy of the Eucharist. If you do a Rosary Lasso, washing of the feet for your spouse, blessing of coins, or present flowers to Mary and/or Joseph, you can add these devotions in and explain them in brief. - Nia Husk, Prolific Services (NFP Instruction and Fertility Education)

I love designing the bouquet for Mary that some couples present to her during Mass. I love her, my clients love her, and we all get to honor her on their wedding day with flowers! Oftentimes, I’ll incorporate rosaries or saint medals into a bride's bouquet. I've also had some couples ask for specific flowers tied to their favorite saint, e.g. lilies for St. Joseph and roses for St. Therese. For one of my brides, I was able to use a white rose named after St. John Paul II that I grew from my own garden! If you have a favorite saint, there might be a flower associated with him or her that you can use as a little way to ask for their [intercession]! - Ashley Krupp, Ashley Eileen Floral Design

Our favorite ways to help couples incorporate their faith into their wedding day is to offer times throughout the day that brings in the joy of what we practice as Catholics. For example, inviting couples to provide family religious items for detail shots, a First Prayer or First look right in the church (if allowed by the church), prayer with your bridal party, going to confession right before the Mass if your priest is available, and encouraging our couples to pray together during portraits.- Michelle and Brandon Horn, Horn Photography & Design

I recommend choosing something special related to your faith from your dating days and bringing to the wedding day.  I walked down the aisle with a pair of rosaries my now-husband gifted me while on a trip to Bosnia. I used that rosary every day to pray for our relationship.  After getting engaged, we chose St Padre Pio as our patron to guide us in our marriage. I also find it so special to buy, borrow or receive a piece of jewelry that depicts the Catholic faith, [as gifts between you and your spouse or with your bridal party].   

If there is an opportunity, I recommend that the bride and groom pray before the Tabernacle prior to the processional. In their prayer, they can offer that day up for the sanctity of marriages throughout the world and ask for all Holy Angels and Saints, including their patron saint,  to intercede for their marriage and all married couples always, who entered or will enter into the mystery of this sacrament. - Siggy Evertz, Bebeati Jewelry

How can couples respectfully educate non-Catholic vendors on the religious aspects of the wedding day?

If you choose a non-Catholic photographer, be sure to educate them on the order of the Mass. Often, I'll hear other photographers say that they think of Catholic Masses as being really long without much going on. They stop shooting because, to them, it's redundant. Or they might stay in one spot out of fear that they'll break the church's rules about where a photographer is allowed--some churches are really strict about photographers moving about, but most just want to make sure the photographer is respectful, won't be distracting, and will stay off the altar.  

If it's important to have the Mass documented, you'll need to explain these restrictions and allowances in detail. You might even ask the parish wedding coordinator to help take your photographer around at the rehearsal and identify a safe spot to shoot and where they should be for certain aspects of the ceremony. This can be a lot of information for a non-Catholic to absorb, so I'd suggest they go to the rehearsal and take notes on the program as a cheatsheet. - Claire Watson, Claire Watson Photography

If you are not working with a Catholic photographer, it is important that they know how long your wedding Mass will be and what it means to you as a couple. Assign a friend who knows his or her faith and way around a church and Mass to meet your photographer at the church so they can answer any questions your photographer may have regarding the Mass and what will take place. A non-catholic photographer might not know terms like sanctuary, kneelers, or sacristan. They may not know the order of the Mass, the importance of the consecration, or when you will be able to share your first kiss. Helping them know ahead of time will help your photographer capture the best photos possible.

And the biggest tip: this is your day to soak in all the sacrament of marriage has to offer. Feel the freedom to share your faith with all your vendors! Let them truly know what this day means for you. - Michelle and Brandon Horn, Horn Photography & Design