Jumping the Broom in Belize – Belize Weddings
After a long break, we were beyond excited to hear from this gorgeous couple. They were having their ceremony at one of the most photogenic seafront resorts on Ambergris Caye, Belize, and they gave us the honour of documenting a day of momentous importance to them. They were going to celebrate their love in paradise in front of the people they loved. Oh, and they were bringing a broom.
What?
Not just any broom, but the most ‘extra’, blingy broom we have ever seen. We’re British, so we have some excuse for not knowing about this special tradition.
Before we tell you all about the broom that made it to Belize with two stunning brides, we will start at the beginning. We want you to experience the day just like Maya, our award winning wedding photographer, did.
So, let’s talk about outfits. Everything was so on point, it nearly hurt. Glamour, dazzling good taste, style for miles, and, as we always say, ‘it’s not what you wore at your wedding, it’s how you wore it’, and they wore those outfits like Queens.
This dress. Everything about it was perfect for a beach wedding. It can be a challenge to find the perfect dress, but this was exquisite.
But not to be outdone…
Allow us to introduce you to the other bride. This suit is insanely hot. The way these two complimented each other in panache and personality was on show for everyone to see. A power couple indeed!
Our favourite moments often happen in those nervous minutes before the ceremony, when the support from loved ones comes through with such tenderness and joy. Eyes often leak.
Someone a bride trusts will make sure that no detail is forgotten. Details make all the difference and they had not missed one.
Then time simultaneously stands still and passes like the speed of light. It is a very strange phenomenon. Disbelief that it is finally happening and everything becomes a blur.
That single moment, when your eyes meet, and everything stands still. That is what it is all about.
The dream becomes reality and it is enough to take your breath away when it is a dream destination wedding in Belize.
The kiss. This is when most weddings have reached their pinnacle.
Not this wedding. Remember the broom?
The tradition of Jumping the Broom has its history in the ancestry of Black Americans. There are many theories about where this tradition originates, but enslaved African Americans would jump the broom to marry before their marriages were legally recognised. Now this custom is practised as part of Black American cultural heritage.
We always love learning about wedding traditions from around the world and we felt privileged to document this one and share it with you.
Throwing shades.
A signature Conch Creative wedding group shot.
This is the time our couples love. We sneak them away from the group for some quiet time. After all the excitement the space to breathe and reconnect gets the chemistry going.
Was it a bit hot that day, or was it just us?
These two simmer!
When two people are in love, they share secrets that will make them laugh with just a glance.
When the DJ arrives, it’s time to get the party started. DJ Debbie is a local island celebrity and we are certainly two of her biggest fans.
Like all great wedding celebrations, there were speeches, there was dancing, there was cake, there were tears, there were hugs, there was laughter. Most of all there was love. Fiery, sparkly, fabulous, love.
This incredible destination wedding in Belize was hosted by Las Terrazas Resort.
Special Day Splash – Belize Weddings
Choosing a destination wedding in Belize means that you love being by the sea. We just love to encourage our couples to take that one step further and to throw themselves into the Caribbean spirit by enjoying and celebrating in the sea.
Maybe we’re a little bit sneaky, because it all starts so simply. We lull our groom by taking naturally lit, moody photos that show how handsome he is.
Then we help the bride to prepare for her big moment, documenting her most intimate moments.
Weddings on the beach in Belize are always spectacular and the helpful guests keep the bride and groom distracted as we work on our plan.
As our gorgeous couple stroll hand in hand, basking in their love and recent joining, we start to plant ideas in their head. After all, it is starting to get rather warm in the tropical sun now, isn’t it?
We lure them closer to the water gradually, building their confidence.
Before they know it, there’s no turning back!
Once they experience the salty fun, they can’t help themselves and throw themselves into the experience with joy.
It’s sexy, it’s refreshing and the smiles are always genuine.
The nearness of the barrier reef makes water is so still and the mirror like reflections create spectacular and memorable images.
Unique and beautiful moments like this create memories that truly last a lifetime and we consider ourselves privileged to help to make that happen.
The warm sun invites time in a hammock to reconnect before it’s time to get ready for the evening’s activities.
And cake! Cake is a must and along with the rest of the scrumptious food you’ll find on Ambergris Caye, we are very proud of our cakes.
We do always recommend drying off a little bit before joining your family and friends to share and evening of love and laughter.
If you want a unique destination wedding in the Caribbean, where you’re not isolated from the community and culture and you can celebrate with a splash, Belize has got to be the place for you.
Special thanks to Portofino Beach Resort for planning and hosting this fantastic wedding.
Find the Caye to Your Heart in Belize – Belize Weddings
We’re not sure how many there are. We’re not sure anyone really knows, but there are possibly hundreds of small ‘islands’ off the coast of Belize. The thing is that they are not islands, in the true sense. They are ‘cayes’. Cayes are formed on the top of reefs and are pretty much held together by the forests of the sea, mangroves.
In this photo, not only are you able to see how mangroves grow and help to create cayes, but you can also see how love seems to sprout on the cayes in Belize. And just in case you didn’t know how to pronounce ‘cayes’, it rhymes with Belize. Perfect!
When you get married in the tropics, you tend to avoid dressing until the very last moment. This works well with the laid back way of life on the cayes and contributes to a stress free and relaxed wedding. Everyone has time to finish off those last minute details without feeling rushed. Small things like ummm..writing your vows.
The dress is the last item of clothing donned before a Belize wedding and most brides don’t put it on until 15 minutes before the ceremony.
When there is so little time to get worried, it keeps the nerves at bay .
Destination beach weddings are stunning in their simplicity, allowing Mother Nature to provide the decorations and ambience.
(Had to find an excuse to include this photo of the youngest guest at this wedding)
All guests, young and old, love a beach wedding.
Even when certain things take a little longer than expected. Ahem…
After the wedding is the time for the photographer and the couple to explore the caye together. Couples tell us this is one of the things they enjoy most on their wedding day as it gives them the chance to reconnect and have a breather before joining their guests again.
This is St. George’s Caye. It has a fascinating history and although there are conflicts over the facts, its place in Belizean history is celebrated annually on ‘The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day’, every 10th of September. This celebration commemorates a battle, which was fought and won in the waters surrounding the caye, that drove the Spanish from the shores of Belize in 1798.
Very few people live on St. George’s Caye full time, which means it is extremely peaceful and rustic.
You can visit the docks on the island and wander around without seeing a soul.
There are many old docks to check out and the natural beauty is serene and stunning.
Unlike some other cayes, the mangroves that provide a nursery for so much sea life are relatively untouched. There is a local saying that ‘fish grow on trees in Belize’ (which also rhymes with cayes!).
The best part is that once you find a dock you like, there’s no one and nothing to stop you from jumping right into the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
That’s the way to start a lifetime together with a splash!
Remember that we told you how relaxed and enjoyable weddings on cayes in Belize were? No formalities are necessary. Just love and joy.
The one thing you can never forget though is the breathtaking beauty of the magical country that is Belize. (and its cayes)
This beautiful wedding was hosted and organised by St. George’s Caye Resort
Pelicans & Belikins – Belize Weddings
Before we share this simply adorable wedding on the adorable island of Caye Caulker, in the adorable country of Belize, we thought we should explain what a Belikin is. Quite simply, Belikin is the beer of Belize. The fact that it rhymes with pelican means that you’ll see both in this blog.
The dress. It’s almost like it decided to visit Belize on its own and hang out on the beach. As dresses don’t drink and we couldn’t risk getting bird poop on it for the sake of a photo, we’re sorry to disappoint you with no birds or beers quite yet. Be patient. We’ll get to them soon enough.
But first let’s take a quick look at the bride, getting ready for her big day. She’s very beautiful, even without a beer in her hand.
And here’s the groom. Ties are tricky. They are even trickier after a few beers. It’s probably wrong of us to suggest that the groom had beers before getting ready. He might have had rum. Thank goodness there are older and more experienced hands close by to help.
The dress made it safely from the beach and onto the bride. That smile says it all and there isn’t even a pelican in the room.
Let’s take a break from the beer and pelican references and just enjoy a little overdose of cute for a moment.
There they are! Oh wait a minute. Those can’t be the groomsmen. Were they even invited?
Not even an ‘I do’ could be shared without a pelican making sure he got into the photo.
And there you go. The Belikin makes an appearance. Every couple deserves some ice cold refreshment after a hot tropical wedding.
After everyone went to get refreshments (probably Belikins), look who just had to hang around. Honestly!
Lobster doesn’t rhyme with pelican or Belikin but it certainly tastes good. Where do lobsters come from? Well, in Belize, they come from lobster traps, which are hand made by lobster fisherfolk and piled up to create backdrops for wedding photography when lobster is out of season.
It’s not just pelicans and lobster fisherfolk who live on Caye Caulker. The village is full of life, love and Belizean hospitality.
There’s another pelican. You can’t blame him really. The scenery is stunning.
The birds all decided to settle down for the evening, leaving our adorable newly married couple to enjoy the true beauty of a Belizean sunset.
The sort of sunset that makes everyone smile.
Once the sun goes down on La Isla Carinosa, another name for Caye Caulker, it’s definitely time for more beer, and some serious partying.
Before the night was over, the guests celebrated by sending off Chinese lanterns into the night sky. These were environmentally friendly lanterns that biodegrade and cause no harm to any pelicans. They are very pretty indeed.
There’s really nothing quite like a wedding in Belize. Whether you have pelicans or Belikins, you’ll know that the jewel that is Belize promises a unique, wonderous and very special experience.
Celebrating the New Year with a Full Moon in Belize – Belize Wedding Photography
It’s a new year and we have so many things to celebrate. We had to look up synonyms for the word ‘epic’ just to describe how unbelievable the last year has been for us as wedding photographers in Belize. Not only did we have the most fabulous, fun and fantastic weddings, but we hit over 100,000 views on this blog. The fact that people love our work and trust us to record some of the most important events in their lives is not something we take lightly. The fact that thousands of people love our work enough to read our blog is not something we take lightly either and so we are going to start off this year as we intend to go on. So, sit back and get ready for a blog that’s going to make you smile, blush, laugh and possibly become green with envy. Enjoy!
Belize weddings are different. They can be as fancy or as informal as you want, but Belize is all about being carefree and relaxed. Who cares if there’s only two hours until the ceremony?
Brides in Belize don’t get zipped into their dress until about 15 minutes before the ceremony.
That’s about when the groomsmen think about getting dressed.
All the groom requires is a good scrub down.
And just in case he misses a spot, the bride will take care of it later anyway.
She’s in her dress and va va voom! What a dress!
(Gratuitous photo of conch and rings)
Father of the bride is the perfect chauffeur. We loved the little added touch of the curtain on the side of the golf cart (the preferred method of transportation on the island) so that the groom didn’t get a chance to see the bride before the wedding. As mentioned earlier, things are a little bit different in Belize.
And they did it! You see, having a wedding on the dreamy island of Ambergris Caye, just off the coast of Belize, means that no one has to sit around for 2 hours for a ceremony. It’s all about the glorious beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the experience, the friends and loved ones, the romance and of course, the party.
So, now it’s time to get to the important bits.
Whoa! Wait a minute – not those important bits…(just in case you enjoyed this romantic full moon, there is more to come later in the blog)
For now, let’s stick with the sweet, sweet romance…
…lovely formal portraits and …
…there is always that beautiful scenery. But now, we’re going to change up the blog a little bit because this wedding, like all the weddings we work on, was unique. There is only so much of perfect, traditional, destination wedding portraits we think you need to see. Knowing that we love unconventional wedding photography, the bride brought a second dress so she could be just a little bit more daring and we feel obliged to warn you that she looks as gorgeous in the second dress as she did in the first.
We did try to warn you. We can’t even think of adequate descriptive words to describe this bride.
Perhaps the words will come just a little bit easier to describe this groom.
We tried really hard to keep them out of trouble.
Even when unexpected people turned up to help them celebrate…or recover…we’re not really sure.
For a minute, we thought we were going to lose her veil.
Fortunately we enlisted some assistance.
Once the Belize Defence Force (the Army of Belize) heard about our antics, they thought we might need some additional protection.
Oh my! Maybe they were right.
After a scolding, his clothes miraculously found themselves back on again.
But before we knew it, they started coming off again. I’m sure you can imagine that there were a load of women on the beach telling him to get dressed again immediately. Yes, you’d have to be imagining that because it’s the opposite of what was actually happening.
But it was all worth it…
…to get a shot like this!
We haven’t even told you about the partying.
Or the cupcakes. What kind of magic made these?
The thing is, with a celebration like this, one day isn’t enough.
When you come to the Caribbean with a crew of your favourite people, a party boat is a must do experience.
It’s such good fun to throw your family into the warm water and watch them enjoying themselves…
…and then to arrange for a bunch of sharks to chase them. Swim! Swim!
The clothes are staying on as two days of partying come to a smile filled end…
Well, not for everyone, it seems. In Belize, the party never has to end.
Even when everyone has gone home, the decorations are still shining bright.
This most incredible wedding and celebration was organised by Dulce Belize Weddings and hosted at Rojo Beach Bar & Lounge
All scenery, sharks, Army guys and unending fun were provided by Belize
Picture Perfect – Belize Weddings
Who doesn’t want to look picture perfect on their wedding day? For so many brides and grooms, making that special effort for such a important and memorable event, is part of the ritual. Everyone hopes that the person to whom they are committing to for life will look at them, while they exchange vows, and think ‘Wow! How did I get so lucky?’ And we believe that’s how it should be. It also helps us to create beautiful pictures. As wedding photographers in Belize, that’s our job and we’re so grateful when couples make our job easier.
The ritual tends to be different for the brides and grooms. Brides usually have a professional to help them.
Grooms, on the other hand, have to make themselves look good all on their own.
The bride has an expert to apply the finishing touches and tell her she looks beautiful.
The groom has a mirror.
The thing is that when they finally see each other and they truly do look picture perfect…
…that’s when the magic begins.
No matter who you are – even if you’re a wedding photographer, who has worked on hundreds of weddings – you can’t help but feel moved by the emotions and shared love between two people on their wedding day.
When they are this happy and they are in Belize, one of the most beautiful places on earth, it doesn’t matter whether the picture is …
…on the dock…
…or on the beach…
…in lush tropical gardens…
…or in a quirky window…
…it’s always going to be picture perfect.
This picture perfect wedding was planned and hosted by the wonderful Matachica Resort
Lovely Love – Belize Weddings
There’s nothing a wedding photographer loves more than when all of the elements conspire to create a perfect day for their couple. This was one of those weddings. Absolutely lovely in every way.
You will often see us raving about the beautiful dresses that our brides choose. A dress is a true expression of the bride’s personal style. This one struck such a perfect balance, modest yet sexy as well as being light, flowy and perfectly comfortable for a beach wedding.
We also try very hard to encourage grooms to make that extra effort. If the bride is going to take the time to look stunning on this very important day… a day when both partners are committing their hearts to each other forever… then it would certainly seem that the groom should do the same.
When it all comes together, it’s just…well…sublime.
So, let’s rewind a little bit so that you can join us for this gorgeous island wedding. May we present the beautiful bride.
Waiting pensively, is the gorgeous groom.
Don’t forget about the rings, strategically located. We are ‘Conch Creative’, after all.
Including the people you adore just means even more love to go round.
When you get married on an island, having a sand ritual so that you’ll always have a piece of the place you said your vows with you, wherever you go, is something that is so special and unique.
There is probably nothing lovelier than smiles that are brimming over with love.
OK. We have to admit. The view and a couple of bottles of everyone’s favourite local beer can help to make it just a little bit lovelier.
We feel it’s important to allow our couples to enjoy this jewel of an island in the Caribbean Sea and so we encourage them to take some time to relax and take in the scenery after the excitement of their wedding.
The many textures of Belize…
…and the many coconut trees. Hey, coconuts are lovely too.
So, all we can say is that if you are in love and you’re planning your destination wedding…
…Belize is probably the loveliest place in the world.
Special thanks to the incredibly lovely Victoria House Resort which hosted and organised a fabulously lovely wedding for these two very lovely people.
Where Love Sparkles – Belize Weddings
It’s rare that a wedding gives us a blogging dilemma, but this one certainly did. It was just so adorable and every single photo made us smile. Of course, what’s the point of blogging if we can’t share all of those incredible moments with you? So, we were left with two burning questions: 1. How are we going to narrow it down to a reasonable number of photos? and 2. What photo do we start with? Well, jumping photos have always been popular. They are symbolic, fun and, when done in Belize, super duper scenic. But this jumping photo had that ‘x’ factor. Not sure what it is, but they definitely looked like they were about to fly off into the horizon, hand in hand – and so, this is how we’re starting our blog today.
The rest of the blog will be easy as we’re just going to take you through the day so that you can experience it like we did. We know you’ll definitely have as much fun as we did, but possibly not as much as the bride and groom. We’ll start off with some mellow photos of the details first, because they were pretty exceptional.
When you ask for a bouquet with tropical colours, this has got to be what you’re thinking of. Simply stunning. What you don’t expect is that they’ll make you insatiably hungry. Yes. You read that correctly. All we can say is to read on and you’ll see what we mean.
Technology is changing so many things and we all remember that awkward moment someone tried to hold up a mirror behind us so that we could see what the back of our head looked like. Well, that doesn’t have to happen anymore. Did we mention the details were fabulous at this wedding and exceptionally sparkly?
Here’s our gorgeous bride. Just wait til you see that dress properly. Wow!
Grooms don’t look quite as good as brides in silhouette but he certainly looks dapper.
Remember what we were saying about details. Well, our lovely readers, this is Belize. You know, like the shape of the entire country and…we’re not sure exactly what they’ve made it out of. It sort of looks like Licorice Allsorts. Whatever it is, it’s outrageously adorable and they’ve even made the cayes. You can see Ambergris Caye, which is where they got married, and some of the others. Crazy imaginative details.
Oh wow. It’s that time already. Did someone paint this? Could it be more perfect?
Oh for goodness sake. The bride even had beautiful feet and barefoot sandals. Seriously. It can’t be this lovely and then they have a great time too – or can it?
And there you have it. Oh yes. As well as being gorgeous, having the most amazing details and a dream beach setting on the Caribbean, they had to just have the best time of their lives doing it. Did we mention this is Belize? Yeah, we must admit…this sort of thing does seem to happen here. Maybe it’s the salty seaside air, the hot sun or possibly the rum. Hmmm.
We promise. These are real people. Not actors. They also happened to be two very lovely people and you’re going to get to share a little of our private time with them. But first we need to get the nuptials over with.
Here, we present you with the walk down the aisle, with the waves breaking over the Mesoamerian reef in the background and the little clouds so fluffy they look like cotton.
Then it’s the legal stuff. Never has signing a piece of paper looked quite so much fun.
Of course, before we head off for some photography with just the couple, we have the requisite group shot. This was a very very naughty group.
That’s because they were hungry and thirsty. This is what was awaiting while the couple had their own personal shoot with us.
And this!
That dress. OMG. We had to just indulge ourselves with one photo of this amazing bride and one of our favourite dresses ever.
So now we’ll show you some of the two of them together. We’d just like to point out that when the groom makes an effort to look as good as the bride (OK, maybe not as good…but hey, she looked really, really good) on their special day, it really shows and we love it.
Whether they are walking along the beach, hand in hand – just relaxing…
…or when he’s inside the mouth of a whale, while she’s riding on top of it. What!? Yes, you’d be surprised at some of the cute and mysterious things you’ll find in San Pedro.
Whether he’s making her smile in just that way that makes you wonder what he might have just whispered into her ear or…
…maybe he just reminded her about the food waiting back at the reception because she’s looking hungry.
Just in case she’s getting too weak from the hunger, he happily gives her a piggy back ride.
But suddenly, it seems the hunger has overwhelmed him too. This is always when the photographer needs to step in…
They need some refreshments to help them keep up their strength for that one last shot. You know? The one that every couple dreams of when they get married in the Caribbean.
Yep. That’s the one alright!
It’s time to head back to the party with all their loved ones. And what a party it is! Before the night was out though – they had one very important message they wanted to share.
Because they truly …
(how could they not?)
We think this sums it all up. True love in Belize always sparkles.
Big thanks to the wonderful team at the fabulous Coco Beach Resort for organising and hosting this fun and love filled day
A Tale of Two Dresses and One Temple – Belize Wedding
Belize used to be hailed as ‘Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret’ and in some ways it still is, but it’s becoming one of those uniquely desirable destinations for weddings. That’s because you can do things in Belize that you simply can’t do anywhere else. Belize is still mostly covered by jungle, a young country with a wild heart. There truly is no place like Belize and for that we are grateful. This begs the question from some, who contact us about having an adventure, a once in a lifetime experience of a wedding in Belize – is it safe?
Well, see that ledge right there? The one with no railing? Yep, that’s the one. It’s 130′ straight down from there. And if that doesn’t get your blood pumping, then we’ll just make sure you feel absolutely reassured.
You’ll have these handsome fellows right there to make sure nothing happens. Our clients get the very best Belize has to offer.
So, to help you decide if you have a true desire for something different, a taste for something ancient and exotic and a spirit for an audacious wedding that will span centuries, cultures and countries, we’re going to invite you to join us as a our guest for one of these special celebrations.
The couple were lucky enough to have family members to help. When we say this is an adventure, we’re not kidding. See that sign – Xunantunich 1 mile? That’s where we are heading. You may notice something else. There is a white bundle and a red bundle. Well, this couple knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and they were going to make the most of it. That’s why this is a tale of two dresses. Get ready for the romantic adventure to commence.
This is how you get to the site. This is a hand cranked ferry. By ‘hand cranked’ we mean that a man actually cranks the wheel that pulls the ferry across the river. All aboard!
Fortunately, there are some very spacious changing facilities at Xunantunich, which we should mention is a 1400 year old Maya archaeological site. The changing rooms are not quite that old.
The spectacular white dress is topped with a stunning necklace. Everything looks so traditional…
…until you see where the bride and groom are about to be joined in marriage.
Unconventional? Perhaps. Stunning, glorious, awe inspiring and unforgettable? Without a doubt.
And while exchanging rings is something we’re used to seeing at most weddings…
…this is not your typical wedding portrait.
Enter, the red dress. Now it’s time for the drama to commence and there can be no more dramatic background.
Where Belize and Guatemala meet, somewhere in the rain forest and mountains.
Where you can climb an ancient temple, decorated with ancient tales about the birth of gods and the ‘tree of life’.
Where you can explore entrances to what was once a ceremonial centre for around 200,000 Maya people.
Where you can look down upon a ball court where those who lost the ritual game, also lost their lives.
Where you’ll look at each other at the end of one of the most breathtakingly, mind-blowing days of your lives and know that you shared this experience that will bind you together forever.
Special thanks to Chaa Creek for organising this magnificent marriage
Traditions and Tropical Memories – Belize Weddings
We remember, many years ago, living in London and seeing billboards for Caribbean destinations wondering if we’d ever be able to have a holiday in such a beautiful place and now, now we live and work here. Not only that but we get to share that with people who have traveled from all over the world to fulfill that very dream. Some come to elope. Some come to party. Quite a few bring their wedding traditions with them. The only difference is that they get to enjoy those traditions in beautiful Belize
Getting ready. That age old bridal ritual, supported by her best friends, to prepare her for her future.
The rings. Perhaps not quite conventionally presented, but this is the Caribbean and so, traditions come with a twist.
Once the rings are in place, symbolising a lifelong commitment…
It’s time for group photos. Wait a minute. This isn’t a traditional group photo! As anyone who has been to Belize can tell you – everyone is very friendly – including the cats and dogs. You’ll likely have one or the other turn up at some point to congratulate you. That’s a tradition here.
We can’t, of course, forget about that first dance. A favourite tradition for the evening.
But it’s the memories that make the day so special.
And what better memories can you ask for than an azure blue sky…
…a warm, beautiful sea…
…sunshine and tropical greenery everywhere you turn. Come to Belize, enjoy your own traditions and create new ones that you’ll never forget.
This beautiful wedding was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort
20 Photos That Gave Us That Happy Feeling in 2015 – Belize Weddings (and other cute pictures)
We’ve never done this before, but 2015 was such an amazing year for us here in Belize that we wanted to thank our clients and everyone who has supported us and enjoyed our work by sharing our favourite photos of 2015. Yes, we know, this blog is a wedding photography blog, but we also enjoy other types of photography. We chose the photos in this collection because they brought back great memories and made us smile. We’d like to share those memories and hopefully some smiles with you too. So, sit down, relax and enjoy.
We can’t help but start with this one. This would typically be a photographer’s worst nightmare, but this couple were so much fun and we had so many laughs with them during their shoot that this was sort of the icing on the cake (apologies for the really poor metaphor under the circumstances).
Dog photobombing was obviously trending this year and we don’t mind one bit. We are dog lovers and most of our couples seem to be too!
Dogs weren’t the only photobombers this year though from the animal world. While we were working on a commercial shoot for a resort here, this little guy popped in to say hello.
This couple almost got bombed quite literally by the closest thing we have in Belize to an Air Force.
Speaking of bombing, it wasn’t all being done by animals either. This has got to be one of our favourite memories from the year when this fabulous lady decided that ‘when I’m 64’, I’m going to get photographed jumping into the Caribbean Sea butt naked – and so she did! An inspiration to us all.
This photo won us a Fearless Award, but really the award should have gone to this brilliant couple for being the best Trash the Dress good sports ever. We remember this shoot vividly, especially the smell of the mud, which we must admit, did not smell of roses. At. All. So much fun and so dirty. We’ll never, ever forget this shoot!
Fortunately, for this next couple, their Fearless Award winning Trash the Dress photo wasn’t quite so mucky, but we do remember that they weren’t feeling too hot the morning after some very, very hard celebrating. Didn’t stop them looking fabulous though and again, such good sports for going for it even though they would have much rather have been in bed.
Of course the bridesmaids don’t have any obligation at all to be sober or to participate fully in producing award winning shots – which is why they are so much fun to photograph.
The next one is from of one of those weddings that we’ll always remember because even now, we get a bit teared up remembering it. It was one of our most popular blogs ever. A wedding for three, when this little girl participated in such a special day. A beautiful family and such a heartwarming memorable experience for us.
Of course, if we are going to start talking about little girls, how could we forget this one? It’s hard to imagine getting much cuter.
We were even lucky enough to photograph one little girl before she was ever born. Her mother was incredibly athletic and quite fearless, so with some imagination and creativity on our part and a lot of bendiness on her part, we created a maternity image that was totally unique.
We didn’t just get babies before they were born, we got weddings before they were engaged. We’ve worked with a number of grooms on proposals and they are always so much fun. Trying to plot and plan while hoping that she’s going to say ‘yes’ is about as nerve wracking for us as it is for the groom. This one was just perfect and we were absolutely thrilled for the happy couple.
In some cases, we’re there for a long time. One of our most unforgettable couples came back a few years after we photographed their wedding so that we could photograph their simply adorable little boy. It’s very special for photographers when they can document lives over the years.
Ultimately, it all returns to what we do best and that’s to get love to come through a photo. That’s why wedding photography works so well for us.
When you know the smiles are real, that’s what makes all the difference and makes us remember the moment we took that particular photo.
People’s personalities are what we remember most of all. You simply never forget moments like this.
When people get into our island vibe and want to have fun, anything is possible.
Wedding photography is a collaborative experience. While we create memories for our couples through photography, they too, create memories for us with their most intimate and joyful moments.
Maybe sometimes a little bit more intimate than we anticipated.
And for that we send you all much love and happiness in 2016.
Special thanks to all the businesses, resorts and individuals who invited Conch Creative into their lives, hearts and properties to make memories in 2015! Wish wish you all the most wonderful New Year!
All You Need is Love – But a Gorgeous Dress Helps Too – Belize Weddings
There was a famous bunch of guys who sang a popular song. It was called ‘All You Need Is Love’. Now if they had mentioned a fabulous dress, as well, the song would have been absolutely perfect for destination weddings in Belize.
We agree that it’s all about love,
love,
love.
But c’mon, a fabulous dress helps, along with…
…some serious ‘bling’,
brilliant bridesmaids and…
a bunch of adorable groom’s guys too.
A dramatic veil,
a few stolen kisses…
…and picture perfect scenery could only be topped by one thing.
A party on the Caribbean Sea with the people you love.
This gorgeous wedding was organised and hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort
Princess in Paradise – Belize Destination Wedding
Being a princess is all about the attitude. A destination wedding in Belize is not something you see in most fairy princess stories and that’s why our brides like to create their own stories. Sometimes that means that princesses have to wear sunglasses.
Of course the first thing a princess must do is adjust her crown.
Ta Da! Once the crown was in place and she’d had a bit of Belize’s special magic princess potion (ingredients normally include pineapple and rum), she appeared in her full princess regalia.
Her handsome prince could not resist her princessy powers and arrived to claim her as his own.
They held hands, and shared sweet nothings as they walked down the beach. It didn’t appear he was going to turn into a frog anytime soon.
She took him closer to the water, just to test that theory.
And when it seemed absolutely certain that he wasn’t going to hop off into the distance, they sat down – we think, to discuss their palace.
They even found a local tower to celebrate in true royal style.
But finally, it doesn’t matter whether you are royalty or not, beautiful and magical Belize will always be where princesses find true paradise.
This paradise princess wedding was hosted by the beautiful Athens Gate Resort
A Wedding For Three! – Belize Destination Wedding
Like so many stories of destination weddings in Belize that we share with you, this one is a love story. Of course there is a bride and a groom, both very much in love. But sometimes a wedding isn’t just about two people. Sometimes there’s a little bit extra love and in this case, the bride was not just marrying one person but two.
This is the third, and so very important person, in this love story and she was so much a part of the ceremony it even brought a tear to the eye of this tough old wedding photographer.
She was involved with every aspect of the preparations. It was such an exciting and emotional day for her.
Whenever it got a little bit too crazy, she could sneak outside and observe the goings on.
She was so loved and so included. Just the way it should be when a wedding is truly the bonding of a family unit.
While she watched the ceremony with such intensity, she unconsciously touched the beautiful necklace she had just been gifted.
She didn’t remain seated for long because she was an integral part of this joining.
OK, well maybe some bits were just for the grown ups, but she didn’t seem to mind one bit.
This was a much more fun way for her to celebrate.
There were so many wonderful and special moments.
The family that celebrates together certainly stays together we think.
It was nearly time for the party to start.
Even though everyone was having way too much fun already.
We transported the happy couple away for a little romance on their own – Belize style!
Still managing to have way too much fun…
…they finally found a spot to share some tender moments together.
The sun set quickly.
Before they knew it, it was time to return to reality…
…if you can call a setting like this ‘reality’.
As the night drew to close, it ended like it all began – as a wedding for three.
And that is truly something worth getting excited about!
This absolutely love filled and beautiful wedding for three was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort
La Isla L’Amour Part 2 – Belize Wedding Photography
Warning – This blog contains images that may make you wishful, envious, joyful and really, really, really want to get married in Belize. This is probably as perfect as it gets.
That last, final touch up, when your heart is beating like crazy and you’re worried you might cry. Taking deep breaths and keeping it together. You don’t want to ruin your makeup.
Those last minute thoughts. Wondering how you got so lucky and how you could be so nervous.
Standing on the Caribbean beach, staring at the turquoise waters and being grateful that you are so lucky to be in such a beautiful place with the one you love most in the world. Waiting.
It’s time. Small, intimate, perfect. You speak the words that mean forever.
Those words are sealed in writing confirming your commitment.
Suddenly you realise that the nerves have washed away and you’re filled with happiness.
First things first – capture the memory of the people who helped you to have such a special occasion.
Then make a toast to each other and to your future together.
Dance like no one is watching – though someone is.
Take some time to reconnect and decompress after all the excitement by standing on the end of a dock surrounded by endless blue, moody clouds above and the waves crashing over the reef in the distance.
You never seem to tire of gazing into each other’s eyes and you hold hands as you walk slowly down the beach back to the comfort of your resort.
By the time you return, the sun is setting and it’s time for a quick refreshment to take back to your room.
This is where your day ends and your wedding night begins. We think it’s time for the photographer to go home.
This perfect wedding was organised and hosted by the gorgeous Matachica resort.
La Isla L’Amour Part 1 – Belize Wedding Photography
How many ways can I say I love you? Love sounds good in French & Spanish, so why not mix it up. Love is love and it’s pretty amazing to be able to share our love of Belize with two people who are so in love with each other. So, join us on this tour of l’amour on La Isla Bonita and let us help to define our idea of La Isla L’Amour.
Sharing island delicacies (Belikin Beer) on a hammock on the beach while gazing into each other’s eyes. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Shopping at the craft stands in downtown San Pedro and having to make tough decisions. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Contemplating sneaking away on a boat called Cecilia. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Snuggling up on a dock under a sign that says ‘spear fishing’. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Playing piggy back rides among the mangroves. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Kissing each other inside the mouth of a giant jaguar mouth outside of a nightclub – that happens to be an ice cream stand during daylight hours. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Standing on a bridge to watch the sailboats go by. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
As the day comes to an end, finding one of those secret spots at the back of town, where the sky turns lavender as it sets. That most definitely is La Isla L’Amour.
This stunning photography experience around town is just Part 1. of another mind blowingly beautiful wedding in Belize. Look out for Part 2. for some more romantic and breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
We’d like to thank Matachica resort for hosting this gorgeous bride & groom as well as organising their wedding.
La Isla bon Epic – An epic Belize Wedding – Part 2.
If you saw part 1 of this blog, then you’ll know how much fun we had with this couple all around San Pedro Town. It was one of most popular blogs ever. We promised you a part 2 and here it is. This is the wedding – and of course, all beach weddings in Belize are pretty spectacular, so please join us while we share this couple’s special day in paradise.
We’re sure you can guess from this photo that there are going to be a couple of cuties involved.
Here’s one of them having some appetisers and building up her strength for the excitement ahead.
And here is the other one making sure she looks perfect.
Now that the cuties are fed and polished, it’s time for the bride to start thinking about her own primping and prepping.
Finish the hair.
Tie up that dress.
Let’s not forget the fellows. If the bride can make the effort, so should the groom and this one truly did – he looked so dapper.
More appetisers?
Seriously, could this wedding be any cuter, more colourful or prettier?
Maybe not, but it could get a lot more fun from the looks of it.
Girl bonding time is always important when your family and friends come all this way.
Especially when the groom is happy to hold the bouquet.
But as always, there comes a time when we have to drag the happy couple away for some romantic photos.
Oh my! They are a great looking couple.
And they are perfectly matched.
So, when they had a quiet time together as the sun started to go down, we suddenly realised that they were very like their two little cuties because what they really wanted to do was get back for some very epic……
….appetisers!
This epic wedding was organised and hosted by Xanadu Island Resort.
La Isla Bon-epic! An Epic Belize Wedding – Part 1
You are having a destination wedding. You’ve picked the magical, tropical, paradise of Belize. You are going to have your wedding on the famous island Ambergris Caye, more commonly known by the name of its only town, San Pedro – or even more famously known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (oh yes, Madonna dreamt of us last night!). You know you want the whole getting married on the beach experience, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea twinkling in the background and palm trees. But then you say to yourself ‘Wait a minute! I’m going all the way to this interesting and beautiful country and I’m just going to get photos on the beach. That’s simply not good enough! I want more!’ And more you shall get – because Conch Creative loves to show our couples the real Belize. Oh yeah, we take photos too and here are some from one of our most epic wedding adventures.
There are a number of luxury vehicles available to transport our lucky couples around the island.
Golf carts are the most common form of transportation.
Once you get into the quaint, colourful and quirky town of San Pedro, there are all sorts of fun things to do but first you want to make sure you look your very best. So getting a pair of new shoes is a good place to start.
Followed by a smart haircut – or polish, whichever the case may be.
If you’re lucky, some of the friendly islanders might even lend you a clean pair of underpants.
And then it’s just a matter to find somewhere private to change into them.
Once you’re all dressed and ready to go, it’s time to take a stroll to the park.
Climb up high to take in the view. (just a note here – not many places in the world where the children’s public playground overlooks a barrier reef. Just sayin!)
Hang around and enjoy some fun activities.
Familiarise yourselves with the local animal life.
OK. Maybe not THAT familiar!
Take in some of the local art.
And contemplate its deeper meaning.
Don’t forget about the unique architecture. Seriously though, Belize is so much more than it’s beaches and jungle. It’s about the people and, of course, the Isla Bonita life.
When all is said and done you may just feel like this bride did –
“I can’t speak highly enough for the amazing experience you have given us. From day 1, your email communications were prompt, detailed & polite. The actual photography experience was a joy & you were both so carefree and easy to work with. We will never forget the fun we had with you during our Isla Bonita experience. To be honest, it was quite possibly one of our favorite moments while in Belize…. having no kids was a huge relief, but also laughing until we cried & having the opportunity to see the most interesting sites on the island was much appreciated. I’ve been to Belize 100 times and have never experienced San Pedro in that way. Im glad to hear you had fun too 🙂 I am speechless at how well the pictures have turned out & we will cherish these for the rest of our lives. Words cannot describe how thankful we are. “
Look out for Part 2 of this blog featuring the actual gorgeous wedding at Xanadu Island Resort.
Coming soon.
How to Keep Cool and Still Have a Hot Wedding – Belize Wedding Photography
People come to beautiful Belize to get married because it’s sunny. It’s warm. And of course it’s just gorgeous. But hot and sunny weddings aren’t always what Mother Nature plans and if you follow our little blog here about weddings in Belize, you’ll know that we encourage all of our couples to get in the water, take a little dip and cool off in the hot Caribbean sun. This wedding is a perfect example of how to be super hot, keep cool and have the best time of your life
A popular option for keeping cool in Belize is the famous local beer, Belikin. It’s also great for those pre wedding nerves…
…but too many can lead to an urgent need to cool down even more. You have been warned and don’t think we don’t encourage this sort of behaviour – because we do.
The wedding started perfectly with hot young women staying cool in the air conditioning but getting hot by jumping on the bed but staying cool by not getting dressed and well…..we could go on..but you get the hot/cool references we think
Bring on the hot young men stepping outside onto their balcony to look cool, while the young women below just keep looking hot, except they are not dressed, so they are sort of cool…
This couple brought along some super cool gifts for their guests because, of course, wait for it…..it’s hot (and sunny) in Belize.
And it was…right until they were about to say their vows. At this point, any plan B goes by the wayside. The good news is that in Belize it is believed that if it rains on your wedding day, it is a blessing. Good thing really….
…because in Belize, Mother Nature never does anything by halves. When she wants to bless your wedding, you know it’s going to get really blessed.
The wonderful thing about this very hot couple getting cooled down by the rain….they didn’t miss a beat.
Nothing could stop these two. It was all about the moment, their love, being with their friends and family….and so why not make the best of it.
Everyone at the wedding was super cool and just went with the flow.
The beautiful bride’s cool blue eyes never stopped sparkling.
The cool colour combination ensured that the bridesmaids popped against the moody sky.
Meanwhile, the guys snuck off, we’re guessing that the bar wasn’t far from here, they were feeling hot and needed a cool refreshing beer.
Before the drinking could commence though, it was time for guests to participate in another cool idea from the wedding couple.
One must never forget that the sun is never far away in Belize.
Creating beautiful shadows.
And incredible colours in the sky when it sets.
Wow! What a cool indoor venue. Not many people know about some of the gorgeous locations Belize has for the hottest weddings.
Time to reconnect for some quiet time before things really do hot up.
Because it looks like this super cool wedding crew know how to keep hot even when things get cooler in sunny and sometimes rainy Belize.
We so enjoyed taking part in this really cool wedding with this really hot couple. We hope you enjoyed it too!
This wedding was hosted and planned by the hot, beautiful and very cool Coco Beach Resort
The Thing About Paradise…. – Belize Wedding
There is something about paradise. Maybe we’re biased. We work in a place we believe is paradise. We live in a place we believe is paradise. We spend the happiest days of people’s lives with them in a place we believe is paradise. The thing about paradise is that it is beautiful in so many ways. Probably a bit like love. We guess this is why paradise + love is such a great match and why people choose to get married in Belize.
Dresses seem, somehow, much dressier in paradise
Even bling has a way of being even blingier in paradise.
Love from your family is even lovelier in paradise.
Your groom’s cheeky smile looks even cheekier in paradise.
An aisle lined with tropical flowers certainly seems more tropical in paradise. Oh and no one has to buy new shoes for the wedding!
Smiles are smilier in paradise.
The palm trees…well, the palm trees are ridiculously palmy in paradise.
Even the seaweed manages to be extraordinarily seaweedy and even quite beautiful in paradise.
And you know what’s even crazier about paradise? The fish are not fishier and they are always biting. So, even if you’ve already got the best fish in the sea – paradise in Belize is waiting for you.
This wedding in paradise was organised by the stunningly Victoriany Victoria House
Fifty Shades of Pink – Belize Wedding
We think there is nothing sexier than the sky, reflecting over the Caribbean Sea, just before sunset in Belize. You would’t need whips or chains to get this couple to spend time together. So let’s start this love story, which includes nothing but a little bit of light veil bondage, from the beginning.
The beautiful bride arrives in her sparkling limousine down the tree lined avenue. She trembles slightly as she anticipates the moment when she will set eyes on her handsome groom.
She exits the shiny limousine with thoughts of love and passion running wildly through her mind.
She sees her groom and immediately presses herself against him.
He teasingly toys with her veil.
(here comes the promised veil bondage)
He wraps the veil around them, binding them together as he nuzzles her neck.
And then a cute dog appears. Hey, c’mon. You all know us well enough to know that we couldn’t continue the steamy story and keep a straight face. The dog is cute though.
They were such a gorgeous couple and really didn’t even need a bit of veil bondage to make them seem sexy.
We were sad to see them go when the day ended and they drove off into the distance on the …ok we admit it..it’s not a limousine it’s a golf cart – but this is Belize and here, one man or woman’s golf cart is definitely as good as a limousine. Why?
Because this! Fifty shades of pink is simply priceless.
This lovely wedding was held on the beach in the beautiful Boca del Rio area of Ambergris Caye
and was organised by the couples’ good friend Libby Vidrine
Angels of Belize – Belize Weddings
As we’re coming to the end of an amazing 2014 and about to start an even more fabulous 2015, we felt that this wedding was a perfect fit to review all of the things that make Ambergris Caye so special, not only to us as wedding photographers in Belize, but also to the sweet, kind, fun, beautiful and loved up clients we’ve been lucky enough to work with. So, we’ll start with an easy one. Belize is, of course, known for it’s beautiful scenery, tropical beaches and Caribbean waters.
Belize is known as a place to be barefoot.
But, if you know Conch Creative, you’ll know we love shoes. So, we think that there is always room for shoes, even in Belize.
As a world famous dive destination, Belize is known as a perfect place to ‘take the plunge’.
Belize is also a place to feel a little bit sexy.
Belize is a place for musica muy romantica.
Belize is a place to say ‘I Do’.
Belize is a place to find gorgeous beach resorts.
Belize is a place to lounge around by a pool.
Belize is a place to discover quirky little places that are simply stunning.
Belize is a place to find all sorts of architecture.
Belize is a place where there is really good cake. No, seriously, the cake in Belize is delicious.
But oddly, it may surprise you to know, that Belize is a place where you can find angels watching you from above.
We wish all of our clients, friends, family, supporters, business partners and pretty much everyone in the world a very Happy New Year!
This beautiful wedding, all about Belize, was hosted by the wonderful Coco Beach Resort
My Secret Promise – Destination Belize Weddings
If you’re familiar with our blog, you’ll know that we love telling cute and fun stories with our destination wedding photography from beautiful Belize. We thought we’d try something different with this one and look forward to hearing what you think. We love the arts and we love supporting other artists. If there are any artists that can vividly capture ‘love’ with their work, it is poets and something about this couple made us feel very poetic. So, this is the first romantic poet we’d like to feature, Viyanga Gunasekera and his poem, My Secret Promise.
I ran in blessed drizzle,
I walked across the silver deserts.
I dived under golden sun gleams, and
I passed thousand of seas;
To get to the Seven Gates.
