The Chapel of Love – Belize Weddings
When we take candid photos of our couples, enjoying the breathtaking scenery of Belize, we often wonder to ourselves ‘what are they talking about?’ In this case we think we can guess because it certainly was an eventful day for them and for us and it all started in a the tiny little Catholic church in San Pedro Town, the only town on our beautiful island of Ambergris Caye.
This was a first for us. We’ve done hundreds of weddings in Belize, but because most destination weddings are on the beach, we had never had the experience of a church wedding. So we were intrigued and excited. We also learned a lot about traditions. For example, we had no idea that the priest would require private time with the bride and groom before the ceremony to counsel them. I don’t think they had any idea either, but rules are rules and if you want to get married in the church, you have to follow them.
It all seemed a bit overwhelming at times.
There are special rituals that are part of a church wedding. And of course there is simply the cuteness of a small church on a tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Belize.
There’s no doubt that it was all worth it and that it made this loving couple feel so special.
Don’t think for a minute that just because this couple opted for a church wedding that they aren’t up for some serious fun. Now’s the time to party on the beach!
After sharing some refreshments with loved ones, we whisked away our happy, newlyweds to enjoy the beautiful scenery they came to Belize for.
The spectacular view towards the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
The sandy paths and palm trees that make Ambergris Caye so uniquely natural.
The quirky variety of docks over the turquoise sea, which are all public and available to explore.
Meanwhile, it looked like things were getting all set up on the beach and ready for some serious celebrations.
But they still had some time to enjoy each other.
Finally, as the light faded and the skies became moody it was time to return.
Waiting for them was an absolutely gorgeous dinner setting to enjoy with their guests, who all loved them so much they had come all this way.
It couldn’t have been more perfect.
This is what every couple dreams of doing on the evening of their destination wedding in Belize. What a day! What a party! What a location! And to think it all started that morning in a little chapel of love.
This wonderful wedding that started in the Church but ended on the beach was organised by the gorgeous X’ Tan Ha Resort
Magical Moments – Belize Weddings
There are some places in the world that are simply unique. They have a sort of magic and mystery to them, where sometimes, time seems to stand still and for that moment, everything is simply perfect. Belize is one of those places and that’s why it is so popular as a place for small intimate destination weddings. Join us as we share some of that magic with you.
Flowers that look like they’ve popped out of a romantic old painting.
A dress that’s fit for a princess.
A cake with details that look like they were created by faeries.
And floating rings…….Whoa! Wait a minute! Floating rings? Is this real magic or is it Photoshop? It’s neither. This certainly was created with some good old fashioned trickery but we can assure you that the rings were most definitely in the sea and those are real fish and they were all really there together. No Photoshop or any sort of digital photographic manipulation required. But like all good magicians, our secrets must remain secret.
Romantico! And we all know that true romance is is in itself a magical thing.
As if appearing out of an enchanted forest, here comes the beautiful bride.
A very dashing, handsome, dark and mysterious groom completes the picture perfectly.
They seem enchanted, as if their love might just fly them away.
They tiptoe through paradise, apparently spell bound by the beauty of their surroundings.
Captivated, they take a moment to gaze into each others’ eyes.
Until the magic of Belize descends upon them, casting a spell that will make this a day they will never forget.
This magical wedding was hosted upon a beautiful private island at Cayo Espanto
Pretty in Pink (and it’s not who you think!) – Belize Weddings
Every couple does it differently and this is one of the things that makes our work as wedding photographers in Belize so interesting and fun. Some couples come to Belize to elope, to get away from it all and enjoy a small and intimate wedding on the beach. Other couples plan a big party and think out all the details. This wedding was thoroughly planned, with much excitement, good taste and love and we are so pleased that we are able to share it with you.
From the hanger for the dress…
…to the bouquets and bridesmaids.
The table settings…
…and even the Thank You card for afterwards. Everything was meticulously organised. Now some of you may think this would all be a lot of work, but what we’ve found is that the brides who plan and organise in advance, particularly if they have guests, have the most stress free wedding. This is because once it’s done, they don’t have to think about another thing. They can just go with the flow on the day and enjoy the party. Let us show you exactly how that went.
The boys, as always, remain in their underwear until the last possible minute.
Meanwhile, the flower girl takes charge in the ladies’ dressing area…
…ensuring that everything meets her strict specifications.
Because no matter how hard the bride tries to do it herself…
…she can always do with a little bit of help.
And there is nothing like that moment…
…when things are about to get real.
True to form, the guys are almost dressed.
Don’t forget those rings!
And finally, it’s sealed with a kiss.
No, seriously..did we really do it?
It appears that you did.
Well, in that case…
…it’s time to celebrate!
First, it’s time for some romance.
This is your special day and you should feel like rock stars!
Your own yacht for the day.
And today, the sun sets just for you.
All your loved ones have come all this way.
Dance.
Eat cake.
Hula.
Party the night away. For tomorrow it will seem like just a dream.
This fabulous wedding was hosted by the beautiful Ramon’s Village Resort
Til Death Do Us Part – Cowgirl Glam in the Tropics – Belize Wedding – Trash the Dress
Public Health Warning! – This is a Trash the Dress blog like no other we have done. We highly suggest that you make sure you’re snug in your saddle and ready for a romantic, playful, naughty and wild ride. And now we shall begin.
Those of you familiar with Conch Creative’s wedding photography know that we specialise in Trash the Dress sessions. This is our chance to work with couples, collaborate and create beautiful pieces that they will treasure for years to come. This cowgirl themed Trash the Dress started like most others. Beautiful romantic poses in a tropical setting.
A little bit of playful fun…
…and of course some sexy romping.
We should have realised that something was up when we saw our cowgirl’s garter. But nothing could have prepared us for the story we are about to share with you.
After sending the groom off to get some drinks, while we did some beautiful bridal portraits, our cowgirl bride told us in no uncertain terms that it was time for a little refreshment break.
Always obliging we found a shady spot at the end of a dock. Our cowgirl had brought along her own bottle and, politely, offered to share. We explained that it’s important for photographers to stay in focus but that we’d hang around and take a few more photos while she waited for her groom.
Fifteen minutes later, we knew that something memorable was about to happen and we weren’t about to stop shooting (by shooting we mean with a camera!) until the rodeo was over.
The groom returned with a couple of bottles of Belikin Beer and for a moment, we were lulled into a false sense of security, thinking everything had returned to normal. How could we predict the drama that was to unfold?
As the groom swept her up in his arms for a kiss, she was already plotting.
We heard her whisper in his ear (she did whisper loudly) , ‘Now that we’re legal, you’re mine cowboy and don’t you forget it!’ and then she started marching him up the beach.
We were stunned when she stopped suddenly and said ‘Turn around big boy and strip!’. Conch Creative have never done a nude cowboy shoot before, but we were game for anything at this stage and of course we must admit that we cheered him on as he started to unbutton his shirt.
But like all good Westerns the stories lead you down long and twisty canyon trails and you never know what’s around the next turn. Suddenly our groom got a bit feisty.
Before you could say ‘ride ’em cowboy’. He’d taken the situation in hand and the tables had turned.
It was all we could do not to cover our eyes and blush when the scene in front of us took on a life of its very own.
Our final observation is that the old cowboy saying ‘He’s all hat and no cattle.’ Certainly did not apply in this instance.
This will go down in history as one hell of a ‘rootin’ tootin’ Trash the Dress experience for Conch Creative.
Rain or Shine – Part 2. Shine – Belize Weddings
“While sleeping in a hammock, with the touch of a warm wind, we remember why we are in love with the life.” Mehmet Murat ildan
Welcome to part two of our Rain & Shine two part blog series. It’s almost always sunny in Belize and that’s one of the reasons it’s such a happy and romantic place for weddings. In fact, one of the most popular activities involves spending time in one of the many hammocks you’ll find attached to palm trees and cabanas all over the island.
“Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear
Tell me, tell me that you love me too. ” Paul Anka
So in this blog, we will be sharing the many ways that this beautiful couple spent their wedding day enjoying the sunshine in Belize.
“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high” John Denver
Walking hand and hand along one of the many long docks along the coast is a favourite pastime for those visiting Ambergris Caye. While enjoying the sea breeze and views, if you look down into the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea below your feet, you might be lucky enough to spot some of the many tropical fish that inhabit the coral reef nearby.
“The spaces between your fingers were meant to be filled with mine.” Unknown Author
We felt obliged to give you a different perspective of walking down the dock so that you can see the reef that we are talking about. The white breakers you see in the background is the sea popping over the Mesoamerican Reef. Not to brag, but it is the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and it is a World Heritage site. Whether you love to dive, snorkel or simply dangle your toes into the water, you’ll definitely find Nemo here on a sunny day.
“This dame keeps dragging me into the bushes. Keep your eye open, you may have to rescue me.” David O Selznick
You’ll find that on Ambergris Caye, despite being an atoll and almost a part of the Yucatan Peninsula, was once covered in coconut plantations. This means the earth is very fertile and as such not only do the resorts have stunning and maturely planted grounds but we have an extensive rainforest wildlife reserve at the northern tip of the island. Taking a stroll in our island ‘jungles’ in the sunshine can always prove to be an adventure.
“She is quick and curious and playful and strong.” Kate Spade
You can’t stop yourself from having a playful and private moment in the warm sun. It brings out the fun and romance in everyone.
“Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren’t even there before.” Mignon McLaughlin.
When the sun gets a little bit too warm, a moment of solitude, with a glass of wine for a companion, knowing the love of your life is waiting for you, is all you need to feel refreshed.
“If waiting means being able to be with you, I’ll wait for as long as forever to be with you.” Author Unknown
Knowing that your handsome groom is waiting for you can only be one of the best feelings in the world – especially when the sun is shining in paradise.
“Marriage is a wonderful invention. Then again so is a bicycle repair kit.” Billy Connolly
Ut oh. He might not wait quite forever. Not when he has a shiny set of wheels. Runaway groom!
“I’ve got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It’s got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I’d give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world.” Pink Floyd
Phew, he couldn’t cycle quite so fast in the afternoon heat, not that he’d want to. Riding one bike down the beach is one of the most fun two people can have on Ambergris Caye.
“May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart.” Irish Proverb
There are simply so many ways to enjoy Belize, whether you are laughing together in the shade…
“Laughter is an instant vacation.'” Milton Berle
…or in the sunshine.
“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.” Lemony Snicket
Taking that leap of faith hand in hand is simply so much easier when the sky is blue, the sea is turquoise and the palms are swaying gently in the breeze.
“Love is the master key that opens the gate of happiness” Oliver Wendell Holmes
Rain or shine, there is no place quite as special, quite as magical, quite as mysterious, quite as romantic as beautiful Belize. Come and see us sometime.
This wedding in the sun was hosted by the gorgeous Matachica Resort
Sweetness and Delight – Belize Weddings
If you know Conch Creative, you know that we specialise in beautiful, barefoot, beach weddings in Belize. We work with a lot of amazing couples and in the most fabulous locations, but every so often a couple comes along who are just so sweet with the way they express their love for each other and their sheer delight about their wedding that we end up saying ‘Awwww. Aren’t they adorable?’ when we look through their photos. This is one of those couples.
Our lovely bride in the build up to the big moment couldn’t hide her excitement.
While the groom was being well looked after by his groomsmen… 
..the bride, surrounded by sentimental and fabulous items, was being similarly well attended to
The dress just hung around waiting for the bride…
…as did the groom.
Everything came together as planned and you could see the bride’s absolute delight as her loving family guided her down a sandy, palm lined aisle towards her future.
Wow! Does their future look bright! We’re guessing it will be full of love, kisses, cuddles, adoration, fun and cake. Never forget the cake. Let’s follow them for a while in only the way photographers can (otherwise you’d be stalkers) and find out.
Looks like we were on the money with love.
Certainly is plenty of kissing going on too.
Oooh. There you go! We weren’t wrong about the cuddles either.
OK. We admit it. We didn’t predict the workers on bicycles, so let’s get back to the love and adoration bit.
There’s certainly some love happening here.
You can’t hide that adoration from us either.
Just in time for the requisite artistic pose before….
..the fun starts for the groom…
…and the bride.
But finally, not metaphorically at all, the icing on the cake.
This super fun and love filled wedding was hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort
Boots & Brides in Belize
Where has the time gone? Have you missed us? Well don’t worry, we’re back and we’ve got lots of gorgeous, cute, adorable, funny and fabulous weddings to share with you. Sometimes we just get so busy, we can’t find the time to blog. So, get comfortable as this is the first in a series of blogs we’ll be doing leading up to 2012!
Cowboys! You have got to love them. Even in Belize, they keep their boots on.
….and they are so darned romantic.
Did you know that all of the docks and beaches are public in Belize? This means you can just kick back and relax wherever you fancy, especially in your high heels. We’re used to barefoot weddings, so we very much appreciated having some different footwear to photograph.
In Belize, there is a reason for having a rest on the docks…it gives you the energy to play!
Then you can get a bit frisky. Cowboys are apparently notorious for being frisky.
As wedding photographers in Belize, we’ve seen a lot of couples and one thing we’ve learned is that laughter is the secret to true love.
Being adorable helps too! So smile, love, laugh, be happy….and if you’re a cowboy, bring your boots!
We’d like to thank ‘I DO’ Belize Weddings for hosting this beautiful wedding with this wonderful couple at Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye.
Love Lives in Belize ❤
“Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou
In this case the destination is ‘La Isla Bonita’, otherwise known as Ambergris Caye, a small but perfectly formed island off the coast of Belize.
As destination wedding photographers in the beautiful country of Belize, Conch Creative knows exactly why people who fall in love want to come to Belize and why they fall in love with Belize while they are here. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting for an intimate Caribbean beach wedding.
Whether you want to be pampered at a luxurious resort or…
…you’re looking for the quiet tropical island experience, Ambergris Caye (sometimes also known by San Pedro, the name of the only town on the island) has it all.
There are natural beaches where you’ll hardly see anyone except for the sea birds, sting rays, crabs, fish and the occasional dolphin.
Palm trees – so many palm trees. Even palm trees that grow horizontally.
You’ll find long docks that you can explore reaching right out over the Caribbean Sea towards our barrier reef. Did you know that in Belize the beaches and docks are all public? There aren’t many places left in the world like that, where you can explore and enjoy the scenery to your heart’s content.
And finally, we mustn’t forget lions. Lions? Ok, we have to admit – Belize does not have lions. Not real ones.
So, remember! Belize has everything you could possibly want for a destination wedding ……except lions.
Now is the time for our thank yous. A big thank you to the beautiful Belizean Shores Resort for hosting this wonderful wedding.
A Gal & a Guitar – Gettin’ Hitched in Belize
Conch Creative loves destination weddings in Belize. People who choose to marry in Belize tend to be people who like to step outside of ‘the box’ and like to do things just a little bit differently – and definitely their own way. This makes every wedding unique and often very entertaining for us. We’re going to share one of our recent favourites with you so that you can experience a true intimate and fun, barefoot wedding in Belize.
As we’re sure you’ve figured – both the ‘gal’ and the guitar feature heavily in this blog. Before the ceremony, our lovely and very romantic groom serenaded his bride to be. It was beyond sweet and you could tell how much she adored him.
Many couples choose Belize because they don’t want all of the fuss and stress associated with a traditional wedding. This is a perfect example of how simplicity can be so special. Marrying in a heart made from flowers and conch shells on a tranquil beach, overlooking the Caribbean Sea is perfectly divine.
Having your new husband and the man you love sing romantic love songs to you in the heart of flowers, overlooking the Caribbean Sea as you delicately drink wine is beyond divine – it’s sublime.
Whoops…scratch the bit about ‘delicately drinking wine’…..woohoo – now things are going to get lively it seems. Let’s see how this blog turns out, shall we?
We thought it was time for a quiet walk down the beach. Honestly, how many places are there in the world where you can have beaches like this virtually all to yourselves?
Time to catch a quick breath before the fun begins.
Did we mention it was hot that day?
..and it seemed to just get a bit warmer by the minute.
You really have to wonder just how much fun two adults can have with a bit of water…
..it seems that the possibilities of having fun in water, following a wedding, fully clothed are quite limitless. There’s no point in coming to Belize to have a fabulous wedding on a stunning beach in a tropical setting and not making the absolute most of it. As well as producing beautiful photographs, Conch Creative aims to help all of our wedding couples have fun.
There comes a time (usually sunset), when wedding photographers quietly fade into the darkness and leave the couple to enjoy their time together. We have no doubt that the assistance of Conch Creative was not required for the continuing fun.
We hope you enjoyed our most recent blog as much as we enjoyed making it. Of course, you can always join in the fun by becoming part of our Conch Creative community on Facebook. It’s easy – just click this Link.
If you’re wondering where that fantastic wedding was held, well as always we’re proud to have worked with the quite fantabulous Coco Beach Resort.
We’ll be blogging again soon and would love to hear from you. Would you rather see brides or bikinis?
Wet Weddings
As you can probably see from recent blogs, Conch Creative works with a lot of couples who like unique and different wedding photography. Maybe it’s something to do with Belize – after all, couples are planning to travel thousands of miles to marry in this beautiful country. Whatever the reason, we’re grateful because we get the opportunity to work with people who are often creative, always great fun and who have chosen us because they know that Conch Creative is one hundred percent committed to providing not just an enjoyable and entertaining wedding photography experience but also because they know that they’ll never look better than they do through Conch Creative’s lenses.
This adorable couple were serious divers and had come to Ambergris Caye with a diving group to get married at Xanadu Island Resort. They wanted to get wet and of course, Conch Creative obliged.
We managed to keep them out of the water just long enough for them to get legal and have one or two snaps taken.
It seems that the romance just becomes even more intense once the couples get into the water…..
…and so do the giggles.
Sometimes giggling is the only option..but there really is no better way to spend a wedding day full of fun, love, laughs and plenty of memories.
After all water, romance and giggling – we thought it was time to share something a little bit different. Those who know Conch Creative, also know that we don’t just do weddings.
If you’d like to find out more about Conch Creative, please check out our Facebook page where we can chat to you, you can leave us your comments and you get sneak peaks of all of our newest work. Conch Creative Facebook Page Link
Mucho thanks to the beautiful Xanadu Island Resort for hosting the wonderful wedding featured in this blog.
Look out for more from Conch Creative soon! Thanks so much for reading our blog.
Crazy in Love
If you follow our blog, you’ll know that we love fun and unconventional weddings. We have been very much looking forward to blogging this particular wedding as we laughed so hard throughout the day that we came back with our cheeks aching. This was a couple who were crazy in love and that craziness was definitely a feature of their romantic beach wedding on Ambergris Caye. So, please join us for Sean and Denise’s destination wedding in beautiful Belize.
As is often the case, it all starts with booze! The groom, featured here with our local Belizean Belikin Beer, hung out with the guys at Crazy Canuck’s bar, while the bride….
…required something a tad stronger resulting, of course, in the classic Tequila face.
As part of their nuptials, Denise and Sean included a Sand Ceremony. Normally at weddings, there isn’t a dry eye in the house. During this one, there wasn’t a straight face on the beach.
Then it was time for group pictures. We work really hard to help our couples to have fun group shots as they can be so boring sometimes. In this instance no encouragement was necessary. We all know that after the group shots come the family shots and here’s one that we will never forget.
We’d like to introduce you to the Mother of the Groom.
So we thought that once we got the lovely couple away from the group, things would calm down a bit. For a moment, they were as cute as buttons snuggled up on their golf cart. But that didn’t last for long.
What could we do but take a picture? But now we were on a mission. We always want to give our bride romantic photos, no matter how ‘crazy in love’ she really is. So we waved our magic ‘Conch’ and got them in the mood.
Turns out that when we got her to sit still for a minute, Denise was absolutely a very gorgeous bride.
Along came the groom.
But he couldn’t resist his gorgeous bride and settled down for a beautiful moment with her…until…….
….he found a Sea Cucumber. Oh yes he did. You can imagine the comparisons that were made and the giggling that ensued.
As usual, the bride had the last laugh and gave us this wonderful photo, which we just adore. Thank you Denise.
If you enjoyed this blog, you might enjoy our Facebook Page too. Give it a try by just clicking here. That’s where we post our most current work and publish sneak previews.
Special thanks to Exotic Caye Beach Resort for hosting this beautiful wedding.
Even specialer thanks to Crazy Canucks Bar for lending us the stools for the group shot.
And specialerer thanks to Victoria House for allowing us to use their beautiful beach for the after ceremony shoot.
If we’ve forgotten even more specialererer thanks, please let us know. Conch Creative wants everyone to feel loved and appreciated – even if a Sea Cucumber makes you feel small.
Why Would You Want to Do That? – Trash the Dress
‘Why would you want to do that?’, we often hear when we tell people that our couple have booked us for a Trash the Dress session. We try to explain that it really is not about trashing anything, but actually about creating something beautiful. Trash the Dress has become an art form – and yes, some brides really do go for it and trash their dress completely. Why not? Very few brides in this day in age plan to wrap their dress in mothballs hoping that a future daughter might choose to wear it again. But good photographs are definitely something that will be saved for future generations.
Trash the Dress sessions allow us, as a creative team, to add an element of fantasy. We love to take our subjects out of context and find beauty in the most unusual places.
Trash the Dress sessions can be incredibly fun and romantic for the bride and groom. Where else are they going to find a team like Conch Creative encouraging them to express their naughty side and to play in the water in their wedding gear?
When we start a Trash the Dress session we usually spend some time with the bride, working on portraits. The groom will stand and watch and we can always see the pride growing in his eyes. That’s when we know it’s a good time to invite the groom to join in.
How could a groom not be filled with pride and love when he gets to see his new bride looking like an angel during a photo shoot at sunrise on the Caribbean Sea?
Conch Creative just never gets tired of the romance…
and heroes..did we happen to mention that we especially love romantic heroes?
If you’ve ever wondered why someone would want to ‘Trash the Dress’, now you know. These beautiful images will bring back memories of a magical and enchanting wedding in Belize and they’ll never go out of style.
This wedding and Trash the Dress session was held at the gorgeous Las Terrazas Resort.
Cruisin’ for Some Fun in the Sun
We are sort of unusual destination wedding photographers in that we are already at the destination. Because we live and work here, we know how to get the best out of the weather, how to get our couples to look fabulous, even when it’s very hot, and – we know all of the best locations. But even more than that, we like to help our wonderful wedding couples to have an amazing experience. For many of our lovely couples, they are already having a great time here diving, snorkeling, fishing and exploring Maya ruins, but there are some couples who are just passing through – for a fleeting visit – and for them, their wedding and photography experience make up the sum total of their time in Belize. These are couples who stop to visit Belize, while traveling the Caribbean on a cruise ship. The couple above are one of those very special couples.
When a bride to be gets in touch and tells us what her fantasy wedding pictures will look like, we do our best to oblige. When we’re told ‘I want to make the most of the Caribbean and get wet!’, we make sure it happens.
The bride is always the brave one it seems. She always gets in first and somehow always manages to look just beautiful in the process.
But eventually the groom may need some encouragement. This seems to have done the trick.
It didn’t take long for the groom to turn the tables and with blue eyes like that, we can see why the lovely bride looks so happy. Before they knew it, it was time to go and catch their ship – but now they have the most wonderful photographs to remind them of their romantic escape to a little island in Caribbean, known affectionately as ‘La Isla Bonita’.
Just in case you wondered – we do take pictures of gorgeous brides on dry land too!
It doesn’t matter if you like to keep your toes dry – romance, love and lots of smiles are the order of the day when you get hitched in San Pedro.
Oh and did we mention fun??? With Conch Creative as your wedding photographers, your wedding photography experience will definitely be fun.
When our calendar is not full of exciting and fabulous weddings, we still manage to have plenty of fun ourselves. We love working with talented people and love getting the opportunity to give them our own special ‘Conch Creative’ touch.
Our amazing model was Miss San Pedro in 2009/2010 and it seems she just gets more beautiful.
A few days before the shoot, a friend had dropped off some hot chili peppers. We find beauty in everything around us and we felt that it was about time that our chili peppers were given the glamorous boost they deserved. Hot! Hot! Hot!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of the Conch Creative Blog. Don’t stop reading now though because we have to remind you about our entertaining and hugely silly photography competition on Facebook. There is still time to make your own hilarious entry and of course to vote for your favourite. To find out more – check out this Conch Creative Facebook Page Link . If you look on the left of the page, you’ll see a link to ‘photos’. Click there and then you’ll find the Copy Conchs 2011 – Photo Competition album. Take the time – it will be worth it …actually it will only be worth it if you have a really good sense of humour. If you’re boring – don’t bother.
As always we have to offer special thanks to the businesses and individuals who made this blog possible.
Firstly – thanks to ‘I DO’ Belize Weddings, the wonderful wedding coordinators for the cruise ship wedding.
Thanks to the beautiful Las Terrazas Resort for organising and hosting the drier, but still very beautiful, wedding.
And finally, thanks to you for reading our blog. We hope you liked it. If you did, please do share it!
Hula in Belize
As destination wedding photographers in Belize, we have the privilege of working with people from many different places and cultures. Belize is rapidly becoming ‘the’ place to hold the perfect, romantic, barefoot beach wedding. So, we’ve seen Mexican style wedding traditions, Native American wedding traditions – but this was the first time we’d seen Hawaiian traditions and we were very excited to learn that our bride would be dancing the Hula for her new husband.
There was so much love at this wedding, we have decided to share it with you – before we get to the hula bit – right from the beginning. Many people dream of a tropical wedding in paradise. Jennifer and Aaron’s wedding at Las Terrazas certainly filled the bill. As we photographed the dress against the Caribbean backdrop, we knew that it was going to be a beautiful day.
It almost seemed that mother nature had conspired with La Isla Bonita, our beautiful Belizean island, to create a perfect day. Even the shells and sailboats were cooperative.
The preparations are often nerve wracking, especially when the bride and groom get ready in different locations. Our lovely bride was getting lovelier by the minute. Meanwhile….
…our handsome groom knotted his tie in contemplation.
But rarely is anyone usually more nervous than the Mother of the Bride.
With all the planning and build up it seems so sudden when it’s finally time to ‘kiss the bride’.
This couple did just a bit more than kiss though. They had their own secret handshake and they made sure to bind their marriage vows by performing it in front of their loved ones. That’s one way to seal the deal!
While the guests enjoyed the adorable party favours, we wandered off with the bride and groom to enjoy the scenery and some fun wedding photography – just the sort of thing that Conch Creative loves.
First there was some ‘Caye’ Kung Fu.
Followed by some serious smooching.
Then they did some rather impressive leaps of love.
Our stunning bride had no hesitation in telling her gorgeous groom exactly where she wanted him to be….
…and that was snuggled up with his arms wrapped around her.
By now, you’re saying ‘ Where is that danged Hula they promised?’. We had to share the ever so sweet first dance, accompanied by solo saxophone as the sun was close to setting over the west side of Ambergris Caye.
Here it is! Last but not least and definitely worth waiting for – the Hula in Belize. It was a touching dance, accompanied by a traditional Hawaiian song played beautifully on mandolin and sung with such feeling that everyone shed a tear and smiled – all at the same time.
Weddings in Belize are never boring and we can’t wait to share the next one with you. Thank you so much for following our blog.
Conch Creative is running a photo competition. Copy Conchs 2011. If you’d like to enter, please check out our Facebook page – here. You could win your own afternoon of pampering in paradise at the stunning Caye Winds Resort with us, Conch Creative, as your own personal photographer. The best thing about this photo competition is that you don’t have to be a photographer to enter – or win. You just have to be a bit silly and have lots of friends willing to vote. Even if you don’t choose to enter, you will definitely enjoy the entries.
Vive la différence
Weddings in Belize inspire couples to ‘do their own thing’. Belize, of course, is a magical place for a destination wedding and the freedom of celebrating a marriage in such a romantic and exotic location allows people to relax, be themselves and have fun with it.
It starts with the seemingly little things such as decorations and party favours. These fans were the perfect treat for guests celebrating in the tropical sun.
While, these adorable, personalised beach tote bags, ideal for La Isla Bonita, were so much fun and the guests had something useful that would remind them of the wedding for years to come.
San Pedro is best known as a barefoot wedding destination and some girls just LOVE their shoes. It can be a bit tricky wearing heels on the beach, but you can’t blame a girl for trying.
The more laid back ladies opt for simple and sparkly flip flops. They still feel a bit dressy but are comfortable and fun.
Whatever shoes they bring, most brides end up kicking off their shoes to enjoy the sand between their toes as a genuine ‘barefoot bride’.
We can’t mention ‘la différence’ without including the classic battle of the sexes. Women and men have much different ways of celebrating before a ceremony. The girls make themselves beautiful and toast with champagne.
Meanwhile – the guys find somewhere to hang out in the shade.
Even the guests can vary wildly. Some guests are flat packed and stuck in the ground. They are very well behaved and hardly eat anything at all. You definitely don’t have to share the cake with them.
Other guests, which turn up frequently to weddings in Belize, are uninvited, hairy and have four legs. Fortunately most couples we work with love dogs and are perfectly happy to share some of their goodies with their new best friend. Almost every wedding we’ve photographed in San Pedro has had cute local dogs as gate crashers.
Then there are the choices of all the stunning locations. Some are attracted by the sea. They love being by the water and want nothing more than a beach wedding.
Others love the mystery of the ancient Maya ruins on the mainland of Belize. With the Maya people and their calendar receiving so much press lately because of a surging interest in ‘end of the world’ predictions, ruins weddings are becoming popular amongst adventurous couples who want to do something completely different.
Some couples choose to make their wedding a virtual multi destination affair. So preparations start in one place.
Then there really is nothing that makes a girl feel spoiled than having her own private boat arrive to pick her up to whisk her to the next location, where she will continue to prepare.
This is where the serious preparations happen – with beautiful results.
You might recognise these feet from earlier in the blog. The rest of the couple was so cute, that we had to show you the whole picture!
We also try to keep our portraits a little ‘different’ if the couple so desire. Many of our clients come to us because they want contemporary, funky and fun images rather than conventional and traditional. So we do our best to bring out the inner Vanity Fair model in our brides and…..
…the inner GQ model in our grooms. Didn’t he scrub up well?
If you’ve kept up with our blog, you’ll know that we aren’t just ‘one trick ponies’. We do a lot more than wedding photography and we love “la différence”
We are inspired by the beauty surrounding us in Belize – both the people and the scenery.
We even find beauty in the chili peppers.
But ultimately, as much as we like to be different – who can resist a pretty, semi clad woman on a deserted sand bar? Conch Creative does a wide range of private and personal shoots. Many women choose to do a glamour shoot with Conch Creative because the images created make them feel great about themselves.
Two of the beautiful weddings featured in this blog were organised by ‘I DO’ Belize Weddings. They have featured the Maya ruins wedding and Conch Creative photography in their own blog, which you can find here: ‘I DO’ Belize Weddings Blog
Conch Creative would also like to extend special thanks to Mary Gonzalez and the San Pedro Sun for doing a feature story on the Maya ruins wedding at Xunantunich. You can find that wedding here: Maya Ruins Wedding – San Pedro Sun
All of the weddings in this blog are recent. The locations include the following resorts Xanadu Island Resort, Blue Tang Inn, Capricorn Resort and Pelican Reef Villas. The Maya ruin wedding location was Xunantunich in the Cayo District of Belize
We thank all of our readers for your time and feedback. If you like our blog, you might just love our Facebook page, which features fresh new images from our most recent shoots – Conch Creative Facebook Page
You’ll really want to keep an eye on that Facebook Page as something very exciting will be announced at the end of the month.
A Photographer’s Life in Belize
As photographers in Belize we’re often asked what our job is like. What do we do? What is a normal working week? Well, if you’ve ever been to Belize, you’ll realise that Belize has it’s own rhythm, it’s own style, it’s own innate beauty. So, working as photographers in Belize is probably unlike being a photographer anywhere else in the world.
Belize is a place for contemplation. The beautiful bride pictured above is about to marry the love of her life at Captain Morgan’s Retreat.
Belize is definitely magical. It can also be wet. Living on the Caribbean Sea means that we sometimes work on the water, in the water and even under the water. This underwater shot was taken just off the dock at Ramon’s Village Resort.
Without a doubt, Belize is a place for tropical love. This moment of joy happened at Cayo Espanto, the private island resort.
Belize is inspirational, so there is a flourishing artists’ community. This is Paul, glass blower extraordinaire, from Artemis Glass in San Ignacio, Cayo.
Belize is mysterious. Because Belize is the home of the ancient Maya people and they believed that caves were portals to the underworld, some of our photography is underground. This was taken after a mile long hike through the Actun Chapat cave near San Jose Succotz. The floor is littered with pottery. This cave is on private property but tours can be arranged through Ken Dart of Belizean Sun Tours.
Belize is luxurious. If you want absolute luxury, resorts in Belize like Cayo Espanto can make you feel like a star. In fact, Cayo Espanto is a fabulous secret hideaway for many world famous stars.
Belize is romantic.
Did we mention that Belize is romantic?
Belize has history – seriously ancient history with pyramids and ruins and everything. The Maya knew how to build them to last, but you can’t climb them wearing high heels.
Above all…Belize isn’t always what you think it will be. This is Eddie, (AKA Handyman Eddie). He’s come to our rescue on more than one occasion to save us from floods and fires. Honestly – he really has. Eddie is Belizean. With him is Keppy, a macaw. Belize is somewhat famous for its macaws. Keppy, though, is not Belizean. Keppy is a Miligold Macaw. Eddie rescued her from a very uncertain future. Conch Creative does not support the keeping of wildlife as pets and would always prefer to see birds flying free, but Keppy was bred in captivity and would never survive in the wild. She and Eddie have a very close relationship and we were thrilled to be able to capture this special moment between them.
So folks this is just a taster of what being a photographer in Belize is all about. We hope you enjoyed sharing this blog with us. We certainly enjoyed making it. All of the photos in this blog were taken within the last two months. Oh and in case you didn’t know – this is us, Conch Creative, at work in Belize. This photo was sneakily taken during a wedding shoot on Cayo Espanto by the lovely groom to be, Alan. Thanks for sending it to us Alan!
Special thanks goes to Keli at I DO Belize Weddings, who organised and planned both of our featured weddings.
If you’d like to see more of Conch Creative’s images and keep up with all of our new work, please join our Conch Creative Facebook page .
Doing San Pedro – A Unique Trash the Dress Experience in Belize
Wedding photographers love the opportunity to do something different, something unique and something out of the ordinary. Many would say that Conch Creative gets to do that every day as we are ‘in situ’ destination wedding photographers in Belize, one of the most beautiful countries in the world – and you certainly won’t hear us complaining. But we must admit that our heart skips a beat and we get giddy with excitement when a bride contacts us and says she wants to do a Trash the Dress session. We know that this is a bride we’re going to have fun with…but not all Trash the Dress sessions involve just trashing the dress. Let us share a Trash the Dress experience with you – Conch Creative style.
Even before we met this couple, we knew they were special and wonderful. Once we met them and their beautiful families, we were absolutely convinced. This is Ryan with their gorgeous son, who was a handsome if somewhat reluctant ring bearer. They are waiting for the ceremony to start.
The wedding, of course was beautiful. All weddings in San Pedro are beautiful – but this blog is not about the wedding, which was held at the gorgeous Xanadu Island Resort. But we just couldn’t help but include a romantic photograph from after the ceremony, just to remind our readers how amazing Ambergris Caye truly is. We don’t think there could be another image that could conjure up the fantasy of a ‘tropical wedding’ quite so well as this one does.
The day after the wedding, Carrie & Ryan’s friends and family decorated a golf cart. When Carrie booked her Trash the Dress, she said she wanted a flavour of San Pedro – she wanted images that were taken in and around town so that she’d have memories to treasure. Of course, Conch Creative felt obliged to be the ultimate tour guides. So we all piled into the golf cart and headed into the wilds of San Pedro Town.
They wanted to experience the wild and wonderful side of San Pedro, Belize and so a pit stop at the new Blackbeard’s Hideout seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
Anyone who has spent any time on Ambergris Caye will know that Maria’s fruit and vegetable stand is a landmark and Miss Maria is an icon with (we’re losing count now) well over 50 grandchildren. She’s everyone’s grandma really and couldn’t wait to congratulate the bride and groom in her typically, warm and affectionate manner.
Then on to the next landmark. Estel’s is famous for it’s seafront ambiance, colourful characters and delicious food.
Along the way Carrie & Ryan had to stop to see some local hand crafts made from gorgeous Belizean hardwoods.
Then it was time for some fun and games in San Pedro’s Central Park. Ryan sure got into the spirit of things with this Manatee (otherwise known as a Sea Cow). Ride ’em cowboy!
Ever the gentleman, he made sure that the lovely Carrie got to enjoy the playground too.
After finally getting Carrie & Ryan familiar with the ‘real’ San Pedro, it was time for them to get wet and so we headed for the sea…
They tested the water and knew it was time.
In minutes, Carrie was a Caribbean princess of the sea. But it wasn’t long before….
Ryan had to join her and so he, being a total Prince Charming, made his way through the warm waters to join Carrie.
She was so beautiful and the moment was so perfect, he just couldn’t resist.
And so ends our tale of a unique Trash the Dress experience with two very wonderful and beautiful people, who wanted the real San Pedro experience. We know that their wedding images will give them joy and memories of beautiful Belize for many years to come. Congratulations Carrie & Ryan and thank you for letting us share our gorgeous island with you.
Conch Creative would like to make it clear that no Manatees were hurt in the making of this blog.
If you would like to keep up to date with Conch Creative’s different photographic adventures, then please join our Facebook page Conch Creative’s Adventurous Facebook Page
A Wedding in Belize
Conch Creative, as wedding photographers in Belize, feel obliged to finally offer up a blog wholly dedicated to a wedding in Belize. We could think of no better event than Mary & Gabe’s wedding at Coco Beach Resort in San Pedro, organised by ‘I DO’ Belize Weddings.
So please join us as we take you through their fabulous and romantic day in paradise with a documentary photographic journey. Here are some of our favourite images from the day.
Every wedding has rings – and some have a little more bling than others. These rings were photographed on amethyst and quartz crystal with the stunning backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. If you can see that line of foam in the distance, that is the Mesoamerican Reef – the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, stretching over 724 kilometeres (450 miles) along the coast of Central America. The fact that you can see the reef from the shoreline of Ambergris Caye and reach it by boat in less than 10 minutes, is one of the many things that makes our island jewel a unique Caribbean wedding destination.
Before any ceremony, there is a great deal of anticipation. Something exciting is going to happen; something big and something that will leave everyone with lasting memories. For children, this is an extra special time, filled with magic and mystery. This is a picture of three of the children attending this family event, watching as the preparations on the beach below carry on in a flurry of activity.
In the background, the very cool musicians, who will be creating the true Caribbean ambiance are getting themselves in just the right mood for the celebrations ahead.
..and then, suddenly, before anyone realises – it’s that time. This is the most nerve wracking moment, when everyone tries to keep their composure and remember exactly what they have to do.
This is where it will happen. Everyone is here, watching and waiting to share in the celebration and the union of the loving couple. Emotions run high…
As the vows are read meaningfully and lovingly, it all gets too much and the tears flow.
The rings are no longer a prop, in a beautiful setting, but now important reminders that this is the real thing. Signifying a binding and lasting commitment.
It all goes by in a blur and suddenly you’re no longer in that tense, emotional moment in front of your family and friends, but instead you are with them and celebrating together.
There can be no doubt that everyone is sharing the love….
…even the very youngest guests join in.
Afterwards, it’s important to have some quiet time – away from the guests – letting it all sink in and remembering what the day is truly all about.
Time, of course, to appreciate the beautiful setting, the sunshine and the cool Caribbean breeze.
Time to enjoy each other.
And finally, when the sun is setting, it’s time to join the party and celebrate in style. Belize style.
Weddings in Belize are truly unique, special and wonderfully romantic experiences – whether you are eloping and having an intimate ceremony for two on an isolated beach, or having a big family wedding at one of our fabulous resorts – there aren’t many places in the world that will leave you with the sort of memories that beautiful, friendly, laid back and unspoiled Belize can.
Belize – the ultimate in destination wedding locations.
If you have enjoyed this wedding story and would like to keep up with the adventures of Conch Creative, please join our Facebook page – Conch Creative Facebook Page Link – we look forward to meeting you there!
The Spice of Photography
As wedding photographers in Belize, Conch Creative are always grateful that we get the opportunity to attend and document romantic and fabulous weddings. As artists, we are always evolving and looking for new inspiration. Last year we were privileged to be invited to provide official photographs for the Miss San Pedro pageant. All of the girls were intelligent, poised, charming and absolutely beautiful. Natasha Stuart won the title of Miss San Pedro 2010/2011 and we believe this image is a wonderful representation of her metamorphosis from the young lady we met last year to the woman she is becoming. As she rises from the water, with her wings spread, ready to take flight, she is heading for a brilliant future. She is currently a college student and we can see that she has amazing opportunities laying ahead of her.
Liliana Mia Nunez was once the reigning Miss San Pedro. She has since gone on to develop a successful career in fitness training. When Conch Creative photographs Belizean women, we like to portray not only their beauty but immense strength. Liliana represents all of those things. As a community, we in San Pedro were extremely proud that she represented Belize as Miss Belize in the International Costa Maya Festival. We had so much fun working with her on this shoot – and work we did. Not only did it take excellent balancing skills, but a considerable amount of bravery for Liliana to give us this image.
These images are previews and there will be many more amazing Conch Creative images of these incredible women being released in the near future. If you’d like to see more of Liliana and Natasha, they will be appearing on our Facebook page – Conch Creative Facebook Page – and eventually on our website – Conch Creative Website .
Conch Creative wedding photography has been extremely busy this year and March has brought marriage madness with it. We certainly are not complaining and felt obliged to share some of our recent weddings with you. This is Terri and Glenn. They got married at sunset on a sandbar in the middle of nowhere, with only three guests in attendance on Valentine’s Day. They were so in love it was absolutely touching and everyone shed a tear when they read their very personal vows.
Sandbars are a unique location for an intimate tropical wedding in Belize. While the there isn’t much in terms of scenery, who needs it when the love virtually pops out of the photograph and kisses you on the nose.
But of course when there is scenery, everyone takes advantage of it. This is Jenn and Todd. They were married at the tasteful and beautiful Victoria House resort. They were just lovely people – laid back, wonderful to work with and great fun.
Doing wedding photography in Belize, we get some unusual requests for family and group shots. This was one of our most unusual. Todd and Jenn had some relatives who were absent for a variety of reasons. They were gathered together on this table – their sister attending by Skype.
Jenn had a gorgeous wedding dress, which we felt deserved its very own portrait.
Of course Conch Creative ‘hearts’ weddings in Belize. It seems that Mother Nature does too!
The variety is never ending for photographers in Belize and the smile of a child is always food for inspiration. This young man came all the way from Cayo for his six month portrait shoot with Conch Creative. He couldn’t stop smiling – and I’m sure it helped that he had four adults making absolute fools of themselves for his benefit.
While we love taking pictures of people, there is a special magic to commercial and resort photography in Belize. This is Ramon’s Village Resort, one of the oldest and most established resorts in San Pedro, at night.
..and this is Coco Beach Resort, one of San Pedro’s newest resorts at night.
Because variety is indeed the spice that gives Conch Creative it’s very unique flavour, we end with this image, taken at Sailsports Belize. Amazing kiteboarding stunts truly gave us that wonderful kick that only the spiciest of dishes provide…and we all know that Belize is a country that loves everything hot and spicy.
Until next time, Conch Creative thanks you all for taking the time to read our blog and enjoy our photos. If you like our work, please do share it and maybe even join our Conch Creative Facebook Page – Conch Creative spicy link
We have some important thank yous and shout outs to give here.
Many thanks to Caye Winds and Caribbean Villas for providing us with fantastic locations for our shoots with Liliana and Natasha.
Thanks to Bradley Mazin for his outrageous kiteboarding skills.
Thanks to our brides and grooms for making our job easy and enjoyable.
And thanks to all of the models, resorts and even kids who share a little bit of themselves with us and become part of Conch Creative as a result.
Welcome to San Pedro – The perfect location for destination beach wedddings
If you’ve been following our blog, you’ll know that Conch Creative are Belize wedding photographers, specialising in beach weddings. Of course we also do other photography and we like to spice things up a little bit on our blog by sharing some of that with you too so that you can experience Belize as a location for your dream destination wedding. Welcome to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
This is the beach in front of Ramon’s Village. There are some beautiful beaches on Ambergris Caye and this certainly is one of them.
Just in case you were wondering what Ramon’s Village might look like from above, here is a bird’s eye view taken from one of our cute little Cessna island hoppers.
As wedding photographers in Belize, we are often asked ‘What do you do if it rains?’. Of course, we say ‘We have to sacrifice a virgin to the Maya Rain God – Chac’. We’re proud to introduce you to Chac. He can be found lounging around the pool at Ramon’s Village.
Of course, where you find one Maya god, you’ll find others – sometimes hiding in the most unlikely places, like this watermelon!
Of course taking pictures can make you hungry, especially when the food looks as good as this. Could it be the incredible leaning tower of shrimp? The chef at Pineapple’s Restaurant knows how to wield a skewer for sure!
Ok, with Valentine’s Day around the corner, we couldn’t cheat you all out of a little love and romance. Stephanie and Edwin had some friends and family come to join them for their beautiful beach ceremony at Victoria House. Another of our fabulous Caribbean beaches ideal for that dream barefoot wedding. (except that Edwin wore shoes!)
Beach weddings in Belize tend to be incredibly romantic. You would think that being wedding photographers, we would get bored, but we shed a tear with every couple, sharing their happiness.
It’s hard not to feel the love when two people are so truly enamoured with one another.
A lacy dress, a white beach, glowing with happiness – it is easy to see why Edwin is totally smitten with Stephanie…
…that he couldn’t help but sweep her off her feet for one and all to see!
So come and join us in exotic, romantic and beautiful Belize for your destination beach wedding…you never know what you’ll find around every corner…or what magic it might bring into your lives.
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