A Destination Wedding with Island Vibes – Belize Weddings
Island dreams always feature unforgettable sunsets. As Belize wedding photographers, we can’t guarantee a sunset – only Mother Nature can do that – we can guarantee that if there is one, it will take pride of place in your wedding memories.
On the day of the wedding, as the bride slips into her wedding dress, a whirlwind of intense emotions will wash over her like the warm gentle waves of the Caribbean Sea. The weight of anticipation and excitement will mix with a touch of the nerves, as every button fastened evokes a unique feeling. In that moment of transformation, the wedding dress represents a lifetime of hopes, a tapestry of shared moments, and the promise of a future with the one she loves.
A wedding dress is a canvas upon which a bride paints her dreams, her personality, and her individuality. It symbolizes her unique identity while also signifying her readiness to embark on the adventure of marriage, where love, trust, and partnership will shape the chapters of her life.
The groom, has his own set of rituals in preparation for a day that will change his life forever. The clothes he has chosen for this important moment represent tangible manifestation of the love and commitment. In these moments, he will reflect on the journey that led him to this day, and the love that brought him here.
Many couples opt for a ‘first look’ before the wedding ceremony. This is a precious and intimate moment, when the bride and groom see each other for the first time. They do this away from the gathering of family and friends and it allows them a moment to catch their breath, connect, and share their awe and excitement for what’s to come.
This cherished ritual is a stolen moment and time seems to stand still. During this tender exchange, they are reminded of the profound connection that brought them together. It’s a beautiful reminder of the extraordinary love that they are about to share with their loved ones.
Everything starts to get real as the groom arrives.
Not far behind is the bride, on this perfect island day, for a dreamy Belize wedding.
Candid moments like these, captured for eternity by your Belize wedding photographer, are so important because the ceremony flies by and the smiles, the laughter, and the love that meant so very much at the time, can be lost in the excitement as the celebrations continue.
Before the couple can catch their breath, they are sharing a kiss as a married couple, and being swept up in the congratulations and festivities.
During a destination wedding, taking the time to remember the reason why you chose a Caribbean beach wedding, makes it all worthwhile.
That’s why taking the time for a more relaxed aftershoot to take advantage of the unique and stunning surroundings you traveled for is a fun and romantic way to enjoy a once in a lifetime even like a destination wedding in Belize.
Appreciating and becoming part of the local art culture creates the most fantastic memories. Not only will Ambergris Caye illustrate the story of your wedding experience , but you’ll be immersed in the story of the local community
This stunning piece of artwork by Franky Cardona, a crazy talented and beloved Houston based painter, has a truly special meaning. The building it adorns is called Hope Haven. It is a home full of love, joy and safety for vulnerable children from San Pedro. It’s symbolic of the heart of this island that we love so very much.
When you are with Conch Creative, you not only enjoy the art, but you become the art in your own magical scrapbook of your wedding in Belize.
There is no better way to end your wedding photography experience with Conch Creative than to cool off in the spectacular, welcoming, salty blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
This incredible wedding was held at Ramon’s Village Resort, a true island paradise getaway where you can relax and enjoy the flavors, colors, textures, and beauty that is Belize. They collaborated with the fabulous planners at Dulce Belize Weddings to create the absolutely perfect Belize wedding.
We are grateful to be able to work with such amazing people, who work so hard to make people’s wedding dreams come true.
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.
That Amazing British Wedding (in Belize) – Belize Wedding Photography
Don’t tell us you haven’t heard about ‘THE’ wedding between a beautiful young woman and a handsome British man in uniform. Of course you have and we are beyond thrilled to tell you that it was in Belize. Not only that, but you are one of the very lucky people, who will be able to get an insider’s perspective on this fabulous event through the eyes of Conch Creative.
That dress! That dress and a waterfall!
That hat and gloves! And sandals. What? Oh! Wait a minute. This wedding will be on the beach. Just a teaser for some cuteness to come. The groom did not wear sandals. God forbid! But, look out for the ring bearer.
Of course, for a ceremony of this magnitude, special arrangements have to made to ensure that there is nothing unsightly to spoil the beauty of this special day. Thank goodness for these hard working Belizeans who cleared the influx of sea grass from the beach. Gotta love them!
A special courier was employed to carry gifts and messages from the bride to the groom and from the groom to the bride. This special courier was, in fact, the photographer. Multi tasking!
Guess who nearly ruined her makeup?
Guess who’s lucky he wasn’t wearing any makeup.
Guess who got their very own gifts to assist with their own make up. Meet the Mums.
Mums are so important at weddings. They do things like this mother of the bride is doing here – ensuring that absent loved ones still get to participate in some of the festivities. Meet the bride’s dog.
More gifts to go round. Dad and the two best men.
Yes! You heard correctly. TWO best men. We did say that this was an extraordinary event.
Dad ensures that everything is as it should be with our handsome soldier’s dress uniform.
The Mums bond while leaving bridal details to the experts.
A blessing by both parents, while making sure that the surprise isn’t spoiled.
OMG! Hold on to your hats. (We hope you’re wearing a hat while you’re reading this. It’s only fitting.) It’s starting.
Like every wedding of this magnitude. Here come the parade of the real stars.
We’re not sure, but we’re thinking there may have been an imbalance in flowers in those baskets. That’s certainly what it looks like is going through the mind of one of these chiffon wrapped cuties.
Never mind because look who is arriving now. Where’s the Paparazzi when you need them?
This tiny star seemed to have been accompanied by a minder to make sure he fulfilled his duties and delivered the rings perfectly. Way to represent little fella!
And here she comes! We’ve all been waiting. No! Don’t cry yet.
Too late. He’s already there. If you haven’t already fetched your hankies, now would be an appropriate time.
This is how they greeted each other. *sniff* *sniff*
It was a perfect day. Even in tropical Belize, the day was just more perfect than most. It had to be.
And the crowd goes wild!
Now she has a hat. But just for a moment, check out that bouquet. British roses. Could this get any better?
You know it will. We have to admit that even after hundreds of weddings in Belize, the photographer was blown away by this one.
Unfortunately, not everyone was on board though.
Right now, the order of the day is to get legal.
We don’t normally post group shots, but look at them. How could we not share this with you?
A Belizean throne for a little sit down.
Romantic photo time. The secret waterfall of San Pedro. Oh yes.
That secret waterfall is located in the secret jungle.
From beach to mysterious and magical. Absolutely fitting for such a day.
Yes. This really happened. He washed her feet. He did. Hang on while we swoon.
In typical San Pedro style, off they go in their Belizean limo. ‘But why’? We hear you declare. ‘Where are they going? Don’t let this day end!’ you implore.
But there’s cake. They must go to their cake. And so…
…we leave you with this last, photo, just to remind you of this day, this blog, this wedding and this amazing British wedding in Belize. Like you’d even forget.
This gorgeous wedding was organised and hosted by Xanadu Island Resort
Come for the Culture and Bring Some of Your Own – Belize Weddings
Many couples come to Belize for the beauty and this photo certainly illustrates that. Other couples come to Belize for the culture. This couple brought some of their culture with them to Belize and we were so lucky to be part of it. But, as always, we have to take you through the day like we do with all of our other fabulous weddings. This one was certainly fabulous.
Here comes the bride and what a stunning bride she is. We love the colours she chose and her bridal party are just gorgeous.
The wedding was as lovely as any traditional wedding in Belize can be. Right on the beach, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
The couple had no less than movie star smiles when their wedding was declared official.
And Maya, our photographer, made sure to create her typically magical wedding images featuring the extraordinary natural backdrop of Belize.
Romance and intimate moments are cherished memories that we are committed to capturing for our couples.
We don’t usually feature group shots and even though this is a very good looking group, we have a special reason for doing this. You see, it is definitely fashionable for the bride to change clothes part way through her wedding day. She often has a second, more casual or comfortable outfit for the festivities after the ceremony. This was the first wedding we’ve ever photographed where everyone changed part way through the wedding day.
Bringing some incredible Nigerian culture with them all the way to Belize via the UK. It’s almost hard to believe that this great looking bunch were able to pull off looking even more fantastic after a hot, sunny, Caribbean afternoon. They were just getting warmed up it seems.
Here come the newly married couple to get the party started.
Do you see that little hut at the end of the dock there? Well, that’s where all the action began.
There is a wedding tradition in Nigeria called ‘spraying money’. This is a custom when guests place money on the heads of the couple on their wedding day. It represents a showering of good fortune.
Not only was there much good fortune being sprayed upon this newly married couple.
There was also plentiful love and joy.
Those loving feelings carried into the evening with the bride sharing a bouquet with her Matron of Honour to thank her.
And then, sharing her own with some very competitive guests.
Not sure she’s ready for that kind of commitment just yet, but she looks very pleased with herself.
The music started.
The dancing commenced.
And, like all Belize weddings, it was a night to remember.
This amazing wedding was hosted and organised by Victoria House Resort
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
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
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.
Sometimes I was lost in a crowd
But I felt your love’s power
Pulling me towards you all the time.
Will we be able to survive together?
For this world is a flaring place
But I’ll gladly take the chance, for
You are the only one I love till eternity.
I stopped, and saw the empty skies above,
A graveyard with a newly buried couple,
A dark cloud wandering lonely.
But the silver line in it,
Manifested the diamond necklace I gave you.
Then came a fresh breeze
I felt your sweet voice and divine aroma in it.
So I saw you in a sea of roses,
In a blossoming bud,
In a luminous sunbeam,
In a fragrant wind,
And then everywhere.
Suddenly there were colors and songs in the atmosphere.
An angel was sprinkling magical dust
A cupid was shooting arrows of flowers.
My heart leaped out
For I saw my Cinderella…………
She’s a divine Goddess, I was feared to touch.
She had lit a lamp for me
But I was the one who burnt all the time.
She does not know…………………………
Her voice filled my vacant ears,
Her magical eyes stung in my heart,
Her glittering smile made haloes in me.
She was my secret promise…………..
The flames that burned in my heart,
Now have become caressing petals.
I removed my heart and gave to her,
She wore it on her wedding finger.
This gorgeous wedding was organised and hosted by the beautiful Victoria House
The Recipe for a Perfect Wedding in Paradise – Belize Weddings
There are a number of ingredients, when correctly combined, result in an absolutely perfect wedding day in paradise. We are happy to share our own special recipe with you.
So, to start, our main ingredient is a beautiful bride.
We also need a large measure of handsome groom.
A little touch of cheekiness always adds some flavour.
But do have the groom close to hand because you need to be prepared to mix them up.
As once those two main ingredients are combined…
You can’t always predict what’s going to happen next.
Gently add some of your dry ingredients to give a little sparkle and spice to the occasion.
Now, moisten the ingredients lightly.
While it may be tempting to add more liquid, don’t overdo it.
Just a couple of cups for now as you can always add more fluids later.
If you overdo it, things may become little bit wobbly.
We certainly wouldn’t want anyone to fall in the process.
Next, make sure to cover your ingredients well. Barefoot weddings are all well and fine, until you hit the gravel.
Very carefully transport them.
And place them somewhere cool and dry for a while.
After they’ve settled for a short time, return them to a moister environment and then…
…warm them up slowly.
Finally finishing them off nicely with a glaze of alcohol and sugar (otherwise known as wine). If you’ve followed our instructions correctly, your final product should be a perfect wedding day in paradise.
This beautiful wedding was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort.
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
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.
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
Belize Wedding Photography Blog 