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
Celebrating the New Year with a Full Moon in Belize – Belize Wedding Photography
It’s a new year and we have so many things to celebrate. We had to look up synonyms for the word ‘epic’ just to describe how unbelievable the last year has been for us as wedding photographers in Belize. Not only did we have the most fabulous, fun and fantastic weddings, but we hit over 100,000 views on this blog. The fact that people love our work and trust us to record some of the most important events in their lives is not something we take lightly. The fact that thousands of people love our work enough to read our blog is not something we take lightly either and so we are going to start off this year as we intend to go on. So, sit back and get ready for a blog that’s going to make you smile, blush, laugh and possibly become green with envy. Enjoy!
Belize weddings are different. They can be as fancy or as informal as you want, but Belize is all about being carefree and relaxed. Who cares if there’s only two hours until the ceremony?
Brides in Belize don’t get zipped into their dress until about 15 minutes before the ceremony.
That’s about when the groomsmen think about getting dressed.
All the groom requires is a good scrub down.
And just in case he misses a spot, the bride will take care of it later anyway.
She’s in her dress and va va voom! What a dress!
(Gratuitous photo of conch and rings)
Father of the bride is the perfect chauffeur. We loved the little added touch of the curtain on the side of the golf cart (the preferred method of transportation on the island) so that the groom didn’t get a chance to see the bride before the wedding. As mentioned earlier, things are a little bit different in Belize.
And they did it! You see, having a wedding on the dreamy island of Ambergris Caye, just off the coast of Belize, means that no one has to sit around for 2 hours for a ceremony. It’s all about the glorious beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the experience, the friends and loved ones, the romance and of course, the party.
So, now it’s time to get to the important bits.
Whoa! Wait a minute – not those important bits…(just in case you enjoyed this romantic full moon, there is more to come later in the blog)
For now, let’s stick with the sweet, sweet romance…
…lovely formal portraits and …
…there is always that beautiful scenery. But now, we’re going to change up the blog a little bit because this wedding, like all the weddings we work on, was unique. There is only so much of perfect, traditional, destination wedding portraits we think you need to see. Knowing that we love unconventional wedding photography, the bride brought a second dress so she could be just a little bit more daring and we feel obliged to warn you that she looks as gorgeous in the second dress as she did in the first.
We did try to warn you. We can’t even think of adequate descriptive words to describe this bride.
Perhaps the words will come just a little bit easier to describe this groom.
We tried really hard to keep them out of trouble.
Even when unexpected people turned up to help them celebrate…or recover…we’re not really sure.
For a minute, we thought we were going to lose her veil.
Fortunately we enlisted some assistance.
Once the Belize Defence Force (the Army of Belize) heard about our antics, they thought we might need some additional protection.
Oh my! Maybe they were right.
After a scolding, his clothes miraculously found themselves back on again.
But before we knew it, they started coming off again. I’m sure you can imagine that there were a load of women on the beach telling him to get dressed again immediately. Yes, you’d have to be imagining that because it’s the opposite of what was actually happening.
But it was all worth it…
…to get a shot like this!
We haven’t even told you about the partying.
Or the cupcakes. What kind of magic made these?
The thing is, with a celebration like this, one day isn’t enough.
When you come to the Caribbean with a crew of your favourite people, a party boat is a must do experience.
It’s such good fun to throw your family into the warm water and watch them enjoying themselves…
…and then to arrange for a bunch of sharks to chase them. Swim! Swim!
The clothes are staying on as two days of partying come to a smile filled end…
Well, not for everyone, it seems. In Belize, the party never has to end.
Even when everyone has gone home, the decorations are still shining bright.
This most incredible wedding and celebration was organised by Dulce Belize Weddings and hosted at Rojo Beach Bar & Lounge
All scenery, sharks, Army guys and unending fun were provided by Belize
Love Across Nations – Belize Wedding Photography
There’s no doubt that Belize is probably one of the most understandably desirable destination wedding locations in the world. This means that we get couples from across the globe traveling to this jewel of a country to celebrate one of the most special and important days of their lives. In this case, Belize wasn’t just a ‘destination’ for our groom – it was home. For the glamorous bride, all the way from Poland, it was the opportunity to learn more about her gorgeous groom and his heritage. As one of our favourite events this year, filled with love, laughter, spontaneity, beauty and joy, we thought it was a perfect wedding to share with you as we round off 2016.
This is when things start to get real. You’re wearing a robe with ‘Bride’ written across the back of it, your Mum looks like she might burst out crying, you have a veil on your head and there is a wedding dress on the back of the door.
Last minute decisions? Hat or veil? When a bride looks like a movie star, anything can happen.
So, it looks like she went with the veil. We approve. What a perfect setting though. Seriously? Does it get any more perfect?
When there is true love, there is always laughter.
And silliness.
And tons and tons of joy!
Did we mention the perfect setting already? Well, it’s worthy of emphasising that point. The thing is, there are beautiful skies in many places and even beautiful beaches, but Belize is unique and with the help of this couple, who found love across nations, we’re going to show you why.
Have you ever spent the night under a real thatched roof? No? Well, you can do that in Belize.
You can also find yourself a handsome and romantic Belizean guy. Though this one is most definitely off the market.
He’s going to want to show you around town though.
So, he’ll introduce you to some of the local wildlife.
He’ll take you for a spin in his fancy car.
He’ll show you off to some of the other guys in town.
And take you for some of the best shopping.
He’ll look for some prime real estate with you.
And when you laugh at his antics…
…he’ll sweep you off your feet…
…and he’ll make sure that you fall in love Belize just as much as you fell in love with him.
This gorgeous wedding was hosted and organised by Ramon’s Village Resort
Kids Bring a Little Magic – Belize Weddings
As wedding photographers in Belize, we are beyond lucky to be able to photograph weddings in the most spectacular scenery. We get to work at people’s dream destination weddings. You think that would be enough and most of the time it is, but we have to share a little secret. When couples let us know that they have kids in attendance, we look forward to the wedding even more because kids bring just a little bit of their own special magic to every wedding and they are just so freakin’ cute. Their charm, innocence, curiosity and sense of fun make for truly memorable and magical moments. This wedding is perfect example.
Although every bride and groom are unique, there are certain things that are pretty much guaranteed to happen at most weddings. First, the bride gets a little help so that she can feel her most beautiful.
The groom, too, usually needs a little bit of help with his boutonniere. There is a very specific skill that you must have to be able to put one of these on properly. We’ve tried and failed many times. The last thing you want to happen is for the bride and groom to have their first kiss and the bride gets stabbed with the pin.
Enter – the love of a child. Children understand celebrations better than anyone and they wear their hearts on their sleeve more openly than any adult.
It’s a long day for young children so it’s important to make sure that they have a little help to get them to the ceremony on time.
When it’s all over, it’s time for the guests to go and relax and for the couple to get a little alone time.
This is a time, away from friends, family and, of course, the children.
Many couples tell us that this private photo session after the ceremony is one of their favourite parts of the day.
After all the craziness of the day, the preparations and then the ceremony goes by in a flash. It’s a pleasure to escape and reconnect again. And, no matter how much you love the children, it’s nice to get a break from them too.
Oh well! Spoke too soon there. Belizean children LOVE weddings. They adore seeing the beautiful brides dressed up like princesses and so if they hear there is a wedding nearby, they’ll find you.
As in most marriages though, the children aren’t the only ‘kids’ in the family.
As weddings in Belize tend to be late in the afternoon to benefit from the most flattering natural light and the most comfortable time of the day, it also means you get to end the experience against a sky with colours like a painting, over the Caribbean Sea.
You also get to enjoy a little ‘grown up’ time with your guests at a private party on the beach.
But when all is said and done, if you have children at your wedding, it will be those magical moments that only they can create that will live on in your memories to be shared time and time again.
This wonderful wedding was hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort and organised by their brilliant Sandy Points team.
Picture Perfect – Belize Weddings
Who doesn’t want to look picture perfect on their wedding day? For so many brides and grooms, making that special effort for such a important and memorable event, is part of the ritual. Everyone hopes that the person to whom they are committing to for life will look at them, while they exchange vows, and think ‘Wow! How did I get so lucky?’ And we believe that’s how it should be. It also helps us to create beautiful pictures. As wedding photographers in Belize, that’s our job and we’re so grateful when couples make our job easier.
The ritual tends to be different for the brides and grooms. Brides usually have a professional to help them.
Grooms, on the other hand, have to make themselves look good all on their own.
The bride has an expert to apply the finishing touches and tell her she looks beautiful.
The groom has a mirror.
The thing is that when they finally see each other and they truly do look picture perfect…
…that’s when the magic begins.
No matter who you are – even if you’re a wedding photographer, who has worked on hundreds of weddings – you can’t help but feel moved by the emotions and shared love between two people on their wedding day.
When they are this happy and they are in Belize, one of the most beautiful places on earth, it doesn’t matter whether the picture is …
…on the dock…
…or on the beach…
…in lush tropical gardens…
…or in a quirky window…
…it’s always going to be picture perfect.
This picture perfect wedding was planned and hosted by the wonderful Matachica Resort
Lovely Love – Belize Weddings
There’s nothing a wedding photographer loves more than when all of the elements conspire to create a perfect day for their couple. This was one of those weddings. Absolutely lovely in every way.
You will often see us raving about the beautiful dresses that our brides choose. A dress is a true expression of the bride’s personal style. This one struck such a perfect balance, modest yet sexy as well as being light, flowy and perfectly comfortable for a beach wedding.
We also try very hard to encourage grooms to make that extra effort. If the bride is going to take the time to look stunning on this very important day… a day when both partners are committing their hearts to each other forever… then it would certainly seem that the groom should do the same.
When it all comes together, it’s just…well…sublime.
So, let’s rewind a little bit so that you can join us for this gorgeous island wedding. May we present the beautiful bride.
Waiting pensively, is the gorgeous groom.
Don’t forget about the rings, strategically located. We are ‘Conch Creative’, after all.
Including the people you adore just means even more love to go round.
When you get married on an island, having a sand ritual so that you’ll always have a piece of the place you said your vows with you, wherever you go, is something that is so special and unique.
There is probably nothing lovelier than smiles that are brimming over with love.
OK. We have to admit. The view and a couple of bottles of everyone’s favourite local beer can help to make it just a little bit lovelier.
We feel it’s important to allow our couples to enjoy this jewel of an island in the Caribbean Sea and so we encourage them to take some time to relax and take in the scenery after the excitement of their wedding.
The many textures of Belize…
…and the many coconut trees. Hey, coconuts are lovely too.
So, all we can say is that if you are in love and you’re planning your destination wedding…
…Belize is probably the loveliest place in the world.
Special thanks to the incredibly lovely Victoria House Resort which hosted and organised a fabulously lovely wedding for these two very lovely people.
Where Love Sparkles – Belize Weddings
It’s rare that a wedding gives us a blogging dilemma, but this one certainly did. It was just so adorable and every single photo made us smile. Of course, what’s the point of blogging if we can’t share all of those incredible moments with you? So, we were left with two burning questions: 1. How are we going to narrow it down to a reasonable number of photos? and 2. What photo do we start with? Well, jumping photos have always been popular. They are symbolic, fun and, when done in Belize, super duper scenic. But this jumping photo had that ‘x’ factor. Not sure what it is, but they definitely looked like they were about to fly off into the horizon, hand in hand – and so, this is how we’re starting our blog today.
The rest of the blog will be easy as we’re just going to take you through the day so that you can experience it like we did. We know you’ll definitely have as much fun as we did, but possibly not as much as the bride and groom. We’ll start off with some mellow photos of the details first, because they were pretty exceptional.
When you ask for a bouquet with tropical colours, this has got to be what you’re thinking of. Simply stunning. What you don’t expect is that they’ll make you insatiably hungry. Yes. You read that correctly. All we can say is to read on and you’ll see what we mean.
Technology is changing so many things and we all remember that awkward moment someone tried to hold up a mirror behind us so that we could see what the back of our head looked like. Well, that doesn’t have to happen anymore. Did we mention the details were fabulous at this wedding and exceptionally sparkly?
Here’s our gorgeous bride. Just wait til you see that dress properly. Wow!
Grooms don’t look quite as good as brides in silhouette but he certainly looks dapper.
Remember what we were saying about details. Well, our lovely readers, this is Belize. You know, like the shape of the entire country and…we’re not sure exactly what they’ve made it out of. It sort of looks like Licorice Allsorts. Whatever it is, it’s outrageously adorable and they’ve even made the cayes. You can see Ambergris Caye, which is where they got married, and some of the others. Crazy imaginative details.
Oh wow. It’s that time already. Did someone paint this? Could it be more perfect?
Oh for goodness sake. The bride even had beautiful feet and barefoot sandals. Seriously. It can’t be this lovely and then they have a great time too – or can it?
And there you have it. Oh yes. As well as being gorgeous, having the most amazing details and a dream beach setting on the Caribbean, they had to just have the best time of their lives doing it. Did we mention this is Belize? Yeah, we must admit…this sort of thing does seem to happen here. Maybe it’s the salty seaside air, the hot sun or possibly the rum. Hmmm.
We promise. These are real people. Not actors. They also happened to be two very lovely people and you’re going to get to share a little of our private time with them. But first we need to get the nuptials over with.
Here, we present you with the walk down the aisle, with the waves breaking over the Mesoamerian reef in the background and the little clouds so fluffy they look like cotton.
Then it’s the legal stuff. Never has signing a piece of paper looked quite so much fun.
Of course, before we head off for some photography with just the couple, we have the requisite group shot. This was a very very naughty group.
That’s because they were hungry and thirsty. This is what was awaiting while the couple had their own personal shoot with us.
And this!
That dress. OMG. We had to just indulge ourselves with one photo of this amazing bride and one of our favourite dresses ever.
So now we’ll show you some of the two of them together. We’d just like to point out that when the groom makes an effort to look as good as the bride (OK, maybe not as good…but hey, she looked really, really good) on their special day, it really shows and we love it.
Whether they are walking along the beach, hand in hand – just relaxing…
…or when he’s inside the mouth of a whale, while she’s riding on top of it. What!? Yes, you’d be surprised at some of the cute and mysterious things you’ll find in San Pedro.
Whether he’s making her smile in just that way that makes you wonder what he might have just whispered into her ear or…
…maybe he just reminded her about the food waiting back at the reception because she’s looking hungry.
Just in case she’s getting too weak from the hunger, he happily gives her a piggy back ride.
But suddenly, it seems the hunger has overwhelmed him too. This is always when the photographer needs to step in…
They need some refreshments to help them keep up their strength for that one last shot. You know? The one that every couple dreams of when they get married in the Caribbean.
Yep. That’s the one alright!
It’s time to head back to the party with all their loved ones. And what a party it is! Before the night was out though – they had one very important message they wanted to share.
Because they truly …
(how could they not?)
We think this sums it all up. True love in Belize always sparkles.
Big thanks to the wonderful team at the fabulous Coco Beach Resort for organising and hosting this fun and love filled day
A Tale of Two Dresses and One Temple – Belize Wedding
Belize used to be hailed as ‘Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret’ and in some ways it still is, but it’s becoming one of those uniquely desirable destinations for weddings. That’s because you can do things in Belize that you simply can’t do anywhere else. Belize is still mostly covered by jungle, a young country with a wild heart. There truly is no place like Belize and for that we are grateful. This begs the question from some, who contact us about having an adventure, a once in a lifetime experience of a wedding in Belize – is it safe?
Well, see that ledge right there? The one with no railing? Yep, that’s the one. It’s 130′ straight down from there. And if that doesn’t get your blood pumping, then we’ll just make sure you feel absolutely reassured.
You’ll have these handsome fellows right there to make sure nothing happens. Our clients get the very best Belize has to offer.
So, to help you decide if you have a true desire for something different, a taste for something ancient and exotic and a spirit for an audacious wedding that will span centuries, cultures and countries, we’re going to invite you to join us as a our guest for one of these special celebrations.
The couple were lucky enough to have family members to help. When we say this is an adventure, we’re not kidding. See that sign – Xunantunich 1 mile? That’s where we are heading. You may notice something else. There is a white bundle and a red bundle. Well, this couple knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and they were going to make the most of it. That’s why this is a tale of two dresses. Get ready for the romantic adventure to commence.
This is how you get to the site. This is a hand cranked ferry. By ‘hand cranked’ we mean that a man actually cranks the wheel that pulls the ferry across the river. All aboard!
Fortunately, there are some very spacious changing facilities at Xunantunich, which we should mention is a 1400 year old Maya archaeological site. The changing rooms are not quite that old.
The spectacular white dress is topped with a stunning necklace. Everything looks so traditional…
…until you see where the bride and groom are about to be joined in marriage.
Unconventional? Perhaps. Stunning, glorious, awe inspiring and unforgettable? Without a doubt.
And while exchanging rings is something we’re used to seeing at most weddings…
…this is not your typical wedding portrait.
Enter, the red dress. Now it’s time for the drama to commence and there can be no more dramatic background.
Where Belize and Guatemala meet, somewhere in the rain forest and mountains.
Where you can climb an ancient temple, decorated with ancient tales about the birth of gods and the ‘tree of life’.
Where you can explore entrances to what was once a ceremonial centre for around 200,000 Maya people.
Where you can look down upon a ball court where those who lost the ritual game, also lost their lives.
Where you’ll look at each other at the end of one of the most breathtakingly, mind-blowing days of your lives and know that you shared this experience that will bind you together forever.
Special thanks to Chaa Creek for organising this magnificent marriage
20 Photos That Gave Us That Happy Feeling in 2015 – Belize Weddings (and other cute pictures)
We’ve never done this before, but 2015 was such an amazing year for us here in Belize that we wanted to thank our clients and everyone who has supported us and enjoyed our work by sharing our favourite photos of 2015. Yes, we know, this blog is a wedding photography blog, but we also enjoy other types of photography. We chose the photos in this collection because they brought back great memories and made us smile. We’d like to share those memories and hopefully some smiles with you too. So, sit down, relax and enjoy.
We can’t help but start with this one. This would typically be a photographer’s worst nightmare, but this couple were so much fun and we had so many laughs with them during their shoot that this was sort of the icing on the cake (apologies for the really poor metaphor under the circumstances).
Dog photobombing was obviously trending this year and we don’t mind one bit. We are dog lovers and most of our couples seem to be too!
Dogs weren’t the only photobombers this year though from the animal world. While we were working on a commercial shoot for a resort here, this little guy popped in to say hello.
This couple almost got bombed quite literally by the closest thing we have in Belize to an Air Force.
Speaking of bombing, it wasn’t all being done by animals either. This has got to be one of our favourite memories from the year when this fabulous lady decided that ‘when I’m 64’, I’m going to get photographed jumping into the Caribbean Sea butt naked – and so she did! An inspiration to us all.
This photo won us a Fearless Award, but really the award should have gone to this brilliant couple for being the best Trash the Dress good sports ever. We remember this shoot vividly, especially the smell of the mud, which we must admit, did not smell of roses. At. All. So much fun and so dirty. We’ll never, ever forget this shoot!
Fortunately, for this next couple, their Fearless Award winning Trash the Dress photo wasn’t quite so mucky, but we do remember that they weren’t feeling too hot the morning after some very, very hard celebrating. Didn’t stop them looking fabulous though and again, such good sports for going for it even though they would have much rather have been in bed.
Of course the bridesmaids don’t have any obligation at all to be sober or to participate fully in producing award winning shots – which is why they are so much fun to photograph.
The next one is from of one of those weddings that we’ll always remember because even now, we get a bit teared up remembering it. It was one of our most popular blogs ever. A wedding for three, when this little girl participated in such a special day. A beautiful family and such a heartwarming memorable experience for us.
Of course, if we are going to start talking about little girls, how could we forget this one? It’s hard to imagine getting much cuter.
We were even lucky enough to photograph one little girl before she was ever born. Her mother was incredibly athletic and quite fearless, so with some imagination and creativity on our part and a lot of bendiness on her part, we created a maternity image that was totally unique.
We didn’t just get babies before they were born, we got weddings before they were engaged. We’ve worked with a number of grooms on proposals and they are always so much fun. Trying to plot and plan while hoping that she’s going to say ‘yes’ is about as nerve wracking for us as it is for the groom. This one was just perfect and we were absolutely thrilled for the happy couple.
In some cases, we’re there for a long time. One of our most unforgettable couples came back a few years after we photographed their wedding so that we could photograph their simply adorable little boy. It’s very special for photographers when they can document lives over the years.
Ultimately, it all returns to what we do best and that’s to get love to come through a photo. That’s why wedding photography works so well for us.
When you know the smiles are real, that’s what makes all the difference and makes us remember the moment we took that particular photo.
People’s personalities are what we remember most of all. You simply never forget moments like this.
When people get into our island vibe and want to have fun, anything is possible.
Wedding photography is a collaborative experience. While we create memories for our couples through photography, they too, create memories for us with their most intimate and joyful moments.
Maybe sometimes a little bit more intimate than we anticipated.
And for that we send you all much love and happiness in 2016.
Special thanks to all the businesses, resorts and individuals who invited Conch Creative into their lives, hearts and properties to make memories in 2015! Wish wish you all the most wonderful New Year!
All You Need is Love – But a Gorgeous Dress Helps Too – Belize Weddings
There was a famous bunch of guys who sang a popular song. It was called ‘All You Need Is Love’. Now if they had mentioned a fabulous dress, as well, the song would have been absolutely perfect for destination weddings in Belize.
We agree that it’s all about love,
love,
love.
But c’mon, a fabulous dress helps, along with…
…some serious ‘bling’,
brilliant bridesmaids and…
a bunch of adorable groom’s guys too.
A dramatic veil,
a few stolen kisses…
…and picture perfect scenery could only be topped by one thing.
A party on the Caribbean Sea with the people you love.
This gorgeous wedding was organised and hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort
Princess in Paradise – Belize Destination Wedding
Being a princess is all about the attitude. A destination wedding in Belize is not something you see in most fairy princess stories and that’s why our brides like to create their own stories. Sometimes that means that princesses have to wear sunglasses.
Of course the first thing a princess must do is adjust her crown.
Ta Da! Once the crown was in place and she’d had a bit of Belize’s special magic princess potion (ingredients normally include pineapple and rum), she appeared in her full princess regalia.
Her handsome prince could not resist her princessy powers and arrived to claim her as his own.
They held hands, and shared sweet nothings as they walked down the beach. It didn’t appear he was going to turn into a frog anytime soon.
She took him closer to the water, just to test that theory.
And when it seemed absolutely certain that he wasn’t going to hop off into the distance, they sat down – we think, to discuss their palace.
They even found a local tower to celebrate in true royal style.
But finally, it doesn’t matter whether you are royalty or not, beautiful and magical Belize will always be where princesses find true paradise.
This paradise princess wedding was hosted by the beautiful Athens Gate Resort
A Wedding For Three! – Belize Destination Wedding
Like so many stories of destination weddings in Belize that we share with you, this one is a love story. Of course there is a bride and a groom, both very much in love. But sometimes a wedding isn’t just about two people. Sometimes there’s a little bit extra love and in this case, the bride was not just marrying one person but two.
This is the third, and so very important person, in this love story and she was so much a part of the ceremony it even brought a tear to the eye of this tough old wedding photographer.
She was involved with every aspect of the preparations. It was such an exciting and emotional day for her.
Whenever it got a little bit too crazy, she could sneak outside and observe the goings on.
She was so loved and so included. Just the way it should be when a wedding is truly the bonding of a family unit.
While she watched the ceremony with such intensity, she unconsciously touched the beautiful necklace she had just been gifted.
She didn’t remain seated for long because she was an integral part of this joining.
OK, well maybe some bits were just for the grown ups, but she didn’t seem to mind one bit.
This was a much more fun way for her to celebrate.
There were so many wonderful and special moments.
The family that celebrates together certainly stays together we think.
It was nearly time for the party to start.
Even though everyone was having way too much fun already.
We transported the happy couple away for a little romance on their own – Belize style!
Still managing to have way too much fun…
…they finally found a spot to share some tender moments together.
The sun set quickly.
Before they knew it, it was time to return to reality…
…if you can call a setting like this ‘reality’.
As the night drew to close, it ended like it all began – as a wedding for three.
And that is truly something worth getting excited about!
This absolutely love filled and beautiful wedding for three was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort
La Isla L’Amour Part 2 – Belize Wedding Photography
Warning – This blog contains images that may make you wishful, envious, joyful and really, really, really want to get married in Belize. This is probably as perfect as it gets.
That last, final touch up, when your heart is beating like crazy and you’re worried you might cry. Taking deep breaths and keeping it together. You don’t want to ruin your makeup.
Those last minute thoughts. Wondering how you got so lucky and how you could be so nervous.
Standing on the Caribbean beach, staring at the turquoise waters and being grateful that you are so lucky to be in such a beautiful place with the one you love most in the world. Waiting.
It’s time. Small, intimate, perfect. You speak the words that mean forever.
Those words are sealed in writing confirming your commitment.
Suddenly you realise that the nerves have washed away and you’re filled with happiness.
First things first – capture the memory of the people who helped you to have such a special occasion.
Then make a toast to each other and to your future together.
Dance like no one is watching – though someone is.
Take some time to reconnect and decompress after all the excitement by standing on the end of a dock surrounded by endless blue, moody clouds above and the waves crashing over the reef in the distance.
You never seem to tire of gazing into each other’s eyes and you hold hands as you walk slowly down the beach back to the comfort of your resort.
By the time you return, the sun is setting and it’s time for a quick refreshment to take back to your room.
This is where your day ends and your wedding night begins. We think it’s time for the photographer to go home.
This perfect wedding was organised and hosted by the gorgeous Matachica resort.
La Isla L’Amour Part 1 – Belize Wedding Photography
How many ways can I say I love you? Love sounds good in French & Spanish, so why not mix it up. Love is love and it’s pretty amazing to be able to share our love of Belize with two people who are so in love with each other. So, join us on this tour of l’amour on La Isla Bonita and let us help to define our idea of La Isla L’Amour.
Sharing island delicacies (Belikin Beer) on a hammock on the beach while gazing into each other’s eyes. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Shopping at the craft stands in downtown San Pedro and having to make tough decisions. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Contemplating sneaking away on a boat called Cecilia. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Snuggling up on a dock under a sign that says ‘spear fishing’. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Playing piggy back rides among the mangroves. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Kissing each other inside the mouth of a giant jaguar mouth outside of a nightclub – that happens to be an ice cream stand during daylight hours. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Standing on a bridge to watch the sailboats go by. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
As the day comes to an end, finding one of those secret spots at the back of town, where the sky turns lavender as it sets. That most definitely is La Isla L’Amour.
This stunning photography experience around town is just Part 1. of another mind blowingly beautiful wedding in Belize. Look out for Part 2. for some more romantic and breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
We’d like to thank Matachica resort for hosting this gorgeous bride & groom as well as organising their wedding.
First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes Cuteness Overload in the Baby Carriage… – Belize Photography
If you follow our blog, you’ll notice that this one is a little bit different. We normally post weddings on this blog. Now, it may surprise you that we don’t just photograph weddings. We do commercial photography and have provided the images for many of the top resorts in Belize for their websites. We do a little bit of ‘ooh la-la’ glamour photography, which you can find on our website, if you are so inclined. We also do family photography. We do tend to be a bit fussy about the families we work with as we’re not into the cookie cutter approach. Our view is that if you all want to wear matching clothes and stand in a line with rictus grins, you probably are better off going to a shopping mall and standing in front of a backdrop that looks like you’ve been to the Caribbean – it’s much cheaper than the real trip too. We prefer to work with families with two characteristics – 1. They have character and are fun (OK. Fair enough, that’s two) and 2. They appreciate the beauty of Belize, which is why they want to have memories of their time here recorded for posterity.
Well, this family fits both those criteria and even more – because they were one of the first wedding couples we photographed in Belize and they have come back year after year to allow us to photograph their growing family since.
This couple loved Belize and had been visiting regularly for years – staying at the charming Sunbreeze Hotel, right in San Pedro Town. They had been back so often, they had become like part of the family there and so there really was nowhere else they would have rather wed than right there on the beach with their loved ones- both from the USA and Belize – right there with them.
And goodness, what a celebration it was! So let’s fast forward a few years when they arrived with a surprise.
Not just any surprise either – one of the cutest little surprises you could imagine. So, now we’ll just blow your cute gasket with some photos of their son on his first trip to their beloved Belize.
Seriously, we are on adorable overload right now.
Oh and guess what little one, your Mommy & Daddy have been here before.
What’s that old saying? ‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.’
The happiest little boy we could ever hope to meet.
A typical beach boy.
And so, so loved..
…everywhere he went and by everyone he met.
And so we fast forward yet another year. Back on the same boat with all his fans. We love working with clients, who come back to us time after time.
Just when we thought he couldn’t get any cuter, here he comes again and we suspect that someone sprayed him with cute gas because…
…this…
…and this…
…we think you’re getting the idea.
Best of all, like his parents, he’s a total beach bum and…
…there is nothing he likes more than a good book on the shores of Ambergris Caye. See you guys next year!
La Isla bon Epic – An epic Belize Wedding – Part 2.
If you saw part 1 of this blog, then you’ll know how much fun we had with this couple all around San Pedro Town. It was one of most popular blogs ever. We promised you a part 2 and here it is. This is the wedding – and of course, all beach weddings in Belize are pretty spectacular, so please join us while we share this couple’s special day in paradise.
We’re sure you can guess from this photo that there are going to be a couple of cuties involved.
Here’s one of them having some appetisers and building up her strength for the excitement ahead.
And here is the other one making sure she looks perfect.
Now that the cuties are fed and polished, it’s time for the bride to start thinking about her own primping and prepping.
Finish the hair.
Tie up that dress.
Let’s not forget the fellows. If the bride can make the effort, so should the groom and this one truly did – he looked so dapper.
More appetisers?
Seriously, could this wedding be any cuter, more colourful or prettier?
Maybe not, but it could get a lot more fun from the looks of it.
Girl bonding time is always important when your family and friends come all this way.
Especially when the groom is happy to hold the bouquet.
But as always, there comes a time when we have to drag the happy couple away for some romantic photos.
Oh my! They are a great looking couple.
And they are perfectly matched.
So, when they had a quiet time together as the sun started to go down, we suddenly realised that they were very like their two little cuties because what they really wanted to do was get back for some very epic……
….appetisers!
This epic wedding was organised and hosted by Xanadu Island Resort.
La Isla Bon-epic! An Epic Belize Wedding – Part 1
You are having a destination wedding. You’ve picked the magical, tropical, paradise of Belize. You are going to have your wedding on the famous island Ambergris Caye, more commonly known by the name of its only town, San Pedro – or even more famously known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (oh yes, Madonna dreamt of us last night!). You know you want the whole getting married on the beach experience, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea twinkling in the background and palm trees. But then you say to yourself ‘Wait a minute! I’m going all the way to this interesting and beautiful country and I’m just going to get photos on the beach. That’s simply not good enough! I want more!’ And more you shall get – because Conch Creative loves to show our couples the real Belize. Oh yeah, we take photos too and here are some from one of our most epic wedding adventures.
There are a number of luxury vehicles available to transport our lucky couples around the island.
Golf carts are the most common form of transportation.
Once you get into the quaint, colourful and quirky town of San Pedro, there are all sorts of fun things to do but first you want to make sure you look your very best. So getting a pair of new shoes is a good place to start.
Followed by a smart haircut – or polish, whichever the case may be.
If you’re lucky, some of the friendly islanders might even lend you a clean pair of underpants.
And then it’s just a matter to find somewhere private to change into them.
Once you’re all dressed and ready to go, it’s time to take a stroll to the park.
Climb up high to take in the view. (just a note here – not many places in the world where the children’s public playground overlooks a barrier reef. Just sayin!)
Hang around and enjoy some fun activities.
Familiarise yourselves with the local animal life.
OK. Maybe not THAT familiar!
Take in some of the local art.
And contemplate its deeper meaning.
Don’t forget about the unique architecture. Seriously though, Belize is so much more than it’s beaches and jungle. It’s about the people and, of course, the Isla Bonita life.
When all is said and done you may just feel like this bride did –
“I can’t speak highly enough for the amazing experience you have given us. From day 1, your email communications were prompt, detailed & polite. The actual photography experience was a joy & you were both so carefree and easy to work with. We will never forget the fun we had with you during our Isla Bonita experience. To be honest, it was quite possibly one of our favorite moments while in Belize…. having no kids was a huge relief, but also laughing until we cried & having the opportunity to see the most interesting sites on the island was much appreciated. I’ve been to Belize 100 times and have never experienced San Pedro in that way. Im glad to hear you had fun too 🙂 I am speechless at how well the pictures have turned out & we will cherish these for the rest of our lives. Words cannot describe how thankful we are. “
Look out for Part 2 of this blog featuring the actual gorgeous wedding at Xanadu Island Resort.
Coming soon.
How to Keep Cool and Still Have a Hot Wedding – Belize Wedding Photography
People come to beautiful Belize to get married because it’s sunny. It’s warm. And of course it’s just gorgeous. But hot and sunny weddings aren’t always what Mother Nature plans and if you follow our little blog here about weddings in Belize, you’ll know that we encourage all of our couples to get in the water, take a little dip and cool off in the hot Caribbean sun. This wedding is a perfect example of how to be super hot, keep cool and have the best time of your life
A popular option for keeping cool in Belize is the famous local beer, Belikin. It’s also great for those pre wedding nerves…
…but too many can lead to an urgent need to cool down even more. You have been warned and don’t think we don’t encourage this sort of behaviour – because we do.
The wedding started perfectly with hot young women staying cool in the air conditioning but getting hot by jumping on the bed but staying cool by not getting dressed and well…..we could go on..but you get the hot/cool references we think
Bring on the hot young men stepping outside onto their balcony to look cool, while the young women below just keep looking hot, except they are not dressed, so they are sort of cool…
This couple brought along some super cool gifts for their guests because, of course, wait for it…..it’s hot (and sunny) in Belize.
And it was…right until they were about to say their vows. At this point, any plan B goes by the wayside. The good news is that in Belize it is believed that if it rains on your wedding day, it is a blessing. Good thing really….
…because in Belize, Mother Nature never does anything by halves. When she wants to bless your wedding, you know it’s going to get really blessed.
The wonderful thing about this very hot couple getting cooled down by the rain….they didn’t miss a beat.
Nothing could stop these two. It was all about the moment, their love, being with their friends and family….and so why not make the best of it.
Everyone at the wedding was super cool and just went with the flow.
The beautiful bride’s cool blue eyes never stopped sparkling.
The cool colour combination ensured that the bridesmaids popped against the moody sky.
Meanwhile, the guys snuck off, we’re guessing that the bar wasn’t far from here, they were feeling hot and needed a cool refreshing beer.
Before the drinking could commence though, it was time for guests to participate in another cool idea from the wedding couple.
One must never forget that the sun is never far away in Belize.
Creating beautiful shadows.
And incredible colours in the sky when it sets.
Wow! What a cool indoor venue. Not many people know about some of the gorgeous locations Belize has for the hottest weddings.
Time to reconnect for some quiet time before things really do hot up.
Because it looks like this super cool wedding crew know how to keep hot even when things get cooler in sunny and sometimes rainy Belize.
We so enjoyed taking part in this really cool wedding with this really hot couple. We hope you enjoyed it too!
This wedding was hosted and planned by the hot, beautiful and very cool Coco Beach Resort
The Thing About Paradise…. – Belize Wedding
There is something about paradise. Maybe we’re biased. We work in a place we believe is paradise. We live in a place we believe is paradise. We spend the happiest days of people’s lives with them in a place we believe is paradise. The thing about paradise is that it is beautiful in so many ways. Probably a bit like love. We guess this is why paradise + love is such a great match and why people choose to get married in Belize.
Dresses seem, somehow, much dressier in paradise
Even bling has a way of being even blingier in paradise.
Love from your family is even lovelier in paradise.
Your groom’s cheeky smile looks even cheekier in paradise.
An aisle lined with tropical flowers certainly seems more tropical in paradise. Oh and no one has to buy new shoes for the wedding!
Smiles are smilier in paradise.
The palm trees…well, the palm trees are ridiculously palmy in paradise.
Even the seaweed manages to be extraordinarily seaweedy and even quite beautiful in paradise.
And you know what’s even crazier about paradise? The fish are not fishier and they are always biting. So, even if you’ve already got the best fish in the sea – paradise in Belize is waiting for you.
This wedding in paradise was organised by the stunningly Victoriany Victoria House
Fifty Shades of Pink – Belize Wedding
We think there is nothing sexier than the sky, reflecting over the Caribbean Sea, just before sunset in Belize. You would’t need whips or chains to get this couple to spend time together. So let’s start this love story, which includes nothing but a little bit of light veil bondage, from the beginning.
The beautiful bride arrives in her sparkling limousine down the tree lined avenue. She trembles slightly as she anticipates the moment when she will set eyes on her handsome groom.
She exits the shiny limousine with thoughts of love and passion running wildly through her mind.
She sees her groom and immediately presses herself against him.
He teasingly toys with her veil.
(here comes the promised veil bondage)
He wraps the veil around them, binding them together as he nuzzles her neck.
And then a cute dog appears. Hey, c’mon. You all know us well enough to know that we couldn’t continue the steamy story and keep a straight face. The dog is cute though.
They were such a gorgeous couple and really didn’t even need a bit of veil bondage to make them seem sexy.
We were sad to see them go when the day ended and they drove off into the distance on the …ok we admit it..it’s not a limousine it’s a golf cart – but this is Belize and here, one man or woman’s golf cart is definitely as good as a limousine. Why?
Because this! Fifty shades of pink is simply priceless.
This lovely wedding was held on the beach in the beautiful Boca del Rio area of Ambergris Caye
and was organised by the couples’ good friend Libby Vidrine
Angels of Belize – Belize Weddings
As we’re coming to the end of an amazing 2014 and about to start an even more fabulous 2015, we felt that this wedding was a perfect fit to review all of the things that make Ambergris Caye so special, not only to us as wedding photographers in Belize, but also to the sweet, kind, fun, beautiful and loved up clients we’ve been lucky enough to work with. So, we’ll start with an easy one. Belize is, of course, known for it’s beautiful scenery, tropical beaches and Caribbean waters.
Belize is known as a place to be barefoot.
But, if you know Conch Creative, you’ll know we love shoes. So, we think that there is always room for shoes, even in Belize.
As a world famous dive destination, Belize is known as a perfect place to ‘take the plunge’.
Belize is also a place to feel a little bit sexy.
Belize is a place for musica muy romantica.
Belize is a place to say ‘I Do’.
Belize is a place to find gorgeous beach resorts.
Belize is a place to lounge around by a pool.
Belize is a place to discover quirky little places that are simply stunning.
Belize is a place to find all sorts of architecture.
Belize is a place where there is really good cake. No, seriously, the cake in Belize is delicious.
But oddly, it may surprise you to know, that Belize is a place where you can find angels watching you from above.
We wish all of our clients, friends, family, supporters, business partners and pretty much everyone in the world a very Happy New Year!
This beautiful wedding, all about Belize, was hosted by the wonderful Coco Beach Resort
My Secret Promise – Destination Belize Weddings
If you’re familiar with our blog, you’ll know that we love telling cute and fun stories with our destination wedding photography from beautiful Belize. We thought we’d try something different with this one and look forward to hearing what you think. We love the arts and we love supporting other artists. If there are any artists that can vividly capture ‘love’ with their work, it is poets and something about this couple made us feel very poetic. So, this is the first romantic poet we’d like to feature, Viyanga Gunasekera and his poem, My Secret Promise.
I ran in blessed drizzle,
I walked across the silver deserts.
I dived under golden sun gleams, and
I passed thousand of seas;
To get to the Seven Gates.
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 Perfect Match – Destination Belize Wedding
We do a lot of wedding photography in Belize, but there is always a first time for everything. This was our first ‘footie’ wedding. For our USA friends, we are talking about ‘soccer’ of course. The game, where a ball is kicked with the foot. As we’re sure you can see, our groom LOVED football. Our very patient bride, not so much. So, sticking to our football theme, let’s see how our teams pan out.
The bride was well prepared with her best kit for the wedding. Were Manolo Blahnik sponsoring her team? This isn’t fantasy football, but that ups the ante to a dream team for the bride.
She made sure to have her best game face on for the day.
She seemed to be planning tactics well in advance.
The groom, not about to let his side down, worked on setting up distractions.
It didn’t take long before he scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The players get to relax a little at half time.
Then they grab a little refreshment before getting back into the game.
The bride lines up nicely…
…and it’s a perfect goal. Right down the centre. The groom didn’t stand a chance. That Manolo Blahnik sponsorship truly paid off.
It’s not long though before the groom recovers with a great score. Two-one to the groom at this stage. They are both such strong teams, who knows how this will end.
The groom noses in for another sneaky shot.
But he appears to have gone offside.
The groom is relentless. He tries again, coming up behind while her defenses are low…
…but at the very last minute, the bride scores a perfect goal right between the posts! What an exciting match. A match made in heaven for sure. We officially call this one a draw. Congratulations to our couple, who were great sports!
This footballtastic wedding was organised and hosted by the high scoring Matachica Resort.
Sun+Sea+Sand+Celebration = Perfect Destination Wedding – Belize Wedding
Two questions that we encounter frequently as destination wedding photographers in Belize – 1. Why do people have destination weddings? and 2. Why do people come to Belize for destination weddings? Even if those questions have never occurred to you before, we bet they are now stuck in your mind. Thank goodness Conch Creative is here to answer those very important questions.
People have destination weddings for all sorts of reasons, but in our experience, the most common is so that they and their loved ones can truly relax and let their hair down..or in this case, maybe relaxing a little bit too much, while the bride watches one of her bridesmaids having her hair put up. Sorry to be confusing. But the point is that destination wedding couples do not want the stress and drama that can come with a traditional wedding at home.
What could be more fun and relaxing than a barefoot wedding on a sandy beach, overlooking the Caribbean?
You don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll get blisters because the only thing on your feet will be sand, and in the case of fashionable barefoot brides, some very pretty jewelry.
In the interest of not being sexist, we feel obliged to point out that the men had very nice jewelry too.
Now for question number 2. Why Belize? Well first of all, you can’t get Belizean Belikin beer anywhere else. Even if you could, we believe that it couldn’t possibly taste the same drunk anywhere but Belize.
While we wouldn’t want to be accused of misleading anyone, we are also of the understanding (as reported to us by our couples) that cake also tastes better in Belize. Yes, we realise this may be quite unbelievable, but apparently it’s true.
Truly though, what other things make Belize such a perfect place for a destination wedding? What many people don’t know is that Belize, unlike many other destinations, has kept all of its beaches public. So, you have access to miles and miles of beautiful, natural and untouched Caribbean coastline.
People in Belize are friendly and welcoming to visitors. You can find yourself a sunny spot and just relax and no one will bother you – except that pesky photographer, who keeps following you everywhere.
Because Belize has such a small population, you can kiss on the beach in the daytime and never have an audience – except that photographer again!
You can also kiss on the beach at night, in the glowing light of tiki torches, which miraculously appear whenever there is a wedding.
Did you know that Belize makes you love each other more? It’s a well documented fact supported by studies conducted by Conch Creative.
You may think we’re joking. But we’re not. Belize does affect people in very different ways. People who appear perfectly normal in the beautiful sunrise…
…suddenly find themselves leaping into the air for no obvious reason.
Another example is that one minute a couple will be standing, romantically, with the water flowing around their toes..and then before you know it….
…they are soaking wet and frolicking like young lambs in the sea. Maybe not like lambs. Lambs don’t often go in the sea. Maybe more like young dolphins or fish or sea horses.
So while we wholeheartedly recommend destination beach weddings in Belize, we now have given you fair warning. When in Belize, you may just find yourselves having far too much fun.
So ‘reflect’ (get it ..reflect..hahaha…never mind) carefully on your decision. Because…..
…no one could ever possibly want this much fun at their wedding, now, would they?
Conch Creative would like to thank the magic of Belize for making this wedding super special.
This beautiful and fun wedding in Placencia was organised by Lee Nyhus of Placencia Weddings and hosted by Coco Plum Villas
PSA- If you want a stressful wedding and no fun at all, do not come to Belize
Belize Wedding Photography Blog 