Jumping the Broom in Belize – Belize Weddings
After a long break, we were beyond excited to hear from this gorgeous couple. They were having their ceremony at one of the most photogenic seafront resorts on Ambergris Caye, Belize, and they gave us the honour of documenting a day of momentous importance to them. They were going to celebrate their love in paradise in front of the people they loved. Oh, and they were bringing a broom.
What?
Not just any broom, but the most ‘extra’, blingy broom we have ever seen. We’re British, so we have some excuse for not knowing about this special tradition.
Before we tell you all about the broom that made it to Belize with two stunning brides, we will start at the beginning. We want you to experience the day just like Maya, our award winning wedding photographer, did.
So, let’s talk about outfits. Everything was so on point, it nearly hurt. Glamour, dazzling good taste, style for miles, and, as we always say, ‘it’s not what you wore at your wedding, it’s how you wore it’, and they wore those outfits like Queens.
This dress. Everything about it was perfect for a beach wedding. It can be a challenge to find the perfect dress, but this was exquisite.
But not to be outdone…
Allow us to introduce you to the other bride. This suit is insanely hot. The way these two complimented each other in panache and personality was on show for everyone to see. A power couple indeed!
Our favourite moments often happen in those nervous minutes before the ceremony, when the support from loved ones comes through with such tenderness and joy. Eyes often leak.
Someone a bride trusts will make sure that no detail is forgotten. Details make all the difference and they had not missed one.
Then time simultaneously stands still and passes like the speed of light. It is a very strange phenomenon. Disbelief that it is finally happening and everything becomes a blur.
That single moment, when your eyes meet, and everything stands still. That is what it is all about.
The dream becomes reality and it is enough to take your breath away when it is a dream destination wedding in Belize.
The kiss. This is when most weddings have reached their pinnacle.
Not this wedding. Remember the broom?
The tradition of Jumping the Broom has its history in the ancestry of Black Americans. There are many theories about where this tradition originates, but enslaved African Americans would jump the broom to marry before their marriages were legally recognised. Now this custom is practised as part of Black American cultural heritage.
We always love learning about wedding traditions from around the world and we felt privileged to document this one and share it with you.
Throwing shades.
A signature Conch Creative wedding group shot.
This is the time our couples love. We sneak them away from the group for some quiet time. After all the excitement the space to breathe and reconnect gets the chemistry going.
Was it a bit hot that day, or was it just us?
These two simmer!
When two people are in love, they share secrets that will make them laugh with just a glance.
When the DJ arrives, it’s time to get the party started. DJ Debbie is a local island celebrity and we are certainly two of her biggest fans.
Like all great wedding celebrations, there were speeches, there was dancing, there was cake, there were tears, there were hugs, there was laughter. Most of all there was love. Fiery, sparkly, fabulous, love.
This incredible destination wedding in Belize was hosted by Las Terrazas Resort.
Special Day Splash – Belize Weddings
Choosing a destination wedding in Belize means that you love being by the sea. We just love to encourage our couples to take that one step further and to throw themselves into the Caribbean spirit by enjoying and celebrating in the sea.
Maybe we’re a little bit sneaky, because it all starts so simply. We lull our groom by taking naturally lit, moody photos that show how handsome he is.
Then we help the bride to prepare for her big moment, documenting her most intimate moments.
Weddings on the beach in Belize are always spectacular and the helpful guests keep the bride and groom distracted as we work on our plan.
As our gorgeous couple stroll hand in hand, basking in their love and recent joining, we start to plant ideas in their head. After all, it is starting to get rather warm in the tropical sun now, isn’t it?
We lure them closer to the water gradually, building their confidence.
Before they know it, there’s no turning back!
Once they experience the salty fun, they can’t help themselves and throw themselves into the experience with joy.
It’s sexy, it’s refreshing and the smiles are always genuine.
The nearness of the barrier reef makes water is so still and the mirror like reflections create spectacular and memorable images.
Unique and beautiful moments like this create memories that truly last a lifetime and we consider ourselves privileged to help to make that happen.
The warm sun invites time in a hammock to reconnect before it’s time to get ready for the evening’s activities.
And cake! Cake is a must and along with the rest of the scrumptious food you’ll find on Ambergris Caye, we are very proud of our cakes.
We do always recommend drying off a little bit before joining your family and friends to share and evening of love and laughter.
If you want a unique destination wedding in the Caribbean, where you’re not isolated from the community and culture and you can celebrate with a splash, Belize has got to be the place for you.
Special thanks to Portofino Beach Resort for planning and hosting this fantastic wedding.
Can We Just Talk About the Groom? – Belize Wedding Photography
It’s time that we introduce you to the stars of our latest Belize wedding photography blog. They were as wonderful to work with as they are to enjoy looking at in photos, so we felt that we should share the love.
If you’ve read our blog before, you’ll know that when we are lucky enough to work with a bride that is this photogenic and naturally beautiful, we tend to focus on her. The groom is only a guy in a suit after all. Who wants to see lots of photos of him?
Well, we sort of have a crush on this dapper fellow and love his sense of style, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of him.
Oh, did we happen to mention the rest of the guys? *swoon*
So, let’s get this party started!
Well, the shots weren’t appreciated quite as much by everyone, but never mind. There were more important things to attend to in the bridal quarters.
That dress isn’t going to walk down the aisle on its own. 
We’re not sure how many words we can come up for how exquisite this bride truly was.
She also had the most attentive and adorable bridesmaids ever.
With THAT veil in place and the Caribbean Sea, along with her loved ones and the love of her life waiting, she was ready to go.
This is when it gets real for the bride…
…and even realer for the groom. Look at his face. How sweet is he? We’ll just take a minute to swoon again now.
In front of their friends and family, under a heavenly blue sky dotted with cotton fluff clouds and just the hint of white caps breaking over the barrier reef in the distance, Belize gifted them with a perfect wedding.
Sealed with the required kiss.
Even though they look like they don’t quite believe it yet, they did, in fact, get well and truly hitched. Congratulations!
Time to celebrate some female power.
Also time to celebrate lovely men with cute smiles.
Now we get to the pretty photos of our couple bringing a bit of their unique glamour to the shores of Ambergris Caye.
As dutiful wedding photographers do, we found them romantic locations for photos that will hold memories of this special day for a lifetime.
Abandoned ruins of what was once the home of a doomsday cult, (we kid you not) provide a moody scene.
When a bride makes the effort to wear a veil like this, it always has to have at least a starring role in one image. We love veils and are always thrilled when a bride has one, especially as phenomenal as this one was.
Ultimately though, these two don’t really need a stage, a fancy veil or anything else. They just totally rock their wedding outfits.
But just in case you hadn’t had enough of this groom and his entourage, we will leave you with this.
All we can say is that when grooms and their groomsmen show this much respect for the occasion by putting as much effort into looking good as the bride and her bridesmaids do, they deserve a little bit of recognition.
This stylish and very cool wedding was hosted and organised by Coco Beach 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
Find the Caye to Your Heart in Belize – Belize Weddings
We’re not sure how many there are. We’re not sure anyone really knows, but there are possibly hundreds of small ‘islands’ off the coast of Belize. The thing is that they are not islands, in the true sense. They are ‘cayes’. Cayes are formed on the top of reefs and are pretty much held together by the forests of the sea, mangroves.
In this photo, not only are you able to see how mangroves grow and help to create cayes, but you can also see how love seems to sprout on the cayes in Belize. And just in case you didn’t know how to pronounce ‘cayes’, it rhymes with Belize. Perfect!
When you get married in the tropics, you tend to avoid dressing until the very last moment. This works well with the laid back way of life on the cayes and contributes to a stress free and relaxed wedding. Everyone has time to finish off those last minute details without feeling rushed. Small things like ummm..writing your vows.
The dress is the last item of clothing donned before a Belize wedding and most brides don’t put it on until 15 minutes before the ceremony.
When there is so little time to get worried, it keeps the nerves at bay .
Destination beach weddings are stunning in their simplicity, allowing Mother Nature to provide the decorations and ambience.
(Had to find an excuse to include this photo of the youngest guest at this wedding)
All guests, young and old, love a beach wedding.
Even when certain things take a little longer than expected. Ahem…
After the wedding is the time for the photographer and the couple to explore the caye together. Couples tell us this is one of the things they enjoy most on their wedding day as it gives them the chance to reconnect and have a breather before joining their guests again.
This is St. George’s Caye. It has a fascinating history and although there are conflicts over the facts, its place in Belizean history is celebrated annually on ‘The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day’, every 10th of September. This celebration commemorates a battle, which was fought and won in the waters surrounding the caye, that drove the Spanish from the shores of Belize in 1798.
Very few people live on St. George’s Caye full time, which means it is extremely peaceful and rustic.
You can visit the docks on the island and wander around without seeing a soul.
There are many old docks to check out and the natural beauty is serene and stunning.
Unlike some other cayes, the mangroves that provide a nursery for so much sea life are relatively untouched. There is a local saying that ‘fish grow on trees in Belize’ (which also rhymes with cayes!).
The best part is that once you find a dock you like, there’s no one and nothing to stop you from jumping right into the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
That’s the way to start a lifetime together with a splash!
Remember that we told you how relaxed and enjoyable weddings on cayes in Belize were? No formalities are necessary. Just love and joy.
The one thing you can never forget though is the breathtaking beauty of the magical country that is Belize. (and its cayes)
This beautiful wedding was hosted and organised by St. George’s Caye Resort
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
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
Traditions and Tropical Memories – Belize Weddings
We remember, many years ago, living in London and seeing billboards for Caribbean destinations wondering if we’d ever be able to have a holiday in such a beautiful place and now, now we live and work here. Not only that but we get to share that with people who have traveled from all over the world to fulfill that very dream. Some come to elope. Some come to party. Quite a few bring their wedding traditions with them. The only difference is that they get to enjoy those traditions in beautiful Belize
Getting ready. That age old bridal ritual, supported by her best friends, to prepare her for her future.
The rings. Perhaps not quite conventionally presented, but this is the Caribbean and so, traditions come with a twist.
Once the rings are in place, symbolising a lifelong commitment…
It’s time for group photos. Wait a minute. This isn’t a traditional group photo! As anyone who has been to Belize can tell you – everyone is very friendly – including the cats and dogs. You’ll likely have one or the other turn up at some point to congratulate you. That’s a tradition here.
We can’t, of course, forget about that first dance. A favourite tradition for the evening.
But it’s the memories that make the day so special.
And what better memories can you ask for than an azure blue sky…
…a warm, beautiful sea…
…sunshine and tropical greenery everywhere you turn. Come to Belize, enjoy your own traditions and create new ones that you’ll never forget.
This beautiful wedding was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort
20 Photos That Gave Us That Happy Feeling in 2015 – Belize Weddings (and other cute pictures)
We’ve never done this before, but 2015 was such an amazing year for us here in Belize that we wanted to thank our clients and everyone who has supported us and enjoyed our work by sharing our favourite photos of 2015. Yes, we know, this blog is a wedding photography blog, but we also enjoy other types of photography. We chose the photos in this collection because they brought back great memories and made us smile. We’d like to share those memories and hopefully some smiles with you too. So, sit down, relax and enjoy.
We can’t help but start with this one. This would typically be a photographer’s worst nightmare, but this couple were so much fun and we had so many laughs with them during their shoot that this was sort of the icing on the cake (apologies for the really poor metaphor under the circumstances).
Dog photobombing was obviously trending this year and we don’t mind one bit. We are dog lovers and most of our couples seem to be too!
Dogs weren’t the only photobombers this year though from the animal world. While we were working on a commercial shoot for a resort here, this little guy popped in to say hello.
This couple almost got bombed quite literally by the closest thing we have in Belize to an Air Force.
Speaking of bombing, it wasn’t all being done by animals either. This has got to be one of our favourite memories from the year when this fabulous lady decided that ‘when I’m 64’, I’m going to get photographed jumping into the Caribbean Sea butt naked – and so she did! An inspiration to us all.
This photo won us a Fearless Award, but really the award should have gone to this brilliant couple for being the best Trash the Dress good sports ever. We remember this shoot vividly, especially the smell of the mud, which we must admit, did not smell of roses. At. All. So much fun and so dirty. We’ll never, ever forget this shoot!
Fortunately, for this next couple, their Fearless Award winning Trash the Dress photo wasn’t quite so mucky, but we do remember that they weren’t feeling too hot the morning after some very, very hard celebrating. Didn’t stop them looking fabulous though and again, such good sports for going for it even though they would have much rather have been in bed.
Of course the bridesmaids don’t have any obligation at all to be sober or to participate fully in producing award winning shots – which is why they are so much fun to photograph.
The next one is from of one of those weddings that we’ll always remember because even now, we get a bit teared up remembering it. It was one of our most popular blogs ever. A wedding for three, when this little girl participated in such a special day. A beautiful family and such a heartwarming memorable experience for us.
Of course, if we are going to start talking about little girls, how could we forget this one? It’s hard to imagine getting much cuter.
We were even lucky enough to photograph one little girl before she was ever born. Her mother was incredibly athletic and quite fearless, so with some imagination and creativity on our part and a lot of bendiness on her part, we created a maternity image that was totally unique.
We didn’t just get babies before they were born, we got weddings before they were engaged. We’ve worked with a number of grooms on proposals and they are always so much fun. Trying to plot and plan while hoping that she’s going to say ‘yes’ is about as nerve wracking for us as it is for the groom. This one was just perfect and we were absolutely thrilled for the happy couple.
In some cases, we’re there for a long time. One of our most unforgettable couples came back a few years after we photographed their wedding so that we could photograph their simply adorable little boy. It’s very special for photographers when they can document lives over the years.
Ultimately, it all returns to what we do best and that’s to get love to come through a photo. That’s why wedding photography works so well for us.
When you know the smiles are real, that’s what makes all the difference and makes us remember the moment we took that particular photo.
People’s personalities are what we remember most of all. You simply never forget moments like this.
When people get into our island vibe and want to have fun, anything is possible.
Wedding photography is a collaborative experience. While we create memories for our couples through photography, they too, create memories for us with their most intimate and joyful moments.
Maybe sometimes a little bit more intimate than we anticipated.
And for that we send you all much love and happiness in 2016.
Special thanks to all the businesses, resorts and individuals who invited Conch Creative into their lives, hearts and properties to make memories in 2015! Wish wish you all the most wonderful New Year!
All You Need is Love – But a Gorgeous Dress Helps Too – Belize Weddings
There was a famous bunch of guys who sang a popular song. It was called ‘All You Need Is Love’. Now if they had mentioned a fabulous dress, as well, the song would have been absolutely perfect for destination weddings in Belize.
We agree that it’s all about love,
love,
love.
But c’mon, a fabulous dress helps, along with…
…some serious ‘bling’,
brilliant bridesmaids and…
a bunch of adorable groom’s guys too.
A dramatic veil,
a few stolen kisses…
…and picture perfect scenery could only be topped by one thing.
A party on the Caribbean Sea with the people you love.
This gorgeous wedding was organised and hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort
A Wedding For Three! – Belize Destination Wedding
Like so many stories of destination weddings in Belize that we share with you, this one is a love story. Of course there is a bride and a groom, both very much in love. But sometimes a wedding isn’t just about two people. Sometimes there’s a little bit extra love and in this case, the bride was not just marrying one person but two.
This is the third, and so very important person, in this love story and she was so much a part of the ceremony it even brought a tear to the eye of this tough old wedding photographer.
She was involved with every aspect of the preparations. It was such an exciting and emotional day for her.
Whenever it got a little bit too crazy, she could sneak outside and observe the goings on.
She was so loved and so included. Just the way it should be when a wedding is truly the bonding of a family unit.
While she watched the ceremony with such intensity, she unconsciously touched the beautiful necklace she had just been gifted.
She didn’t remain seated for long because she was an integral part of this joining.
OK, well maybe some bits were just for the grown ups, but she didn’t seem to mind one bit.
This was a much more fun way for her to celebrate.
There were so many wonderful and special moments.
The family that celebrates together certainly stays together we think.
It was nearly time for the party to start.
Even though everyone was having way too much fun already.
We transported the happy couple away for a little romance on their own – Belize style!
Still managing to have way too much fun…
…they finally found a spot to share some tender moments together.
The sun set quickly.
Before they knew it, it was time to return to reality…
…if you can call a setting like this ‘reality’.
As the night drew to close, it ended like it all began – as a wedding for three.
And that is truly something worth getting excited about!
This absolutely love filled and beautiful wedding for three was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort
La Isla L’Amour Part 2 – Belize Wedding Photography
Warning – This blog contains images that may make you wishful, envious, joyful and really, really, really want to get married in Belize. This is probably as perfect as it gets.
That last, final touch up, when your heart is beating like crazy and you’re worried you might cry. Taking deep breaths and keeping it together. You don’t want to ruin your makeup.
Those last minute thoughts. Wondering how you got so lucky and how you could be so nervous.
Standing on the Caribbean beach, staring at the turquoise waters and being grateful that you are so lucky to be in such a beautiful place with the one you love most in the world. Waiting.
It’s time. Small, intimate, perfect. You speak the words that mean forever.
Those words are sealed in writing confirming your commitment.
Suddenly you realise that the nerves have washed away and you’re filled with happiness.
First things first – capture the memory of the people who helped you to have such a special occasion.
Then make a toast to each other and to your future together.
Dance like no one is watching – though someone is.
Take some time to reconnect and decompress after all the excitement by standing on the end of a dock surrounded by endless blue, moody clouds above and the waves crashing over the reef in the distance.
You never seem to tire of gazing into each other’s eyes and you hold hands as you walk slowly down the beach back to the comfort of your resort.
By the time you return, the sun is setting and it’s time for a quick refreshment to take back to your room.
This is where your day ends and your wedding night begins. We think it’s time for the photographer to go home.
This perfect wedding was organised and hosted by the gorgeous Matachica resort.
La Isla L’Amour Part 1 – Belize Wedding Photography
How many ways can I say I love you? Love sounds good in French & Spanish, so why not mix it up. Love is love and it’s pretty amazing to be able to share our love of Belize with two people who are so in love with each other. So, join us on this tour of l’amour on La Isla Bonita and let us help to define our idea of La Isla L’Amour.
Sharing island delicacies (Belikin Beer) on a hammock on the beach while gazing into each other’s eyes. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Shopping at the craft stands in downtown San Pedro and having to make tough decisions. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Contemplating sneaking away on a boat called Cecilia. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Snuggling up on a dock under a sign that says ‘spear fishing’. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Playing piggy back rides among the mangroves. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Kissing each other inside the mouth of a giant jaguar mouth outside of a nightclub – that happens to be an ice cream stand during daylight hours. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
Standing on a bridge to watch the sailboats go by. That’s La Isla L’Amour.
As the day comes to an end, finding one of those secret spots at the back of town, where the sky turns lavender as it sets. That most definitely is La Isla L’Amour.
This stunning photography experience around town is just Part 1. of another mind blowingly beautiful wedding in Belize. Look out for Part 2. for some more romantic and breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
We’d like to thank Matachica resort for hosting this gorgeous bride & groom as well as organising their wedding.
La Isla bon Epic – An epic Belize Wedding – Part 2.
If you saw part 1 of this blog, then you’ll know how much fun we had with this couple all around San Pedro Town. It was one of most popular blogs ever. We promised you a part 2 and here it is. This is the wedding – and of course, all beach weddings in Belize are pretty spectacular, so please join us while we share this couple’s special day in paradise.
We’re sure you can guess from this photo that there are going to be a couple of cuties involved.
Here’s one of them having some appetisers and building up her strength for the excitement ahead.
And here is the other one making sure she looks perfect.
Now that the cuties are fed and polished, it’s time for the bride to start thinking about her own primping and prepping.
Finish the hair.
Tie up that dress.
Let’s not forget the fellows. If the bride can make the effort, so should the groom and this one truly did – he looked so dapper.
More appetisers?
Seriously, could this wedding be any cuter, more colourful or prettier?
Maybe not, but it could get a lot more fun from the looks of it.
Girl bonding time is always important when your family and friends come all this way.
Especially when the groom is happy to hold the bouquet.
But as always, there comes a time when we have to drag the happy couple away for some romantic photos.
Oh my! They are a great looking couple.
And they are perfectly matched.
So, when they had a quiet time together as the sun started to go down, we suddenly realised that they were very like their two little cuties because what they really wanted to do was get back for some very epic……
….appetisers!
This epic wedding was organised and hosted by Xanadu Island Resort.
La Isla Bon-epic! An Epic Belize Wedding – Part 1
You are having a destination wedding. You’ve picked the magical, tropical, paradise of Belize. You are going to have your wedding on the famous island Ambergris Caye, more commonly known by the name of its only town, San Pedro – or even more famously known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (oh yes, Madonna dreamt of us last night!). You know you want the whole getting married on the beach experience, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea twinkling in the background and palm trees. But then you say to yourself ‘Wait a minute! I’m going all the way to this interesting and beautiful country and I’m just going to get photos on the beach. That’s simply not good enough! I want more!’ And more you shall get – because Conch Creative loves to show our couples the real Belize. Oh yeah, we take photos too and here are some from one of our most epic wedding adventures.
There are a number of luxury vehicles available to transport our lucky couples around the island.
Golf carts are the most common form of transportation.
Once you get into the quaint, colourful and quirky town of San Pedro, there are all sorts of fun things to do but first you want to make sure you look your very best. So getting a pair of new shoes is a good place to start.
Followed by a smart haircut – or polish, whichever the case may be.
If you’re lucky, some of the friendly islanders might even lend you a clean pair of underpants.
And then it’s just a matter to find somewhere private to change into them.
Once you’re all dressed and ready to go, it’s time to take a stroll to the park.
Climb up high to take in the view. (just a note here – not many places in the world where the children’s public playground overlooks a barrier reef. Just sayin!)
Hang around and enjoy some fun activities.
Familiarise yourselves with the local animal life.
OK. Maybe not THAT familiar!
Take in some of the local art.
And contemplate its deeper meaning.
Don’t forget about the unique architecture. Seriously though, Belize is so much more than it’s beaches and jungle. It’s about the people and, of course, the Isla Bonita life.
When all is said and done you may just feel like this bride did –
“I can’t speak highly enough for the amazing experience you have given us. From day 1, your email communications were prompt, detailed & polite. The actual photography experience was a joy & you were both so carefree and easy to work with. We will never forget the fun we had with you during our Isla Bonita experience. To be honest, it was quite possibly one of our favorite moments while in Belize…. having no kids was a huge relief, but also laughing until we cried & having the opportunity to see the most interesting sites on the island was much appreciated. I’ve been to Belize 100 times and have never experienced San Pedro in that way. Im glad to hear you had fun too 🙂 I am speechless at how well the pictures have turned out & we will cherish these for the rest of our lives. Words cannot describe how thankful we are. “
Look out for Part 2 of this blog featuring the actual gorgeous wedding at Xanadu Island Resort.
Coming soon.
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
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
There’s Love in Every Detail – What Works When Planning Your Destination Wedding – Belize Wedding
Because we are lucky enough to work in a destination that is incredibly popular (and quite rightly so!) for romantic, exotic and tropical weddings – we probably shoot weddings more often than your average photographer. This gives us a great insight into what works and what doesn’t. We would like to present you with a wedding full of everything that works. In this blog we are going to share with you the secrets that we’ve learned that will make your destination wedding personal, stunning, unique and full of love – in every detail.
Shoes. Every woman loves shoes, but when you’re planning a wedding in Belize, shoes may not be the first thing that pop into your head. After all, this is a barefoot wedding destination. But think outside of the proverbial shoe box if you can. Shoes aren’t just for wearing. They add colour, pizzazz and, if they are quite as fabulous as these shoes are, they can be used as props for photographic opportunities. After the wedding is over, we are sure that you both can think of other ways to integrate shoes into your newlywed life.
On the other hand (get it? hand?), rings will certainly be a detail you do not want to forget. Do not forget the rings …and…if you are going to request photos of the rings, photogenic rings are best. ‘My ring has too much bling’ said no bride EVER.
The bride certainly does have plenty to think about. Sweat proof make up and nuclear hairspray are two necessary items.
