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
Find the Caye to Your Heart in Belize – Belize Weddings
We’re not sure how many there are. We’re not sure anyone really knows, but there are possibly hundreds of small ‘islands’ off the coast of Belize. The thing is that they are not islands, in the true sense. They are ‘cayes’. Cayes are formed on the top of reefs and are pretty much held together by the forests of the sea, mangroves.
In this photo, not only are you able to see how mangroves grow and help to create cayes, but you can also see how love seems to sprout on the cayes in Belize. And just in case you didn’t know how to pronounce ‘cayes’, it rhymes with Belize. Perfect!
When you get married in the tropics, you tend to avoid dressing until the very last moment. This works well with the laid back way of life on the cayes and contributes to a stress free and relaxed wedding. Everyone has time to finish off those last minute details without feeling rushed. Small things like ummm..writing your vows.
The dress is the last item of clothing donned before a Belize wedding and most brides don’t put it on until 15 minutes before the ceremony.
When there is so little time to get worried, it keeps the nerves at bay .
Destination beach weddings are stunning in their simplicity, allowing Mother Nature to provide the decorations and ambience.
(Had to find an excuse to include this photo of the youngest guest at this wedding)
All guests, young and old, love a beach wedding.
Even when certain things take a little longer than expected. Ahem…
After the wedding is the time for the photographer and the couple to explore the caye together. Couples tell us this is one of the things they enjoy most on their wedding day as it gives them the chance to reconnect and have a breather before joining their guests again.
This is St. George’s Caye. It has a fascinating history and although there are conflicts over the facts, its place in Belizean history is celebrated annually on ‘The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day’, every 10th of September. This celebration commemorates a battle, which was fought and won in the waters surrounding the caye, that drove the Spanish from the shores of Belize in 1798.
Very few people live on St. George’s Caye full time, which means it is extremely peaceful and rustic.
You can visit the docks on the island and wander around without seeing a soul.
There are many old docks to check out and the natural beauty is serene and stunning.
Unlike some other cayes, the mangroves that provide a nursery for so much sea life are relatively untouched. There is a local saying that ‘fish grow on trees in Belize’ (which also rhymes with cayes!).
The best part is that once you find a dock you like, there’s no one and nothing to stop you from jumping right into the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
That’s the way to start a lifetime together with a splash!
Remember that we told you how relaxed and enjoyable weddings on cayes in Belize were? No formalities are necessary. Just love and joy.
The one thing you can never forget though is the breathtaking beauty of the magical country that is Belize. (and its cayes)
This beautiful wedding was hosted and organised by St. George’s Caye Resort
Pelicans & Belikins – Belize Weddings
Before we share this simply adorable wedding on the adorable island of Caye Caulker, in the adorable country of Belize, we thought we should explain what a Belikin is. Quite simply, Belikin is the beer of Belize. The fact that it rhymes with pelican means that you’ll see both in this blog.
The dress. It’s almost like it decided to visit Belize on its own and hang out on the beach. As dresses don’t drink and we couldn’t risk getting bird poop on it for the sake of a photo, we’re sorry to disappoint you with no birds or beers quite yet. Be patient. We’ll get to them soon enough.
But first let’s take a quick look at the bride, getting ready for her big day. She’s very beautiful, even without a beer in her hand.
And here’s the groom. Ties are tricky. They are even trickier after a few beers. It’s probably wrong of us to suggest that the groom had beers before getting ready. He might have had rum. Thank goodness there are older and more experienced hands close by to help.
The dress made it safely from the beach and onto the bride. That smile says it all and there isn’t even a pelican in the room.
Let’s take a break from the beer and pelican references and just enjoy a little overdose of cute for a moment.
There they are! Oh wait a minute. Those can’t be the groomsmen. Were they even invited?
Not even an ‘I do’ could be shared without a pelican making sure he got into the photo.
And there you go. The Belikin makes an appearance. Every couple deserves some ice cold refreshment after a hot tropical wedding.
After everyone went to get refreshments (probably Belikins), look who just had to hang around. Honestly!
Lobster doesn’t rhyme with pelican or Belikin but it certainly tastes good. Where do lobsters come from? Well, in Belize, they come from lobster traps, which are hand made by lobster fisherfolk and piled up to create backdrops for wedding photography when lobster is out of season.
It’s not just pelicans and lobster fisherfolk who live on Caye Caulker. The village is full of life, love and Belizean hospitality.
There’s another pelican. You can’t blame him really. The scenery is stunning.
The birds all decided to settle down for the evening, leaving our adorable newly married couple to enjoy the true beauty of a Belizean sunset.
The sort of sunset that makes everyone smile.
Once the sun goes down on La Isla Carinosa, another name for Caye Caulker, it’s definitely time for more beer, and some serious partying.
Before the night was over, the guests celebrated by sending off Chinese lanterns into the night sky. These were environmentally friendly lanterns that biodegrade and cause no harm to any pelicans. They are very pretty indeed.
There’s really nothing quite like a wedding in Belize. Whether you have pelicans or Belikins, you’ll know that the jewel that is Belize promises a unique, wonderous and very special experience.
Celebrating the New Year with a Full Moon in Belize – Belize Wedding Photography
It’s a new year and we have so many things to celebrate. We had to look up synonyms for the word ‘epic’ just to describe how unbelievable the last year has been for us as wedding photographers in Belize. Not only did we have the most fabulous, fun and fantastic weddings, but we hit over 100,000 views on this blog. The fact that people love our work and trust us to record some of the most important events in their lives is not something we take lightly. The fact that thousands of people love our work enough to read our blog is not something we take lightly either and so we are going to start off this year as we intend to go on. So, sit back and get ready for a blog that’s going to make you smile, blush, laugh and possibly become green with envy. Enjoy!
Belize weddings are different. They can be as fancy or as informal as you want, but Belize is all about being carefree and relaxed. Who cares if there’s only two hours until the ceremony?
Brides in Belize don’t get zipped into their dress until about 15 minutes before the ceremony.
That’s about when the groomsmen think about getting dressed.
All the groom requires is a good scrub down.
And just in case he misses a spot, the bride will take care of it later anyway.
She’s in her dress and va va voom! What a dress!
(Gratuitous photo of conch and rings)
Father of the bride is the perfect chauffeur. We loved the little added touch of the curtain on the side of the golf cart (the preferred method of transportation on the island) so that the groom didn’t get a chance to see the bride before the wedding. As mentioned earlier, things are a little bit different in Belize.
And they did it! You see, having a wedding on the dreamy island of Ambergris Caye, just off the coast of Belize, means that no one has to sit around for 2 hours for a ceremony. It’s all about the glorious beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the experience, the friends and loved ones, the romance and of course, the party.
So, now it’s time to get to the important bits.
Whoa! Wait a minute – not those important bits…(just in case you enjoyed this romantic full moon, there is more to come later in the blog)
For now, let’s stick with the sweet, sweet romance…
…lovely formal portraits and …
…there is always that beautiful scenery. But now, we’re going to change up the blog a little bit because this wedding, like all the weddings we work on, was unique. There is only so much of perfect, traditional, destination wedding portraits we think you need to see. Knowing that we love unconventional wedding photography, the bride brought a second dress so she could be just a little bit more daring and we feel obliged to warn you that she looks as gorgeous in the second dress as she did in the first.
We did try to warn you. We can’t even think of adequate descriptive words to describe this bride.
Perhaps the words will come just a little bit easier to describe this groom.
We tried really hard to keep them out of trouble.
Even when unexpected people turned up to help them celebrate…or recover…we’re not really sure.
For a minute, we thought we were going to lose her veil.
Fortunately we enlisted some assistance.
Once the Belize Defence Force (the Army of Belize) heard about our antics, they thought we might need some additional protection.
Oh my! Maybe they were right.
After a scolding, his clothes miraculously found themselves back on again.
But before we knew it, they started coming off again. I’m sure you can imagine that there were a load of women on the beach telling him to get dressed again immediately. Yes, you’d have to be imagining that because it’s the opposite of what was actually happening.
But it was all worth it…
…to get a shot like this!
We haven’t even told you about the partying.
Or the cupcakes. What kind of magic made these?
The thing is, with a celebration like this, one day isn’t enough.
When you come to the Caribbean with a crew of your favourite people, a party boat is a must do experience.
It’s such good fun to throw your family into the warm water and watch them enjoying themselves…
…and then to arrange for a bunch of sharks to chase them. Swim! Swim!
The clothes are staying on as two days of partying come to a smile filled end…
Well, not for everyone, it seems. In Belize, the party never has to end.
Even when everyone has gone home, the decorations are still shining bright.
This most incredible wedding and celebration was organised by Dulce Belize Weddings and hosted at Rojo Beach Bar & Lounge
All scenery, sharks, Army guys and unending fun were provided by Belize
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.
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
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
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.
The groom and his supporters also need to think about fundamental things like – does anyone know how to tie a tie correctly? If none of the wedding party do have this very important skill, make sure that you’ve hired a photographer who does. In this particular instance, this is yet another thing that worked at this wedding. Conch Creative offers tie knotting as a complimentary service, but please do not ask us to pin a boutonniere unless you don’t faint when you see blood.
Moving on now. The dress. Choosing a dress for a destination wedding, or any wedding for that matter, needs to be done with care. If you are getting married in Belize, remember that you are likely to swell a bit. Some blame the humidity, others the food, drinks and good times. Either way, make sure that you have these two areas covered – Will I be comfortable? Will I look freaking fabulous? In this instance, we can only assume that the bride planned for swelling because the stunning, glove like fit of this dress was absolutely perfect. Please note that your photographer will be very grateful if you follow these guidelines as it definitely reduces the wear and tear on our retouching muscles.
Flowers. We need to add one of those ‘don’t try this at home’ warnings to this one. If you are planning on throwing the bouquet at some poor harmless, unwed bridesmaids you may wish to hold off a bit on the extras. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt you know. But if you are accessorising with your bouquet and don’t want it to become a wilting memory of your very special day, have fun with it. Get creative. Put some planning into it. Put some love into every single detail because trust us, we are the photographers, we have all the records in our archives and we can tell you right now – when you make an effort, it shows.
While it is fashionable for the bride to be a little bit late, it never works if the groom is. So, if you can combine the need for timeliness with a very sexy gift for the groom, just to give him that extra loving detail – go for it! Please notice the groom’s attire. If the bride can make the extra effort to wear a stunning gown on this important occasion, there is no excuse for the groom to let the side down. Guys, if you want to do what works, put some love into it. Wear something smart, something snazzy, something that compliments your beautiful bride. It will be worth it when you see the pictures.
Time to see how they scrub up. That dress! Wow!
Those shoes! Shazam!
Those rings! Perfect!
That location! OMG!
The kiss! Wait a minute! How’d he get into the picture? We did forget to mention one extra detail. Your guests. Make sure your guests are well behaved. If they can’t be, then make sure they are cute and entertaining. This Father in Law fits the bill on both counts.
The smiles! The most loving detail of all. The smiles need to be humungous and from the heart.
When planning your details, make sure you’ve set aside some time to relax after the ceremony, to decompress and to enjoy the scenery.
The last important detail that will make your wedding work is to choose the right photographer for you. Your photography should be fun and relaxing. Since the third person in the marriage at this stage will, indeed, be your photographer, you better like them – a lot. And likewise. Can you imagine what could happen if your photographer didn’t like you? Luckily Conchs are immensely likable and entertaining and you may even want to take one home with you.
When it’s time for those intimate moments. You don’t want someone there who feels like a stranger, or even worse, who feels you strangely. So, please, choose your photographer carefully as when you look at your photos, you’ll be reminded of them every time.
If you’re going to come all the way to beautiful Belize, pay attention and show some love to those details. Because we know it works and while this may be your first, second or even third wedding, we’ve done hundreds and we want yours to be the one that we remember forever too for being one of the most beautiful and special days of all.
This lovingly detailed wedding was organised and hosted by Las Terrazas
Pretty in Pink (and it’s not who you think!) – Belize Weddings
Every couple does it differently and this is one of the things that makes our work as wedding photographers in Belize so interesting and fun. Some couples come to Belize to elope, to get away from it all and enjoy a small and intimate wedding on the beach. Other couples plan a big party and think out all the details. This wedding was thoroughly planned, with much excitement, good taste and love and we are so pleased that we are able to share it with you.
From the hanger for the dress…
…to the bouquets and bridesmaids.
The table settings…
…and even the Thank You card for afterwards. Everything was meticulously organised. Now some of you may think this would all be a lot of work, but what we’ve found is that the brides who plan and organise in advance, particularly if they have guests, have the most stress free wedding. This is because once it’s done, they don’t have to think about another thing. They can just go with the flow on the day and enjoy the party. Let us show you exactly how that went.
The boys, as always, remain in their underwear until the last possible minute.
Meanwhile, the flower girl takes charge in the ladies’ dressing area…
…ensuring that everything meets her strict specifications.
Because no matter how hard the bride tries to do it herself…
…she can always do with a little bit of help.
And there is nothing like that moment…
…when things are about to get real.
True to form, the guys are almost dressed.
Don’t forget those rings!
And finally, it’s sealed with a kiss.
No, seriously..did we really do it?
It appears that you did.
Well, in that case…
…it’s time to celebrate!
First, it’s time for some romance.
This is your special day and you should feel like rock stars!
Your own yacht for the day.
And today, the sun sets just for you.
All your loved ones have come all this way.
Dance.
Eat cake.
Hula.
Party the night away. For tomorrow it will seem like just a dream.
This fabulous wedding was hosted by the beautiful Ramon’s Village Resort
Til Death Do Us Part – Cowgirl Glam in the Tropics – Belize Wedding – Trash the Dress
Public Health Warning! – This is a Trash the Dress blog like no other we have done. We highly suggest that you make sure you’re snug in your saddle and ready for a romantic, playful, naughty and wild ride. And now we shall begin.
Those of you familiar with Conch Creative’s wedding photography know that we specialise in Trash the Dress sessions. This is our chance to work with couples, collaborate and create beautiful pieces that they will treasure for years to come. This cowgirl themed Trash the Dress started like most others. Beautiful romantic poses in a tropical setting.
A little bit of playful fun…
…and of course some sexy romping.
We should have realised that something was up when we saw our cowgirl’s garter. But nothing could have prepared us for the story we are about to share with you.
After sending the groom off to get some drinks, while we did some beautiful bridal portraits, our cowgirl bride told us in no uncertain terms that it was time for a little refreshment break.
Always obliging we found a shady spot at the end of a dock. Our cowgirl had brought along her own bottle and, politely, offered to share. We explained that it’s important for photographers to stay in focus but that we’d hang around and take a few more photos while she waited for her groom.
Fifteen minutes later, we knew that something memorable was about to happen and we weren’t about to stop shooting (by shooting we mean with a camera!) until the rodeo was over.
The groom returned with a couple of bottles of Belikin Beer and for a moment, we were lulled into a false sense of security, thinking everything had returned to normal. How could we predict the drama that was to unfold?
As the groom swept her up in his arms for a kiss, she was already plotting.
We heard her whisper in his ear (she did whisper loudly) , ‘Now that we’re legal, you’re mine cowboy and don’t you forget it!’ and then she started marching him up the beach.
We were stunned when she stopped suddenly and said ‘Turn around big boy and strip!’. Conch Creative have never done a nude cowboy shoot before, but we were game for anything at this stage and of course we must admit that we cheered him on as he started to unbutton his shirt.
But like all good Westerns the stories lead you down long and twisty canyon trails and you never know what’s around the next turn. Suddenly our groom got a bit feisty.
Before you could say ‘ride ’em cowboy’. He’d taken the situation in hand and the tables had turned.
It was all we could do not to cover our eyes and blush when the scene in front of us took on a life of its very own.
Our final observation is that the old cowboy saying ‘He’s all hat and no cattle.’ Certainly did not apply in this instance.
This will go down in history as one hell of a ‘rootin’ tootin’ Trash the Dress experience for Conch Creative.
Rain or Shine – Part 1. Rain – Belize Weddings
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
It was bound to happen. After over 200 weddings and bragging that it never rains at a Conch Creative wedding in Belize, we were tempting fate. Our first wedding in the rain. Want to know the most wonderful thing? This darling couple didn’t care. They were so in love and so excited about getting married that they said ‘rain or shine’ and they meant it.
“You astonish and amaze me, the way you can take a rainy day and make it glisten with diamonds” Author Unknown
The rain didn’t change the rings. They were ready.
” With you I’d dance in a storm with my best dress – fearless.” Taylor Swift
The rain didn’t change the dress either. It was ready too.
“Until the sun comes out again for you, my umbrella is big enough for two” Author Unknown
The groom, being ever so chivalrous, did get a little bit wet, but look at the smile on his face.
“Rain on the day you get married brings good luck.” – Old proverb
And so it began. Our first rainy wedding. Probably one of the most romantic we’ve ever had.
“Tears of joy are like the summer raindrops pierced by sunbeams.” Hosea Ballou
The tears of joy started to flow like raindrops.
“Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water.” Brian Jacques
But the groom was there to dry those tears.
“Hold your sweetheart’s hand and walk in the rains while the clouds play cupid.” Author Unknown
Rain or shine, they walked back up that aisle, officially married.
“Kiss me in the rain, love me in the dark, hold me till the end, and never break my heart.” Author Unknown
And so it was sealed with a kiss.
“Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm.” John Denver
After the unique pleasure of a marriage in the tropical rains of Belize, it was time to relax, reconnect and dry out.
“Every storm runs out of rain. Just like every dark night turns into day.” Gary Allan
As the darkness drew in and island became still, the couple considered venturing back out.
“‘If raindrops were kisses, I’d send you showers. If hugs were seas,I’d send you oceans. And if love was a person I’d send you me!” Emily Bronte
Just when they thought the clouds had parted, the Maya Rain Gods of Belize decided to bless them just one more time.
“Sharing one umbrella
We have to hold each other
Round the waist to keep together.
You ask me why I’m smiling –
It’s because I’m thinking
I want it to rain for ever.” Vicky Feaver
Stay tuned for part two of this Rain & Shine blog.
This beautiful wedding in the rain was hosted by the gorgeous Matachica Resort
Sweetness and Delight – Belize Weddings
If you know Conch Creative, you know that we specialise in beautiful, barefoot, beach weddings in Belize. We work with a lot of amazing couples and in the most fabulous locations, but every so often a couple comes along who are just so sweet with the way they express their love for each other and their sheer delight about their wedding that we end up saying ‘Awwww. Aren’t they adorable?’ when we look through their photos. This is one of those couples.
Our lovely bride in the build up to the big moment couldn’t hide her excitement.
While the groom was being well looked after by his groomsmen… 
..the bride, surrounded by sentimental and fabulous items, was being similarly well attended to
The dress just hung around waiting for the bride…
…as did the groom.
Everything came together as planned and you could see the bride’s absolute delight as her loving family guided her down a sandy, palm lined aisle towards her future.
Wow! Does their future look bright! We’re guessing it will be full of love, kisses, cuddles, adoration, fun and cake. Never forget the cake. Let’s follow them for a while in only the way photographers can (otherwise you’d be stalkers) and find out.
Looks like we were on the money with love.
Certainly is plenty of kissing going on too.
Oooh. There you go! We weren’t wrong about the cuddles either.
OK. We admit it. We didn’t predict the workers on bicycles, so let’s get back to the love and adoration bit.
There’s certainly some love happening here.
You can’t hide that adoration from us either.
Just in time for the requisite artistic pose before….
..the fun starts for the groom…
…and the bride.
But finally, not metaphorically at all, the icing on the cake.
This super fun and love filled wedding was hosted by the beautiful Coco Beach Resort
The Lure of the Mysterious Maya – Belize Weddings
When an adventurous couple decide to have a destination wedding in Belize, it is tempting to assume that it will be a barefoot beach wedding. Belize is well known for it’s beautiful Caribbean sea and sandy, palm dotted islands, but for a few, something else calls them from Belize. Among the waterfalls, the tropical rain forest and jungle setting it is easy to remember that Belize is an ancient land, once inhabited by one of the most advanced civilisations in the world. Belize was the home of the Maya people. It is the lure of the mysteries of this ancient civilisation that brings some to create memories of a lifetime in Belize. This is one of those couples.
Like every good wedding story, this one starts with a beautiful bride, contemplating her future. Miles away from anything she knows as modern civilisation, deep in the forest of the Mountain Pine Ridge of Belize.
This wedding is experiencing a different sort of civilisation and sharing in practices and rites that have been passed down for generations. Copal, an incense used since ancient times, is being burned in the background by a local shaman for ritual and purification purposes. 
After prayers were offered, a traditional joining by a string of beads was made and a Belizean officiant legalised the marriage.
Some children from a local village were delighted to help create a colourful aisle for the bride and groom to break through.
Some of the children were particularly adorable.
After the spiritual and moving Maya ceremony, the couple explored the grounds and enjoyed their first moments together as newlyweds.
Finding some scenic and…
…very romantic locations along the way.
It was a beautifully intense and wonderful day – only a second to get a little bit of rest before the celebrations continued.
The entertainment was just getting warmed up with a group of incredible marimba players.
As the evening and the celebrations continued, traditional Maya dances were performed. Certainly this was a Maya experience for the couple to remember and treasure forever, but the lure of the mysterious Maya persisted for them and so their adventure continued the following day.
It was now time for the couple to step out of the deep, dark rain forest and out into the Belizean sun…
…and encounter the ruins of the ancient Maya people. These are the ruins of Xunantunich. Over 2000 years ago, Xunantunich was a great city with over 200,000 residents.
Now they stand as a testament to the great, ancient Maya civilsation and have been preserved and restored remarkably allowing those with an adventurous and curious spirit to discover and learn about this fascinating part of human history.
Aside from the incredible story of these ancient temples, the scenery is amazing. So, if you’d kindly indulge us, we’d like to just enjoy that for a few photos.
This is the view towards the main temple, El Castillo, looking North.
This is the absolutely stunning view of Belize from El Castillo.
This is El Castillo, where the legend says, a maiden dressed in white would appear. This is where the name Xunantunich, which means ‘stone maiden’, originates.
It was that legend, which also inspired this image.
The ruins are vast and there is so much to explore and learn about the Maya people, their history, traditions and modern way of life. If you’re adventurous and you want to step into your future by taking a step into the ancient past, we suggest you consider following the lure of the mysterious Maya … all the way to Belize.
This gorgeous wedding was planned and hosted at Blancaneaux Lodge in the Pine Ridge of Belize
Down & Dirty in Belize – Trash the Dress Wedding Photography
This year Conch Creative had some challenges with the weather. In fact, all of Belize had some challenges with the weather. It rained hard and long and everything got extremely wet and mucky. So, we couldn’t have been more delighted when the bride and groom wanted to trash their dress in the most fun, playful and positively down and dirty manner possible.
It all started so innocently, just a little pat on the bum for the bride.
The groom got pretty cheeky…
…but the bride got even cheekier.
Payback time!
Until the roles reversed!
The bride looked so lonely in her puddle of mud.
That didn’t last for long.
When we told them it was time to finish, the bride found another puddle to play in.
Luckily the beach was close to hand for a little bit of cleaning up.
Even though they were getting clean…
…they were still a little bit dirty.
And with one subtle gesture, the groom let the photographers know that it was time to give them a bit of privacy.
This Trash the Dress session was one of our favourites ever. We’d like to thank the couple for being such great sports. We had so much fun and will never forget our dirtiest Trash the Dress ever!
Love, Laughter, Tears and Moonshine – Belize Wedding
Sometimes a wedding is so full of emotion, even as wedding photographers, who work with hundreds of couples, it can be hard to hold it together. This is one of those weddings.
As always, we start with a beautiful bride.
Brides are lucky. They always have help at hand to make sure that everything looks and fits perfectly.
Guys generally manage to get dressed on their own.
But when you have a garment like this, with all it’s buttons and ties and you want to make it look like
..this. Well then it’s fair that a little bit of assistance is provided.
During the ceremony, as promised, there was plenty of laughter.
There were also heartfelt tears.
Then there was more laughter.
While the sun still shone, the couple took a stroll on the dock.
They hung out.
They relaxed and enjoyed the view.
They lounged around in each other’s arms.
As the moon rose, they knew it was time to head off to party with their loved ones.
Their limousine was awaiting.
They’ll never forget the moonshine in San Pedro.
This gorgeous wedding was hosted and organised by Grand Caribe Belize.
10 Easy Steps to Your Destination Wedding in Belize
Couples decide on destination weddings in Belize for so many reasons. Some wish to elope, some want to mix their honeymoon and wedding, some want to escape the drama of a big wedding at home, others want to share the beauty of Belize with their family and friends. Whatever the reason, we thought it was time we shared some helpful hints so that you can have the destination wedding of your dreams.
Step one. Choose a dress that suits a tropical wedding on the beach. Remember that you’ll be wearing it for quite a few hours, so you must love how you look in it, but even more – you need to love how you feel in it.
If you feel beautiful, you’ll look beautiful – just like this gorgeous bride.
Step two. Make sure your rings fit. Did you know that a change in climate can make your fingers swell? To avoid embarrassing moments you may want to use a little lotion on your hands before the ceremony to make sure everything goes ‘smoothly’.
Step 3. Don’t forget about the groom.
Make sure he looks good and feels good in what he’s wearing too!
Step 4. If you have got family and friends with you…
…give them things to keep them occupied so they feel useful and part of the ceremony.
Step 5. In the tropics you will want to hold your ceremony later in the day for your comfort, the comfort of your guests and to get the best light for your photographs. Never leave your guests sitting out in the heat for too long or they will get sweaty, uncomfortable and may well head off to the bar.
Step 6. If your guests have come all the way to Belize for your wedding, then they will want to participate and listen to the ceremony on your special day. They also will not want to ruin your photos. You can help them to do these things by asking them not to bring or use cameras and phones to the ceremony. Hey, you’ve paid good money for a professional photographer to do that. They can just sit back and enjoy your beautiful ceremony.
Step 7. If you have friends and family along, don’t spend too much time trying to plan group shots. Do you really want to spend an hour in the sun while everyone in every combination comes and stands next to you for a photo? Most brides we work with come to Belize to relax and have fun – so, after the ceremony plan on one fun group shot with everyone in it.
Step 8. Make sure you’ve set aside time in the best possible light (the last hour before sunset is perfect) to relax and spend some private time with your photographer…
…because these are the memories of Belize that you’ll want to treasure forever.
Step 9. Be adventurous with your photos as you never know what might happen or who might fly by.
Step 10. Get ready to eat, drink and be married!!!!
We’d like to thank the gorgeous Las Terrazas Resort for organising and hosting this wedding.
For more photos, helpful hints and a chance to ask us your questions about wedding photography in Belize, check out our Facebook page here.