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.
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
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
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
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 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 1
You are having a destination wedding. You’ve picked the magical, tropical, paradise of Belize. You are going to have your wedding on the famous island Ambergris Caye, more commonly known by the name of its only town, San Pedro – or even more famously known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (oh yes, Madonna dreamt of us last night!). You know you want the whole getting married on the beach experience, with the turquoise Caribbean Sea twinkling in the background and palm trees. But then you say to yourself ‘Wait a minute! I’m going all the way to this interesting and beautiful country and I’m just going to get photos on the beach. That’s simply not good enough! I want more!’ And more you shall get – because Conch Creative loves to show our couples the real Belize. Oh yeah, we take photos too and here are some from one of our most epic wedding adventures.
There are a number of luxury vehicles available to transport our lucky couples around the island.
Golf carts are the most common form of transportation.
Once you get into the quaint, colourful and quirky town of San Pedro, there are all sorts of fun things to do but first you want to make sure you look your very best. So getting a pair of new shoes is a good place to start.
Followed by a smart haircut – or polish, whichever the case may be.
If you’re lucky, some of the friendly islanders might even lend you a clean pair of underpants.
And then it’s just a matter to find somewhere private to change into them.
Once you’re all dressed and ready to go, it’s time to take a stroll to the park.
Climb up high to take in the view. (just a note here – not many places in the world where the children’s public playground overlooks a barrier reef. Just sayin!)
Hang around and enjoy some fun activities.
Familiarise yourselves with the local animal life.
OK. Maybe not THAT familiar!
Take in some of the local art.
And contemplate its deeper meaning.
Don’t forget about the unique architecture. Seriously though, Belize is so much more than it’s beaches and jungle. It’s about the people and, of course, the Isla Bonita life.
When all is said and done you may just feel like this bride did –
“I can’t speak highly enough for the amazing experience you have given us. From day 1, your email communications were prompt, detailed & polite. The actual photography experience was a joy & you were both so carefree and easy to work with. We will never forget the fun we had with you during our Isla Bonita experience. To be honest, it was quite possibly one of our favorite moments while in Belize…. having no kids was a huge relief, but also laughing until we cried & having the opportunity to see the most interesting sites on the island was much appreciated. I’ve been to Belize 100 times and have never experienced San Pedro in that way. Im glad to hear you had fun too 🙂 I am speechless at how well the pictures have turned out & we will cherish these for the rest of our lives. Words cannot describe how thankful we are. “
Look out for Part 2 of this blog featuring the actual gorgeous wedding at Xanadu Island Resort.
Coming soon.
How to Keep Cool and Still Have a Hot Wedding – Belize Wedding Photography
People come to beautiful Belize to get married because it’s sunny. It’s warm. And of course it’s just gorgeous. But hot and sunny weddings aren’t always what Mother Nature plans and if you follow our little blog here about weddings in Belize, you’ll know that we encourage all of our couples to get in the water, take a little dip and cool off in the hot Caribbean sun. This wedding is a perfect example of how to be super hot, keep cool and have the best time of your life
A popular option for keeping cool in Belize is the famous local beer, Belikin. It’s also great for those pre wedding nerves…
…but too many can lead to an urgent need to cool down even more. You have been warned and don’t think we don’t encourage this sort of behaviour – because we do.
The wedding started perfectly with hot young women staying cool in the air conditioning but getting hot by jumping on the bed but staying cool by not getting dressed and well…..we could go on..but you get the hot/cool references we think
Bring on the hot young men stepping outside onto their balcony to look cool, while the young women below just keep looking hot, except they are not dressed, so they are sort of cool…
This couple brought along some super cool gifts for their guests because, of course, wait for it…..it’s hot (and sunny) in Belize.
And it was…right until they were about to say their vows. At this point, any plan B goes by the wayside. The good news is that in Belize it is believed that if it rains on your wedding day, it is a blessing. Good thing really….
…because in Belize, Mother Nature never does anything by halves. When she wants to bless your wedding, you know it’s going to get really blessed.
The wonderful thing about this very hot couple getting cooled down by the rain….they didn’t miss a beat.
Nothing could stop these two. It was all about the moment, their love, being with their friends and family….and so why not make the best of it.
Everyone at the wedding was super cool and just went with the flow.
The beautiful bride’s cool blue eyes never stopped sparkling.
The cool colour combination ensured that the bridesmaids popped against the moody sky.
Meanwhile, the guys snuck off, we’re guessing that the bar wasn’t far from here, they were feeling hot and needed a cool refreshing beer.
Before the drinking could commence though, it was time for guests to participate in another cool idea from the wedding couple.
One must never forget that the sun is never far away in Belize.
Creating beautiful shadows.
And incredible colours in the sky when it sets.
Wow! What a cool indoor venue. Not many people know about some of the gorgeous locations Belize has for the hottest weddings.
Time to reconnect for some quiet time before things really do hot up.
Because it looks like this super cool wedding crew know how to keep hot even when things get cooler in sunny and sometimes rainy Belize.
We so enjoyed taking part in this really cool wedding with this really hot couple. We hope you enjoyed it too!
This wedding was hosted and planned by the hot, beautiful and very cool Coco Beach Resort
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
The Perfect Match – Destination Belize Wedding
We do a lot of wedding photography in Belize, but there is always a first time for everything. This was our first ‘footie’ wedding. For our USA friends, we are talking about ‘soccer’ of course. The game, where a ball is kicked with the foot. As we’re sure you can see, our groom LOVED football. Our very patient bride, not so much. So, sticking to our football theme, let’s see how our teams pan out.
The bride was well prepared with her best kit for the wedding. Were Manolo Blahnik sponsoring her team? This isn’t fantasy football, but that ups the ante to a dream team for the bride.
She made sure to have her best game face on for the day.
She seemed to be planning tactics well in advance.
The groom, not about to let his side down, worked on setting up distractions.
It didn’t take long before he scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The players get to relax a little at half time.
Then they grab a little refreshment before getting back into the game.
The bride lines up nicely…
…and it’s a perfect goal. Right down the centre. The groom didn’t stand a chance. That Manolo Blahnik sponsorship truly paid off.
It’s not long though before the groom recovers with a great score. Two-one to the groom at this stage. They are both such strong teams, who knows how this will end.
The groom noses in for another sneaky shot.
But he appears to have gone offside.
The groom is relentless. He tries again, coming up behind while her defenses are low…
…but at the very last minute, the bride scores a perfect goal right between the posts! What an exciting match. A match made in heaven for sure. We officially call this one a draw. Congratulations to our couple, who were great sports!
This footballtastic wedding was organised and hosted by the high scoring Matachica Resort.
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
The Recipe for a Perfect Wedding in Paradise – Belize Weddings
There are a number of ingredients, when correctly combined, result in an absolutely perfect wedding day in paradise. We are happy to share our own special recipe with you.
So, to start, our main ingredient is a beautiful bride.
We also need a large measure of handsome groom.
A little touch of cheekiness always adds some flavour.
But do have the groom close to hand because you need to be prepared to mix them up.
As once those two main ingredients are combined…
You can’t always predict what’s going to happen next.
Gently add some of your dry ingredients to give a little sparkle and spice to the occasion.
Now, moisten the ingredients lightly.
While it may be tempting to add more liquid, don’t overdo it.
Just a couple of cups for now as you can always add more fluids later.
If you overdo it, things may become little bit wobbly.
We certainly wouldn’t want anyone to fall in the process.
Next, make sure to cover your ingredients well. Barefoot weddings are all well and fine, until you hit the gravel.
Very carefully transport them.
And place them somewhere cool and dry for a while.
After they’ve settled for a short time, return them to a moister environment and then…
…warm them up slowly.
Finally finishing them off nicely with a glaze of alcohol and sugar (otherwise known as wine). If you’ve followed our instructions correctly, your final product should be a perfect wedding day in paradise.
This beautiful wedding was organised and hosted by the fabulous Las Terrazas Resort.
Magical Moments – Belize Weddings
There are some places in the world that are simply unique. They have a sort of magic and mystery to them, where sometimes, time seems to stand still and for that moment, everything is simply perfect. Belize is one of those places and that’s why it is so popular as a place for small intimate destination weddings. Join us as we share some of that magic with you.
Flowers that look like they’ve popped out of a romantic old painting.
A dress that’s fit for a princess.
A cake with details that look like they were created by faeries.
And floating rings…….Whoa! Wait a minute! Floating rings? Is this real magic or is it Photoshop? It’s neither. This certainly was created with some good old fashioned trickery but we can assure you that the rings were most definitely in the sea and those are real fish and they were all really there together. No Photoshop or any sort of digital photographic manipulation required. But like all good magicians, our secrets must remain secret.
Romantico! And we all know that true romance is is in itself a magical thing.
As if appearing out of an enchanted forest, here comes the beautiful bride.
A very dashing, handsome, dark and mysterious groom completes the picture perfectly.
They seem enchanted, as if their love might just fly them away.
They tiptoe through paradise, apparently spell bound by the beauty of their surroundings.
Captivated, they take a moment to gaze into each others’ eyes.
Until the magic of Belize descends upon them, casting a spell that will make this a day they will never forget.
This magical wedding was hosted upon a beautiful private island at Cayo Espanto
Pretty in Pink (and it’s not who you think!) – Belize Weddings
Every couple does it differently and this is one of the things that makes our work as wedding photographers in Belize so interesting and fun. Some couples come to Belize to elope, to get away from it all and enjoy a small and intimate wedding on the beach. Other couples plan a big party and think out all the details. This wedding was thoroughly planned, with much excitement, good taste and love and we are so pleased that we are able to share it with you.
From the hanger for the dress…
…to the bouquets and bridesmaids.
The table settings…
…and even the Thank You card for afterwards. Everything was meticulously organised. Now some of you may think this would all be a lot of work, but what we’ve found is that the brides who plan and organise in advance, particularly if they have guests, have the most stress free wedding. This is because once it’s done, they don’t have to think about another thing. They can just go with the flow on the day and enjoy the party. Let us show you exactly how that went.
The boys, as always, remain in their underwear until the last possible minute.
Meanwhile, the flower girl takes charge in the ladies’ dressing area…
…ensuring that everything meets her strict specifications.
Because no matter how hard the bride tries to do it herself…
…she can always do with a little bit of help.
And there is nothing like that moment…
…when things are about to get real.
True to form, the guys are almost dressed.
Don’t forget those rings!
And finally, it’s sealed with a kiss.
No, seriously..did we really do it?
It appears that you did.
Well, in that case…
…it’s time to celebrate!
First, it’s time for some romance.
This is your special day and you should feel like rock stars!
Your own yacht for the day.
And today, the sun sets just for you.
All your loved ones have come all this way.
Dance.
Eat cake.
Hula.
Party the night away. For tomorrow it will seem like just a dream.
This fabulous wedding was hosted by the beautiful Ramon’s Village Resort
Til Death Do Us Part – Cowgirl Glam in the Tropics – Belize Wedding – Trash the Dress
Public Health Warning! – This is a Trash the Dress blog like no other we have done. We highly suggest that you make sure you’re snug in your saddle and ready for a romantic, playful, naughty and wild ride. And now we shall begin.
Those of you familiar with Conch Creative’s wedding photography know that we specialise in Trash the Dress sessions. This is our chance to work with couples, collaborate and create beautiful pieces that they will treasure for years to come. This cowgirl themed Trash the Dress started like most others. Beautiful romantic poses in a tropical setting.
A little bit of playful fun…
…and of course some sexy romping.
We should have realised that something was up when we saw our cowgirl’s garter. But nothing could have prepared us for the story we are about to share with you.
After sending the groom off to get some drinks, while we did some beautiful bridal portraits, our cowgirl bride told us in no uncertain terms that it was time for a little refreshment break.
Always obliging we found a shady spot at the end of a dock. Our cowgirl had brought along her own bottle and, politely, offered to share. We explained that it’s important for photographers to stay in focus but that we’d hang around and take a few more photos while she waited for her groom.
Fifteen minutes later, we knew that something memorable was about to happen and we weren’t about to stop shooting (by shooting we mean with a camera!) until the rodeo was over.
The groom returned with a couple of bottles of Belikin Beer and for a moment, we were lulled into a false sense of security, thinking everything had returned to normal. How could we predict the drama that was to unfold?
As the groom swept her up in his arms for a kiss, she was already plotting.
We heard her whisper in his ear (she did whisper loudly) , ‘Now that we’re legal, you’re mine cowboy and don’t you forget it!’ and then she started marching him up the beach.
We were stunned when she stopped suddenly and said ‘Turn around big boy and strip!’. Conch Creative have never done a nude cowboy shoot before, but we were game for anything at this stage and of course we must admit that we cheered him on as he started to unbutton his shirt.
But like all good Westerns the stories lead you down long and twisty canyon trails and you never know what’s around the next turn. Suddenly our groom got a bit feisty.
Before you could say ‘ride ’em cowboy’. He’d taken the situation in hand and the tables had turned.
It was all we could do not to cover our eyes and blush when the scene in front of us took on a life of its very own.
Our final observation is that the old cowboy saying ‘He’s all hat and no cattle.’ Certainly did not apply in this instance.
This will go down in history as one hell of a ‘rootin’ tootin’ Trash the Dress experience for Conch Creative.
Rain or Shine – Part 2. Shine – Belize Weddings
“While sleeping in a hammock, with the touch of a warm wind, we remember why we are in love with the life.” Mehmet Murat ildan
Welcome to part two of our Rain & Shine two part blog series. It’s almost always sunny in Belize and that’s one of the reasons it’s such a happy and romantic place for weddings. In fact, one of the most popular activities involves spending time in one of the many hammocks you’ll find attached to palm trees and cabanas all over the island.
“Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear
Tell me, tell me that you love me too. ” Paul Anka
So in this blog, we will be sharing the many ways that this beautiful couple spent their wedding day enjoying the sunshine in Belize.
“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high” John Denver
Walking hand and hand along one of the many long docks along the coast is a favourite pastime for those visiting Ambergris Caye. While enjoying the sea breeze and views, if you look down into the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea below your feet, you might be lucky enough to spot some of the many tropical fish that inhabit the coral reef nearby.
“The spaces between your fingers were meant to be filled with mine.” Unknown Author
We felt obliged to give you a different perspective of walking down the dock so that you can see the reef that we are talking about. The white breakers you see in the background is the sea popping over the Mesoamerican Reef. Not to brag, but it is the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and it is a World Heritage site. Whether you love to dive, snorkel or simply dangle your toes into the water, you’ll definitely find Nemo here on a sunny day.
“This dame keeps dragging me into the bushes. Keep your eye open, you may have to rescue me.” David O Selznick
You’ll find that on Ambergris Caye, despite being an atoll and almost a part of the Yucatan Peninsula, was once covered in coconut plantations. This means the earth is very fertile and as such not only do the resorts have stunning and maturely planted grounds but we have an extensive rainforest wildlife reserve at the northern tip of the island. Taking a stroll in our island ‘jungles’ in the sunshine can always prove to be an adventure.
