PLACENCIA, BELIZE

Getting to travel is a privilege and an experience in and of itself, but when traveling is a part of your job, that’s the dream.

Back in early 2015, we were contacted by Victoria and Bobby about their impending nuptials in a seldom discussed slice of paradise: Belize. We’d done some destination wedding work before, but we’d yet to hit Belize.  Their wedding was to take place at the Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia, a small town commonly traveled by golf carts or on foot, and after taking a look at some of the images, the venue, and the couple, we were completely on board.

The months wore on slowly, but soon enough May arrived. We packed our gear, our bags, and our charisma and flew south on Wednesday, the 13th of May in 2015.

Two flights and one charter plane later, we arrived.

We drove ourselves to the Los Porticos Villas, our home for the next few days, and settled in. Exhausted but excited, we ventured out, got ourselves a golf cart, and explored. Soon, we stumbled upon the Tipsy Tuna and purely drawn in by the name alone, we found ourselves gorging on nachos, burritos, sandwiches, and whatever else they threw our way. Our tourist flag was waving high.

After less than three or four hours, we’d officially immersed ourselves in the culture and the experience.

The following morning, we were met with the typical humidity, heat, and wildlife as we set out to explore the boardwalk, the shops, and the sites. One place in particular we found ourselves revisiting throughout our trip was Tutti Frutti, the local gelato shop. Any gelato you have after the stuff you can get here, you’ll be sorely disappointed. We can’t recommend this place enough.

Later in the evening we captured Victoria and Bobby’s rehearsal dinner at the Secret Garden, a quaint local restaurant in the heart of the town. Upon entering, we were overwhelmed at the amount of love and support from their family and friends.

This was a destination wedding. It wasn’t the easiest or cheapest place to get to, but not one person there had a second thought about taking part in the festivities. They wanted to be there for Victoria and they wanted to be there for Bobby.

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Amidst the food, drinks, and the laughter, we found ourselves becoming a part of this group of people. We weren’t seen as just a vendor. We were seen as friends, and that was an incredibly humbling experience. After the last fruity drink had been sipped and the last bit of food had been chewed, we packed up the gear and called it a night. We had an early start the next morning, and that start was the start of why we were ultimately here.

The wedding day itself couldn’t have gone smoother. Spirits were high and jubilance was in abundance. Victoria and Bobby booked out most the entirety of Chabil Mar for their friends and family, so the intimacy was at capacity. This was truly their day.

After morning preparations, afternoon decorations, and early libations, it was time for the ceremony. Albeit a bit windy, it was absolutely picture perfect. Through laughter and tears, Bobby spoke his vows to Victoria and Victoria to Bobby. Every face in the crowd was beaming ear-to-ear.

Through the applause, they shared their first kiss as a married couple and were announced as such shortly after.

Certain couples make us remember why we’re doing this. Even though we had the privilege to be in paradise for a few days, seeing the love these two have for each other and the outpouring of support from family and friends really cemented it for us.

We love what we do and we hope it shows. With every new client comes new opportunities, new memories, and new adventures. And even if it’s not Belize, that’s okay. It’s not just about the location. It’s really all about the story.

Though we must admit, if your wedding was in Bora Bora and you asked us to come along, we wouldn’t complain.