Valentine’s Day. The most romantic day of the year to say “I DO.”  Marriage is the union of two lives and two hearts forever in love.  What could be more romantic than getting married on Valentine’s Day on a tropical island?   Just ask Kim and Eloy.  They tied the knot in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Valentine’s day!  I call them true romantics.

A very special message from the groom right before the wedding

“I found happiness, laughter, strength, tears, faith in God, and true love! True love was something I could only dream of until I met you. I look forward to continuing our life together as one. Our connection all along was to be here today in beautiful Belize for our wedding day!” (words from Eloy’s vows)

Love was in the air.  Hearing Kim’s excitement in her voice early in the day gave me the chills.  I can’t express in words how happy and excited I was for Kim and Eloy.  I met Kim several years ago through my good friend Shannon who frequents Belize.  When Kim and Eloy contacted me to plan their big day with them I was flattered and thrilled that they chose Belize. When Kim was asked why she and Eloy decided to elope Kim told us“We decided to elope together because it seemed the least stressful.  We love to travel, and most of our very special and most meaningful moments together have been when we’ve traveled.  Plus we prefer to not have a whole lot of distractions, and it seemed ideal for romance for it to be just the two of us.”

“You are the yin to my yang. You are the calm to my storm. You’ve captured my heart and now my heart belongs to you.” Kim expresses her love in her personalized vows to Eloy

The ceremony and wedding location at the incredibly beautiful Captain Morgan’s Retreat was beautiful.  Kim is a beautiful woman and truly a stunning bride in her gorgeous gown.  Her handsome groom also looked first class. After the ceremony Kim, Eloy, Ari, Dorian (witness #1), photographer Jose Luis and assistant celebrated with Valentines wedding cupcakes as a gift from I DO Belize Weddings, champagne from their friend Shannon,  followed by pictures and a romantic dinner for two.

Rain is unusual in February yet Kim and Eloy experienced a light mist of rain after their ceremony.  It was towards the end of taking pictures. Did you know that rain happens to be good luck on a wedding day?  Rain is said to be a symbol of children in the future just as rain promotes growth in the farmer’s fields.  According to an old wives’ tale, the knot in “tying the knot” becomes wet and is harder to break, thus making the marriage stronger.

Kim and Eloy’s special day was filled with romance and beauty.  I hope you enjoy the photographs as much as I do!  Thank you to Jose Luis Zapata Photography for capturing the newleywed’s beautiful memories.  You may read more about Kim & Eloy’s wedding in paradise featured in the Ambergris Today.  http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2011/february/16/saying-i-do-valentine%E2%80%99s-day

Congratulations and much love to Kim & Eloy Alderete!

We are so excited to have our first MagneticPix custom personalized photo board!  These beautiful photo boards are both magnetic and dry-erase!!  How cool is that?  They can even be used outside because they are UVA/UVB resistant.   An engagement picture or vacation memory board is perfect for your wedding week in Belize.  Post your group activities for the week and hang it outside by the pool, bar, or in the lobby!  Your guests will appreciate it and since it’s dry erase it’s easy to update and change.

After your wedding take MagneticPix home and use for grocery lists, reminders, schedules, and we love it in our office!  They’re also perfect for kids to use in their bedrooms for school reminders.  These make great gifts too for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and holidays.

MagneticPix is offering a 10% discount through October 31 (code IDOBelize1015), so visit them today for more information!

http://magneticpix.com

Click the pictures to enlarge

Thank you MagneticPix and thanks again to Conch Creative Photography!

Green Wedding Tips by I DO Belize Weddings

It’s no surprise that Eco-friendly Belize attracts more than those interested in an environmentally friendly vacation.  With the growing trend of “Green Weddings” Belize is one of the world’s top green destination wedding locations.  Why Go Green? Small eco-friendly choices can decrease your wedding’s impact on the environment without sacrificing style or elegance.  Even with one or two green options you’ll be making a difference for the earth and increasing the joy of your day.

Welcome Baskets. For those of you thinking about gift baskets for your guests upon arrival consider beach bags!  One item that gets thrown out after the goodies are gone is the gift basket.  Do you really expect your guests to lug an empty basket back to the States with them?  Unfortunately off to the landfill they usually go.  Beach bags or gift bags are versatile, and can be easily packed into a suitcase.  Fill the bags with goodies like Belizean jams, jellies, spices, hot sauces, and rum cake.

Kay Scott Photography

Wedding Yoga. We hope you’re planning an “I DO Belize Wedding” and that our prompt detailed responses, suggestions, and bridal calls are keeping you from feeling stressed.  We want you to have fun planning your big day but let’s face it…combine wedding planning, bridal magazines, websites, dress shopping, invitations, and getting advice from friends and family all of the details before your wedding day can naturally feel totally overwhelming.   The physical yoga poses, breathing exercises, and meditations are the perfect way to self-navigate into excellent physical and emotional health, and a state of inner calm and relaxation.  Try just ten poses two to three times a week to notice a difference.  If you’re new to yoga pick up a yoga for beginners book or try a gentle yoga class.

Invitations and paper. It’s very exciting that so many print companies are finally starting to use post- consumer products to create beautiful invitations, programs, and personal stationary! Weddings can generate a huge amount of paper consumption, so give careful thought to items that can be reduced. Use recycled paper wherever possible for wedding invitations; most companies can offer this option. Also consider treeless paper made from materials such as bamboo, hemp and kenaf.  Emily Anderson, author of “ecochic weddings” blog, has a few suggestions for eco-friendly invitations and printing.  http://bit.ly/7yI6J

Invitation by The Green Kangaroo

Here are some of our favorite Eco-friendly invitation companies that use recycled paper, invitations made from tree free Kozo papers, & papers made using wind energy that are carbon neutral, and FSC certified.

www.tgkdesigns.com

www.writestyleinvites.com

www.greenfieldpaper.com

www.oftheearth.org

Flowers. Use local native flowers!  Many traditional wedding flowers have to be imported to island destinations.  Transportation and care of these flowers requires extra resources.  If you’re lucky enough to marry here in Belize our native flowers are some of the most beautiful tropical flowers in the world!  Plus, you’ll be saving a lot of money using local verses imported flowers.

Conch Creative Photography

Jewelry.   North America contributes $16 billion a year into the jewelry market that could be infused into the green economy through the purchase of socially and environmentally responsible jewelry. Eco-conscious jewelers use recycled stones and metals, as well as ethically sourced diamonds, gems and metals to create breathtaking and unique items. Family heirlooms, vintage pieces, or handmade items are also sustainable, and often less expensive options to consider.

Transportation. Eliminate the vehicles.  Choose a reception venue that’s walkable from the ceremony.  In Belize there are plenty of breathtaking beach locations where you can hold both your ceremony and reception.

Favors. Yes!  Favors can be earth friendly too.   Often people come up with very cute favors which unfortunately guests don’t end up using. Chelsea Clinton gave reusable tote bags that they can use in place of paper or plastic for grocery shopping.  Imagine how cute would tropical personalized grocery totes be!

Chelsea Clinton’s pick for “simple and special favors”

Photo provided by Party Blue Prints

Eco-friendly flip flops make great wedding favors that guests can take home and wear again.  Look for flip flops made from natural materials like rubber, jute, or hemp.  Roxy makes a line of these flip flops starting at $9/pair.

Socially conscious donations in place of favors seem especially appropriate for the green bride. Pick a worthy association (something important to you), and notify the guests on pretty cards of handmade paper.  Consider places such as Nature Conservancy, Green Peace, Rainforest Network, Earth First, Farm Sanctuary, or even a Belize wildlife or reef preservation such as Green Reef or Belize Ecotourism Association.  Plantable seed content makes a cute and budget friendly addition! (which leads us to our next eco-favor.

Plantable eco-friendly place cards favors are a hit!  Beach theme seed place cards serve a decorative, a wedding favor and place card all in one!  These “Please be seeded” place cards perfect for a beach wedding and only run around $2.00 each!   Arranged seating not your style?  Reusable tins with plantable seeds and a saying is sure way to make a statement.  “Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower” -Anon.

Now what? Decided to make your Belize wedding an eco-friendly themed wedding day?  Contact I DO Belize Weddings today to learn more and start planning.

Recycled Bride: 5 Eco-Fabulous Wedding Favors

Visit One Wed’s Savvy Scoop Bridal Blog, one of our favorites, for “Eco-Fabulous” Wedding Favors and more unique wedding ideas!

Summer wedding guests deserve something special to commemorate your celebration. These eco-friendly favors are vibrant, sunny, and as good for your guests as they are for the Earth.

1. Take a cue from recent bride Chelsea Clinton, and give your guest reusable tote bags that they can use in place of paper or plastic. Chelsea’s wedding favors included an orange tote from a local shop filled with products from a neighboring Farmer’s Market, and a bottle of wine from the nearby Clinton vineyard. For your favors, try this stylish green tote made of natural cotton, either on its own or filled with locally-made goodies.

2. Bloembox Tiny Tins Plantable Seed Favors are favors so pretty they double as decor. Each tin is topped with a colorful silk bloom corresponding to the type of plantable seeds within. Both beautiful and practical, these environmentally friendly favors are each wrapped with a wonderful message for your big day: “Happiness held is a seed. Happiness shared is the flower.”

3. Charity Wedding Favors that benefit an organization like The Rainforest Alliance or The Sierra Club let you and your guests celebrate helping the environment. To let everyone know about the donation you’ve made in their honor, choose a place card, tent card, or postcard to leave on each plate.

4. These adorable mini flower pots make an inspiring wedding favor for your special day. They don’t come with flowers, so you can DIY it and plant your own, or fill the pots with seeds, chocolates, almonds, or leave them as-is. These favors also double as escort cards, saving you an extra expense.

5. Chocolate truffle boxes from Sweet Earth Chocolates contain the perfect post-wedding treat: delicious truffles that are 100% organic and fair trade. They come in a gold or silver truffle box that can be customized with your names, wedding date, and a one line message to your guests!

Will you incorporate an eco-chic element into your wedding guest favors? If so, what will be your green favor of choice?

Photo: Bloembox Tiny Tins Plantable Seed Favors

Photo: “Favor for a Cure” pink ribbon favor boxes

Photo: Miniature Flower Pots

Photo: Chocolate truffle boxes from Sweet Earth Chocolates

Sail off into the sunset overlooking the world’s second largest barrier reef, for a true celebrity style wedding or reception. Coupled with the tranquility of the Caribbean sea, the romance of the setting sun and the wind in our sails, we provide all the ingredients for magical moments.

Wedding Catamaran Sailing Package includes:

• Private Two and a half Hours Catamaran Sunset Cruise
• Tropical Bridal Bouquet and Boutonniere (or choice of two tropical leis)
• Tropical Wedding Decorations
• Hair and Makeup
• Manicure and Pedicure
• Choice of Music for ceremony and sail
• Professional Photography 36 shots During Ceremony & Cruise
• Delicious Wedding Cake Choose from 10 flavors
• Bottle of Sparkling Wine
• Bride and Groom Toasting Flutes
• Personalized Island Wedding Keepsake
• Personal Server
• Island H’ordeuvres (choose from three platters)
• Unlimited Rum Punch, Beer, Soda, and Bottled Water
• Marriage License
• Courier and Notary of Wedding Ceremony
• Minister or Senior Justice of the Peace
• Meeting with Officiant Prior to Wedding Day if required
• Planning of all wedding arrangements
• Wedding Day Coordinator
• Ceremonial Documents
• Registration of Marriage
• Certified Copy of Marriage Documents from Belize General Registry

Private charter packages available for sunset, sunrise, or afternoon sails.

Photographs by Kay Scott Photography

This is truly the ultimate island wedding experience. Set sail at sunset after you say “I DO” on your chartered catamaran for a spectacular two hour cruise on the Caribbean Sea.  You will depart between 4:00 PM and 5:00PM, depending on the time of year.  Or, hold your ceremony barefoot right on the catamaran while sailing the sea!

Capricorn Restaurant combines gourmet cuisine, friendly service, and the upscale tropical setting of Ambergris Caye to achieve the perfect balance between fine dining and the warmth and charm characteristic of Belize. Located just two miles north of San Pedro Town, this popular restaurant is one of Belize’s favorite places to enjoy great food in an elegant and tropical atmosphere.