By: Shaunte Dittmar

My experience of traveling to Hopkins, Belize for the first time to photograph a wedding was nothing short of beautiful. The added touch was having to hop on a small plane to actually reach the final destination of Hopkins Village itself. Something to note when choosing your luggage. Don’t forget to carry a water bottle from the airport since you’ll feel the immediate humidity once exiting your plane.

The local feel is exactly what drew me in as well as the relaxed energy that filled the air. Who doesn’t mind a relaxing walk down the dirt road to find a local restaurant? If you want time to breathe, visiting Hopkins Belize is an ideal place to visit in addition to holding your event there.

The night before the wedding, the wedding party and I headed to the local bar called the Swinging Armadillo, the type of place you order a beer, and some favorite local food while dancing to the locals’ music. If you’re lucky like we were, you’ll get to experience watching the Punta dancers. Nothing but smiles and good memories will come from that place.

Photographing a wedding in Belize is definitely something to prepare for if you aren’t used to the warm weather. I personally wore shorts on the day of the wedding. Generally, the couple may also book a few days of adventure before the wedding, something I personally love to photograph if the couple wants it. Aside from the night at the bar, we also took a boat to a private little island where we went snorkeling and had drinks. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses and be sure to find a tree for shade when needed!

The wedding was held at Beaches and Dreams Boutique Hotel a cute little hotel that fits a smaller wedding. The rooms themselves are comfortable and inviting. Be sure to request air conditioning if you don’t want the humidity. The staff is very kind and will accommodate helping you with your taxi when you leave Belize. True customer service!

Overall, I wish I had extended my stay, however, I have no doubt I’ll return in order to further engulf myself in the area to understand the people a bit more and how it all came to be. It’s one thing to read about it but it’s another to actually smell, see, and listen more in-depth to the voices that live there.

About Shaunte Dittmar

“Shaunte’ Dittmar specializes in creative documentary wedding photography worldwide including locations like Lake Tahoe, Couer d’ Alene, San Francisco, San Diego, Mexico, and Belize.”

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