Coterie member Ebony Stewart of EbonyCattouse Events highlights Belize’s beauty with Miss Earth 2021, Destiny Wagner, modeling before the stunning backdrops of the Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection Hotel.
Coterie member Ebony Stewart of EbonyCattouse Events has been planning this luxurious destination-styled shoot for a little over 2 years. As a Belize native herself, the country holds a special place in her heart. She shares, “Belize is my homeland and I wanted to capture it’s true essence of luxury at its finest. Telling the story of “The Jewel” which is Belize.”
In order to properly capture her vision of luxury, choosing the right location was very important. With sparkling ocean views, sleek decor, and relaxing settings, the Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection, was the perfect spot. She explains, “The adults-only Rooftop Pool and Lounge… provided the look I wanted to capture. With the second largest barrier reef in the world as my backdrop, I wanted to add elements for a high end wedding that reflects Belize and all its beauty.”
On a beautiful day in San Pedro, Belize, Ebony worked with a diverse wedding vendor team (split 50/50 between Belizean creatives and MunaLuchi Coterie members) to bring her vision to life! Together, they created wedding magic with the eco-conscious and effortlessly gorgeous Miss Earth 2021, Destiny Wagner, at its center. Wearing a one-of-a-kind custom gown by Kosibah and posing before vista views, this shoot is sure to inspire!
Keep scrolling for more details and make sure to check out Ebony’s exclusive interview with the Belize Tourism Board below for extra Belize travel inspiration!
- Date of Shoot: October 4th, 2022
- Location: Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection (San Pedro, Belize)
Ebony’s Vision…
I have planned and produced couples retreats, honeymoons, and group trips in Belize. I have introduced many to my deeply rooted Belizean culture. Then, one summer what was a family vacation quickly blossomed into the idea of creating a Destination Wedding Styled Shoot infusing my culture and passion for Event Planning and Design.
I decided I wanted to introduce some of my creatives friends to my beautiful country and its culture and merge the beauty of some of Belize’s extremely talented event and wedding industry vendors. Ultimately, we were able to produce a styled shoot highlighting some of Belize’s most precious jewels for a destination wedding of any bride’s dream.
Attire…
Kosibah couture gown, ‘Destiny’ was elegant and glamorous, and worn by 2021 Ms. Earth, Destiny Wagner. The beautiful breathtaking images capture an unforgettable destination wedding.
Miss Earth 2021…
Ocean views…
The Venue…
Being based in New York and Planning a destination wedding in Belize with the aptitude of Kosibah Designs required us to find the right venue. That venue was The adults-only Rooftop Pool and Lounge at Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection. It is Belize’s first-ever suspended rooftop pool and lounge with 360- degree views located in San Pedro, Belize.
In planning a style shoot of this caliber or any destination wedding, organization, attention to detail, and communication (even more so than planning a local wedding) were key elements in our pre-planning phase prior to arriving in Belize. Planning ahead for the transport of wedding items such as decor pieces and wedding attire were important especially considering the airline baggage requirements and getting items from Belize City to San Pedro by boat and charter flight. For any bride interested in having a destination wedding, I recommend utilizing the natural beauty and resources San Pedro, Belize has to offer.
The bouquet…
Design & Decor…
I created a design theme and tablescape that accentuated our location. It speaks for everything Belize as the jewel and “Mother Natures’ best kept secret”. Our dècor was a fusion of beach chic and glam. We chose a neutral palette with shades of pinks and pops of turquoise and gold. The exquisite white gloss table gave our tablescape that clean look with the shades of blue of the Caribbean sea, Belize’s largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere is our background. Using tropical infused flowers like bird of paradise and Maraca Ginger were a great way to incorporate the natural beauties of the island and the country of Belize as a whole.
The cake…
Inspired by Miss Earth & looking for more destination wedding inspiration?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Venue: Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection
- Wedding Planner/Designer: Ebony Stewart of EbonyCattouse Events
- Photography/ Videography: StayNFocus
- Gown Designer: Yemi Kosibah Osunkoya
- Furniture Rentals: Exquisite Rentals
- Florals: Garden Blossoms Belize
- Hair Stylist: Ms. Desiree Jones
- Makeup Artistry: Vanessa Edwards MUA
- Model: Destiny Wagner
- Wedding Cake: Alaia Belize
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