It was a ceremony like no other; the very first for Belize. Romantic Travel and Honeymoons in Belize arranged the first same sex union/commitment ceremony amidst the Maya temples of Belize that was conducted by an authentic Maya shaman.
It was Briton’s plan to whisk her partner Danielle off to Belize and surprise her with a unique wedding ceremony, making them trailblazers in our country, where same sex partners can commit their love to each other and seal their love with the blessings of the Maya Gods.
And it was in the Grand Plaza of the Mayan Ruins of Atlun Ha where, successful business women from Texas, Britton and Danielle’s love and commitment to each other was sealed by Maya shaman Rosario Panti.
Rosario is a descendant of the Mayas in Belize, her grandfather also a healer, passed on to her the teachings of his profession. Her family has also worked hard to pass on the Maya culture to her generation, assuring the continuation of their language, folklore, custom and practices.
The Altun Ha Maya Ruins were the perfect setting for the Maya ceremony where Rosario blessed the couple with prayers in both English and Maya, asking the Gods to unite Briton and Danielle in love and happiness.
“I am very proud to be a part of the team that made this happen and I am very excited to be able to bring this amazing experience to others out there looking for a place to come to feel truly blessed in their union,” commented Lara Goldman of Romantic Travel Belize.
“When I started on the path that led me to Belize over five years ago, I never could have imagined how things would go. I never could have imagined Lemon Crush Belize and certainly not Romantic Travel Belize. And I am sitting at my desk with an immense sense of pride that I am part of the team that is bringing what I believe to be, the first same sex commitment ceremony at the Maya Ruins, presided over by a Maya Healer.”
Briton Youngblood got together with Lara Goldman of Romantic Travel Belize and organized this fantastic destination wedding getaway for her partner Danielle Tanner that would take them deep into the jungles of Belize for their commitment ceremony and out into the beautiful blue of the Caribbean Sea in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye where they would spend their remaining honeymoon days basking in the sunny island.
“I do not believe we choose whom we love, but rather are subjected to it, and when we are, shouldn’t we be lucky enough to seize it? Would be foolish to squander it,” commented Lara. “I’ve always believed that people should be able to marry whomever they choose. In Belize, like most of the world, it is still illegal for gay couples to marry. I’ve never been a big proponent of “no”. I’m a bigger believer in “yes”, so…how do we get around this persnickety point and help people to feel they’ve been officially united? I suppose the answer lies not in how you’re united, but rather in how you define “united”. That’s the goal, after all, isn’t it?”
Congratulations to Briton and Danielle!
More Wedding details at Romantic Travel Belize
Photography by Jose Luis Zapata
