Bryan Morris - Aruba’s Premier Wedding Photographer

Nazareth, launched a song by the name of the title in 1983 but this post has nothing to do with the search of a loved one.

At the beginning of this very year I’ve had a small but potent post questioning the current direction of your life and the resolutions for the new year ahead of us. hence the question………

Where are you now?

Did you make the necessary changes to reposition yourself to success. Whether it’s financially, physically, academically, spiritually, in your relationships or in any other arena.

Did you start out with a resolution to make a change and you’ve still gone back to your comfort zone? therefore you’re back to going around in circles.

The quote I’ve used on January, still stands. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

I’m here to inform you that it’s not all lost “The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.” says Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Sit back, analyze where you want to go, where you are and if you’re on the right track. If you are on track focus on how to get there even faster, if there’s a way. If you’re off course, reposition yourself and move back into the intended direction.

Remember insanity is continuing in the direction you’re heading and still expecting a change.

I have a goal for mid 2009 and I have to start loosing weight, this was one of my resolutions for 2008 so I get up every morning or should I say almost every morning at 4:45 AM and leave home at 5:00 AM and run/speed walk about 8 miles/12+ KM. I’ve changed my eating regimen quite a bit, I’ve since lost 25+ pounds. Good but not the way I want so I’ll tighten up on my eating and add the gym to my walk every day and then get me where I want to get and ready for my goal for 2009.

Another resolution of mine was to post more often on the blog which I’ve got myself caught up these last few weeks and was a very bad blogger, well not really as I’ve been putting stuff aside to blog, so you’ll be flooded with stuff for a bit.

Where are you now? Check yourself!

Blessings,

Bryan Morris

In my five years shooting weddings full time. I’ve learn that the way packages are setup by the various wedding planners is that they offer photography at one location with always the option to upgrade which however is very seldom enforced.

A bride having a visual of a beach ceremony in her mind almost always choose for photography at the beach. This is not their fault, they should be educated by their wedding planners on the beauty of our City Hall downtown.

Brides approach a civil ceremony on Aruba with a preconceived notion that the ceremony is the same as in their hometown. Just get into a pale office, sign these papers and we’re out of here.

Permit me an attempt to describe to you how this visual is as far from the truth as the east is from the west.

I’ll be displaying a few images of the building and then a few portraits shot in and around the building.

This is the front section of the house this is currently being used as the exit after the ceremony

This is a close up on the exit of the City Hall (Entrance of the house)

This is a side view of the house.

This is the current entrance of City Hall.

This is the view of inside, standing in the door.

This is the inside from behind the seat of the registrar.

These are images during the ceremony. Notice carefully that the images are a bit warm that’s because of the incandescent lights in the hall. It can be cooled down digitally but I like the warm feel the lights give the images, therefore I don’t do much alterations.

Images taken in the garden of City Hall.

This is the rear section of City Hall.

This wall is off to the left of this section in the image above this.

The many possibilities with these red colored walls.

This wall is literally 20 feet across the street from the rear section of City Hall.

OMG! That was my expression at the beginning of the wedding season when I saw this wall. This was once a screaming green backdrop and they’ve now decided to paint it this color. Bummer!

This is not even 2 minutes walk across the street from the orange wall. The possibilities here at the Willem III Tower are endless. You can shoot in and around of the building if your photographer would ask politely.

These were all taken at the Willem III Tower either inside or outside of this building.

Now you should have an idea of the many photographic opportunities in and around City Hall in downtown Oranjestad.

In conclusion of this three part series of “To marry or not to marry at City Hall”, I would say To marry, but not only to marry but have a reputable photographer to cover this event.

Blessings,

Bryan Morris

I’ve had an interview with Mr Cayetano “Betto” Christiaans at the City Hall downtown Oranjestad, Aruba. I’ve had a great time getting information from Mr Christiaans, this is the first of a three part series.

Enjoy,

Bryan Morris

Bryan: How long ago was the building restored?

Mr. Christiaans: October 1997

Bryan: The area that weddings are conducted now, what part of the house was this?

Mr.Christiaans: This was the living area

Bryan: When did Aruba open up for destination weddings?

Mr. Christiaans: January 1, 2002

Bryan: How many weddings are done per year?

Mr. Christiaans: Anywhere between 800 and 900

Bryan: That’s all?

Mr. Christiaans: Yes, in 2002 was the only year the wedding count went over the thousand mark.

Bryan: What percentage are destination weddings?

Mr. Christiaans: About 40% are destination weddings

Bryan: Explain the procedure of getting married from the beginning to end.

Mr. Christiaans: Contact me (Betto Christiaans) and register 20 days prior to wedding date, fax all documents, if they’re OK, you can either ship the originals or bring them as you come to the island.

Bryan: What is your preffered manner of shipping the documents?

Mr. Christiaans: FEDEX

Bryan: What’s the ship to address for the documents?

Mr. Christiaans: Att. Betto Christiaans, Schoolstraat 2, Oranjestad, Aruba

Bryan: Do you offer the services of providing witnesses and what’s the cost?

Mr. Christiaans: Mondays to Fridays we can provide you with witnesses between the hours of 10 AM to 12 Noon and 1 PM and 3:30 PM. This service is free. Gratuity is appreciated.

Bryan: Is there a preferred time of day or day of the week to have a wedding?

Mr. Christiaans: No we are open from Monday to Friday office hours so anytime then it’s OK, we also open on Saturdays upon request but that has an additional cost.

Bryan: What’s the cost of a civil wedding?

Mr. Christiaans: $150 including ceremony, wedding book, certificate of translation, verification apostille. This is the price for during the week and in the weekend it’s $275.

Bryan: Seeing that most wedding planners just offer one hour of photography, the couple rather use that one hour for the beach, having in mind that the civil ceremony is similar to back home in the US, Canada or the UK in a white office, just sign papers and that’s it. What would you say to anyone considering photography only on the beach?

Mr. Christiaans: It’s a beautiful building with a lot of history, very colorful in a tropical setting. So, great for pictures.

Bryan: Getting this information of a civil ceremony out, what would you like to stress to the potential or future brides having a civil wedding on the island?

Betto: It’s an honor to marry you here in our beautiful City Hall. The process if very easy, Just get me all the necessary paperwork and I’ll be happy to process it for you and ultimately marry you.

Bryan: Do you have a website or an email address?

Mr. Christiaans: I do have an email address, cayetano.christiaans@aruba.gov.aw

Bryan: Mr Christiaans, it was a pleasure to spend some time with you and discuss a little about what you do. Thank you very much for all your help.

Mr. Christiaans: Bryan, the pleasure was mine; thanks for assisting in every which way you can in getting the word out there.

I also walked away with a list with the requirements needed to get married here on the island.

1. Birth certificate of the couple (With names of the parents) and furnished with an apostil given by the secretary of state where the birth took place.

2. A declaration of unmarried (A search given by the department of health)

3. If you were married before, a divorce certificate or death certificate of your previous spouses with an apostil also.

4. Copy of your passports

5. Letter of intent to marry

6. Copy of passport of two witnesses

7. All these documents should be faxed into Mr. Christiaans with your registration latest 20 days prior to your intended date to marry.

It has been some time that I haven’t been around.

Since the ailments of my daughter, I was backed up with a few projects which I had to catch up on before I get on to a few busy days. During the few busy days I was really hoping to sneak in a few posts but I came down with a heavy dose of the influenza virus. I think that my immune system was probably being chipped away little by little while I spent that week at the hospital. I’ve never felt this bad except for last summer when I was infected by the Varicella Zoster Virus. That’s just a funky name for chicken pox.

Well yes, it seems as though we’re being followed by a plague, because this time around we’re all sick except for Shaydee. So you know she’s our nurse just as we’ve been a few weeks ago.

Now, enough of my sad stories.

In these past weeks that have seemed to have gone by uneventful, I must say that was not the case. I’ve had a very interesting meeting with Aruba’s registrar, Mr. Cayetano “Betto” Christiaans. This meeting along with some investigation turned up some very interesting information.

I’m currently working on this, I will hint you that it will be a three part series called “To marry or not to marry@ City Hall”

I must also inform you that this year 2008 is a year of festivities, I’ve recently celebrated my 5^th wedding anniversary and the photography business will soon celebrate 5 years as well. So look forward for many specials and even surprises. There’s a lot on the horizon, so keep coming back.

Blessings,

Bryan Morris

Last year I’ve blogged about Easter, and how the celebration is not about Easter eggs and bunnies.

I was heavily considering if I should post about Easter and if I do so, what should I post about. I’ve gotten a release this morning on if I should blog and what I should blog about.

Since this is a Christian Holiday I’ll delve into Christianity a little. The day today that is being celebrated is the basis of Christianity. This is where it all started. I did not start with the birth of Jesus, nor His crucifixion which are also very important dates but it however started here at Easter at His resurrection. What good would His birth be if He didn’t choose to die for us? What good would his death be if He didn’t rise from the dead with all power (Hell, Death and the Grave) in his hand.

We agree that God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three different people but however still at the same time they’re one. We might also agree that God is omniscient, that’s just a fancy word for all knowing. Do we agree that he is omnipotent? OK, I hope you’re not confused by now as this is not really easy to comprehend with the human mind. This is very spiritual.

Since God the father is the same God the son and is omniscient, means that he knew what his purpose here on earth was, besides he came into this earth fully aware of all the hard times and heartaches he would have to go through. He however left all the luxuries of heaven to come to earth and endure all He’s endured for mankind.

Can you wrap your mind around the thought? YOU are so special that He left all the luxuries in heaven to come to earth and die for mankind. He thinks really high of you. Reading this part I thought of two things:

1. Would you love someone so much that you can return the favor back to them? Leaving all luxuries behind, to be ridiculed, falsely accused, cursed, spat upon, beaten and finally crucified? That must’ve taken allot of love. We at times don’t even want to leave from behind the TV to give a neighbor a ride down the street in the pouring rain.

2. If God thinks so high of you, why do you allow other people to disrespect you and treat you like dirt all in the name of love. If you’re in a relationship and your partner abuse you verbally or physically simply means it’s time for you to move on as you totally don’t deserve it and he/she don’t really love you as you don’t abuse a loved one.

You are special to God and me.

Happy Easter,

Bryan Morris