Underwater Trash The Dress

 
An Underwater Trash The Dress session in one of the ancient and mysterious cenotes, here in the Yucatan Peninsula, is the best event you could wish for your engagement, wedding, honeymoon or anniversary. A life lasting experience that you will never forget
Underwater Trash The Dress in a Mexican cenote – Sebi Messina Photography

Underwater Trash The Dress near Playa del Carmen

Even if most of you have heard of it or stumbled upon some photos, the idea we have of Trash The Dress is often sketchy.

So let’s try to put together some information about it and, more specifically, about the underwater variant, which is perhaps the most fascinating.

1 – WHAT IS TRASH THE DRESS?

Wikipedia defines it more or less as a new and unconventional trend in wedding photography.

The most significant differences from traditional photography are the locations and the creative way these photo sessions take place.

But of course, Trash The Dress is much more. Because it has now become a style in its own right, not necessarily just an extension of wedding photography, even if that’s where it comes from.

And its strength is precisely in breaking away from the formal rules of the wedding day, almost desecrating them.

But let’s take a step back.

A few moments before starting the Underwater Trash The Dress

2 – WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW DID THE TRASH THE DRESS FASHION START?

The first question has a straightforward answer. Like many other fashions and trends Trash The Dress was born in the United States, to be precise in Nevada. Year of birth: 2001.

It seems that everything comes from an idea of John Michael Cooper, a talented photographer from Las Vegas.

We imagine that he reflected on something that we all know, even if we do not pay particular attention to it: the wedding dress lifespan is one day only (even less than that of some butterflies).

Yet, that dress has an enormous symbolic value and, among the many things that make up a wedding, it is something on which usually no expense is spared.

So isn’t it a pity that such a beautiful and important dress is worn only once?

The obviousness of the answer probably gave birth to the idea of Trash The Dress.

Underwater Trash The Dress photos


 

Learn more about our packages
and

3 – WHERE? POSSIBLE VENUES AND SOME ODDITIES

Trash The Dress sessions can take place anywhere. Theoretically, the more unusual the location, the better the outcome.

Any place is fine: fields, abandoned buildings, roads, bathtubs, rooftops, puddles, beaches.

Therefore, since there is no limit to imagination, you may happen to see brides rolling in the mud or having multicolored paint sprayed on them or – even – having their dress set on fire (while wearing it).

It is always a matter of taste. In general, we’re not big fans of so much eccentricity.

And we consider cenotes as the best place for Trash The Dress.

Underwater Trash The Dress Photos


Underwater Trash The Dress Cancun – Mexico

4 – WHAT IS A CENOTE?

At first glance, they may seem like tiny lakes. Still, it would be a reductive and inaccurate definition, also because they are undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions of the Yucatan peninsula and all Mexico.

Geologists call them sinkholes instead, and they are the product of “the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath” (Wikipedia).

According to some theories, they even seem to be placed following the concentric rings generated by the shock wave produced by a meteorite that fell in the Cretaceous period, not far from Merida. The same one that is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Find more here.

For the Maya, they represented instead a source of fresh water and a place to hold religious ceremonies or even throw the victims of human sacrifices. Certainly sacred sites.

In our opinion, the most appropriate definition for a cenote is “Aquarium” or, to be more precise, a network of huge aquariums of crystal clear freshwater, connected by underground tunnels of extraordinary beauty, with fishes, plants, caves. Not to mention the surrounding lush greenery.

It is not known how many cenotes there are throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. But it seems they are more than 6,000.

Trash The Dress Underwater Cancun

Best underwater trash the dress

Marlet, having fun on the swing

5 – UNDERWATER TRASH THE DRESS

Trash The Dress underwater in the cenotes is probably the most spectacular variant of this type of photography, and the safest for the dress.

The water of the cenotes is not salty, nor does it contain chlorine. So the dress is just washed and, at the end of the session, it ends up being even cleaner than it was at the end of the wedding day.

As an alternative to the original wedding dress, some brides prefer to buy another one instead, specifically for the photoshoot. Or wear one of those that, on request, we make available for free.

The beauty of the Trash The Dress underwater sessions carried out in the cenotes lies above all in the extreme transparency of the water, usually impossible to find even in the cleanest ocean.

This transparency, combined with the almost absence of gravity in the underwater environment, produces an incredible effect of lightness, for which the subject seems to fly. And the use of colored fabrics, in addition to the dress, amplifies this extraordinary effect.

6 – HOW SAFE IS THE UNDERWATER TRASH THE DRESS?

Each photographer has his own rules. In our case, Sebi is a PADI certified advanced diver, and in the water, he always has at least one assistant with him.

The use of all diving equipment, such as scuba tanks, jackets, regulators, weight belts, involves the transportation of heavy and bulky cases. But it is a small effort worth making. For two reasons: safety and time optimization. More information on how a Trash The Dress underwater photoshoot works with us can be found here Underwater Couple Photography In A Cenote – How It Works

Underwater Trash The Dress photos


7 – How deep are cenotes?

The depth varies from zero to hundreds of feet. However, the trash the dress underwater photo sessions take place only in the shallowest ones.

We usually use two. The first has a maximum depth of about 7 meters (23 feet). The second is only 3 meters (10 feet). Information on the latter can be found in this post: Shooting Underwater – Alyssia And Brent

8 – When is it better to do it?

A photoshoot can be arranged at any time. However, it is not recommended to do it the day after the wedding, as the sessions usually take place early in the morning. The second day is definitely a better choice. If you use another dress (ours or yours), any other day before the wedding is fine too.

Underwater Trash The Dress photos


 

Perfect symmetry during an Underwater Trash The Dress Cancun

 

Learn more about our packages
and

 

9 – CAN IT ALSO BE DONE FOR AN ANNIVERSARY OR ANY OTHER EVENT?

Underwater Trash The Dress is, first of all, an underwater photoshoot. As such, it can be arranged for any other type of event.

Among those who join the underwater Trash The Dress experience, there are also couples celebrating their engagement, or honeymooners traveling to Mexico, or couples who have been married for years celebrating their wedding anniversary. Or even future mothers, who fell in love with the idea to fly underwater with their baby-to-be (check out our Underwater Maternity portfolio here).

Last but not least, the Trash The Dress underwater photoshoot can be something entirely in its own right, separated from any celebration and perfectly suited even for inexperienced models (sometimes naked, sometimes with a mermaid tail). (check out our Underwater Modeling portfolio)

 
A mermaid in a cenote
 

10 – Do weather conditions affect the quality of the photos?

Except in rare cases (such as the passing of a hurricane), underwater photography is not affected by atmospheric conditions.

 

11 – Is there an age limit?

No! We have portrayed people of all ages, from very young brides to mature ladies over sixty.

Even children can join the underwater photoshoot, as long as their parents accompany them.

Ashley during the Underwater Trash The Dress

 

...and it will be like flying

Trash The Dress Underwater

 

The making of

Kristen and Brandon
 
 

Gallery

Short selection of our Trash The Dress Underwater photos. For a better view, we suggest you use a computer screen instead of your phone.

 
 

Our Latest Underwater Trash The Dress

Blog

Trash The Dress Underwater photos in Playa del Carmen

Thank you !

We appreciate that you've taken time to write us. We'll get back to you very soon.