Shawandha Lodge
I know I have said this before but I will say it again: elopements are so darn romantic! The beach, just you and your soul mate…it’s perfect! Cynthia and Gilles chose the Caribbean side of the country as they were looking for more a more ‘wilder’ beauty for their wedding setting. How lucky are we, to have the option of getting married on the Caribbean or Pacific coasts?! Photos from the photographer/artist extraordinaire, Ale Sura.
Hotel Borinquen, Rincon de la Vieja
A volcano wedding, 6,000 feet above sea level with natural mud baths and hot springs. Words cannot describe the beauty of Hotel Borinquen and the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. It’s simply magical. The bride and groom and their closest family and friends kicked off their celebration with a welcome dinner poolside at the hotel: tiki torches, Costa Rican food and ‘guaro sours’, a cocktail with a Costa Rican flair. They spent the weekend horseback riding, zip-lining, ATV-ing and of course, in the natural volcanic hot springs and mud baths. The wedding ceremony was held high in the hills with views of the mountains and the lush gardens. We brought a little bit of the beach to the volcano setting with sea shells and sand decorating the reception space. Photos courtesy of Fino Photography.
Wedding: Tamarindo Diria, Playa Tamarindo
Erin & Colin were a delight to work with! They are such happy people and their wedding was really a reflection of them as a couple. Green, white and brown were their colors of choice, and their floral decoration was elegant, tropical and earthy at the same time. My favorite detail was the bamboo sticks (see below). Lanterns flowed from the ceiling and the many candles set the mood for the dinner and reception. When I say that this group knew how to have fun and party, I really mean it! What a warm, beautiful and fun celebration of the love that Erin and Colin share! They brought their photographer from New York, Rob Loud, and wow did he take some incredible pictures!
This wedding was featured on Brenda’s Wedding Blog!
www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/2009/9/21/real-wedding-colin-and-erin-in-costa-rica-its-about-fun.html
Fun times were had by all!
And their last dance…
Wedding: Private Villa, Playa Junquillal
Annie & Christian’s love story goes back 15 years. Their love story with Costa Rica is almost just as long, as they started coming to this tropical paradise several years ago. Their favorite beach town for surfing and relaxing is Playa Junquillal, the location of their nuptials. They rented a private villa with an incredible view of the ocean and white sand beaches. Annie is very creative and actually made her own flower arrangements! Their group of 65 friends surely knew how to have a good time. The photos by Comfort Studio are stunning!
This wedding was featured in Destination iDo Magazine!
www.destinationweddingmagblog.com/2009/08/costa-rican-destination-wedding.html
Lots of orchids, candles and chinese lanterns. The table names were the bride and groom’s favorite beaches in Costa Rica! And let’s not forget about the delicious (and beautiful!) wedding cake…
Rehearsal dinner: Caracol Restaurant at The Four Seasons
Wedding: Hilton Papagayo
Mia & Josh, who call Colorado their home, exchanged vows overlooking the Papagayo bay. Orange and yellow were the colors of choice of the bride, with fun and tropical place cards, turtle place card holders, and stunning flowers. The chinese lanterns, also in orange, were the perfect detail to tie the decor together. Guests wined and dined and danced and enjoyed the wonderful fiesta! Pictures courtesy of El Velo Photography!
Some of my favorite details: Orange chinese lanterns, turtle name card holders and fun and tropical place cards
Rain certainly did not stop these two!
Paradisus Playa Conchal
Elopements are so intimate and romantic. Why not run off to a tropical paradise to say “I Do”, just you and your loved one. And what a lucky day they had! Anna and Frank were married at Playa Conchal and the rain held off just for them – they had that perfect sunset that they dreamed of! Photos courtesy of Richard May Photography.
Wedding: Zephyr Palace
Rehearsal dinner: Los Suenos Beach Club
The April 4th wedding of Devon and Jamey was the culmination of a 3-day friends and family reunion, where loved ones spent time together discovering the beauty of Costa Rica. Out-of-country guests arrived to find welcome bags full of coffee liqueur, chocolate-covered coffee beans and a fabulous weekend itinerary. On the weekend agenda were ziplining, horseback riding, surf lessons and a welcome dinner at a private beach club.
The ceremony was held in a picture-perfect setting with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Guests dined on local favorites, such as fried plantain with bacon, while a flamenco guitar duo played in the background. The grand finale of the cocktail hour included a fireworks show and that was certainly not the only entertainment of the evening! After dinner and dancing, the bride and groom surprised the guests with a comparsa, which kept the party going with their drums and dancers. What a perfect way to end the night!
Felicidades to Devon and Jamey!
This wedding was featured on Brenda’s Wedding Blog in a 3 part series:
www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/2009/6/1/real-wedding-devon-and-jamey-in-costa-rica.html
Just a snapshot of the amazing photos by Fino Photography:
Devon and Jamey hosted a beautiful welcome dinner at the Los Suenos Beach Club. Here are a few photos so you can get a glimpse of their fun, tropical night:
Wedding: Reserva Conchal
Rehearsal dinner: Dragonfly
I was able to witness one of the most beautiful ceremonies on the beach at Playa Conchal as Christina and Jason, both from Alabama, said ‘I Do’. This ceremony was exemplary of why Costa Rica is such an amazing place to get married. The sun set, the sky turned different shades of pink and guests sipped green cocktails while barefoot in the sand. The color theme of the entire event was white and green, with the green orchid and white cala lily theme making for the perfect combination. Guests dined under the stars at their private villa…a night to be remembered!
Gracias to Sarah of Fino Photography!
Wedding: Villa Caletas
Rehearsal dinner: El Pelicano
They danced, they laughed, they danced some more… The guests simply did not want the party to end, an indication that the ‘fiesta’ was a major success! It was a fabulous wedding and celebration of the love that Veronica and Michael share. We were honored to plan their wedding weekend and meet so many wonderful people, who came from California and Chicago!
Photos courtesy of Ronald Roman.
When in Costa Rica, add some shells into the mix! A simple yet elegant detail:
Another way to integrate the local language and add some local flair:
Bride & Groom at the beach
We are so excited that Kay & Thomas’s Zephyr Palace wedding was featured on Junebug Weddings! This is an amazing site that features top weddings in Seattle, California and select destination weddings. Please read about their wedding here!
Kay and Thomas’ destination wedding was the perfect opportunity to get away and spend true quality time together with their loved ones. After jetting off to Costa Rica for this colorful tropical celebration, Kay and Thomas hosted a truly personazlied and memorable affair. By writing emotional and funny vows and incorporating both Taiwanese and Norwegian traditions, the couple got he unique wedding they were hoping for, complete with a “good luck” rain shower and flying wish lanterns symbolizing the hopes, dreams and wishes for their new life together.
