Central America Weddings

We’re true believers that honeymoons are an absolute necessity – whether that means taking a weekend excursion to your fave city or jetting off for a 14-day stay in paradise, that post-wedding relaxation basically needs to happen. But if you’ve found yourself at a loss on just where to celebrate, we’re making it easy. Check out seven of our favorite locales for the best kind of newlywed vacationing.

SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

Why we love it: Other than the fact that it’s totally convenient (read: no passport or foreign currency required), the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is the perfect combo of laid-back, post-wedding relaxation and fun activities that will keep you and your love basking in the sun. Take a scuba lesson or two, attend the nightly cliff dive ceremonies at sunset or spend your days golfing the Ka’anapali’s Royal and Kai courses.

What you can’t miss: SPG Weddings’ Honeymoon Wishes. It’s a honeymoon registry service that allows your family and friends to gift amazing entertainment and activities for you and yours, like beachside luaus, snorkel cruises and sunset cocktails on a sailboat. You’ll love the awesome itinerary, and your guests will love knowing they contributed to all of the fun.

W PUNTA DE MITA  

Why we love it: Located right on the beach in Mexico’s IT city, W Punta de Mita will blow you away with their gorgeous decor that is one part modern chic and one part cultural artistry. Trust us: the design alone makes for one amazing stay with vibrant colors and unique decor dotting literally every inch of space. Oh, and the rooms? The views will have you never wanting to leave.

What you can’t miss: The world-famous restaurants. Think Southeast Asian cuisine at Spice Market, live cooking stations at Venazu, adult ice cream (!) at WET Deck’s poolside restaurant and signature ceviche at Chevicheria, a converted 1950’s Chevy truck. And if you want to keep thing ultra-private, make reservations at the exclusive MESA1 with your very own personal chef that will design a seven-course tasting menu just for you.

THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT

Why we love it: Honeymoons are for relaxing and escaping it all, and if you’re looking for the perfect spot to lay back on the beach and do just that, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is IT. This French Polynesian hot spot is all about soaking in the sun… AND partaking in some of the most unique activities on the planet. We’re all for renting an Aquabike Underwater Scooter, visiting a Pearl Farm or checking out the resort’s private Lagoonarium when you’re not lazying it up in paradise.

What you can’t miss: Their overwater villas. You can literally sleep, eat and relax in luxurious amenities perched right above the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. It’s awesome.

LE MERIDIEN TAMPA 

Why we love it: This boutique hotel used to be a federal courthouse, so you know the architecture is awesome. On top of that, the Le Meridien Tampa’s Unlock Art™ program gives guests FREE access to some of Tampa’s best galleries and museums by just showing your room card. Which means you can spend your day soaking in the creativity and culture, then head back to the hotel for an amazing meal at one of their yummy restaurants.

What you can’t miss: Their Bicycle Programme. With an entire city to explore (and a list of amazing museums to visit), you can rent a bike, helmet and lock for just $8/hour.

THE WESTIN NEW ORLEANS CANAL PLACE

Why we love it: The French Quarter is just steps away, but that isn’t the only reason we adore this gorgeous hotel in the heart of New Orleans. From the stunning architecture to the awesome Mississippi River locale to their Make a Green Choice program, you’ll love all of the fab amenities of The Westin New Orleans Canal Place, plus their proximity to Bourbon Street. Not to mention all of the amazing restaurants New Orleans has to offer… there’s a reason it was named the top food and wine destination in the United States.

What you can’t miss: If you love to get your fitness on, you honestly couldn’t pick a better location. With a  WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio located right on property and state-of-the-art equipment, you don’t have to miss your daily sessions. Plus, their RunWESTIN™ program allows you to soak in all of the sights New Orleans has to offer with custom running maps of the area, plus a towel and bottle of water for cool down.

SLS LAS VEGAS, A TRIBUTE PORTFOLIO RESORT 

Why we love it: Anyone who has ever been to Vegas knows that it’s a city that literally never stops, so the list of fun-filled activities? Basically endless. The SLS Las Vegas, A Tribute Porfolio Resort puts you smack-dab in the center of it all with an amazing locale on The Strip and access to all of the gourmet restaurants, theaters and sightseeing you’ll want to take it. Get ready to go, go, go, then head back to your seriously stylish room for some rest and relaxation.

What you can’t miss: The Foundry. Vegas’ most talked about venue, this unique space hosts some of the greatest entertainers in the world – from comedians to bands you can’t wait to see. Plan your honeymoon around their awesome lineup and you’ll be SO happy.

THE WESTIN GOLF RESORT & SPA, PLAYA CONCHAL

Why we love it: If your dream honeymoon description includes the words seclusion and tranquility, then The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal is right up your alley. We never turn down a chance to spend a romantic evening seaside with a glass of bubbly in hand, and this resort takes it to an entirely new level with all-inclusive benefits.  Plus, with a plethora of water sports, the championship Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and the easy access to Costa Rican National Parks, you can mix in some much-needed adventure.

What you can’t miss: The Royal Beach Club. Newly renovated and for adults only, the Royal Beach Club is all about above and beyond service with everything from premium cocktails to exclusive breakfast + lunch service to access to a private pool and super luxe accommodations. You’ll even get preferential reservations to all of the resort’s fabulous restaurants, spa, tennis and golf.

Contact SPG Weddings (@SPGWeddings) to start planning your dream getaway with your loved one… and don’t forget to ask about how you can earn FREE honeymoon nights when you host your wedding at one of their fab locations.

Carolyn and Jack are two high school sweethearts that know how to throw a party. They took their love of travel and adventure and weaved it into a celebration that was all about having fun with their loved ones at Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica. Think scuba diving, zip lining and pool games, plus a ceremony that was all vibrant colors and beautiful blooms. See so much more from Madison Baltodano in THE VAULT.

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From the Bride…  A love for travel is one of the things that has always bound Jack and I together. As high school sweethearts, we would dream of the places we would go and the adventures we would share. From floating down the Mekong River in Vietnam to hiking to the top of Machu Picchu (where we got engaged), travel has been an important aspect of our lives together. When it came time to plan our wedding, we knew that a destination wedding was what we wanted. We considered many options before deciding on Costa Rica and the beautiful Dreams Las Mareas Resort. With family and friends traveling from Canada, the United States and England, it needed to be accessible but still a bit unique. Dreams Las Mareas provided a wonderful setting and plenty of opportunities for our guests to be as adventurous or as peaceful as they wanted in the days leading up to the wedding. Zip lining, scuba diving, pool games or just watching the local monkeys kept everyone entertained.

Our wedding planner, Daniel worked tirelessly to ensure that our wedding day was what we had envisioned. We didn’t meet in person until the week of the wedding but had been in contact through e-mail and by phone. The end result was everything we had hoped for and more! The day of the wedding was overcast and humid with a 90% chance of rain although the “official” rainy season was still many weeks away. Daniel’s calmness gave us the confidence that although we may need to make some adaptations, our day was still going to be wonderful. We were able to have the ceremony on the beach as planned but decided to move the reception to another location. None of the usual in-door venues felt quite right but Daniel and his team agreed to something they had never tried before: the reception would be set up in a long, covered passageway. When we arrived after the ceremony we were astonished with what Daniel and his team had created in a few short hours. Lights and flowers had transformed the space into something magical.

We ended the evening with a bonfire party on the beach. Only then did the rain finally arrive providing a cool and dramatic ending to a wonderful day.

Photography: Madison Baltodano Photography | Coordination: Daniel Meza | Floral Design: Dream Las Mareas, Costa Rica | Wedding Dress: "Lya Tulle Skirt" And "Esra Silk Cami" By Alexandra Grecco | Wedding Dress: Kathryn Bass Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nordstrom | Catering: Dream Las Mareas, Costa Rica | Groom's Attire: Peter Parvez | Venue: Dream Las Mareas, Costa Rica | Bridal Accesories: Pearl & Dot | Wedding Ring: Tiffany & Co. | Wedding Signage: Artisan Decor YYC

I can’t imagine it would take much to get someone to book a trip to Costa Rica. The gorgeous locale is reason enough. But when you add in a workshop at Harmony Hotel filled with everything from morning beach yoga to tropical floral arranging, surfing and dinners under the stars, it sure ups the ante. Have a look at the inaugural Pura Vida Peartree workshop masterminded by Liza of Peartree Flowers. It’s a beautiful mix of creativity and adventures in the sun all captured by Heather Waraksa.

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More about Pura Vida Peartree from Liza… The workshop is a week long exploration of movement and creativity spanning a wide range of pursuits from raw desert making (with Emily Aumiller of Lael Cakes), surfing lessons, floral arranging workshops (with Liza + Sarah Blasi from Selva Floral), jungle foraging, vinyasa yoga, and book making + botanical illustrations in the magical surroundings of Nosara, Costa Rica.

I’ve admired the Harmony Hotel’s commitment to sustainability and tranquility, and their love affair Nosara since I started coming to this sleepy surf town in 2011. One of the things I love so much about Nosara is the way this town provides for the people in it – how the heat forces a balance between work and relaxation; how the sweet smells add calm to a surfing lesson. A couple years ago, I was brainstorming retreat ideas at the Harmony Juice Bar and realized that despite the plethora of retreats in and around Nosara, none offered the right creative component. I was curious how different crafts and disciplines could play off each other in a workshop environment: would a yoga class in the morning influence flower arranging in the afternoon? When the Harmony Hotel stepped in to host Peartree’s inaugural workshop, it all came together. Last November, the second Puravida Peartree workshop took place, combining movement + creativity, ocean marveling, and human connection. We turned the yoga/surf retreat paradigm on its side, injecting flower arranging classes, botanical illustrations, book making and raw dessert classes into the week’s curriculum alongside jungle vinyasa and surfing, of course.

Our students were able to experiment with locally-sourced Costa Rican product including mokara orchids, anthiriums and local fruits like passion fruit and papaya to create tropical pieces with a loose, whimsical flair. We had fun styling each student’s arrangement, collaborating and taking photos so that each student could go home with a portfolio of his or her own work. Our week culminated with a beautiful styled Tico dinner at the Harmony’s Restaurant that brought together the creative courses of the entire week. We divided the group into teams to work on portions of the evening’s decor. Some people worked on decorating cakes (lead by Lael Cakes owner Emily Aumiller). Others began work on the table’s flowers and overhead tropical floral installation.

We rotated throughout the day so everyone could touch all parts of the design that interested them. Teachers stepped out of their disciplines to work in new spaces. My favorite part of the evening was when everyone interacted with the decor. It eliminated the museum-like quality some styled events portray and instead got to the core of the workshop’s motivation. Nosara holds a balance of personal and community space unlike any I’ve ever encountered. The people that connect with Nosara forge that connection from different beginnings, and with different ends in mind. When they do fall in love with being there, as I have, there’s a unifying sense of place, of collaboration and kindness, where each person’s passion can support and elevate another’s. The students at last year’s Pura Vida Peartree were each creating for their own sakes, for their own enrichment and enjoyment. But the collaborations are what elevated each of us, myself included, and the results were beyond my expectations.

Photography: Heather Waraksa | Floral Design: Peartree Flowers | Floral Design: Selva Floral Design | Accommodations: The Harmony Hotel | Botanical Illustration Instuction: Scott Whipkey | Cakes and Desserts: Lael Cakes | Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Surf Instructor: ANDREW DELGADO from Agua Tibia Surf School | Workshop: Puravida Peartree | Yoga: Emily Shapiro

You’ve found that dress of your dreams and now it’s time to focus on putting the entire look together with hair and makeup.  Need help? Well, we’ve got you covered, because today we’re joining forces with Jennie Kay for a quick run-down on all things beauty with tips + tricks on achieving that glam wedding day look, no matter the gown or style you’re dreaming of. Let’s get started.

LOOK 1: CASUAL GLAMOUR

Your style? Laid-back with a big ol’ side of sophistication. Which means rocking a stunning gown that shows some skin and hair + make-up that is just as sleek and glamorous. Jennie Kay suggests pairing your dream dress with a rope braid pony or soft low bun that is dressy enough for a wedding, but is also completely effortless.

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LOOK 2: VINTAGE ELEGANCE

You’re a vintage-inspired lady looking to rock that elegant lace number, but still maintain a modern, yet sexy edge. Jennie Kay’s tip? A bright red lip for that much-needed side of sophistication and a stunning updo that frames one side of the face, plus sweeps across the back in a beautiful style that is reminiscent of the past.

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“Look at the way you wore your hair at your initial dress fitting. It usually mimics your initial idea on how your hair should be.” – Jennie Kay Beauty

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LOOK 3: BOHO BEAUTY

Crave a look that is soft, romantic and free, just like you and your wedding? Then this fab boho look from Jennie Kay Beauty is sooo for you. Simply keep your hair natural in wave and texture and add three gorgeous braids for a little pop of WOW.  Want to add a little glamour to the look? Really make those eyes stand out with just the right shade of shadow and mascara.

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LOOK 4: SWEETLY CLASSIC

For those of you who want to keep it sweet + classic on the Big Day, Jennie Kay suggests a low twisted ponytail that is equal parts show-stopping and wholesome. Pair it with subtle makeup (like a light pink lip) and a gown that has just a pop of sass and the results are absolutely timeless.

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LOOK 5: TOUSLED SOPHISTICATION

Waves are a girl’s best friend and when it comes to a wedding day look that is equal parts laid-back and sophisticated, Jennie Kay keeps those tousled waves down with just a few sweet strands pulled back for a look that is all sorts of romantic. Add some soft pink lips and some barely-there makeup to complete the look.

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Contact Jennie Kay Beauty to create a seamless, stunning look from head to toe… you won’t regret it.

Here’s a girl after my own heart. Her two wedding day essentials? Donuts and ghost chairs. From the sweet treats to the chic decor (thanks to the guidance of The Eventeur), this destination celebration was a hit – and a family-filled affair to boot. With the couple’s two sons in attendance – and dressed oh so dapper – smiles never faded and 5ive15ifteen captured it all. Head to our Vault for more!

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From the Bride… Our relationship started with us being in different places in our lives. It was a test of genuine love, patience and determination that lead us to our fairytale. We had two very special guests at our wedding, our sons, and we were thrilled they were there to witness our vows. When we decided to get married, a destination wedding was a must for us but we weren’t quite sure of the destination itself. We wanted a location that was convenient for our Canadian guests to travel to but also offered a unique experience for them. Costa Rica was the perfect choice with its stunning landscapes and wide scope of adventurous activities offered. The beautiful scenery and sounds of the ocean along with the presence of 61 of our closest family and friends made it the wedding of our dreams and none of it would have been possible without The Eventeur’s help, vision and guidance.

The two elements I knew I wanted as soon as we started planning was the donuts and ghost chairs. Beyond that, I wanted the reception to feel fancy but not stuffy and still stay true to its surroundings. For Srdan, musts were good food and good music. Local Costa Rican fare, served family style were a huge hit and a conversation starter for our guests. Our family and friends had the time of their life and we were glad we asked them to take on this adventure with us.

Photography: Style Me Pretty | Event Planning + Design: The Eventeur | Floral Design: Artflower | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ASOS | Catering: Pacifico Costa Rica | DJ: Show Dreams | DJ: Baby Yu | Venue: Pacifico Costa Rica | Rentals: Costa Mesa

Hello brides-to-be, Olivia from LivvyLand here and I’m sharing some fun news…I went to Costa Rica for my destination bachelorette trip! For our tropical beach getaway to celebrate I crafted my ‘maids a fun gift to welcome them to paradise and as soon as we touched down in Costa Rica my fabulous crew went from bridesmaids’ to mermaids for an entire week of beach festivities!

If you saw how I asked my bridal party to be a part of my big day, it’s no secret that I thoroughly enjoy coming up with themed gift sets and making them come to life! Between being a Pinterest fanatic and my career as a fashion blogger, let’s just say creating these precious little sets is a ‘happy place’ of mine – not to mention getting to see the look on everyone’s faces when they open them up is truly the absolute best! I thought up a batch of items that would coincide perfectly with the ‘mermaid’ theme of the shindig and be useful throughout the trip. Here’s what I included in my mermaid gift sets:

Ramblers | Since we’ll be roaming from the pool to the beach, I opted for cups that can keep drinks extra cold throughout the day. I worked with Rambler On to customize YETI Lo Ball cups for my bridal party – each one says “Let’s Be Mermaids” on one side and then has their monogram on the back. I think we’re all set for a “cheers” photo opp!

Nail Kit | When doing some extensive mermaid research, I spotted this idea on Pinterest and knew I had to add it to my gift set! I got super lucky and found the glittery scale nail files at CVS (honestly, I’m not sure the cashier has ever seen someone so excited about nail files, ha!) and then scooped up the polish colors by Essie. My color scheme was coral and a mix of light blues and mint greens, so I grabbed polish colors within that spectrum. Finally, I tied each one with a dash of twine and voila, cutest little nail polish sets!

Bracelets | A beach getaway just calls for beaded bracelets with bursts of color, and when I saw these pretties by Gold & Gray I was completely hooked! I got one per gal, but if you’re feeling ultra festive you could pass out a few per person so they can stack them up!

Matching Tees |  I love the idea of a matching bachelorette bridal party, and after scouring the internet for the perfect tee fit for a flock of fabulous mermaids, I decided this adorable coral Wildfox number was the one! For starers, it’s the color of Ariel’s hair (Little Mermaid reference), and two, I love the word ‘Mermaid’ written across the front – it’s got that effortless, playful look that I was hoping to find. Not to mention, everyone can use a breezy tee to throw on over a swimsuit after a day at the beach!

Shell Hair Pins | Such a fun and easy DIY activity! All you need is a hot glue gun, a pack of bobby pins, some small shells and pretty paper. I ventured to Michael’s for all of the items – they have a ton of itty bitty shell options in different colors to choose from.

Mermaid Inspired Cards |  A gift set is never complete without a super adorable card that just sums it all up! My sister is an artist and runs the Etsy store Kimberlee Artworks, so I knew she could make my vision come to life. She hand painted these watercolor prints with pastel scales in the background and handwritten text – beyond precious and so perfect to top off this mermaid gift package!

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For all you beach bachelorette babes, I hope this gave you some fun planning inspiration! This is the time to treat your fellow mermaids like queens, so have an absolute blast with it! xx

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Follow Olivia’s Journey down the aisle!

Bridesmaids’ Gifts | Save the Date | Reception Dress

Photography: Olivia Watson | "Let's Be Mermaids" Cards: Amazon | Beaded Tassel Bracelets: Gold & Gray | Blogger Bride: Olivia Watson | Mermaid Bikini Swimsuit: Amazon | Mermaid Tee Shirts: Amazon | Monogrammed cups: Rambler On | Nail Polish: Amazon | Starfish Veil : Amazon

Perennial Weddings‘ design for this beautiful destination wedding focused on highlighting Costa Rica’s natural beauty. For the ceremony, that meant putting large garland on the Matopalo tree. For the reception, that meant natural wood tables with minimalist florals in shades of ivory, peach and green. See how it all came together, courtesy of Sylvia Guardia, in The Vault!

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From Perennial Weddings…Under the shade of a huge Matapalo tree, 46 friends and family members gathered for the wedding of Devon and Alex. Not rain, snow or flight delays could keep this group away from this destination wedding. Married on March 19, 2016 at Pangas Beach Club in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. They wanted to keep it sweet and simple; from design, to dinner, to the flow of the day (and week).

The design elements were simple and focused on the Matopalo tree and the large Guanacaste wood tables at the beach club. Devon wanted “rustic elegance” to run throughout the design. To keep it light we used soft colors, with lots of foliage, and hints of gold. Because we wanted the tree to be a focal point, we hung a large garland on the tree and used this as their backdrop for the ceremony. For the reception we wanted the natural wood tables to stand out, so the design we came up with was lace runners, gradients of white, green foliage in varying shades and gold mini pineapples. The “vases” were little ice cream dishes, which I spray painted white. Devon even mentioned one of her favorite moments to be “…after we sat down for down dinner. The sun had just set. I looked around at the beautiful perfectly set tables, all lit up by dozens of little votives, highlighting the smiling faces of our loved ones. It was a perfect vision that I will cherish forever.”

My favorite detail of the entire design were the place settings…how perfectly imperfect (or “rustically elegant”) they were. A grey napkin wrapped in twine, a leaf with guests’ names written in gold, and a piece of foliage or a flower tucked in. I think this summed up the wedding and the couple. In the couples quirks and silliness, they were lovely alone, but perfect together.

Photography: Sylvia Guardia | Floral Design: Colette's Flowers | Wedding Dress: Watters Fabienne | Hair + Makeup: Diego Alfaro | DJ: Music 4 You Events | Band: Fabio Avelino dos Santos | Venue: Pangas | Event Styling, Coordination + Design: Perennial Weddings | Rentals: Eventos Artesanos

Can I register for these plates by Adelfa, pretty, pretty please? I’m obsessed! But while the tableware may have initially drawn me in, this dress, Meant To Be Calligraphy flourishes, and all the beauty created by FourNineteen Weddings is what has kept me in this Vault gallery for the past severals hours (no joke!). So, thank you Audra Wrisley for capturing it all and making this Tuesday a whole lot better – we owe ya’!

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From Audra Wrisley… Inspired by the local flora and fauna in Costa Rica, this wedding inspiration shoot was set at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, which provided a perfect backdrop for our modern and organic shoot. The resort is located in one of Costa Rica’s most alluring areas; nestled on the Culebra Bay in the northern province of Guanacaste.

Complementing the modern and eco-friendly design of the venue, the talented Barbara Broutin from FourNineteen Weddings opted to use sea glass toned colors and geometric lines for the florals and design aesthetic. Elky Suarez custom designed an incredible two-piece, lace and silk bridal gown in soft ivory and blush, which was the perfect focal point for the shoot. The designers at Artflower opted for exotic orchids to decorate the tablescape and ceremony site, and created a flawless cascading bouquet for our model. The hand-painted plates by Adelfa were also custom created for the occasion, inspired by the shapes and colors native to the Guanacaste area.

We soaked up the last few minutes of daylight on the resort’s deserted beach in one of Costa Rica’s infamous sunsets.

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More tropical inspiration this way!

Photography: Audra Wrisley Photography | Floral Design: Artflower | Wedding Dress: Elky Suarez | Cake: Victoria Zoch | Hair + Makeup: Victoria Moreno | Calligraphy: Meant To Be Calligraphy | Venue: Andaz Peninsula Papagayo | Custom Plates: Cakes To Di For | Event Design + Coordination: Four Nineteen Weddings | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

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Audra Wrisley Photography

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When the wedding’s over there is only one thing left to do: Honeymoon. It’s Ali from A Dash of Details back to share all the details on our amazing Honeymoon at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. We spent a few extra days recovering in Arizona before we jetted off to Costa Rica to enjoy the amazing sunshine and beautiful beaches on the Peninsula Papagayo.

When deciding on a spot to celebrate our Honeymoon, we had two things in mind: Travel time and relaxation. When we found out that Costa Rica was only a four hour flight, we knew it was the perfect destination to unplug and relax! When we arrived at the Four Seasons Costa Rica we were greeted with mango smoothies, cool towels and a beautiful and completely renovated lobby. For a girl who loves interior design, the mosaic wall and contemporary furniture were major eye candy.

We spent most of our seven days enjoying our bungalow, at the beach, in the pool, and the spa completely unplugged and in newlywed bliss. While we planned to fill most of our days with relaxing activities, we did schedule some fun adventures while on the peninsula. The first night of our Honeymoon we tried stand up paddle boarding with LED lights to see into the water. We ventured out in to the water right after sunset and saw so many beautiful fish. I highly recommend taking the kayaks, paddle boards, and surf boards out for a spin. Another must-have adventure activity in Costa Rica is zip lining. We made it through the jungle course through in rain and sunshine. It was such an exhilarating experience! The last activity we signed up for was the adventure cycling. The Four Seasons offers free activities everyday for their guests to enjoy the full Pura Vida experience. The 4 mile bike ride through the jungle was a highlight! We even encountered a few White-Faced monkeys.

The beaches at the Four Seasons Costa Rica are so picturesque. We ended up spending most of our days on hammocks on the private beach at the Four Seasons Beach Club. We even ended up staying to witness the most colorful sunset.

After the entire wedding planning process, a relaxing honeymoon was just what we needed to start off our marriage on the right foot! Whether its a staycation or honeymoon in Costa Rica, be sure to take a few moments with your new hubby or wife and enjoy being married! I loved being able to share my wedding process with all of you lovely Style Me Pretty readers. Be sure to stay up to date on our life after the wedding over on A Dash of Details.

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See Ali’s Journey down the aisle

Get to know the Bride | Engagement | Bridal Shower | Rehearsal Dinner Dress | DIY Flower Crown | Bridal fitness

Coverup: Eberjey | Resort: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Robe: Eberjey | Sandals: J.Crew | Swimsuit: L.Space

Fair warning—this wedding is about to give you a serious case of wanderlust. Set against the natural beauty of Costa Rica, these high school sweethearts said “I do,” in a beachside wedding the Bride had been dreaming about since the fifth grade. With vibrant pink flowers, gold spray-painted flamingos and a celebratory reception back in Sioux Falls, this couple started Happily Ever After in the prettiest way possible. See it all from Jeff Sampson Photography in THE VAULT.

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From The Bride… Justin and I met 10 years ago at Roosevelt High School (whoop whoop High School Sweethearts!). We happened to be in foods class together and one day after class he asked for my number. Not to age myself, but this was before all high schoolers had cell phones so I had to give him my house number – Embarrassing! He called after school one day to hang out so we got a Little Ceasars pizza and watched “The Ring”. It terrified me and I haven’t been able to watch a scary movie since. Luckily I didn’t have the same feelings about him and we eventually started dating! We eventually parted ways when he went off to College, but got back together through mutual friends a year or two later. The rest is history!

For as long as I can remember, I have ALWAYS wanted to get married on the beach. I even have it stated in a 5th grade power point presentation about ‘My Future’ that I’ll get married on the beach someday. I would’ve been happy to elope just the two of us, but Justin is more traditional and wanted a traditional wedding. Well, we both love to travel and I get uncomfortable in large crowds with people watching me, so a destination wedding with a reception back home seemed like the perfect compromise!

I started to search for locations for a wedding that were both exotic, yet affordable for our close friends and family. It was important for the both of us to have our immediate family and close friends there with us to celebrate. I always heard from other brides that the day goes by so fast, they barely remember their wedding day; so I wanted to make sure we had a trip to remember! Why limit your wedding to 1 day when you can celebrate over an entire vacation?

We decided to go with a March wedding for 3 reasons. 1) Both my sister and best friend were due with babies in November of 2014. We didn’t want them to either miss out or feel they had to travel with a newborn, so we gave them a few months to get settled. 2) If we decided to go on any anniversary trips, we didn’t have to worry about hurricane season getting in the way! 3)If we were going to travel to a tropical destination, we wanted to do it while it was still cold back in SD.

One day at work, my boss mentioned a resort brand called “Dreams” that his family really enjoyed. I checked them out online and noticed advertising for a new resort of theirs in Costa Rica. It opened in January 2015 which made us a little nervous, but you couldn’t beat the deals! So on a whim, we booked the trip and notified our friends and family of the dates. They all contacted our Travel Agent, Tracy, and she got everyone booked for us.

When trying to put together a vision for our wedding, I got lost in the wedding black hole known as Pinterest. I had about 50 different directions that I wanted to go with it. Seriously, the possibilities are endless! Finally, my MOH Jenna got after me and told me I needed to start making decisions. Everything would be easier once I picked a direction.

While online shopping for myself, I ended up finding a dress on Banana Republic that I loved and thought it would make the perfect bridesmaid dress. It didn’t look like a ‘bridesmaid dress’ and that was exactly what I wanted. It was elegant yet not overly flashy, worked for a destination wedding, and as cliché as it sounds, they could all use it again after the wedding. I had 6 bridesmaids in my wedding, and ended up ordering 15 of them in various sizes right then and there. I had all of my bridesmaids find which size worked best for them, and then mailed the rest back to Banana. I didn’t want to risk everyone ordering their own dress and then having the store run out. From that point on, everything was planned around the bridesmaid dresses. I got really lucky planning that way, because the wedding dress I ended up falling in love with, went perfectly with the bridesmaid dress. I would NOT recommend planning a wedding this way, but I’m oddly glad that I did it.

Since my dress was white, and the bridesmaid dresses were a soft gold/silver color, I decided to stick to neutral tones and then add in a pop of color with the flowers. I was originally going to go with all neutrals because it’s so trendy right now, but it wasn’t me. The more I scrolled through Pinterest, the more I realized that I had been pinning colorful flowers and bouquets. I asked Justin if he cared that we had pink flowers and he was game.

Once we had a general idea of what we wanted to do with the décor, I emailed the wedding planner in CR (Cynthia), and she made everything happen. I put together a powerpoint that included colors, flowers, chairs, lights, etc. then she would tell me what they could do that was similar. It didn’t take much correspondence before we had things figured out. Now, I will say that I tried to be as laid back as possible knowing that everything wouldn’t look exactly as I had it planned in my head, but Cynthia did an amazing job taking my vision and turning it into a real life wedding. She went above and beyond with what I had asked and couldn’t have been more of a pleasure to work with. Everything in regards to planning and set up were stress free for me, which was VERY nice!

Our next issue was planning our reception back home with extended family and friends. We hired Envision Event Planning to take care of the décor, but we weren’t quite sure how to bring Costa Rica back to SD. I wanted to avoid doing the seashells and starfish that you always see, but also wanted to make our venue feel like a tropical oasis without being too “theme-y”.

Once again, I turn to Pinterest. It doesn’t take long until I find a picture of a gold lawn flamingo. Consider me inspired. I text the picture to my mom and MOH to see what they think. Most people would say it’s crazy, but they understood my love of the tacky pink lawn ornament, and told me to go for it. So we bought about 2 dozen flamingos and my parents spent an entire weekend spray painting them gold in the back yard. Bless their hearts. We brought 2 flamingos with us to Costa Rica and used the rest at the reception in Sioux Falls. I also found the cutest flamingo cake topper at BHLDN.com. While Justin thought I was joking about the whole flamingo idea, he ended up really being a fan of it in the end.

Working with Leah at Envision for the Sioux Falls reception, she helped to pick out flowers, décor, and gave us a ton of other fun ideas to go with the Flamingos. We worked with ICON Lounge to make signature drinks (ones that we enjoyed while in Costa Rica) and that way it was like our guests could enjoy Costa Rica with us. One signature drink was called a Costa Rica Tropical which was a blue and yellow in color with a fruit garnish. The other was a Malibu Coke, since that’s what I drank at our actual wedding.

For food we decided to go with heavy appetizers rather than a sit down meal to make it feel less formal. We wanted everyone to get up, walk around, and enjoy each other’s company. We re-used the flamingo cake toppers for our reception and they looked adorable on top of our wedding cake with all of the colorful flowers. Chef April also did an amazing job of putting 5 wedding cakes together. When she asked me what I wanted all I could say was, “I don’t know.. I just want 5 cakes, and the main one has to be naked!” She helped me to pick out a variety of flavors and styles, and they all came together beautifully. Our DJ, Jake Hill, also did an amazing job. He steered clear of my “Do not play these overplayed wedding songs” list and also incorporated some of the Hispanic songs that we heard while down in Costa Rica into his playset. Thank you Shazam! It gave a nice Latin American twist to the dance and our guests had a blast!

If I were to get married again tomorrow, I wouldn’t change a thing! It was the most memorable time of my life and we were able to share it with those closest to us. We’ve got a lifetime of memories with those we love and I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together.

Photography: Jeffrey Sampson Photography | Event Planning: Envision Event Planning | Floral Design: Bella Rosa | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Engagement Ring: Greenbergs | Rings: Deb Blazer Etsy | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Banana Republic | Venue: Dream Las Mareas, Costa Rica | Local Reception: Icon Event Hall, Sioux Falls

We get a lot of amazing beachfront destination weddings, but this one is truly special in its elegance, intimacy, and perfect simplicity. With fresh peach and ivory florals from ArtFlower, a gorgeous Bride and Groom, and the expert planners of Events & Weddings Costa Rica at the helm, this event is truly beautiful. Check out the gallery from El Velo Photography, and say buenos dias to this stunning beachfront affair!

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From the beautiful Bride… In July of 2013, Steven surprised me with a trip to Costa Rica for our four year anniversary. We were stand up paddle boarding at Sunrise in Tamarindo, when he got down on one knee on his board and proposed. We fell in love with the Costa Rican landscape, and decided to come back with our closest family and friends for a destination wedding.

We knew this would require a lot of effort from our guests, especially since our wedding would occur the day after Thanksgiving, so the wedding needed to be a great experience. We researched many of the venues in the Guanacaste area, and as soon as we saw the Four Season’s Beach Club, we knew in an instant that it was where we wanted to be married. We loved its privacy and beautiful simplicity.

It was important to us that we found a wedding planner who was able to translate our vision and work closely with us on details, and we found just that in Samantha Cohn. Samantha helped us to get started quickly, always giving us multiple options, and made our visions come to life. ‘Barefoot luxury’ was our theme, incorporating a relaxed, simple elegance to the day. We wanted everything to be intimate, timeless, simple, and to emphasize the beautiful setting that we had chosen.

I chose peach and soft neutrals as the color palette. Steven and I both are one of four and are incredibly close to our families, so we decided to have an unconventional wedding party, having our siblings stand at our sides. My sister was my Maid of Honor and the only girl in the wedding party. I also had my two brothers stand as my Bridesmen. The only decorations we wanted for the ceremony was a beautiful arch, complete with peach and off-white florals, with matching flower arrangements along the aisle seats. Bamboo fans were also provided for our guests to keep them cool.

We had a beautiful, cloudless day and made the choice day-of to not have a tent covering us during the ceremony to accentuate the beautiful surroundings. We found a simple two-man band of a guitar and drum to play Jack Johnson’s ‘Angel’ as I walked up the aisle. I wore an altered Monique Lhuillier ‘Emma’ gown, with a beaded sash made by BHLDN. Steven and the rest of the wedding party wore lightweight, gray J. Crew suits with peach custom-made ties. Marcelo Galli beautifully officiated the ceremony, and to make it more personal we wrote our own vows. Pictures were taken afterwards on the beach and in the mangroves at sunset while guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at the outside Marina bar.

The dinner setting was just as magical as the ceremony. We opted for one, long imperial table for our 42 guests to add to the intimacy, and so that we could easily watch our guests enjoy the evening. We chose a clear tent to cover our dinner table, and it was decorated with lights so that it had a ‘starry night’ effect. We wanted the whole area to sparkle. The center of the table was decorated with a neutral table runner, peach flower settings, and lots of candles in mercury vases.

Surrounding trees were lit with Chinese lanterns and the patio area had luminaries and tiki torches to make it glow. As Steven and I are both surfers, we had custom-made wooden surfboards embroidered with each guests name to serve as place cards, which they were able to take as a keepsake at the end of the night.

Our wedding was beautiful, intimate, and fun. Our guests raved about the whole experience, and we have beautiful pictures captured by El Velo Photography that captured the essence of the day that we will enjoy for years to come.

Photography: El Velo Photography | Videography: El Velo Photography | Event Planning: Events & Weddings Costa Rica | Floral Design: Artflower | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Victoria Zoch | Lighting: Hale Koa phineas Estate | DJ: DJ Zach | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Marcelo Galli | Tent: Eventos Boadicea | Ceremony And Reception Venue: Playa Prieta Beach Club At Peninsula Papagayo | Hair & Make-up: Maravilla Weddings | Music Duo: Avenida 10 | Rentals: Oceano Rentals

Set on the stunning white sand shores of Costa Rica, this international couple’s desination “I Do’s” eschewed many formalities of more traditional affairs, in favor of a relaxed and modern feel we love. FourNineteen Weddings made this stunning couple’s dream come true, and we’re so lucky that Costa Vida Photography was there to capture it all! Click through the gallery for more, and be transported to paradise!

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From FourNineteen Weddings… This is the story of a Venezuelan girl and a guy from Chicago, that live in New York and decided Costa Rica was the perfect destination for their wedding… and I must admit this has been one of the most fun weddings we have ever planned. For Marcella and Brandon’s wedding, we threw our usual timelines out the window; they were set on one thing, and it was to get people dancing as soon as the ceremony was over. And so they did.

With very laid back and simple styling (mostly white, with a few pops of green and purple here and there), Marcella and Brandon wanted their guests to feel at ease, avoiding all usual wedding formalities. There was no seating plan, and guests were free to sit where they wanted; at tables, on daybeds, in cute little lounge areas, and even at cocktail tables strategically placed inside the pool (on shallow water, of course!). A variety of lighting installations gave the night a particular glow, from chandeliers, to glass bulbs with candles, to paper lanterns… an eclectic mix that just added to the chilled out vibe.

Our team created cute signage and handmade 90+ ribbon and bell wands for the ceremony and set up a DIY photo guest book. The floral team took care to create various different looks, making each floral piece different.

Dinner was presented as a station buffet open for a good part of the evening, so guests could eat when they felt like it. A fabulous dessert table closed off the buffet area, with a variety of macaroons, mousses, cake pops and bars, enough to fulfill any sweet tooth around!

At around midnight, the very Venezuelan “hora loca” was a huge success, with guests donning wigs, giant sunglasses and other props to officially dance the night away!

Photography: Costa Vida Photography | Videography: Jonathan Yonkers | Event Planning: Four Nineteen Weddings | Floral Design: Artflower | Cake: Victoria Zoch | Ceremony Venue: Reserva Conchal Beach Resort Golf Spa | Reception Venue: Reserva Conchal Beach Resort Golf Spa | Hair And Makeup: Maravilla Weddings | Rentals: D'Gala Events

Destination weddings are in a league of their own. I mean, it doesn’t get better than a little vacation with your nearest and dearest while you say I do. And when you are doing just that on the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica with Stories Wedding Photography snapping up every gorgeous moment planned by Four Nineteen Weddings, that’s when we enter a whole new level of dreamy. Get lost in all the lovely here.

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From Stories Wedding Photography…Mike and Stevie decided to get married in Costa Rica. They wanted their wedding and time with family and friends to be a tropical adventure. The bride and groom wished to take them someplace the majority of them had never been, and now, they all have a special connection to Costa Rica. In addition, Mike and Stevie wanted their wedding to be natural and environmentally conscious; Costa Rica has really embraced this ideology.

Everyone who has met Stevie knows she loves to dance. She is always taking dance classes and performing. Traditional Japanese dance, Latin dance, belly dance, Gatos and Bollywood. The result flows anytime there is music. The bride worked on a cross-cultural dance that she had made up. Stevie was not going to miss this chance to perform! She had to convince Mike to dance with her and he did a wonderful job! The dance was choreographed and rehearsed by her good friend, Jesus. The hardest part was keeping all their practicing a secret because the bride and groom wanted to surprise everyone at the wedding reception. The result was wonderful and fun, they were VERY surprised! Costa Rica`s vibe was perfect for it!

Stevie saw a video on Yahoo from a wedding where a GoPro was placed on a bottle of liquor. She showed it to her family and everyone loved the idea, especially her brother who took this project on. He, of course, wanted to “one up” the Yahoo video and instead of one GoPro on one bottle, The Gauntlet was born consisting of GoPros on a bottle of Grey Goose, Makers Mark, Goldschlager, Jameson, and Patron. The wedding guests drank from all five bottles in a row, it was a big hit. The Papagayo Peninsula where we had the wedding was the perfect setting for this!

Mike and Stevie wanted the color scheme to reflect moss, reclaimed wood and stones. They wanted to honor the environment and compliment the natural beauty of the Papagayo Peninsula. A lot of the pictures reflect that. The bride and groom, as well as their guests enjoyed the beach at sundown immensely; they thought it was amazing; some of the most beautiful sunset shows you will ever come across are in Costa Rica. Moreover, everyone had wonderful vacation with forty of their closest friends and family. Together, they went zip lining, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, ate and drank a lot, and had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament/rehearsal dinner. Mike and Stevie were surrounded by love for six days at a beautiful resort, in a beautiful, peaceful country.

The bride and groom wanted to add that planning a wedding from Los Angeles in Costa Rica seemed challenging. But with the tremendous help of Barbara at Four Nineteen Weddings, the amazing logistical support from the Four Seasons Resort, and skilled vendors, Sergio Pucci Photography and Sunflower Bella, everything went so smoothly that the only worry Mike and Stevie had on the wedding day was to have fun. It was their best day ever!

Photography: Stories Wedding Photography | Event Planning: Four Nineteen Weddings | Floral Design: Artflower | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Reformation | Hair & Makeup: Sunflower Bella Hair and Makeup | Rentals: Eventos Artesanos | Resort: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

This adorable duo is out to prove that a wedding for two can be every bit as stylish as a full-blown soiree. They traveled to the beaches of Costa Rica with Chloe Murdoch in tow, and the result is one of the coolest tropical elopements we’ve ever come across. Pretty lovers unite in the gallery right here.

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From Chloe Murdoch Photography… The Bride Erika and Groom Giedrius (both from Lithuania) eloped to Costa Rica and wanted to have a wedding that really reflected the style of weddings they had seen on many of SMP’s posts!

Erika wanted to have her wedding and photos feel “natural, cozy, artistic, bohemian and a little bit vintage” and I really worked with her to make that a reality. My husband and I helped her do everything from floral design, and prop coordination to the officiant and selection of venue location. It was really a one stop deal for them and was truly a blessing to be a part of making their elopement dreams a reality.

Photography: Chloe Murdoch Photography | Floral Design: Stylos Y Flores | Wedding Dress: Toma Accessories | Wedding Dress: Toma Accessories | Shoes: H&M | Venue: Tulemar Vacation Homes and Rentals

Much of the pretty we share on this little ‘ole blog are soirees with a whole lot of planning behind them. Fetes packed with detail upon detail that we find ourselves swooning over on the daily. But this surf-loving surprise elopement from A Brit & A Blonde? It’s raw and beautiful and we couldn’t love it more if we tried. With a bit of help from Malpais Green Weddings, this sweet Groom surprised his beachy Bride with a proposal AND an elopement on their Malpais getaway. Intrigued yet? See the rest right here!

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From A Brit & A Blonde… We are super lucky to be a part of so many couples big day. But I think nothing could have prepared me for perhaps the most romantic and sweet surprise elopement ever. Jens & Cece are from Germany – they both adore snowboarding when home but their heart really lies with surfing. So there is no surprise that they love, love, love Malpais in Costa Rica – a total mecca for surfers. Jens & Cece have been together for quite a few years and are quite non-traditional – they knew that a big blowout wedding with a ton of people was just not for them. They were down here in Costa Rica for a fun surf vacay. But Jens had other plans! He was planning on proposing to Cece here and then to elope. Literally a few days before the elopement date that he had in mind – he asked her. She said YES! Since Cece only had a couple of days notice – there was no time to go get a dress and the whole thing – which isn’t even her style – so for her I do’s she wore a bikini top and a fun white skirt she found in one of the stores in Malpais. And then she changed into another simple beachy dress she found here for sunset cocktails and dinner. Jens had got in touch with Malpais Green Weddings a few weeks before he popped the question – to have some wedding experts help him create the perfect day. Myriam and Lisa are amazing at what they do – and created a truly magical ceremony and dinner for two beachside of course. The planners knew the perfect spot that was right on the beach and private. The couple went surfing in the morning and then got married in the afternoon. A most perfect day for these two! And it just goes to show that you don’t need to have a ton of bells and whistles to have a gorgeous and magical day. Their day was simple, sweet and unbelievably romantic.

Photography: A Brit & A Blonde | Wedding Planner: Malpais Green Weddings | Ceremony Venue: Private Residence In Malpais

Saturdays are pretty amazing, but when you throw in a meet and greet with RebeccaMarie Photography, it takes it to an entirely new level of awesome.  I’m talking an entire day devoted to gorgeous imagery that just so happens to be overflowing with love, emotion and, of course, pretty.  Spend some time getting to know her, lovelies… and don’t forget to check out her sweet discount below.

From RebeccaMarie Photography…  RebeccaMarie started learning about photography at the age of fifteen and excelled from there working alongside some of the best in the business, since 2004. Destination travel is a deep passion of hers and so is love. RebeccaMarie believes in combining the two, to capture your love story and has had the opportunity to travel internationally throughout her career.

RebeccaMarie Photography has been published numerous times together with her international friend Isabelle Kline Design, producing beauty through each image.  Her style has been known to be organic, vintage, ethereal and romantic.  A lover of travel and meeting new people.

Check out RebeccaMarie on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  

Discount!  RebeccaMarie Photography is offering a $500 print credit to all couples that book in the month of June and July and reference this SMP welcome post.

Intimate weddings never fail to make me stop and stay awhile, particularly when it just happens to be as stunning as this Costa Rica wedding planned by Tropical Occasions. It’s simply overflowing with a whole lot of lovely and a whole lot of love, making this gallery from Emily Elizabeth Photo just magic.

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From Emily Elizabeth Photo…Chris and Lori’s wedding was a small intimate family affair on the beach in Costa Rica. It was at the end of the rainy season, and down poured on our drive to the ceremony, but cleared up just in time and ended up a perfectly beautiful day. 

From The Bride…Chris and I both grew up in beach towns in different countries. So a beach wedding was created to bring two ocean cultures together. Our families and friends enjoy learning about new places and cultures so we thought that Costa Rica was the perfect location for everyone to join us from abroad. By gathering images and ideas and communicating with our wedding planners, Jaime and Aimee from Tropical Occasions, we were able to narrow down the feel we were searching for. We were inspired by colors and textures of the beach. The style was meant to be kept simple, fresh and soft since it’s a smaller intimate wedding. We kept the glasswear in the blue/green color palettes which echo back the theme of the ocean. The wedding planner worked with a local florist to provide flowers and bouquets in the same soft color palette. All of this fit perfectly together thanks to the efforts of so many people and the contributions from everyone we know.

Photography: Emily Elizabeth Photo | Flowers: Floristeria Crystal | Reception Venue: Reserva Conchal Beach Resort Golf Spa | Catering: Reserva Conchal Beach Resort Golf Spa | DJ: DJ Zach | Bridal Shop: The Bridal Collection | Event Planning And Floral Design: Tropical Occasions | Lighting + Rentals: Cabo Luna Event Rentals | Rentals: Oceano Rentals

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From the second I laid eyes on this stunner of a wedding, I knew I was going to be in love. Like, the obsessed kind of love. Where I pick apart each and every layer and find myself falling harder and harder. It started with the Happy Menocal invitations and then every detail after planned by Fournineteen Weddings continued to take my breath away. So it goes with out saying that this gallery from Margaux Gamble? It’s beyond.

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From the Bride…Eric and I met and live in New York, but wanted to have our wedding at the beach in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Costa Rica is my home country and we had spent several New Year’s in Guanacaste before we got engaged, so the place had a special meaning to us as a couple. We knew this would be the perfect spot to have our wedding; not only a gorgeous setting; but a laid-back and truly enjoyable place to be.

We wanted to focus our special day on making our guests feel welcome and involved in the event. The guests were greeted with fresh coconut water served in coconuts as they entered the venue. Also, during the ceremony we gave them wands with bells and ribbons for them to wave during the first kiss.

After the dinner and speeches, we took everyone to the beach to light sky lanterns. We had so much fun watching the lanterns fly into the sky, narrowly avoiding trees and the guests themselves. I was happy to see everyone laughing, interacting with each other, and truly being part of the celebration. Afterwards, the guests were given giant sparklers and lined themselves up in two long rows facing each other. The sparklers were lit, creating a sparkling bridge for my husband and I to duck under as we made our way to the dance floor for our first dance.

The sky lanterns and sparklers set the tone for a spontaneous and memorable night. The other highlights included the groomsmen changing into matching swimwear, dancing around the party, and then jumping into the pool like synchronized swimmers. This was not to be outdone by my friend Gio who performed an outrageous strip tease to a Lady Gaga song after catching the garter.

Design and Details: Happy Menocal designed our invitation, watercolor fonts and wedding crest. Our crest has a macaw, orchids and coffee plants symbolizing Costa Rica (my home country) and a coyote, chili peppers and a yucca flower symbolizing New Mexico (Eric’s home state). We used the macaw and coyote as a theme throughout the wedding. In addition to the invitations, it was included on our save the dates, thank-you notes, cake toppers, and on special foam hats that we wore during the party.

Other details were harder to find in the small town where we had the wedding, so almost every detail, except for the beautiful flowers and lighting, was a DIY project. I bought mismatched colored glasses at the flea market for the flowers, made the linen runners, and designed the “Love Boat” photo booth, the various signs, wooden accent boxes, and the seating chart frame, I also bought straws, umbrellas, and pom-poms on Etsy. My dad designed the structure surrounding the dance floor and my mom made the cake.

The day of the wedding was such an unforgettable day because Eric was the person standing at the end of the aisle (and he looked so cute!). On top of that, the event was truly my dream wedding full of personalized details, yummy desserts and beautiful flowers. Lastly, I like to believe our guests knew what an essential component they had been to the event as they joined us on the dance floor until late into the night…

Photography: Margaux Gamble | Videographer: Jonathan Yonkers | Event Planning: Four Nineteen Weddings | Wedding Dress: The White Gown | Invitations: Happy Menocal | Wedding Shoes: Prada | Bridesmaids Dresses: Here Comes The Bridesmaid | Make Up And Hair: Tricia Espinoza & Nick Brown | DJ: Omar Blandon | Band: Los Ajenos | Grooms Attire: Club Monaco | Officiant: Marcelo Galli | Desserts & Cake: Victoria Zoch | Floral & Lighting Design: Artflower | Groomsmen Pants: J.Crew | Photography - Assistance: Katherine Stinnett | Rentals: D'Gala Events | Reserva Conchal, Costa Rica: Reserva Conchal Beach Resort Golf Spa

A casual beach fete in Costa Rica, surrounded by lush greens and white sands might just be the epitome of a dream destination wedding. With Villa Marrakech as the Moroccan-inspired backdrop, beachy white blooms by Tropical Occasions and image upon pretty image from Margaux Photography, there’s a whole gallery full of relaxed romance right here!

From the Bride and Groom… Jared and I reside in Newport, Rhode Island with our 11 month old daughter, Emelia and our dog, Lucas. We LOVE living at the beach, going for hikes, drinking coffee, lazy Sunday mornings and cozying up with a good book. We are also lovers of travel and often retreat from our seaside sanctuary in New England for extended periods. It was during our first trip to Playa Langosta, Costa Rica when we fell madly and deeply in love with both the country and one another. Playa Langosta has since held a very special place in our hearts.

We had hoped to find a Moroccan inspired villa to host our wedding at as this would best express our own personal style. Upon discovering Villa Marrakech we were beyond thrilled – it was the perfect location! Our wedding was very intimate with just our closest family and friends in attendance. This allowed for a wonderfully relaxed and romantic atmosphere.

We began the morning with a group yoga class at Villa Marrakech. This was the perfect way to start our big day! Later, our guests joined us on the beach for our unique Buddhist inspired ceremony just before sunset. Our ceremony was very special to the two of us as it included a number of Buddhist prayers, a hand-washing ritual, our exchange of personal vows, exchange of rings (Jared’s ring was designed and made by his dad!), etc.

Following an amazing dinner, we enjoyed a spectacular show put on by a group of fire dancers. The night ended with the bride, groom and all guests jumping in the pool – wedding gown and all!

Photography: Margaux Gamble | Cinematography: Matt Agan | Wedding Planner: Tropical Occasions | Floral Design: Tropical Occasions | Wedding Dress: Andria Bird Bride | Cake: Victoria Zoch | Stationery: Peace Love Design | Jewelry: JoJo Loves You | Catering: Catering Costa | Hair And Makeup: Victoria Moreno | DJ: Cabo Luna Event Rentals | Favors: Cafe Tico | Luxury Venue: Villa Marrakech | Rentals: Costa Mesa | Rentals: Cabo Luna Event Rentals | Veil/hairpiece: Andria Bird Bride

There is a special smile that we reserve for the destination wedding. It’s a little more relaxed, a little more happy, and with weddings like this one in Costa Rica from Four Nineteen Weddings and Artflower, can you blame us? Stories Wedding Photography has seriously taken the edge of this particular Tuesday and I’d be willing to bet you’ll be joining more than a few SMPers in the gallery today!

From Four Nineteen Weddings… Tracy & Jeff’s decision to get married in Costa Rica seemed logical when they decided to have a destination wedding, as Jeff’s family has businesses in Costa Rica. They wanted to have all their family and close friends join them for a super fun wedding weekend which culminated with their wedding at the gorgeous Playa Prieta Beach Club in Peninsula Papagayo.

I must say I loved this wedding! Tracy was super relaxed and allowed me and the awesome florists at Artflower to take over the design of the wedding provided we did two things: use purple flowers and go with a simple design that showcased the natural beauty of the venue, which is, quite possibly, one of the most beautiful beachfront venues in Costa Rica.

Even though the date they chose was at the end of the rainy season, and we could have had some rain, the weather was absolutely fantastic, and the beachfront ceremony under the trees was perfect, with the trees providing shade for the guests and an unparalleled view of the secluded Playa Prieta. They wanted a bit of decoration at the altar, and in her inspiration boards I saw a lot of capiz shell curtains, so we went a simple bamboo arch with fabric and flowers, and added some capiz shell strings. Mason jars with purple and green flowers were placed on the aisle chairs for a bit of extra decor without going over the top. Cocktails followed, and guests mingled in the beach club’s cocktail bar and enjoyed the beach and the sunset (along with some delicious appetizers!). The reception was held by the pool, and we used the venue’s natural wood top tables which added to the uncluttered feel that Tracy & Jeff wanted. The centrepieces, a mix of flowers and succulents in natural wood boxes, had some green added in to compliment the venue’s place setting. Tracy was in charge of the cutest DIY elements, my favourite being the seating chart, which were seashells hand printed with the guests seating assignments, which we then placed on a bed of hydrangeas. She also made the table numbers (numbers painted on burlap) and printed the menus herself.

Another thing that was a must for this fun couple: they wanted guest to dance the night away. After dinner was done, the band came back with lots of latin music, and everyone was on the dance floor until it was time to head back to the hotel!

Photography: Stories Wedding Photography | Floral Design: Artflower | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Cake: Victoria Zoch | Ceremony Venue: Playa Prieta Beach Club At Peninsula Papagayo | Reception Venue: Playa Prieta Beach Club At Peninsula Papagayo | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Ceremony & Reception Music: Los Mojitos Band | Ceremony Officiant: Marcelo Galli | Planning: Four Nineteen Weddings