Central America Weddings

Thanks to A Brit & A Blonde, I will be eternally obsessed with weddings in Costa Rica. These two lovebirds wed in the exact spot they met five years prior – which just so happens to be on a Costa Rican beach. A winning combination that, after a trip to the gallery, will leave you speechless and smiling. Click here to see it all!

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From the beautiful bride … My vision for our big day was for it to look “Vintage-Modern,” which Justin will eternally make fun of me for because he thinks that’s an oxymoron. I will eternally try and prove him wrong with every decorative decision I make. I was stuck in a rut, that I think many destination brides get in, of thinking that we had to have bright colors and Bird’s of Paradise for flowers, which really wasn’t us. When I realized I could have lace and light pink and Scrabble and still get married on the beach, it finally all came together.

There were so many details that I loved. I think the Scrabble place cards were were really cool and made everyone feel special, plus they were a nod to our geeky side. I really loved the table settings as a whole. Having family wedding pictures was a neat way for us to tie in our love of photos, family, and vintage. I also adored our ring bearer pillow, which my mom hand embroidered and surprised us with.

The very best part of the day was when Justin and I first saw each other. We were able to recreate the moment we first met back in 2007. The day of the wedding, I walked down the same path and Justin sat in the same spot that we did the day we met. It’s one amazing thing to have met in Costa Rica, and an extraordinary thing to be married in the same place 5 years later. Walking into that hotel lobby was the best thing I have ever done in my life, twice.

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Photographer: A Brit & A Blonde | Event Planner: Nosara Weddings & Events | Reception Venue: Vista del Paraiso | Dress designer: Claire Pettibone | Shoes: Fibi & Clo | Jewelry: Anthropologie | Groom’s outfit: Express | Veil: Veil Trends | Bridal sash: Sassi Holford | Paper props: Travelers Paperie | Pre-Ceremony local: Harmony Hotel

When people ask me for advice on planning their big day, I always say – hire people you absolutely love, trust and admire and you won’t have to worry about a thing. This couple researched away until they could do just that, and came out with a team of talents including Ale Sura Photo, Costa Rica Destination Weddings and Art Flower that made their dream destination wedding a reality. It’s too gorgeous to miss, so join me in getting lost in all the lovely – right here.

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From the Bride…Our wedding theme revolved around the colors Coffee, Wood and Green Apple. These are all colors that reminded us of this great country, and joining together on the sand, under an open sky. We were very, very, very picky about our service providers – with the actual attitude of a company mattering just as much as the aesthetics of the event. Relatively simple meetings would turn into 5-hour conversations with companies like Arte Flor (the best Floral company in Costa Rica!). We didn’t want cheesy, overly melo-dramatic wedding photos, so we went with the coolest photographer who basically told us “just let me do what I do and you’ll like the result”. Cool. Sold. We chose a club DJ to do the music at our ceremony. And so on it went. From the smallest detail to big decisions like table settings, we went out of our way to choose something that reflected how unique – and overly picky – we both are.

Despite all this though, we realized that the most important thing for us was that our wedding was FUN. We set up a stand for people to get pipas (think coconuts), a photo booth for silly pictures, a fun lounge for the older attendees, burlap bags of lavender for people to throw half at us as we walked down the aisle and keep half for their baggage. We made everyone a jar of homemade Guava jam. The music started as soon as Mike walked down the aisle and didn’t stop until late at night. At around 10 o’clock we had a Costa Rican specialty – the Carnivale – where costumed dancers, drummers and trumpet players play Rumba music in the midst of the crowd. It got everyone out of their seats, and for the first time ever saw our mothers dancing like they were teenagers.

The weather was perfect. Sunny skies and a light breeze greeted guests throughout the day. Right as the Pastor began to speak the clouds opened to reveal a gorgeous sunset. Some guests even gasped. If we could give any advice to couples looking to get married, it’d be to handle as much yourself as you’re comfortable with, and then trust the people you hire. After all, you know better than anyone what your special day will look like, so fret the details but then as it gets close to the wedding day, relax. It’ll all go awesome. Also, don’t listen to anyone who cares more about selling you stuff than about the love you two share.

Finally, just know that it really is all worth it. As we lay in bed the morning after, slightly hungover but happy as can be, we smiled and said to each other “we did it.” We had gone through all the trials and tribulations a couple could go through: distance, difference of cultures, work issues, illnesses, money problems and still managed to have the perfect Wedding. Moving outside to the balcony we sat on our deck chairs and closed our eyes, the sound of the waves crashing against the beach in our ears. With a lot of work and a lot of help, we did it. 

Wedding Photography: Ale Sura Photo / Wedding Venue: Langosta Beach Club in Tamarindo, Costa Rica / Event Coordinator: Maria Eugenia Roldán from Costa Rica Destination Weddings / Floral Design: Art Flower / Cake +  Pastries: Victoria Zoch / DJ: Marcelo Matos / Wedding Dress: Kitty Chen Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Attire: Island Importers / Groom’s Shoes: Kenneth Cole

When you spend your days traveling the world, it only makes sense that you would land on the lovely paradise of Costa Rica as your wedding locale, an insanely beautiful country that makes for the prettiest of Big Days.  Especially when you are these two stunning sweethearts, who, with the help of Weddings Costa Rica, filled every last second with special details highlighting their globetrotting status, like gorgeous lanterns from India and dazzling crystals from Hong Kong.  Thank goodness Ale Sura Photo captured every moment, because this is a gallery you just can’t miss.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ale Sura Photo… Jennifer and Rodolfo’s wedding was a celebration of two cultures coming together in a huge celebration on the shores of Costa Rica. Talk about worldly! The couple are true globetrotters, exploring new countries whenever they can. As an international MBA student, Jen has studied in many exotic locales all over the world, and during her travels, she picked up a number of great additions to her wedding, such as the star lanterns from India and real crystal strands and sky lanterns from the markets in Hong Kong. But the piece de resistance had to be her custom-made cheongsam, created for her by the seamstress who has sewn clothing for her family since Jen’s childhood. Those funky tablecloths were a find at Anthropologie, and all the little airplanes that were seating cards and dance floor decor were painstakingly made by the bride and groom. The adorable cake topper was made by Jen’s brother and captured the joie de vivre of this outgoing couple. Family from Puerto Rico flew in for the fun and what fun! A crazy photo booth, thoughtful welcome bags, dancing galore and a high-energy comparse (carnival dancers and drummers) made this one wedding no one is sure to forget (or top!).

Wedding Photography: Ale Sura Photo / Wedding Venue: Hotel Sugar Beach in Playa Pan de Azucar, Guanacaste, Costa Rica / Wedding Coordination: Larissa Banting of Weddings Costa Rica / Floral Design: Florestieria Cristal / Wedding Cake: Sweet Constructions / Guitar Trio: Jorge Jaen Trio / DJ: DJ Levento / Rentals: Eventos Boadicea / Lawyer: Ana Castro / Hair: Xinia Chacon

Fair warning: this next wedding will leave you with an insane desire to jump on the next airplane to Costa Rica. We’re seriously loving the laid back, nature vibe this bride and groom created. Think intimate dinner by candlelight, surrounded by their closest friends and family. It really doesn’t get any better. Comfort Studio captured all the magical moments and you can see more right here. 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Robert and I have been together for a long time, and when we started to plan our wedding, we had three main goals: keep it small, bring our families together, and find a great destination. Our friends and family would be traveling from all ends of the world to attend, and location was sooo important to us. We love to travel, and Costa Rica was on our hot list to visit, so we figured why not make it our wedding destination?! One highlight was Villa Paraiso, the villa we rented for our immediate family to stay in and also our reception location. Waking up every morning to the breathtaking views of Tamarindo’s bay was worth the bumpy ride up a steep, dirty hill. The villa turned out to be the central meeting location for the week, and our friends and family came by to swim in the pool, enjoy a cocktail and relax around the open-air villa. Knowing how beautiful our reception site would be, we wanted our ceremony to be off-site and chose a small private farm with old, twisty trees and horses.Many couples travel to Costa Rica to get married on the beach, and we wanted to be different. Also, we wanted our guest to have a “local” Costa Rican experience. We chose a late afternoon ceremony so we could arrive back to the villa together and enjoy a beautiful sunset over hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and Brazilian music.  Robert and I loved looking around to see our friends and family dancing, dipping their feet in the pool, taking photos and making new friends.

As much as we love to travel, we also love to experience food, so we approached our reception as though we were throwing a dinner party at our home. Our wedding was meant to be small and intimate, thus we wanted everyone to be together to share the experience, moments and emotions of this day. We decided to create one long table setting with candlelight. Robert and I sat on opposite ends of the table so we could look across at one another, smile and watch everyone having the best time of their lives. We have the wonderful Julie Comfort to thanks for capturing the details and special moments of our day.

Our wedding was a success, and as our friends and family packed up for their journey back home, everyone asked, “When we can we do this again?!” As important as our wedding was for us, it was also important to bring everyone together and kick back in Costa Rica! 

Wedding Photography: Comfort Studio / Reception: Villa Paraiso in Tamarindo, Costa Rica / Event Planning: Four Winds Weddings & Events /  Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Save-the-Dates + Place Cards: Designed + Assembled by the Bride & Groom / Menus: Designed, Printed + Assembled by the Bride & Groom / Rentals: Eventos Artesanos /  Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal / Bride’s Jewelry: Family Heirlooms / Bride’s Shoes: Banana Republic + Custom Embellishments by the Bride / Engagement Ring: Designed by the Bride & Groom, Using the Bride’s Grandmother’s Stone / Groom’s Suit: Custom by Winston Co. in Hong Kong

Is there anything more romantic than a beachy destination wedding?  I mean, jetting off to paradise with your nearest and dearest, saying “I Do” seaside and frolicking in the sand post-nuptials can be pretty darn magical, don’t you agree?  Especially when that destination is the ever-amazing Costa Rica and that wedding is one planned and styled to absolute perfection by Tropical Occasions… that’s a romance-fest to the extreme.  Andi Hatch Photography captured every last moment between these lovebirds and it’s a day that is seriously brimming with pretty.  See even more in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Josh and I met almost 10 years ago in Boulder, Colorado, where we both attended college. We quickly became close friends and almost two years later, and after many platonic sleepovers, we officially transitioned from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. Over the years, travel and adventure have become a hallmark of our relationship. Our first trip together was to Costa Rica during our junior year in college. During this trip, we fell in love with the people and the “Pura Vida” lifestyle they embrace. Years later, when Josh wanted to propose, he appropriately decided to do it on a trip to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. For all these reasons, when we had to make the decision on where to get married, nothing conventional felt right. After much debate, we somehow convinced our amazingly supportive parents that the most appropriate place for us to be wed was the small town of Santa Teresa, on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.

Aside from the pristine beaches in Santa Teresa, one of the many reasons that we loved the idea of having our wedding there was that it would force the adventurer out of each of our guests. Most would end up taking one or more international flights, then a tiny puddle jumper followed by a one hour bumpy car ride along dirt roads to attend our wedding (and this was the easiest travel option available). Somehow we convinced 100 of our closest friends and family members to make the trek, and in retrospect, I think all would tell you that it was well worth the journey. At first, we didn’t really think how difficult it could be to coordinate vendors for a wedding in such a sleepy little town, but fortunately, through a series of coincidences, we stumbled upon Aimee and Anahi of Tropical Occasions and Santa Teresa Beach Weddings. By the end of the wedding I felt like they, along with Andi Hatch, our extraordinary photographer, who we managed to recruit all the way from my hometown of San Francisco, were part of our family. I always had a vision of what my dream wedding would look like but I never thought it would, or even could, be executed with such perfection. Aimee and Anahi literally transformed the space into my dream wedding – all of which required rentals, lighting, sound equipment and a range of other items to be transported from every corner of Costa Rica. Now that I more fully understand the complexity of what Tropical Occasions is able to pull off, I am literally left in awe of how they manage to do what they do and I am confident that they could both maintain a successful career in tactical operations.

The wedding was set on a large, densely forested, beachfront property with two homes. Guests entered the ceremony through Casa Java (a 200-year-old home imported piece by piece from Indonesia), the house where Josh’s family was staying. Just next door was Casa Capitan, the villa where my family lived and the eventual site of the wedding reception. When the time came, guests walked out to the beach from Casa Java, and we had a stunning sunset ceremony followed immediately by cocktails on the beach. After cocktails, instead of walking back up the path that they came down to get to the ceremony, guests began to walk up the sprawling sand walkway to Casa Capitan. Here we dined at two long tables under the stars — it was absolutely breathtaking. Once we finished dinner, guests made their way up to the pool area at the main house for dancing and dessert. This way, we kept guests moving and discovering new spaces at every turn (this was Aimee and Anahi’s idea). For dancing, we had an expat band out of Tamarindo. They played until 11 when we surprised guests with an incredible fireworks show on the beach – guests then returned to the pool deck at Casa Capitan for a DJ dance party that went late into the night.  By the end, the dance floor was swamped, and some ended up in the pool to cool off. We ended the night by inviting guests down for a bonfire on the beach with a little touch of back home – marshmallow s’mores! Throughout all of this, Andi moved seamlessly through the crowd, capturing every moment without anyone noticing.

Wedding Photography: Andi Hatch Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Capitan in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica / Event Design + Planning: Tropical Occasions / Floral Design: Stylos & Flores / Catering: Ono Cuisine / Lighting Design: Cabo Luna Event Rentals / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Yes, this is a destination wedding in Costa Rica, but no, you will not see even a single flip flop. It’s classically chic all the way, with the groom’s signature plaid woven throughout the day, planned & perfected by Weddings Costa Rica. And we could not love the whole she-bang (or the ridiculously adorable couple) more if we tried. Seriously. We’ve been sitting in the gallery from A Brit & A Blonde all day trying to love every perfect detail even more – and it’s not possible!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From the Groom … Teresa and I met in Dallas, TX on Match.com. Our first date was at Best Cellars, a wine bar. Cue butterflies, an awkward second date and thankfully an amazing third date. I’m kinda clutch like that. After we were officially GF and BF, we ended up moving to Austin, then Detroit and then back to Dallas over the course of three years. But by that time we got back to Dallas, the wine bar had closed and reopened as a bridal boutique. I took this as a pretty good sign that this was where I was supposed to propose to Teresa.

So on March 12th, 2011, after getting the manager at the boutique involved, I put my plan into action. I had the manager call Teresa and tell her that they had apprehended a customer trying to use her credit card number to purchase a wedding dress. They told her that she needed to get to the store immediately because the police were on their way and they needed her there to press charges. Teresa immediately rushed over straight from work.

But instead of finding a bumbling thief, all Teresa found was me with my guitar, an engagement ring, and a bottle of champagne. I serenaded Teresa with Frank Sinatra’s I Get A Kick Out of You, and as we wiped the tears away, I proposed.

From the bride … I had a friend who got married at Zephyr Palace a few years before we got engaged. After Robbie popped the question, we started talking about destination weddings. I remembered seeing her pictures on Facebook and I knew right away that this was where I wanted to get married. The venue by itself is just so grand and picturesque! The craziest part is we did the entire wedding sight unseen. Our wedding week was our first time to Costa Rica! Robbie was upset he didn’t get to do any tastings. He brings that up a lot.

I wanted an elegant wedding. Even though it was a destination wedding I didn’t feel like that meant it had to be on the beach! This girl wasn’t going to be seen wearing flip-flops on her wedding day. In fact, my color palate centered around my shoes. I knew that I wanted white orchids and lots of greenery to reflect the natural beauty of Costa Rica, but I needed to add a splash of color. So I went shoe shopping. I found the perfect pair (well 2 pairs) of magenta shoes from Stuart Weitzman. I bought the shoes before I bought the dress. You might say the shoes were the inspiration for the wedding style.

Groom …  I wear plaid everyday. Seriously. Ask around.

To say we had a few rough months before the wedding would be an understatement. Teresa’s Mom had just been diagnosed with stage 3 bone marrow cancer in December (she’s now in remission!). And just two months later, I lost my job. So we had been through the ringer before we even stepped foot in Costa Rica.

On top of all of that, those few months before the wedding, I was missing my Dad more than I ever thought possible. He passed away suddenly in 1996 and since then, I’ve always thought about what it would be like to not have him there. It was heartbreaking. So we included a dedication to him in our program and had two great photos of him on our escort card table. They were small touches, but they meant the world to me.

We also incorporated three Filipino wedding traditions into our ceremony. We exchanged a set of coins called the Arrhae. They’re basically considered a modern day version of a dowry. We also had a Cord and Veil ceremony. Both of which symbolize our commitment and unity as a couple.

Bride … One of my most vivid memories is when our photographers stole us away from our guests while the reception was in full swing so that they could get some nighttime pictures of us in front of the wooden door at Zephyr Palace. During the brief moment that we shared a kiss under the doorway, the whole world disappeared. I felt like we were the only people in existence. I have a lot of favorite photographs from the wedding, but that one’s the most memorable.

Photographer: A Brit and a Blonde / Location: Zephyr Palace / Coordinator: Larissa Banting of Weddings Costa Rica / Rentals: Eventos Boadicea / Flowers: Stylos y Flores / DJ: DJ Sky / Hair + Makeup: Xinia Chacon / String Trio: Alejandro Navarro / Lighting: Eventos Chano / Cake: Mariposa Pastry

Get ready to smile. Like cheeks hurting, teeth-flashing, ear-to-ear grin, because this cheer inducing Costa Rica celebration is as sweet + happy as they come! With a ceremony in a coconut grove and a reception held at the ever gorgeous Casa Batik, this yellow + grey fête gave photographers A Brit & A Blonde about a million opportunities for the breathtaking images they’re known for! Top it all off with a bride rocking head to toe BHLDN and I promise you’ll be grinning all the way to the gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From A Brit & A Blonde… Hilary and Kevin met in 2006 while both working for Neiman Marcus in Texas. Kevin was head of jewelry, and Hilary was head of lingerie. The sunny colour scheme for their big day was yellow and gray. The ceremony was held on the beach in a coconut grove. A handmade driftwood arch featured a yellow garland of sunflowers and gerberas (the yellow flowers in season). Guests were served during cocktail hour from a natural driftwood bar — local coconuts and Costarican rum make a nice refreshing drink for such hot weather. All the signs were hand painted on driftwood too. The reception was held at Casa Batik, and the garden of one of the houses was used for the dining area. The lighting was natural , and recycled jars were hung in the trees and bushes around the garden to create a magical ambience. The centerpiece was three white wooden boxes in different sizes with only yellow flowers (gerberas, sunflowers and billy buttons), which were placed on gray and yellow runners that overlapped each other. Simple yet so perfect. At the back of the garden there was a table for kids. In the center there were yellow flower pots full of crayons, glitter, glue and stickers — lots of arts and crafts for them to have fun with. The seating chart consisted of an old wooden ladder with the place cards attached with jute rope and clothespins. The lounge was cleared for the dance floor and featured Chinese lanterns in yellow and white. The table in the lounge was used to place the guest book and camera for guests to sign. The beyond-uber-cute flower girls wore J.Crew Crewcuts dresses. The program that doubled as a fan was designed by a friend of the couple. And Hilary’s dad’s company is the one that created those great customized beer koozies in yellow and gray. Hilary looked super gorge, and her whole outfit was found at BHLDN: dress, jewelry and shoes!

Wedding Photography: A Brit & A Blonde / Reception: Batik Costa Rica in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica / Event Design: Malpais Green Weddings / Floral Design: Floristeria Crystal / Officiant: Terri Zacanti / Catering: Soma Chef Services / Favors: Houston Advance / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Shoes: Chie Mihara via BHLDN / Bride’s Jewelry: BHLDN / Flower Girls’ Dresses: J.Crew Crewcuts / Groom’s Attire: Q Custom Clothier

What happens when the little girl who decided it was time to join this pretty world in a Lilly Pulitzer store (seriously… you have to read the story) grows up and gets married? Why, she invites her nearest and dearest to join her handsome hubby-to-be and her in sunny Costa Rica for a wedding with the style sense of Lilly. Captured by A Brit & A Blonde, this soiree is perfectly preppy in every way – which obviously means we can’t get enough of it. Good thing the gallery is packed with pink, green, love, and Pulitzer!

From A Brit & A Blonde … A destination wedding in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica full of lovely Lilly Pulitzer design and decor touches and inspiration. Liz & Tim said their I do’s with a little help from the Queen of Prep Lilly Pulitzer. In fact perhaps it was destined to be. Liz’s mom actually went into labour with baby Liz in a Lilly Pulitzer store! Incredible! And Lilly has been a constant staple in Liz’s wardrobe ever since! It was a natural fit to have Lilly Pulitzer amazing sense of style, flare for colour and florals be the big inspiration for her big day and fun destination wedding. They got married in sunny Costa Rica in wonderful Manuel Antonio. They chose an absolutely stunning villa called Casa Fantastica for the reception. And it certainly lives up to its name. It is gorgetastic. And the view is something to be seen. The wonderful fun green and pink colour palette was woven into all detail touch points throughout the wedding. And Lilly was seen in the bridesmaids dresses, jewelry, the men’s ties, the paper products, guest book and even on 25 out of 30 guests too! 

Photographer: A Brit & A Blonde / Event Planner: Oasis Weddings / Floral designer: Son Soles / Hair and Makeup: Hair by Monica / Reception venue: Casa Fantastica / Dress designer: Nicole Miller / Equipment Rental: Costa Mesa / Shoes, Jewelry, Men’s ties, bridesmaid dresses, guest book, paper products, most guests’ outfits: Lilly Pulitzer / Cupcakes: Mariposa Pastry

It’s impossible not to love this couple. When a bride asks the officiant if she can kiss her husband before THE kiss, it’s not only the cutest thing ever, but it’s a one way ticket into this bloggers heart. Their wedding in Costa Rica was beyond breathless. Captured forever in a super smile inducing film from Life Stage Films, this wedding has burrowed straight to the place in my heart which is reserved solely for cute brides in lace gowns on beautiful tropical beaches.

From Life Stage Films … There is nothing like a good destination wedding especially when it involves such a diverse group of extremely nice people.Albert & Courtney’s wedding was like no other I have experienced. From the moment we got there we were family and we could feel the excitement in the Costa Rican air. The weekend started off with a Yacht Party & Rehearsal Dinner surrounded my the majestic backdrop of Manuel Antonio.

But that night was just a warm up for what was next. The wedding day started calm as the bride & groom got ready at separate locations with their groomsmen and bridesmaids. Then the day started to speed up as the ocean front ceremony began. After that, a photo shoot on the beach, followed by dinner & tequila shots and then the BEST dancing I have ever seen at a wedding. The rest of the night was a huge party complete with masquerade masks and a great band. It was by far the best way to end Courtney & Albert’s wedding. I feel so privileged that I got to be a part of their wedding and that my camera was there to capture the blending of families, friends, & cultures.

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From the bride … Our relationship has never been conventional, and neither was our wedding! A few months after my husband and I met, I moved to London, England for graduate school. After a year of being oceans apart, I moved back to the U.S. but took an internship in New York City, while he remained with his job, and more importantly his daughters, in North Carolina. (Thank God for Skype!) While I was like most twenty-somethings and had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, I knew one thing for sure – that I wanted to be with Albert. So naturally, I proposed to him in Times Square. Sadly, he said no, but a few months later he caved and got down on one knee himself. And that’s how the wedding of our dreams came to fruition!

Choosing a location was an easy choice as Albert is Costa Rican, and my first big family vacation was to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. From the beginning we also knew we wanted to create an authentic Costa Rican experience for guests rather than just hosting a destination wedding. Ultimately, we decided to fly our wedding party down the Wednesday before and rented Casa Espanola, an amazing house in the rainforest, so we could all stay together. Casa Espanola was also the site for our welcome party on Thursday evening, where Albert’s family cooked some of their favorite “tico” cuisine and dancers put on a show before teaching all the “gringos” to salsa. Nothing helps break a language barrier like good food, tequila and salsa!

For our ceremony location, I chose Costa Verde Hotel’s pool because it is in the heart of the rain forest – iguanas and monkeys included! With the help of Samantha Kohn at Events & Weddings Costa Rica, I knew we could transform Costa Verde’s somewhat “lodgy” feel to a luxurious and exotic wedding venue. It was honestly shocking to see how amazing the pool area looked after Samantha and our florist, Carlos Gil, were done covering everything with white and purple orchids. The ceremony could not have been more perfect! I wore a gorgeous lace Monique Lhuillier gown, while Alb and his groomsmen wore custom suits. The view from the pool was breathtaking, and it was so special to hear Albert’s personal vows. My uncle married us, and as we took photographs, our guests enjoyed “pipas” (coconuts filled with cocktails) and listened to one of the best guitarists in the country, David Coto. The only thing missing was my grandparents who were unfortunately unable to make the trip, so we Skyped them in to watch the ceremony. (Once again, Skype saved the day!)

After cocktail hour, shuttles took guests to our reception site at Costa Verde’s event center where we were all seated for a served dinner. I wanted the feel to be relaxed and exotic, so we chose orange linens, bamboo chargers and huge centerpieces with tropical flowers. To kick off the party, we opted for tequila shots rather than a champagne toast, which turned out to be a huge hit! Our band, Marta y los del Barrio, got rave reviews from our guests as they mixed both American and Latino favorites, and those who weren’t dancing were enjoying hand-rolled cigars from our cigar roller. I have never seen my husband dance the way he did that night! We were both just so happy! We ended our perfect night with a “carnival” exit, equipped with masks, drums and limbo.

Our wedding week was truly “us”, and thanks to the fact that our favorite photographer, Jeremie Barlow, and videographer, Matt Davis at Life Stage Films, flew down to Costa Rica with us, we are reminded of how amazing it was every day.

Cinematography: Life Stage Films / Photography: Jeremie Barlow Photography / Second Shooter: Adam Gilbert / Designer + Planner: Samantha Kohn, Events & Weddings Costa Rica / Band: Marta y Los Del Barrio / Venue: Costa Verde Resort / Flowers: Eventos Carlos Gil / Cake: Victoria Zoch / Rentals: Costa Mesa

Picture this.  A glorious Costa Rica setting, a breathtaking barefoot ceremony and an amazing First Dance in the sand.  Sounds romantic, no?  Well, prepare yourselves, SMPers, because that’s just the beginning of the lovely coming to us straight from this gorgeous Manuel Antonio soiree.  I’m talking an adorable Mr. and Mrs., a lovely chiffon gown and the fab stylings of Supreme Weddings – all wrapped up in ah.mazing images captured by Amanda Megan Miller Photography.  Elegant, intimate and downright dreamy – the perfect destination day.  See it all here.

From Amanda Megan Miller Photography… Jamie and Kevin’s destination wedding in Costa Rica was such a magical occasion. From their Manuel Antonio beach ceremony to a barefoot first dance in the sand and the beautiful lanterns they sent off into the night sky at the end of their wedding, everything was so special and so very them. With 30 of their closest family and friends by their sides, Jamie and Kevin were married under a gorgeous canopy of white tulle, right on the beach. The invitations stated it was a barefoot wedding, and that it was! With their toes in the sand, a cool breeze blowing and the waves softly crashing on the sand, Jamie and Kevin promised to love each other forever. Before being pronounced as husband and wife, they invited all of their guests up to partake in a special ritual of putting a scoop of pretty, colored glass into a vase, that would be later made into a beautiful, hand blown-vase to remind them of all the love and support in their lives. Guests threw flower petals in celebration as they walked down the aisle. After a champagne toast, they made their way to the water’s edge as Dave Matthews’ “You and Me” began to play. A first dance on the beach, with the water gently lapping at their feet. It couldn’t possibly have been any more beautiful or touching!

Following their first dance on the beach, everyone headed back to La Mariposa for the reception. Guests watched the gorgeous sunset during cocktail hour before heading to the large table for dinner. (The staff had created a large square of the tables so all the guests could face each other and talk over dinner. And that they did, regaling stories of Jamie and Kevin and reminiscing.) After dinner, Jamie and Kevin treated their guests to music by a local Costa Rican band and dancing by some local dancers! Everyone got in on the fun and you could tell this was a night that none of their guests would ever forget! Finally, to cap off their magical wedding, Jamie and Kevin sent off illuminated sky lanterns into the night! Holding onto them together until they were ready to go up in the sky, their faces glowing by the light of the lantern, they were so blissfully and completely happy. Each married to their best friend, surrounded by all their favorite people in one of the most beautiful places in the world, creating once-in-a-lifetime moments! And this was just the beginning!

Wedding Photography: Amanda Megan Miller Photography / Ceremony: Manuel Antonio Beach in Costa Rica / Reception: La Mariposa Hotel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica / Event Design + Planning: Supreme Weddings / Wedding Invitations: J.O. Design / Wedding Dress: Unknown Designer

When you’re from Canada and you love the beach, it makes total sense to head down to Costa Rica when it comes time to say your I Do’s. And that’s exactly what this couple did. The bride rocked a beyond gorgeous Claire Pettibone dress and added loads of vintage charm to her big day. A Brit & A Blonde joined them and snapped up tons of pretty images and there’s way more right here in the full gallery.

From A Brit & A Blonde… Jacqueline and Chuck are from a small town in Ontario and said their I do’s on the beaches of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Their day was truly gorgeous. Jacqueline is a classic beauty and has a love of all things vintage. Pride & Prejudice is Jacqueline’s fave movie — she brought that essence to the look and feel of her big day. From her beyond-beautiful Claire Pettibone dress to candelabras and picture perfect flowers and parasols — the day brims with amazing inspiration for vintage-loving brides.

Wedding Photography: A Brit & A Blonde / Reception Venue: Villas Hermosas in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica / Event Planning: Liquid Weddings / Catering: Soma Chefs / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone “Cloissonne”

If you’ve been dreaming about what a beach wedding in Costa Rica may look like, you’re certainly in for a treat this morning! Thanks to Carla Ten Eyck Photography who captured the gorgeous work of this fab dream team that included Datura: A Modern Garden, Jubilee Events, Metal Mermaid Press and The White Dress by the Shore we get to bask in all the beauty that is this colorful and oh-so-beautiful day at the beach. Click here for even more!

Don’t miss out on this gorgeous film by Vintage Cinema:

From Candice Coppola of Jubilee Events… Our inspiration for this shoot was bright, bold colors and the traditional Costa Rican oxcart wheel (as mentioned by Tony below). We wanted to do something fun and different on the gorgeous beaches of Costa Rica and brought in wooden elements, bold colors, sparkling jewels and a big ball gown. I think that often, couples feel like they need to think of their destination beach wedding as something either tropical or nautical. Our shoot proves that you can indeed get married on the beach with an entirely different vibe in a beautiful, big dress! Some of my favorite elements are the bright paper, the gorgeous bouquets of local flowers with metal threads intertwined, and the simply gorgeous Anne Barge gown!

From Tony Palmieri of Datura: A Modern Garden… I just love the inspiration for this shoot: the traditional Costa Rican oxcart wheel with its bright colors and complex patterns. The complexity of the paper designed for the tablescape dictated a simplistic approach to the floral element, so using a native branch and a few suspended bubble vases, I created a mobile-inspired centerpiece using a few anthurium blooms. The bouquets are comprised of all native flowers harvested from the area around the beach and given a bit of sparkle with some metallic floss. For me, this shoot is the epitome of the Costa Rican concept of “pura vida” with its relaxed feel and whimsical touches.

From Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the Shore… When selecting the fashion for the beach shoot, it was all about fluidity and color! We selected lightweight, airy wedding gowns that blew in the beach breeze. The vibrant colors in the bridesmaids’ dresses and jewels were inspired by the Costa Rican oxcart, a symbol of Tico tradition, and all of the glorious colors in the flowers, ocean and landscape.

From Josh Bryant of Metal Mermaid Press… At Metal Mermaid, we are always trying so see what new territory exists in the art of fine paper. We were extremely excited to break out of the box and work with such an exciting palette and shapes inspired by Costa Rican oxcarts. We created a suite of paper combining bright giclée printing and formal letterpress elements. Inspired by the creative folks at Jubilee, we pushed the paper envelope and created hanging paper escort card mobiles. It was such a breath of fresh air!

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Los Suenos Resort in Costa Rica / Event Design + Planning: Candice Coppola of Jubilee Events / Floral Design: Datura: A Modern Garden / Fashion Styling: Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the Shore / Cinematography: Vintage Cinema / Invitations: Metal Mermaid Press / Furniture + Event Rentals: Eventos Boadicea / Linens: Resource One Inc. / Wedding Dress with Ball Gown: Anne Barge / Wedding Dress with Layered Ruffles: Amy Kuschel / Beauty: DD Nickel / Bridal Earrings: Haute Bride + Maria Elena / Feather Headpiece: Couture for The White Dress by the Shore / Colorful Earrings with Yellow Dress: DK Designs for The White Dress by the Shore / Headband: Maria Elena

Planes, trains and automobiles didn’t stop this next couple from reaching their adventurous, yet romantic wedding by Paul Vincent. Between fun activities of morning yoga sessions, ocean fishing, horseback riding and a hilltop groom’s dinner, this beautiful couple shared an earth ceremony at the Beija Flor Resort in Mal Pais, Costa Rica that they, along with their guests, will remember forever {and I think I will too!}. Keep the adventure going and click here for more!

From Paul Vincent… Jen is from Minneapolis and Ezequiel is from Argentina. They wanted their families to meet each other on new ground, so they decided to meet in the middle and get married in Costa Rica! Also, the wedding gave them a great excuse to plan an amazing adventure — and adventure they did! Just getting to the small coastal town of Mal Pais requires a plane, bus, ferry and taxi ride. Most guests spent the week before or after traveling throughout Costa Rica and Central America. Among these adventurers was the groom’s best man, who despite having never been outside Argentina stayed afterwards for another two weeks! It’s safe to say that friends and family will never forget the experience of Jen and Ezequiel’s wedding.

The wedding was hosted at Beija Flor Resort in Mal Pais, Costa Rica. The resort staff filled the role of wedding planners, organizing and hosting the wedding and reception. The plan was to have the ceremony poolside but sticking with their adventurous natures, Ezequiel and Jen rolled with the punches as the staff surprised them with a last-minute location change to a mountain top overlooking the ocean. Yes — it was as beautiful as you are picturing in your head right now! To get to the new location, Range Rovers had to be hired to ferry all the guests up the steep, primitive roads. Not only did the resort provide a one-of-a-kind ceremony, they went above and beyond for the reception, arranging everything from the gift basket favors and flowers to floating arrangements and table decor.

The details were really never ending. The photos highlight it more than any words can describe, but the short list includes: Costa Rican treats and gift baskets, morning yoga sessions, ocean fishing, horseback riding on the beach, a hilltop groom’s dinner, beautiful flower arrangements and bouquets, chalk board seating charts, and an earth ceremony. The earth ceremony was unique and moving, as instead of a lighting a unity candle the couple combined soil from Argentina and Minnesota to symbolize their union!

Wedding Photography: Paul Vincent / Wedding Venue, Planning + Accommodations: Beija Flor Resort in Mal Pais, Costa Rica / Wedding Dress: J.Crew “Taryn” / Bride’s Shoes: Forever 21 / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

I’m having a moment. Rarely am I rendered speechless but this wedding has done the trick! We simply must give a big round of applause to Comfort Studio who has captured the picturesque setting of this wedding to a “T.”  I adore how the couple used lace to dress their reception tables and opted for simple touches of rose petals in the sand for the ceremony. Looking at this destination not only make me want to visit Costa Rica stat, but I want this couple to take me there.  Let the waves take you over to the gallery for more along with the film of the day by Jonathan Yonkers below. Enjoy!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/23411039 600 337]

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Aimee Monihan of Tropical Occasions… Katie, a dermatologist, and Will, a professional poker player and wrestling coach, met at university and had an instant connection. Since they were both athletes and very committed to their sports (she a swimmer and he a wrestler) they instantly had their athleticism in common. As their friendship blossomed into a romance, they began to share the passion of surfing. They soon had a yearly surfing trip they took together to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where they could both unwind from their busy lifestyles and just be with one another in a place they both loved, doing a sport that had brought them closer together. When Will made matters official and asked Katie for her hand in marriage, it was a very easy conversation about where to host the wedding. They decided on Costa Rica, the place where they celebrated their relationship and where they always felt the most relaxed and happy.

When Katie set out to find professional help, she decided on Tropical Occasions. One phone call with owner Aimee Monihan affirmed she would be able to create the perfect wedding experience for her and Will while incorporating their love of surfing and Costa Rica. Katie chose the beautiful venue of Reserva Conchal and their private beach club to host the big day. She loved that the fun and hip town of Tamarindo was close by, so she and Will could share with all their friends the things they loved to do while visiting their each year. The design and plans developed with a crisp palette of white and navy blue with accents of pale pink and yellow. The ceremony took place on the beach with the beautiful waves crashing behind the altar. After the ceremony, tropical cocktails were served as guests watched the sun set into the Pacific and the surfers in the group admired the nice long left in front of them. The reception was a mix of country club chic with an elegant table dressed in lace overlays and romantic flowers with whimsical touches. The reception included sunglasses for all guests, as well as a cigar bar, and the night ended with an amazing fireworks show.

Wedding Photography: Katherine Stinnett of Comfort Studio / Wedding Venue: Reserva Conchal in Guanacaste, Costa Rica / Event Design + Planning: Tropical Occasions / Floral Design: Stylos & Flores / Wedding Cinematography: Jonathan Yonkers / Wedding Cake: Victoria Zoch / Lighting: Calidad a Tiempo / Furniture Rentals: Costa Mesa / DJ: Costa Rica Wedding DJ / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair + Makeup: Diego Alfarro / Rehearsal Dinner Location: Mar y Sol Restaurante

This picturesque wedding at San Jose El Viejo is no photo shoot: it only looks that way because the bride and groom are both wedding photographers, and SMP junkies! Don’t worry, they didn’t attempt to photograph their own wedding. Davina + Daniel shot every antique lantern, glass globe, and sepia stained stucco wall with perfection as the couple married and partied among Spanish Colonial ruins. You simply must see the breathtaking sunset setting and the bride’s almond tinged Amsale gown in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Lionel and I are wedding photographers, so naturally, an incredibly picturesque location was a high priority. We found our “holy grail” in Antigua, Guatemala – a Spanish colonial town filled with brightly painted buildings, cobblestone streets, remarkable ruins, and surrounded by volcanoes. 41 guests joined us for the charm, beauty, adventure, love and laughter that was our wedding week. My family is from California and Lionel’s is from Maryland. It was important to us that our loved ones connect and get to know each other. To that end, we organized “The Amazing Race: Antigua” and sent them to our favorite spots in town to complete tasks. They salsa danced, made chocolate bars, tasted strange ice cream flavors, learned a Spanish phrase and negotiated in the market. The race ended at our welcome reception where everyone bonded over stories of their adventures.  It really set the tone for a fun-filled and relaxed time together. Over the remaining days, we enjoyed first class cuisine (truly!), a volcano hike, live Cuban music, lots of shopping and walking.

Our wedding ceremony, set in the garden of an old ruined convent, was both breathtaking and meaningful. Afterwards, guests rode a chicken bus (brightly painted school bus) to the ruins of an old church where we celebrated the night away. I am a big Style Me Pretty follower and a DIY girl, but I had to settle on just a few items to bring and a limited number of craft projects. It was difficult to hand over the reins to a local, but with a destination wedding, I knew I had to. I sent the decorator screenshots from Style Me Pretty to give him a sense of what I wanted — neutral colors (peach, gray, cream, tans, and browns), lots of wood, burlap, rustic elements, vintage items, a hand-crafted look that wasn’t too perfect or matchy. He was brilliant — I was blown away by the results!  Everything was even better than I had imagined.

One of our most frequently asked questions was, “Who is going to photograph your wedding?!” We found Davina + Daniel on Style Me Pretty, and we are over the moon about our choice. Not only did they rock our portraits – extraordinary pieces of art! – but they also captured the most precious and outrageous moments in a way that brought us to tears and then had us laughing out loud. They managed to create the perfect blend of arty and meaningful imagery that takes us right back to our beautiful day and beyond. To top it off, our families adopted them, they provided invaluable advice and support, and they even completed one of my craft projects for me! Truly outstanding human beings. We could not have imagined or asked for more.

Wedding Photography: davina + daniel / Ceremony: El Convento de las Capuchinas in Antigua, Guatemala / Reception: San Jose El Viejo in Antigua, Guatemala / Floral Design + Decor: Mario Ayala of Escenica / Wedding Planning: Diana Sciarrillo of I Do, Guatemala / Catering: El Convento Boutique Hotel / Gelato Bar: Primo de Roma / Wedding Cake + Camera Cake Pops: Granny Gail / Wedding Dress: Amsale “Dahlia” via Hitched Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Matiko + DIY Ribbon / Bride’s Earrings: Kanupriya Jewelry via Sassanova / Bride’s Bracelet: DIY by Her Mother / Groom’s Custom Suit: Indochino / Groom’s Shoes: To Boot New York / Groom’s Tie: Wood Thumb / Antigua Accomodations: El Convento Boutique Hotel + Casa Capuchinas / Lake Atitlan (Post-Wedding) Accomodation: La Casa Colibri

I’m totally convinced that Costa Rica is one of the coolest destinations for a super fun, super relaxed wedding like this one by Ale Sura Photo. And this outdoor loving couple is convinced too. They chose this gorgeous beach location because of its lack of big, high rise hotels and, of course, the amazing surf. Their guests enjoyed a totally relaxed, totally eco-friendly, totally gorgeous day and I promise I’m only a tad bit jealous. Click here to see even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ale of Ale Sura Photo… Even with their super-busy schedules, this couple of doctors are traveling fans. From the coolest weather to the Caribbean they just love having adventures, practice surfing, snowboarding, horseback rides, river kayaking and anything else you can think of. It was more than appropriate for them to find a little hidden paradise like Nosara to tie the knot. If I had to think on a phrase that describes their style and theme I would have to say “The good life.” Every single detail in this wedding evoked this feeling — I mean, what else comes to mind when you see a sunset in Costa Rica, beer holders, a yummy pig roast, surfboards and cigars?

From the bride and groom… Nosara is a small jewel we’ve found located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Northwest Costa Rica. The actual town of Nosara (where the locals live) is set back from the beach, but the “gringo” center is around Playa Guiones. Nosara is touted as “eco-friendly” with a 300 foot perimeter of protected jungle along the edge of the beach. We love Nosara because it lacks the big hotels and high-rises of explosive, unplanned development that has plagued other Costa Rican towns. Also, the waves here can get very large but are also very gentle and rolling … a great place for beginners to learn to surf (basically, I, as a beginner, can catch waves here, and Mike, an expert, can have lots of fun too)!

Wedding Photography: Ale Sura Photo / Wedding Venue: Tierra Magnifica in Nosara, Costa Rica / Flowers + Wedding Coordination: Nina Arias of Nosara Weddings & Events / Wedding Cake: Creative Cakes by Jessica

Well, we’ve lived through the first week of 2012, and if the gorgeous affairs we’ve been spending the week with are any hint of what’s to come (they are) this is going to be one fantastic year. Filled with love, laughter, happiness, and of course, beautiful weddings. So before we send you out into your weekend, we’ve got a fresh, light, and oh-so-beautiful engagement sesh straight from Costa Rica, courtesy of Ale Sura Photography to get you excited for the year. See you Monday morning LBBers! xoxo

Photography by Ale Sura Photography, click here for more!

The wedded week at a pretty little glance:

a beautifully bright New Jersey beach wedding
a California rehearsal dinner with a Shakespeare in Love touch
a romantic, pretty, chic, and perfect Tennessee soiree
a moody and quirky St. Louis affair that is so beautiful
a Colorado fête with the perfect amount of romance
a Pennsylvania wedding filled with so much beautiful emotion
a wedding so beautiful, it’s almost hard to believe in California
a double feature in Portland – stunning Western & Cambodian weddings
a fabulous contemporary soiree in Washington

Some links we are totally lovin’ from around the web:

an fantastic watercolor-inspired wedding via Once Wed
a perfect palette to the tune of pink & gold via The Sweetest Ocassion
a gorgeous and soft soiree via One Lovely Day

Costa Rica is quickly becoming one of my favorite destination wedding locations… and with insanely gorgeous affairs like this one captured by the oh-so-fabulous A Brit & A Blonde filling my computer screen, it’s downright impossible not to head over heels in love with this Central America wonderland.  Yes, the gorgeous inspiration is pouring from every nook and cranny of this stunning affair… and so are the breathtaking views.  Plus, with moment after moment of sweet, sweet details, the pretty will literally fill your entire afternoon… and more.  Click here for all of the lovely.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From A Brit & A Blonde… Chelsey and Dylan are probably the raddest and most chilled out couple we have ever worked with. Dylan is a musician and Chelsey is a yoga instructor and they live in LA. They have been together for over a decade, gotta love that. Neither of them had ever been to Costa Rica but they are adventurous types and wanted something different. So they chose amazing Manuel Antonio for their big day.

The whole vibe was a hippie love bird type feeling. Which goes perfectly with their relaxed style and Costa Rica as the back drop. Their day started off chillaxing in the beyond awesome villa that they rented in Manuel Antonio: Casa de Las Brisas. And then the girls headed over to Si Como No Resort Spa & Wildlife Refuge to get all beautified and this is where the ceremony and reception would take place as well.

Si Como No is such an amazing venue – their view and grounds are out of this world. Plus they are extremely eco-conscious and have received a 5 Green Leaves rating for their sustainability efforts – the highest you can get. So we love ‘em even more for that! Did I mention they also have a butterfly garden right across the street that you just have to see to believe how magical it is? Totally Alice in Wonderland. So of course we had to take them there for some fab photos.

Since Dylan is a musician – music was an important part of their wedding – obvs! His best man is in the band Hoobastank. As a sort of nickname Dylan is also known as Bob – as in Bob Dylan – when I saw the sign her friends created that said Congrats Chelsey and Bob – I had to ask who the heck is Bob? Chelsey’s sister is an opera singer and blew us all away with her incredible voice during the ceremony. The ceremony music was all Beatles based – fab touch. As Chelsey walked down the aisle their friend Tim, who also happens to be a Grammy award winner for a song he co-wrote with Jason Mraz (ridic right!) played “Stand by Me” on the guitar. And there was a full on dance-off that would put the walk-off scene in Zoolander to shame.

Chelsey’s bridesmaids knew that the whole vibe was hippie chic and found the really unique yellow flowy cute bridesmaid dresses and then Chelsey found super cool earrings and feather necklace and cool ring bauble to top off the look. Her details were super cute but did not break the bank at all. Her shoes which were super cute were less then $40. Crazy. Her fun hair accessory was from Target! Who knew! The guys also had great style, topped off with the customary Vans.

Chelsey and Dylan have a great sense of humor – so for the seating cards with LoveBirds, instead of just writing each person’s name – they wrote the nicknames they have for them. Which was really cute especially because they have hilarious nicknames for everybody. But it really gave it that personal touch and the guests loved it. They had the lovebirds on their wedding program and on top of the cake as well.

Since their 2 babies (their dogs) were not able to make the journey down to Costa Rica – Chelsey made 2 little love birds out of origami which she put in her weddings dress (that’s right her dress had pockets, gotta love that!). That way even though they were not there with them, they were represented still which was super sweet.

Wedding Photography: A Brit & A Blonde / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jen’s Pirate Booty / Bridesmaid Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Bridesmaid Feather Earrings, Necklaces + Rings: Sam Moon / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Make Me Chic / Hair Accessory: Target / Groom’s Suit + Shoes: Macy’s / Groomsmen Outfits: Milanoo / Groomsmen Shoes: Vans / Bird Seat Cards: Timeless Paper / Wedding Program: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Venue: Si Como No Resort / Accommodations: Casa de Las Brisas

Having a destination wedding in Costa Rica is sure to pack on beautiful views and lovely cultural traditions and that is double with today’s gorgeous feature shot by Katherine Stinnett of Comfort Studio. Every image is swimming in loads of fab details crafted by Tropical Occasions
and these beauties are ever so smitten-worthy. From the baby’s breath seating cards right on through to the kissing hammock, we’re slapping those babies in our Favorites folder. (Side note: It is just a regular hammock but the Bride and Groom ARE kissing in it so today, we’re calling it such. Deal?) Cozy on up to the gallery for lots more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…My DIY projects for the wedding were the invites and thank you cards, the table escort cards, the frames with the table names, and the biggest job was the magnets. I made those from beads and random jewelry pieces. They were made in honor of my mother-in-law, who loves to collect magnets whenever she travels. I thought they would be a nice gift for our guests to remember the Costa Rica wedding they attended. I wanted them to look a bit like brooches, and I thought they would be pretty on the table settings. I am OBSESSED with terrariums right now, so one of my favorite details of the wedding were the glass jars with the orchids in them. Tropical Occasions really made that happen for me! Aimee’s vision for the wedding was perfect for Mario and I…her inspiration was Cartagena. Very romantic, and true to us because the first time Mario took me to Colombia, we stayed in Cartagena. She suggested the Senor and Senora chair decorations, which I ordered from Etsy. I also mentioned that I love baby’s breath (which I was a little embarrassed to admit, because it always makes me think of cheesy 80’s wedding), but she made the flowers so fresh and modern.

Mario and I moved to Albuquerque at the same time, back in 2006. His job brought him here, and my pediatric residency did the same. We met about a year later through friends. They arranged for us to be dance partners in a salsa class. We’ve been together ever since. Although I always have to mention that we still can’t salsa dance. I knew pretty early on in our relationship that Mario would be a great husband. He took care of me during my pediatric residency in a way that no one ever has. I knew he loved me when he fixed my broken car window (after someone had broken it early one morning to take the CD player), drove it to the hospital so that I would have it to drive home after my shift, and then walked home. He always made sure I was OK. And the fact that he is hilarious and a beautiful singer is just icing on the cake.

I knew the engagement was coming up, because Mario is a planner and he asked me what type of ring I would like. That being said, he still wanted to surprise me, which he certainly did. I came home from work one Saturday, put on some grubby clothes and we watched TV until I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up, he told me that he put together a slideshow on his new iPad. This is classic Mario…he is a computer nerd to the max. I didn’t suspect anything because he had just gotten the iPad and was trying out all the new features. He named the presentation “Oh, the places we will go”, and put together all of the places we’ve talked about visiting in the future. At the end of the slideshow, it was a picture of Albuquerque. He then started to talk about how it’s not just where we’ll go, but when we will start our adventure. He then had an “X” on the screen and he said something like “X marks the spot”, and when he touched the screen, the “X” traveled to the edge of the screen, where he pulled out the ring that he had been holding the whole time. He then got down on his knee and asked me to marry him.

That is one reason we chose Costa Rica…Mario came up with the idea and really felt that it would be symbolic of our commitment to travel. Also we really wanted an intimate, personal ceremony. There was family pressure to get married in Colombia and there was pressure to get married in the states. We had never been to C.R., but we had only heard great things and felt we couldn’t go wrong. (Boy, were we right!) We chose May 24th as our date because my grandparents (both deceased) got married on that date. They were married for 60+ years and had a huge family. We both wanted to honor our grandparents and family that day, so I carried my other grandmother’s rosary with the bouquet and Mario had his great grandmothers rosary (his GGM passed in January). We had “Tita”, his grandmother say one of the readings during the ceremony (on an iPad; Mario was very proud). Our friend, Teresa Vigil, married us. It was her first wedding and she was able to do it in Spanish and English. Perfect for our guests.

The song that Mario sang was a surprise to me. He sang the song from Juno…it’s a Barry Louis Polisar song…”All I want is You”. That was my favorite moment because I LOVE it when he sings and plays the guitar. The harmonica was new…I had never seen him play before! It was such a beautiful day, from start to finish. I hope I never forget that feeling when I saw the church with the open doors, and the flowers hanging down from the ceiling, and I could feel our family’s and friend’s love and positive energy. It was overwhelming (thus the crying that took place, glad I was able to pull it together for a little bit). Such a sweet moment. I ADORE the pictures Katie took because even though I could feel everyone’s presence, the only face I saw the whole time I was in the chapel was Mario.

Wedding Photography: Katherine Stinnett of Comfort Studio / Event Design + Planning: Tropical Occasions / Floral Design: Stylos y Flores / Location: JW Marriott Guanacaste / Lighting: Cabo Luna Event Rentals / DJ: Costa Rica Wedding DJ / Ceremony Music: Josh Hoke / Rentals: Costa Mesa / Stylist: Fernando Hidalgo Fallas / Carriage: Hacienda Pinilla / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Veil: Bridal Ambiance / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew / Ties: Cyberoptix Tie Lab / Chair Decorations: My Primitive Boutique

I’ve never been to Costa Rica, but if this stunning soiree by Sara Kauss Photography is any indication, I need to make plans to visit ASAP.  Boasting some of the most gorgeous views I have ever seen, the prettiest of yellow hues and some very stunning calla lily centerpieces by Costa Brava Weddings & Events, this casual, yet elegant affair is all kinds of perfect.  Plus, there’s a cupcake tower and that’s always a good thing.  Yes, prepare yourselves for a whole lot of lovely and join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Tacho and I met quite unexpectedly in August of 2006.  Born and raised in Indiana, I had been relocated the summer before to LA with my job as a Branch Manager for a supply chain solutions company.  I hardly expected to stay in California more than a couple years, yet on August 4th Tacho, an Engineer with Downey Fire, entered my place of work to conduct the annual fire inspection, and I met my future husband.

After the ring was permanently on place on my left hand, we got busy trying to decide where we wanted to get married.  Choosing a destination wedding was one of the easiest decisions we’ve made!  The decision fit us both perfectly for different reasons.

We are both excited to give our immediate family and closest friends the opportunity to celebrate with us for an entire week.  Tacho being the social butterfly and life of the party couldn’t be more happy to have an entire week to party with everyone.  I’m happy we were able to plan an intimate ceremony and afford a reception that all of our guests will enjoy and hopefully remember for a lifetime!  What better way to build lifelong memories than exploring the jungle in Costa Rica!

Wedding Photography: Sara Kauss Photography / Wedding Planning, Lodging + Ceremony Location: CR Luxury Vacation Rentals & Tours / Flowers + Decorations: Carol Bikker of Costa Brava Weddings & Events / Wedding Catering + Reception Venue: Adventure Dining