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.
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
Ale Sura Photo and
Artflower are members of our Little Black Book, Love what you see? Take a look at their portfolios.
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Badgley Mischka is a member of our Look Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.
