So what is it that makes Costa Rica weddings so popular? It could be that everyone wants to get married in a location that is extraordinary, but then again what makes Costa Rica so special?
How about being one of the most beautiful countries in the world? How about a place that has everything from stunning and isolated beaches to lush rainforests to towering volcanoes to forests that hover in the midst of the clouds? Costa Rica has it all. Whatever type of beautiful natural setting you desire; Costa Rica Weddings has what you are looking for.
Regardless of whether you want a small, intimate, gathering or to get married in front of hundreds of people, Costa Rica allows you to have the wedding you have always wanted. If you can dream it, Costa Rica can deliver it - and I've seen enough smiling couples to know it's true.
Why not get married in paradise?
Important Decisions for Costa Rica Weddings
Once you have decided upon a Costa Rica wedding, there are several more decisions that you need to make. There are many wedding planners or wedding planning companies in Costa Rica that can help you with organizing your Costa Rica wedding. Alternatively, many larger resorts like the Four Seasons or Allegro Papagayo have staff able to help make arrangements. Both of these options are a good idea. I speak pretty decent Spanish but I still wouldn’t plan a wedding without local help.
By hiring a wedding planner you are saving yourself a great deal of time by not having to hunt down photographers, a lawyer to draw up documents, music, flowers, someone to conduct the ceremony, etc. Many of the wedding planners offer packages ranging from $500-1000 for a basic ceremony and documents, up to $2000-4000 for packages including photography, videography, flowers, massages, a sailing cruise and more.
Packages at all inclusive resorts range about the same, from $1000-3000 for around 16-20 guests. Prices obviously range according to the quality of the resort, with the Four Seasons probably being the top end with even higher prices along with other Five Star resorts being constructed around the Gulf of Papagayo.
First though, you need to decide what type of wedding you want to have. Do you envision an isolated beach with just those few people closest to you and your fiancée? Or, do you see a wild party with flowing drinks and everyone you have ever met?
Another great option is on one of the many catamarans that service the Pacific coast. These can be booked independently or through resorts that often have partner companies offering sailboats. In Playas del Coco I even worked on a giant, double-decker power catamaran that could accommodate 80 people. Costa Rica weddings can cater to all, but first you need to decide which one is for you.
The next question is: what type of scenery do you have in mind? Are you a beach person? Do you long to say your vows just as the sun is sinking into a suddenly iridescent Pacific Ocean? In this case the Nicoya Peninsula is your best bet. Or, perhaps you long to begin your new life just as the sun rises gloriously from the Caribbean? Puerto Viejo suits this dream, though luxurious accommodations will be in shorter supply here.
Costa Rica weddings offer both coasts and a range of other options for you to choose from. To name a few, you can get married in the midst of the rainforest, upon a mountain wreathed in clouds, in a colonial church (there’s a pretty one in La Fortuna) or, slightly more riskily, from the top of an active volcano.
All these and more are at your finger tips with Costa Rica weddings. The only important question is which one is perfect for you. If you bring the dream, Costa Rica will bring the reality.
Getting Married in Costa Rica: An Affordable Option
One side affect of people’s desire to have the perfect wedding is that typical weddings have become more and more expensive. Costa Rica weddings are the exception. In addition to the amazing natural scenery and the incredible range of locations to choose from, the price of a wedding in Costa Rica is one of its major attractions.
It might seem as though it would be more expensive to get married in Costa Rica as you need to pay for airfare and accommodation, but that is not the case. What you save hosting an event in Costa Rica easily balances these costs out.
Although not as inexpensive as other Central American countries, Costa Rica is more developed than its neighbors and significantly less expensive than the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. Flowers, entertainment, venues, food and more are all at cut-rate prices compared to home.
Furthermore, weddings abroad tend to be smaller than weddings close to home, which saves you a significant amount of money. Try whittling down your list to real essential guests. A wedding abroad helps avoid having to invite (and pay for) guests like your boss, co-workers, neighbors, and others who may not really be that close to you.
Also, traveling to Costa Rica is easier and less expensive than you might imagine. There are 22 direct flights from the United States to Costa Rica, most of which cost between 300 and 600 dollars. Obviously, it would be more expensive from the United Kingdom, but there are direct flights available. What’s more, you can arrange a group travel rate, as there are various travel agencies that can cut you a break on airfare for a large group. If airfare is still an issue, try telling guests to forgo presents in favor of attending your Costa Rica wedding.
Costa Rica allows you to get married in a land straight out of your dreams and forge a lasting memory, in the midst of stunning natural beauty, that you will never forget. All for less than it would cost for you to get married at home.
Your Costa Rica Honeymoon is Built-in!
Another benefit of Costa Rica weddings is that you can naturally transition into a Costa Rica honeymoon. As one of the premier honeymoon destinations in Central America, love just seems to blossom here. Believe me, I saw enough romances develop in a year to think that the tap water in Costa Rica contains an aphrodisiac. If that’s not enough, try the seafood soup served in almost every coastal village. Locals claim it’s better than Viagra, and judging by the smiles of my friends after eating, I’m pretty well convinced.
Escape from the Ordinary
Costa Rica weddings have everything that you need for your wedding to be the one of a kind event that will be talked about amongst your friends for years and years to come. Most people get married at a local church or hall; wouldn’t you like your wedding to be different?
Do you want to get married in an ordinary place that you see everyday or in the midst of some of the most stunning scenery on the planet? Costa Rica weddings offer the chance for you to do something different, something off the beaten path, something extraordinary. It is not everyone who gets to have the wedding of their dreams. Are you one of them?
