by riley | Mar 16, 2021 | Wedding
Although summer has officially come to an end, we can’t get enough of Jessica and Kadia’s dreamy Costa Rica wedding at Dreams Las Mareas. The couple brought minimalistic elegance to life using a soft color palette, an abundance of florals and greenery, and a reception set under the stars.
The couple kept many details simple, but they didn’t shy away from adding some glam to the day. The two both wore fitted beaded wedding dresses and some seriously cool bridal jumpsuits. And did we mention that Kadia surprised Jessica with fireworks during their first dance? Now that’s a surprise to remember.
Ready to see an opulent ceremony amongst the palm trees, a stunning beach photoshoot, and a romantic sparkler exit? Then keep scrolling! We have a feeling you’re going to love the photos captured by Junebug member Raw Shoots Photography.
The Couple:
Jessica and Kadia
The Wedding:
Dreams Las Mareas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Picking Dreams Las Mareas in Costa Rica
We travel a lot and wanted to get married in one of the countries we first visited as a couple. Costa Rica was the country we fell in love with as we fell deeper in love with each other. We had three locations in mind for where we wanted to get married. A year before our big day, we planned to fly to Costa Rica to check these places out, but plans changed when Kadia had to fly to another country for work—where she would be for three months! We didn’t want to cancel the trip to CR so Jessica went on her own, documenting all of the places she went and video calling Kadia at all hours. Once we reviewed the locations, we sat internationally on Skype from Costa Rica and London to pick our top choice. We each wrote our top choice and after a countdown, we showed each other the location we’d picked. Eventually, we started screaming when we realized we had picked the same one.
Breaking Traditions For Their Ceremony
Before getting married, we’d always said we never wanted to walk down a traditional aisle. We wanted to meet each other halfway. So we walked down two beautiful stone staircases that were parallel to each other. And we saw one another at the same time before meeting at the altar. We had a live band that played an acoustic version of our favorite songs and didn’t have assigned seating. We picked out the style of our alter arch so that it was unique to us—not a circle or triangle. After exchanging vows, our walk down the traditional center aisle was together as a married couple.
An Unforgettable First Dance And A Dip In The Pool
Our first dance and jumping in the pool are our beloved memories from our day. We danced to “You’re the Reason I Come Home,” by Ron Pope–a song that has been dear to us since we met. The song played as fireworks–a surprise from Kadia–lit the night sky above us. By the end of the night, almost all of our guests were in the pool! Then we jumped in, holding Jessica’s father’s hands. We now say, ‘whenever you get the chance to jump in the pool, take it.’
Congratulations again to Jessica and Kadia on their unforgettable Costa Rica wedding at Dreams Las Mareas! We’re so glad Junebug member Raw Shoots Photography was there to capture the magic of the day. To see more of the talented work from Raw Shoots, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world!
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by riley | Nov 17, 2020 | Wedding
Is it obvious that we like tropical destination weddings? Naturally, we’re crushing on Klee and Thomas’ elegant Costa Rican wedding at Villa Punto de Vista. With the help of planner Susan La Reau Events, the two planned a destination wedding from the comfort of California.
Susan brought minimalistic elegance to life using a blush and white color palette, an abundance of florals and lush greenery, and romantic lighting throughout the venue. Klee’s Galia Lahav gown also helped bridge the gap between the two styles with its intricate lace and tulle overskirt.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to look through all of these lovely photos captured by Magical Flute Photo and Video and pretend we’re lounging on a beach in Costa Rica.
The Couple:
Klee and Thomas
The Wedding:
Villa Punto De Vista, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Why Villa Punto de Vista
We wanted to spend quality time with our friends and family, and Villa Punto De Vista served as lodging and the venue. It was the perfect size for our 30 person wedding. The Villa is also over the top, luxurious, comes with staff, and is nestled in the middle of a jungle with a view of the ocean. It met all our needs.
Destination Wedding Advice
Planning a Costa Rican destination wedding from California was stressful. My one must-have piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner. Our wedding was above and beyond our wildest imaginations, all thanks to our wedding planner.
Congratulations again to Klee and Thomas on their stunning elegant Costa Rican wedding! Thank you to Magical Flute Photo and Video for sharing the day with Junebug. If you’ve got a tropical wedding itch that can’t be scratched, check out Arielle and Victor’s Simply Beautiful Beachfront Costa Rica wedding.
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by riley | Oct 29, 2020 | Wedding
With summer quickly coming to an end, we’re soaking up all of the tropical vibes in Natalia and Alex’s wedding at Campo Lago in Costa Rica. Opting out of a traditional wedding, the two created a glamorous and sexy secular celebration that featured a feathered Liz Martinez gown, custom coconut wedding favors, disco balls galore, colorful neon lights, three different food stations, lush greenery, and a firework show send-off. It fits perfectly in the tropical opulence (aka tropulence) wedding theme that is trending for 2020! We’re so glad that Junebug member White Diamond Photography was there to beautifully capture the love, joy, and—most importantly—the party that these two brought to Costa Rica!
The Couple:
Natalia and Alex
The Wedding:
Campo Lago, San Jose, Costa Rica
Wedding Advice From the Bride
I highly recommend creating a mood board showing the color palette, flower and foliage, and images of the feel and aesthetic you’re looking for. We were inspired by our favorite tropical venues, NYC night clubs, and restaurants. While many seem to look for inspiration in the weddings of others, we looked back into our pictures and memories of our favorite trips and nights out together. We wanted our wedding to be unique and personal–so what better way than to capture elements from all of our most heartfelt, exciting, and cherished memories.
Why Campo Lago in Costa Rica
As a Costa Rican, I wanted a venue that featured the tropical feel of my country, while being accessible to friends and family traveling from abroad. We found the best of all worlds in Campo Lago–a breathtaking venue with a giant fig tree in the middle, a lake in the background, a large grassy area where people could mingle, and an elevated salon and dance floor overlooking everything.
Wedding Day Vibes
Having started our relationship in the West Village of New York City, nurtured it in Costa Rica, and gotten engaged in Tulum, we wanted our wedding to bring together elements of each of these relationship stages in a vibrant, sexy, tropical affair. Bucking tradition, we opted for a secular wedding, with one of our best friends marrying us under a towering fig tree in Costa Rica. The wedding featured neon lights, custom coconuts, disco balls and dancers, pyro-musical fireworks to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody, and so much more. Given our love of nature, the décor featured our favorite tropical plants from Africa–where Alex was born–and Costa Rica–where I was born.
International Wedding Day Menu Featuring Dietary Restrictions
We wanted to have something for everyone. Given the international crowd and mix of carnivorous, vegan, and gluten-free friends we featured three stations with Mexican, Peruvian and Italian options—and a wide array of desserts. My husband and I appreciate a great cocktail, so we made sure to have drink stations throughout with some Costa Rican specialties like “chiliguaros.”
The Couple Will Remember These Fireworks
The surprise firework display was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. They were perfectly synchronized with the song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” showering the venue and the smiles of our guests in a kaleidoscope of color and sound.
Congratulations again to Natalia and Alex on their oh-so-glam Costa Rican wedding at Campo Lago! Shoutout to Junebug member White Diamond Photography for sharing the day with us. To see more of their beautiful work, check out their profile on our directory of best wedding photographers in the world.
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by riley | Oct 14, 2020 | Wedding
Kara and Kevin wanted to embrace the beauty of Costa Rica in their tropical destination wedding. Boy, did they nail it! With the help of Junebug member and planner Mil Besos Costa Rica, the couple opted for a simple vibe with touches of boho accents to not interfere with Costa Rica’s natural charm.
They opted for a simple light pink color palette with small pops of orange, bouquets of tropical florals put together by Flores de Campo, and a reception complete with twinkle lights and bamboo seating. We’re so thankful photographer and Junebug member White Diamond was there to capture the essence of the day. Keep scrolling to see the epitome of a timeless wedding.
The Couple:
Kara and Kevin
The Wedding:
Andaz Papagayo, Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica
Simple Tropical Wedding Vibes
I wanted to go for a beachy, classy, boho vibe. It was so beautiful. The ceremony was simple with just a circular, tropical, floral arrangement as the centerpiece. The tall trees and architecture of Andaz complimented the simplicity of it. The reception was everything I wanted and more. It was at the Andaz Beach House, so the guests were able to enjoy the low trees right by the water. It was lit with twinkling lights throughout the beach house with just the perfect type of boho decor.
A Tubular Guest Book
My husband is a surfer, so we got a custom-built surfboard for people to sign as our guestbook for our reception.
A Rainy Reception
The best part of the day was when it started to rain during the reception. We had 90’s R&B love songs playing, and there was a moment where my husband and I walked away to overlook everyone. It started to rain, but we noticed everyone stayed out on the dance floor. We joined them for the best rainfall of our lives.
Congratulations again to Kara and Kevin on their Costa Rican tropical destination wedding! Big thank you to Junebug member Mil Besos Costa Rica for sharing it with us and another big thank you to Junebug member White Diamond for capturing it.
Magic happens when two members come together to create a couple’s dream wedding! To see more of Mil Besos Costa Rica’s incredible planning, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding planners in the world!
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