Costa Rica is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular wedding and honeymoon locations. If you’re looking for the perfect destination wedding spot or for an ideal romantic getaway after your Big Day, here are 10 great reasons why Costa Rica might be the country for you:

1.Convenience
Flights from the east coast of the USA are both direct and affordable. You might fly out at 7am and end up sipping cocktails by your hotel pool by 2pm! Most of the locals speak English and you can pay with dollars in many places.

2.Lots to do
There is an endless list of exciting activities to keep you occupied during your stay. These include deep sea fishing, scuba diving, hiking through national parks or mountain trails, canopy tours, volcano tours, river rafting, bird watching, surfing, horseback riding, crocodile tours, sea kayaking and visits to the country’s renowned hot springs, waterfalls, butterfly gardens, beaches and rainforests.

3.Hospitality and service
Costa Rica is famous for its gracious hospitality. Costa Ricans have a popular motto - ‘Pura Vida’ or ‘pure life’ - which is apparent in the warm and genuine nature of the locals. You’ll also find some of the world’s best holiday resorts, where the service is acclaimed.

4.Beautiful flowers and foliage
If you choose to have your wedding in Costa Rica, you can enjoy decorating your event with the most beautiful exotic flowers and foliage. In particular, Costa Rica is famed for its 1200 varieties of orchids - in every color of the rainbow. You can be sure these unique details will add special beauty and magic to your wedding day and wedding photos.

5.Exotic wildlife
Wherever you stay, you can be sure to enjoy some of the country’s unique wildlife. Where else can you go to your balcony and spot exotic birds, monkeys and iguanas enjoying the beautiful surroundings with you?

6.Culture
Along with the perfect weather and exotic backdrop, there is a wonderful culture to enjoy. Sample the joys of Costa Rican life such as the cuisine, textiles, pottery and music. It’s a beautiful culture to explore!

7.Food
You can be sure to enjoy a vast array of foods to get your mouth watering every day. Favorite Costa Rican dishes include fresh fish, fresh tacos, plantains and Huevos Rancheros (ranch eggs) with avocados and fresh fruit juice for breakfast!

8.Easy to marry
Though it is important that you give some attention and time to the legal requirements needed to get married in Costa Rica, the country is one of the easiest places for foreigners to tie the knot. This means you can concentrate on enjoying your special day and the honeymoon afterwards!

9.Breathtaking wedding backdrop
There is nothing more idyllic for your wedding backdrop than the views Costa Rica has to offer. They range from dramatic mountains, dreamy beaches, secluded beauty spots and even rainforest locations.

10.Renowned villas
Costa Rica has a range of exclusive villa resorts which offer ideal locations to host a wedding, house guests and also provide a dream honeymoon. They offer wedding and honeymoon packages that will see you surrounded by the most beautiful natural beauty and stunning backdrops. Resorts have a first-class concierge service to help you design the wedding of your dreams, staff to help with last minute arrangements, world-class cuisine, elegant function rooms, transportation for guests, floral arrangement services and secluded private villas for the ultimate honeymoon experience.

Destination weddings have become the choice of many of today’s modern couples, and Costa Rica provides the perfect venue for the perfect wedding!  The vital element to such a wedding being truly successful is careful planning.  Many of the arrangements have to be made well in advance; longer maybe than even a traditional local wedding.

Even if you have friends or family in the country, it is probably a better idea to work with a wedding planner as well.  They know the laws, the weather, the geography, transportation and so many other elements that have to come together to make your special day a success.  A wedding professional will take care of arrangements at the Costa Rica end and will keep in close contact with you to be sure that you bring everything you need with you from home as well.  Since you and your guests will be staying at one of the many resort hotels, you may find that your hotel can plan all the details for you to make things really easy!

One of the most important aspects of your wedding is the legalities.  You most definitely want to be sure the legal requirements of both countries are met. A planner will inform you of everything you need, but here are a few of the basics. The legal documents you will need include passports of you and your witnesses.  On top of that you will need accurate legal names, birthdates, birthplaces, addresses, and marital status, as previous marriages must be recorded.  If you are divorced, a divorce decree must also be presented. As you can see, the legalities are something you want to be sure you get right!  Once all of that is in place, you can relax and start planning some of the more exciting details.

Many of the things you need for a Costa Rica wedding are the same as you would need at home.  Be sure to book an official, a photographer, a caterer and musicians

Costa Rica has some wedding traditions that are a little different but interesting, and fun to incorporate into your day.  One very romantic custom is the “Serenata”, which takes place the night before the wedding, at the location where the women are staying.  The bride and her bridesmaids remain inside the house and the groom and his friends serenade the girls outside the home with a Mariachi band.

The morning of the wedding, the lawyer and the couple meet to sign all the documents and in fact conclude the legal part of the marriage before the ceremony even takes place.  This doesn’t allow for the old traditional of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, so be prepared for that!  Following the ceremony, there is a reception and dance where the bride dances a first waltz with her father.

Other than these few differences, your special day will be much the same, except it will take place in a country full of natural beauty and a unique and very interesting culture.

Costa Rica is quickly becoming the #1 choice for destination weddings
For many creative couples. Whether your dream setting is beach, a mountain top, or hanging from a ZipLine 100 feet above the floor of the rainforest, a destination wedding in Costa Rica will not wedding costa rica wedding planners costa rica wedding planner costa rica disappoint.

This tiny Central American country has more variety of environments and desirable settings to offer than almost anyplace on earth. First there is such a wide range of micro climates such as the Rainforest, dry cool Cloudforest or choose from an oceanfront beach ceremony on not just one coast….but your choice of the waves of the vast and mighty Pacific Ocean or the white sand and turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Yes, it’s true….one paradise, two oceans.

Many couples seek wild eco-adventure, some are looking for a casual atmosphere and warm weather year-round, some for terrific value in an exotic location…Costa Rica offers them all. The most common thread with most of these couples is to preserve some elements of cultural or religious tradition in their ceremony while still enjoying the exotic scenery, celebrating their raw, adventurous sides and creating one-of-a-kind memories for the whole group that weren’t just popped out of a mold in a factory like many typical weddings.

One very vibrant couple made this dream a reality while creatively combining centuries-old East Indian tradition with a spicy Latin twist.

This was no ordinary East Indian wedding.
The setting was Los Sueños Resort and Marina on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

This particular couple has a passion for a tropical environment and the sea so they also wanted a beachfront wedding. The question was…how do they achieve it all…all in one amazing place?

They really had an interesting mix of requirements and a travel planner in the U.S. recommended they consider Los Sueños, just a 2 hour drive from the capital city of San Jose (soon to be a 1 hour drive when the new national highway opens in early 2010)

The family knew they had some challenges ahead with such unique requirements and it would take a very special, dedicated team to pull off all the complicated and specialized details.

They visited the Los Suenos resort, met with the CR Luxury Wedding Coordinator, explained their requests and requirements, and decided they’d found exactly what they wanted.

A Pre-wedding visit to experience the destination, the resort or hotel is highly recommended. Some venues even have a program allowing a one or two night complimentary visit, site tour and planning meeting.

Many hotels and resorts also offer a special bridal package which sometimes might include items like a complimentary cake, flower arrangement, banquet room and even a honeymoon suite at no charge for the bride and groom with a certain number of condominiums or hotel rooms booked for friends and family.

Check with the group sales department, reservations department, concierge or wedding planner for each venue you are considering and ask what offers they may extend and how much value you will receive for your dollars spent. Always consult a professional when preparing for a destination wedding either through the services of an independent planner or an “in-house” wedding coordinator.

Someone with expert knowledge of the location and great relationships with local vendors can help provide every detail and pull it off without even the slightest bump in the process. Well, almost any event planner will tell you; “there are bumps in carrying out any event…but a true professional will identify issues and find a creative solution to remedy the situation quickly where everyone in attendance will see only a hugely successful, joyful event”. The most important thing in almost any wedding planning process is to minimize the stress and maximize the pleasure of the entire experience from the first visit and consideration of the location, through the return home from the honeymoon.

The couple was amazed at how a team in Latin America, who never previously had any contact with East Indian culture, stepped right in, were happy to assist with every unusual detail and never were flustered by even a fleeting thought, of not being able to deliver every wish .

This well-traveled bride, grew up in Costa Rica and still has family in the country so she knows first hand all the wonders that Costa Rica and Latin America have to offer.  She knew this was the perfect place to bond their relationship and blend the two, vastly different cultures she calls her own.

Once the plans were made they flew from their home in Boston and after a few days in the city it was time to head west toward the Pacific coast to Los Sueños to begin the elaborate 3 day celebration.

The group arrived at Los Suenos Resort, checked in with the CR Luxury Diamond Concierge Team and the family met with their personal “in-house” wedding coordinator who immediately put them at ease ahd had every detail covered. Next stop….AAAAhhhhhhhh!

The bride said“ Once everyone arrived and checked into their luxury condominiums, everyone was so relaxed…..I think this set a great mood for the entire trip right away.”

It was November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving family did not want to miss that tradition either.  The CR Luxury Concierge ordered a full Thanksgiving Dinner that was delivered to the family at their condominium.

This was another great example of the blending of cultures…An American Celebration, enjoyed by an East Indian family across the street from the rainforest, in Costa Rica! This just goes to show what a warm welcome can be found for all cultures in this little Latin American paradise!

The bride also tells us that the luxury condominiums were “such a great decision”. They all enjoyed a beautiful, spacious home that allowed everyone to be comfortable and gather together several times and enjoy each other’s company as a family and as a group.  She also told us that they were impressed at how the units are so well kept. She said that the time shared and closeness would not have been possible if they were all staying in a luxury hotel.

Arrangements were made for the first ceremonial events…the ladies participated in a ritual called Mehndi and they flew in a special Henna artist from Toronto for the event while the family men gathered for drinks at sunset and enjoyed a memorable time.

The next event called Sangeet, began almost immediately afterward…poolside at the private, Los Sueños Beach Club.
Just another example of blending of the scenery of this Latin American paradise and rich East Indian culture.
The Sangeet event began with drinks and appetizers, being served.
While the guests were sipping and dining, there were dance and musical performances, the Newlywed Game and an open mic for speeches from friends.

Then came the wedding day and it was spectacular right from the start!

In a more typical setting the family and guests of the groom would proceed together fully costumed and decorated to the home of the bride for the wedding ceremony. For this creative couple, there was an exciting twist!

With the groom’s dressed in formal East Indian wedding attire, he mounts a horse and the group of family and guests begin the colorful procession, called Baraat winding through the Los Sueños resort toward the Beach Club for Milni where the bride’s family greets the groom’s for the ritual exchange of garlands.

The wedding couple were married on a stage with floral alter specially designed and built right here in Costa Rica of wood with a steel bowl for a special fire just for this particular ceremony.

A tented beachfront reception, decorated in linens and ribbon of white, gold and green followed the ceremony. Drinks and appetizers were served as well as a fantastic, authentic dinner catered by the family’s favorite restaurant East Indian restaurant from San Jose.

This lovely bride commented that every task and request, no matter how unique, strange or unconventional, from a horse for the groom’s procession to a specially built stage and alter was possible due to the “can do” attitude of the CR Luxury Diamond Concierge team.

The beach, rainforest covered mountains, outdoor venues, spacious luxury accommodations and the oceanfront views allowed this modern, young couple to create a very personalized, unique series of events which blended their rich East Indianheritage with their love for the beach and the tropics for a spicy Latin twist!

This was an example of just one couple’s unique creative dream wedding.

Never let your wedding dreams have limits…reach for the sky…right here in Costa Rica!

See what bride and groom had to say.

Los Sueños Resort and Marina was the perfect setting for this amazing 4 DAY WEDDING CELEBRATION!

The list of almost 250 guests began to arrive at the Los Sueños, Costa Rica Resort on Wednesday, November 11^th from countries around the globe. The bride, Katharina Valentiner (born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) whose mother is from Germany and the father of the bride from Venezuela made up only the beginning of this truly international event.

Immediate family members include multinational corporate moguls in both the Pharmaceutical and Oil Industries.

The bride Katharina and the groom, Michael Merlob (also born in the United States) currently live in Los Angeles, California. Katharina works as a middle school teacher and Michael works in the entertainment industry.

The list of celebratory events was sparked by a cocktail and appetizer reception on Thursday evening at the lovely Terrace Lounge atop the warmly lit Los Sueños Marina Village.

Friday morning was a day for sporting challenges and exciting adventures!

Immediate family and closest guests participated in a golf tournament at Los Sueños’s famed La Iguana Championship Golf Course followed by awards ceremony and lunch at the 19^th Hole.

The remaining wedding guests chose between an array of pure Costa Rican activities. Some guests headed out for a beach & jungle nature tour only one hour south at Manuel Antonio National Park

Some daredevils took to a nearby river for the rush of Whitewater Rafting while others headed just 10 minutes away to Herradura and experienced the thrill of climbing high into the canopy of the Costa Rican Rainforest for exhilaration of high-flying, tree to tree adventure on the Zip Lines!

After a brief rest it was time for a bit of tradition and elegance to begin.

The Friday evening sunset was observed by guests under a tented dining room decorated with fresh tropical leaves and white orchids in the gardens at the Marriott Los Sueños. On the lighted stage, a traditional German performance, the Polteraban, was performed. Guests also enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, dinner and dancing to conclude the evening.

On Saturday most guests enjoyed rest and relaxation at the exclusive, private Los Sueños Beach Club. Some simply enjoyed the comfort of their luxury condominium.

As the bride’s maids and wedding party were busy preparing the bride, the Diamond Concierge Team from Costa Rica Luxury Rentals (who planned and produced all of the events) was hard at work coordinating the set up of the Beach Club location along with the Los Sueños Marriott catering crew.

The bride and groom were joined by their nearly 250 guests for a tented ceremony officiated by Attorney/Notary Public, Marcelo Galli, who has performed many weddings in Costa Rica including some for celebrity couples tying the knot including Grammy-winning recording artist, Pink.

Music played a role in many elements of the big day.

Several musical groups were flown in for the festivities. 3 Venezuelan bands, including 2 Big Bands, a Calypso band who opened the ceremony and a Caribbean band who helped introduce the new Mr and Mrs. Merlob.

Of course, cocktails and appetizers were served beachside, while

well-wishers and wedding party mingled as the sun set over Herradura Bay.

The lavish reception was held in the grand Herradura Ballroom of the Marriott Los Sueños. The room was draped in elegance in white and muted natural hues, sported a raised stage set up with lights and sound and a very trendy, all white Martini Lounge flanked the opposite side of the stage.

Big band filled the air both indoors and out.

The candle light and old world brick of Patio Almendros was a more casual atmosphere for guests to gather for an after dinner drink and to enjoy the music and a freshly hand-rolled cigar.

This selective couple and their nearly 250 guests chose the most desirable location available in the region to enjoy every moment of this special celebration .

The Costa Rica Luxury, Diamond Concierge Staff planned and produced the entire 4 day schedule of events. They accounted for every detail of the first class luxury experience for this Costa Rica event at a cost much lower than you may expect.

Sunday was a day for some relaxation and reflection.

A day of true, “Pura Vida”.

Bridal party and guests alike wrapped up a wonderful celebration filled with a rare combination of excitement, adventure, elegance and natural beauty that may only be found here in this unique, Costa Rica resort destination.

Enjoy what the father of the bride said about the wedding

Have you been daydreaming about a sunset beach wedding ever since your first kiss? Or maybe swinging through the rainforest trees or climbing an active volcano with your husband-to-be is more your style. Whether you’re all about the romance and beauty or the thrill of adventure, Costa Rica offers everything you need for the perfect destination wedding.

Boasting over 800 miles of pristine coastline, Costa Rica’s beaches are untouched in their natural state, surrounded by the country’s most stunning landscapes. With mountain ranges, active volcanoes, cliffs, waterfalls, and lush rainforests as your backdrop, we can arrange for your ceremony to take place nearly anywhere—on the sand with the sounds of waves lapping at your feet, floating on the waters in a quaint fishing boat or opulent yacht, or even beneath the warm tropical waters, with your scuba gear and flippers intact.

Costa Rica’s myriad of outdoor activities also make a truly unique setting for saying your vows. Stop halfway up a lava-spewing volcano to say your “I do’s,” or take a zipline 100-feet above the trees into the arms of your loved one.

Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries in the world and prides itself on its ecotourism opportunities. Rich, green vegetation, brightly colored flowers, and lively birds and monkeys inhabit the nation’s protected parks and make for an ideal back-to-nature locale for your special day.

The best part is that Costa Rica Luxury Rentals & Tours will take care of all the details of your wedding day, both big and small, for you. We want to make your day as memorable as possible for you and your guests. We’ll take the stress of planning away, customizing the day’s activities, coordinating the caterer, florist, photographer, transportation, accommodations, and much more. We can even arrange personalized events for your bridal party and groomsmen. On the premises, we can provide full health and beauty indulgences for the ladies at our private spa, including customized beach yoga classes to reinvigorate the body and awaken the spirit. The men can spend a day golfing on our championship 18-hole course, La Iguana, topped off with a gourmet meal at one of our sophisticated restaurants and night of fun in the casino.

Most importantly, we want to ensure that your trip to Costa Rica is an experience, not just a one-day event. The special touches for the bride and groom will not be forgotten before or after the wedding day. You can spend your honeymoon in our 5-star accommodations in Los Sueños, on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Our condominium rentals include maid service, private jacuzzi and landscaped pool areas, and global dining choices, so you can completely unwind after your big day.

You’ll come away with photos and memories for a lifetime to come, and even your guests will never forget your unique wedding day. You’ll all be left dreaming of Costa Rica for your next big event or just for the chance to relax again in our stunning tropical surroundings.

Looking for a truly exotic location for a truly memorable wedding?

Why not try Costa Rica?

Located in the heart of the Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica Luxury Rentals provides an ideal setting for your special event. You can choose from a lush tropical rainforest, a secluded beach, or the lavish amenities of the Los Sueños Marina and Golf resort as the backdrop for your ceremony.

Parties and outings for the wedding party before and after the event can include deep sea fishing, golf outings, spa trips, rain forest tours – there are over 65 special events or tours offered by Costa Rica Luxury Rentals.
A Diamond Concierge is available to help you plan every step of your wedding, removing the stress most couples experience when trying to make sure things come together just right. Your concierge will help you with everything from choosing just the perfect location, to planning the rehearsal dinner, to obtaining all the proper licenses and documents to make sure no detail is left unhandled.

While staying as our guest, you will be close to two beautiful national parks as well as some of the most spectacular coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Our properties are lavishly landscaped, with pools and spas for relaxing before and after your big event. A round of golf could be just the ticket for removing wedding day jitters, and bonding with your new family members at the same time.

Another advantage of a Costa Rican wedding through Costa Rica Luxury Rentals is that combining your wedding and honeymoon becomes easy – your wedding will already be held at one of the world’s most scenic honeymoon locations.

For a truly memorable honeymoon, why not plan a Tortuga Island tour, and then book our four day Adrenaline Rush package? This package includes accommodations and plans for a one day extreme adventure tour, a golf cart, a half day adventure tour, and full airport transfers.

Our Romance in the Costa Rica Rain Forest package is perfect for newlyweds, and includes a couples massage, a bottle of champagne, a chocolate covered strawberry basket, a Tortuga Island tour, sunset cocktails, a golf cart, a half day Costa Rica tour, seven nights accommodations and full airport transfers.

Whatever package you choose, your Costa Rican wedding is sure to be magical, exotic, and truly unique. What a great way to start your lives together!