Live music enthusiasts Cassie and Shawn’s love story began exactly where you’d expect—at a concert! With pulsing speakers, flashing lights, and the best vibes, they fell for each other and never looked back. This is the tale of how the couple ended up tying the knot on the sands of Pangas Beach Club in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Over the years that followed, Shawn and Cassie attended many concerts together and cultivated a shared desire to see the world. Naturally, after their engagement, Shawn and Cassie could think of no better way to celebrate the beginnings of marriage than with a vacation. 

Cassie and Shawn had never been to Costa Rica before, so they thought, ‘What better time to experience this tropical paradise than for our wedding?’ The Pacific coast and the charming surfing town of Tamarindo beckoned to them, and soon they were inviting family and friends for a trip of a lifetime in Central America.

“We wanted to have a week-long celebration with our closest loved ones,” Shawn says. 

The team of wedding planners with Mil Besos became the couple’s eyes and ears in Tamarindo, offering their expertise at every turn. Importantly, the planning team laid out venue options for the couple based on Cassie and Shawn’s vision for the day. Although the bride and groom felt any of the recommended properties could’ve been a great fit, they ultimately selected Pangas Beach Club. Its prime location, food reviews and “overall vibe” pushed the venue above its competition. 

With a venue pinned down and a fantastic planning team, the details began to be parsed out. “Mil Besos was hands down the best wedding planner I could ask for,” the bride says. “They were so attentive and detail-oriented.”

Gleaning inspiration from Instagram Cassie shared her vision for organic elements and neutral colors to dominate the event’s decor. To tie in their love of live music, Mil Besos curated an unforgettable display of disco balls that glimmered above the dance floor, setting the stage for a night of dancing and celebration. It was the perfect homage to the concert where it all began.

When all the careful planning came to a head, the couple had one thing to do… ENJOY IT! Finally, as Shawn and Cassie stood at the altar, the groom’s wordsmith father acted out the duties of the officiant.

“We shared our own vows and they were surprisingly so similar (both mentioned our love of punk rock music),” the bride says. “There were lots of tears from us and the crowd.”

Looking back, Cassie recalls how fast it all went by and how grateful she and Shawn felt to be far from home, but still in the company of precious loved ones. 

“I’ll always cherish memories from our wedding but that extra time together will always really stick in our minds. Our friends still talk about the trip!” the couple says.

For Cassie and Shawn, their love story may have started at a concert, but it crescendoed into something even more spectacular—a destination wedding that hit all the right notes.

Vendors: Photographer: Maggie Grace Photography; Planners: Mil Besos; Venue: Pangas Beach Club; Florist: Flores de Campos; Hair & Makeup: Famous Point Bridal Experts; Furniture & Decor: Costa Mesa Event Rentals; Videographer: TGN Productions; Disco Balls: South Ideas; Music: Xclusive DJs & Max Gea