Friday, February 28, 2014

A Beachy Bash in Costa Rica

Words by Taylor Wilson
Photos courtesy of Sergio Pucci

A romantic retreat to the rainforest the summer before Stacey and Steven tied the knot prompted the couple to host their nuptials in Costa Rica. Instantly, the couple fell in love with this casual country, appreciating both the beauty and adventure it had to offer. A short, three hour plane flight from Texas, Costa Rica was kid friendly, reasonably priced and the perfect combination of rainforest and beach – what more could the couple ask for?

Stacey admits planning a destination wedding was more challenging than it would have been had the couple hosted their event at home. This is because there were less vendor options in Costa Rica and the couple had to make decisions from Texas. The couple didn’t even have their ceremony location until the day before the wedding. “When we arrived two days before the ceremony, we picked out what we thought was the perfect spot, realizing a day later there would be a volleyball tournament there. Luckily, our planner found another spot on the beach and it ended up being even better!” explains the bride.

Steven and Stacey’s wedding planner was their saving grace. Stacey urges all couples hosting a wedding in an unfamiliar country to hire a wedding planner to sort out the details and arrange vendors locally. “Originally, we thought a destination wedding would be a ‘package deal’, pick A, B or C,” says Stacey. “While this might be true for some destinations, ours ended up being a full blown, fully planned wedding.” A strong trust in their planner to work with their wishes and come up with options for the couple resulted in a remarkable day.

Because the couple loves to travel, they created their own table cards out of significant travel locations to them, accompanied by a large map as the seating arrangement display. The couple also made cute wedding programs and fans from a template they found online. They took most of their DIY projects with them on the plane since there were no guarantees on shipping and it was easier to craft in the States.

“Be prepared for the unexpected!” Stacey tells other couples. “Don’t worry so much about the details and focus on the time spent with family and friends and actually getting married.” Steven and Stacey firmly believe in their decision to host a destination wedding because it symbolized their passion for travel and created an unforgettable vacation for their friends and family. Without a destination wedding, it would have been less of an event and more of just a wedding. This quality time spent with loved ones in a magical locale is something the couple would never trade for anything.

Photographer: Sergio Pucci, Wedding Planner: Barbara Broutin - FourNineteen Weddings, Ceremony Site: Manuel Antonio National Park, Reception Site: Parador Resort and Spa, Gown Designer: Pronovias, Florist: ArtFlower, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Nordstrom & Tommy Bahama, Bridesmaids/Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: D'Zage, Gap & Tommy Bahama, Videographer: El Velo, DJ: Joshua Wilson DJ Deep Sound, Cake: Mariposa Pastry