Amanda and Chris had always dreamt of having a tropical, unique and intimate wedding. One of the very first trips the duo took together was to Costa Rica, where they fell in love with the country and the Pura Vida lifestyle. This led them to decide to tie the knot back in Costa Rica. “We loved the nature, animals and people,” says Amanda. “Many of our guests had not been to Costa Rica before so it was a new experience for most.”

After deciding on their wedding location, the couple’s family and friends were thrilled for a tropical getaway. Amanda and Chris sent out their save the dates a year in advance to allow invitees plenty of time to plan. “For family that could not travel, we had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and small reception in Vancouver where Chris’ family is from.”

Planning their destination wedding proved to be less stressful than anticipated. “Of course, there are elements of planning that you have to let go of, for example, cake testing or menu sampling,” says Amanda. “In the end, you have to place trust on your wedding planner.”

The wedding planner was hired through Weddings Costa Rica, who helped make sure every detail was perfect. “My wedding planner was my biggest resource,” says Amanda. “This is why I took my time to find a wedding planner I really connected with.”

While most of the vendors were coordinated through the planner, Amanda and Chris communicated directly with their photographer, videographer and caterer. “The beauty of planning a destination wedding is that there won’t be a thousand vendors to choose from, but the vendors that are available are high quality and talented at what they do.”

The couple also hired a travel agent to help assist with travel logistics. “We had sent out a suggested itinerary and everyone booked their own flights,” says Amanda. “Some arrived earlier or stayed later to do more traveling in Central America.”

Many of the guests flew in on the same flight as the bride and groom, which led to a great start to a memorable trip. “The wonderful thing about our wedding was that we felt like we spent quality time with everyone there, not just on our wedding day, but for the entire week!”

In deciding on a destination wedding, the couple ended up spending less money if they chose to do a wedding locally. “If we had gotten married in Toronto, I’m sure we would have had many more guests, and we would have spent more on decorations, food and the venue,” says Amanda. “With a destination wedding, you’re getting a vacation with your closest family and friends.”

For those planning their own destination wedding, Amanda suggests, “Pick the top three things that are most important to you about the wedding and focus on those. Let your planner take care of everything else.” 

Vendors: Photographer: A Brit & A Blonde, Wedding Planner: Weddings Costa Rica, Ceremony: Karahe Beach, Reception: Casa Fantastica, Florist: Stylos Y Flores, Invitations: Periwinkle Paper Designs, Menus: Weddings Costa Rica, Cake: Mariposa Pastry,  Hair & Makeup: Monica Mosapor, Gown Designer: Pronovias, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Theory, Bridesmaids Clothing Designer: Dessy Group, Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Banana Republic, Videographer: Jonathan Yonkers