Costa Rica is a country known for its ability to force one to slow down and live life with a true sense of “pura vida.” For Emily and Rex, this made the Central American country immediately appealing to celebrate one of the most special days in their lives as a couple. Read on for more firsthand insight into the couple’s planning process and how it led to a picturesque bohemian wedding on the beach in Tamarindo!

“We love to travel and explore. We traveled to Costa Rica a few times and have fallen in love with it. We wanted our friends and family to have the same experience.”

“We narrowed it down to Tamarindo based on venue choices that our wedding planners at Mil Besos recommended. We thought Tamarindo was the perfect location as it has a lot of options for things to do and offers something for everyone! It was 1.5 hrs from the airport which was the max amount of time we wanted our guests to drive after getting off their flight.”

“We did have to book our venue prior to seeing it in person, which I know for some people may be hard but Meghan at Mil Besos provided a booklet with a great amount of information and pictures. We felt comfortable with committing to the location. We then went and visited a few months later (exactly a year before the wedding) and it couldn’t have been better!”

“Our guest count was 40 people total between friends, family, and wedding party. We were looking for a location that offered plenty of things to do, a beach location, and enough space for our family to stay all together and host the wedding in the same location. Sueno del Mar hit all of those points. The icing on top was the wonderful staff (specifically managers, Sol and Eduardo) and the food.”

“Our style is bohemian and beachy… Catalina at Mil Besos was amazing with our design and did a great job helping us execute our vision. We used a lot of natural elements – local florals both fresh and dried. One of my favorite touches was the vintage assorted colored goblets that we used for water glasses. These were glasses that Catalina has collected over the years and gave a great eclectic bohemian touch to our table.”

“The number one thing that helped was Meghan and the team at Mil Besos! They provided so much information and pointed out so many items we would have never thought of. They truly made our day perfect.”

“No matter where we held it, it would have been wonderful. But this destination made the day perfect and reflected us in every way. It allowed our guests to see a new country and have a vacation! Most people had never been to Costa Rica and everyone loved it.”

“Our first piece of advice is to use a wedding planner! We couldn’t have done this without the Mil Besos team… The second is to do what makes you happy! This is your day and you should enjoy every moment of it! Lastly, if it’s in your budget, consider doing a morning catamaran cruise with your wedding crew. It was amazing!”

Vendors: Planning & Design: Mil Besos; Venue: Sueño del Mar; Photography: Adri Mendez Photograpy; Florist: Flores de Campos; Rentals: Los Primos Designs; Hair & Makeup: Famous Points Bridal Experts; Stationery: Minted; Cake: Dëli Café; Gown Designer: Rue de Seine; Grooms Attire Store: McNeil & Reedy; DJ: Xclusive DJ Costa Rica; Videography: Lucas Weddings