Marybeth and Jason were watching a Netflix show one night that featured destination weddings. Newly engaged, witnessing this sparked the idea of getting married somewhere tropical and easy to get to– it’d be a vacation for all! The quaint beach town of Las Catalinas, Costa Rica beckoned their arrival.

“We were then lucky to find our wedding planner at Mil Besos Costa Rica, and they introduced us to many cool venues, including Las Catalinas,” the couple says. “We loved that it felt like we took over this small little beach town with all our guests!”

However, Las Catalinas has quiet hours and the couple wanted to throw a party. That’s when they found a different venue nearby, Gracia Mar Vista, willing to accommodate the wedding reception. 

“The views at Gracia were from out of a dream,” the bride says, “but their food sealed the deal!”

When it came to decor, Marybeth and Jason wanted the best of both worlds, neutrals and colors, so they kept the ceremony natural with white flowers and floor arches to not take away from the beach backdrop. “And the reception was the complete opposite,” Marybeth says. “It was a burst of color, we wanted to feel surrounded by it.”

On the day of the wedding, the couple incorporated the element of spirituality into their ceremony. Marybeth and Jason’s officiant rang Tibetan bells to help everyone be present in the moment. The ceremony took a relaxing, simple tone with some light-hearted moments thrown in the mix. 

“We also wanted to involve our parents in the ceremony somehow because they’ve supported us so much in everything we do,” the couple says. “We passed them our rings and they were able wish good luck upon them.”

Reflecting on how their wedding would have been different had they not held it away from home, Marybeth and Jason say it wouldn’t have felt like an escape to truly enjoy the celebration. 

“We were able to go zip-lining and ATV’ing with our guests,” Jason says. “And we wrapped up the trip with a private sunset catamaran cruise with everyone, the day after the wedding, which was so much fun!”

So, if you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s anything but ordinary, take a cue from Marybeth and Jason (or from your Netflix queue) and wed abroad!

Vendors: Photographer + Videographer: Bacalao Films; Wedding Planner: Mil Besos Costa Rica; Ceremony Venue: Plaza Agave at Las Catalinas; Reception Venue: Gracia Mar Vista at  Las Catalinas; Florist: Art Flower; Cake: Deli Café; Hair: Kevin Calderon; Make-Up Reina Lopez; Gown Designer: Berta; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Hive & Colony; Music: DJ Timour with Xclusive DJs