Sean and Marnie wanted a location that was fun, laid-back and reflected their relationship, but they also needed a destination all of their guests could access – including the groom’s 91-year-old grandmother! Costa Rica fit the bill for the destination duo. It was in that country, at the Langosta Beach Club, that they said their “I do’s.” 

Both the bride and groom loved to travel and Costa Rica happened to be one of the first places they visited together. “We fell in love with Latin America due to the warmth of the people, the food, the music and stunning scenery of countries we traveled over the subsequent years,” Marnie said.

The Canadian couple had attended destination weddings that felt as though anyone that wasn’t part of the bridal party was excluded, so they knew that was a vibe they didn’t want for their wedding. “For us, it was important to plan pre-wedding meet and greet events so everyone would know each other prior to the wedding,” Marnie said.

Sean and Marnie spent less on their destination wedding than they would have on a wedding at home. The vision for their W-Day was an intimate ceremony with 50 friends and family members and with the help of their wedding planners at Liquid Weddings, it was achieved. “The pace of life and business is much different in Costa Rica than in Canada, so working with a wedding planner helped us navigate some of our anxieties and impatience around [planning our wedding],” the bride said.

Due to Sean’s work schedule, the newlyweds married just after the holidays and into the new year. The bride and groom expected travel issues due to seasonal rushes and winter weather, so they requested all guests arrive in Costa Rica by New Year’s Eve.

Even though the bride, groom and their guests were away in Costa Rica, Sean and Marnie added the element of home throughout their celebrations. Marnie’s cousin was master of ceremony and the couple included a memory table tribute at their reception for family members that had passed. The couple also included the theme of Costa Rica with a salsa band, piñata, churros instead of a wedding cake and more.

To calm any nerves or anxiety about preparations, Sean and Marnie arrived in Costa Rica two weeks before their W-Day. Marnie advises other couples to do the same, so they’re relaxed and any concerns are out of the way by their big day. Arriving early and having guests come at least a few days before the wedding day also helped everyone bond beforehand. “By the time the wedding rolled around, there wasn’t a ‘bride’s side’ or ‘groom’s side,'” the newlyweds said. “Everyone was already so comfortable with each other.”

As it does for most, the bride said their “big day” went by fast, but the perk of having a destination wedding is that it allowed her and her husband to engage in multiple celebratory events and experiences with their loved ones. “For us, it was our wedding week, not [just] our wedding day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Diego Solís of Stories Wedding Photography, Wedding Planner: Liquid Weddings, Ceremony/Reception Site: Langosta Beach Club, Costa Rica, Florist: Stylos & Flores, Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas and Birch & Quill, Cake: Churros, Hair & Makeup: Hair by West & Under (Vancouver, BC) and Makeup by Tricia Espinoza of Maravilla Makeup, Gown Designer: Katie May, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Hugo Boss, Bridesmaids’ Clothing Designer: Adrianna Papell, Sabo Skirt, Anthropologie, ASOS and more, Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Hugo Boss, Salsa Band: DJ Kiko