Nayara Garden Wedding: In the Shadow of the Volcano

Arenal Nayara Garden Wedding

Arenal and the La Fortuna area is a gorgeous part of Costa Rica. The volcano, impressive waterfalls, and soothing hot springs are a sight to see. Understandably, I always jump at the chance to visit and was psyched when Saida and Mark asked me to shoot their volcano wedding elopement at Nayara Hotel and Gardens.

The hotel’s website boasts it is a place where laid-back luxury and adventure connect. I’d say that’s pretty accurate. The accommodations are luxurious and comfortable, but grounded in nature. There is a lot of beautiful woods and colorful jungle prints used in the decor. The grounds and gardens also proved to be a fantastic place for pictures. It was a different setting from the bright beach shoots that I usually get to do, but I love the vibrant colors of the jungle for a change!

Arenal seemed like the perfect place for this couple to get married. They are both into visiting places with gorgeous, natural landscapes, and are a little off the beaten path. And with Mark being a mountain biker, we had some things in common. Saida and Mark are an awesome couple to hang out with, and it was a fun day looking for places to shoot.

Rain Is a Good Omen

The day of the ceremony started out kind of cloudy, but everyone doubted rain as we were well into the summer, and there hadn’t been signs of rain in a while. It held off for the ceremony, but right as we started to take photos afterwards the first drops started coming down.

There is a saying that rain on your wedding day is a good omen, so Saida and Mark enthusiastically reached for an umbrella. Then, we went for a walk in the gardens to look for some scenic places and interesting light. It only rained for a half hour and afterward, we were able to move around more freely. We also got to explore a great vantage point that overlooked the hills and small town below.

I loved how the rain didn’t do a thing to dampen their love and enthusiasm for their Nayara Garden wedding! As for me, I found it fun to do a wedding here for a change of scenery.