Playa Conchal Photographer

Weddings, Proposals & Portrait Sessions at Reserva Conchal

What’s on This Page

first kiss at beach wedding at w hotel - reserva conchal
Bride looking at groom on playa conchal
playa conchal photographer.

Weddings, Proposals & Portrait Sessions at Reserva Conchal

Playa Conchal is one of the best beaches in Costa Rica. The sand is made entirely of crushed shells — fine, soft, and completely different from any other beach in Guanacaste. It’s a long beach with a steep incline, and once you get past the small shore break the water goes completely calm. No surf, no waves — just a quiet bay. The sunsets face directly west with nothing blocking the view, so you get them year-round. I’ve been photographing sessions here for years — weddings, proposals, and family portraits.

Reserva Conchal is a gated community that includes the W Costa Rica, the Westin Reserva Conchal, and a large number of private rental villas and condos. A lot of my clients are staying in those villas — not at either hotel. All of them share the same Beach Club and the same beach. Whether you’re at the W, the Westin, or a private house inside the community, you’re on Playa Conchal.

Playa Conchal Wedding Guide

WEDDINGS AT PLAYA CONCHAL

The W Costa Rica & Westin Reserva Conchal

aerial view of w costa rica - reserva conchal

There are two main wedding venues at Reserva Conchal — the W Costa Rica and the Westin Reserva Conchal. Both are right on Playa Conchal. I’ve photographed at both and know the property well. The W is the more modern, boutique option — smaller, design-forward, better for intimate weddings. The Westin is larger and more established, with the infrastructure for bigger groups. For the full guide to weddings at the W specifically, including what the day looks like and real photographs, see my W Costa Rica wedding page.

Both venues use Playa Conchal for beach portraits after the ceremony. The shell sand, the calm water, the reliable year-round sunsets — that’s the same for both. What changes is the ceremony location, the getting ready experience, and the overall vibe of the property.

A bride and groom holding hands and smiling, walking among large tree roots under a canopy of sprawling branches in a lush, outdoor setting—captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer.
Bride and groom on golf cart at W Costa Rica - Reserva Conchal

WHAT WEDDINGS AT PLAYA CONCHAL ARE LIKE

OVERVIEW

The ceremony at the W happens in the tree line at the edge of the property — shaded, intimate, with the beach right there for portraits after. The Westin has a similar setup, with the iconic Matapalo tree near the beach entrance as one of the signature spots. Both give you shade for the ceremony, a natural backdrop for family formals, and then the open beach for couple portraits as the light drops.

Because Playa Conchal has a steep incline, I keep the couple near the waterline where it levels out for portraits. The water is calm enough that you can walk right in — which opens up shots you just can’t get on a surf beach. And the sunset here faces directly west with nothing blocking it, so you get good light year-round regardless of season.

WHO PLAYA CONCHAL WEDDINGS ARE RIGHT FOR

GOOD FIT

Playa Conchal works well for couples who want one of Costa Rica’s best beaches as their backdrop and the comfort of a full resort for their guests. It’s close enough to Tamarindo that guests can explore during the week — restaurants, other beaches, day trips — without feeling stuck at a remote resort. The W suits smaller, more intimate weddings. The Westin handles larger groups. Either way you’re getting Playa Conchal.

A bride in a white dress and a groom in a gray suit walk hand in hand along a sandy beach near the ocean, both smiling, beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
bride and groom celebrating at marriott hotel

What a Wedding Day Looks Like

WEDDING FLOW

Getting ready happens at the hotel — both properties have well-designed rooms with good light. The ceremony is in a shaded area on or near the property, then we move to the beach for family formals and couple portraits. I keep portraits close to the waterline where the incline levels out. We end with sunset on the beach. If you want to see how a full wedding day flows here, take a look at Tyler and Leslie’s wedding at the W.

Weddings at Playa Conchal, Reserva Conchal

Two resorts, one of Costa Rica’s best beaches, and sunsets you can count on year-round.

A bride in a white gown and a groom in a white shirt and tie stand smiling, holding hands in front of large, twisted tree roots, beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.

Things to

Know Before Booking

The W and the Westin are different experiences — one boutique and design-forward, one larger and more traditional. Guest count is usually the deciding factor. If you’re still comparing venues across Guanacaste, my all-inclusive resorts guide covers how Playa Conchal compares to other options. And for the full wedding guide to the W specifically, including ceremony details and what the day looks like, see my dedicated W Costa Rica wedding page.

Portrait Sessions & Proposals at Playa Conchal

A lot of my clients at Reserva Conchal aren’t there for a wedding — they’re staying for a week at the W, the Westin, or one of the private villas inside the community, and they want photographs while they’re here. Families, couples, proposals — Playa Conchal is genuinely one of the best beaches in Guanacaste for all of it. The shell sand, the calm water, the tree line, the light at the end of the day.

How Sessions Work at the Westin & W

For sessions at the Westin, I meet the family or couple at the hotel and we walk out to the beach together. We usually start at the Matapalo tree near the beach entrance — distinctive, great light filtering through it, completely different from any other backdrop in Guanacaste — and then head out to the beach from there. For sessions at the W, same approach — meet at the hotel, walk out together, start with the tree line if the light is right and then move to the open beach.

For proposals, I get to the beach early and we agree on a spot beforehand. I send the couple photos and videos of exactly where to go when they come out from the hotel so there’s no confusion. I’m already in position when they arrive. Afterwards I introduce myself and we go straight into the portrait session. You can see how that works in my Playa Conchal proposal post.

  • A smiling woman in a yellow dress is hugged from behind by a man in a floral shirt on Playa Conchal beach. The man kisses her head while she shows an engagement ring and laughs, beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A woman in a pink dress, a man, and two children play together at the edge of a calm beach during sunset, with islands and clouds visible in the background—captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A smiling woman hugs a smiling man from behind, both outdoors with greenery in the background. She shows an engagement ring on her finger, and they both wear light-colored clothing—captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A family of five, all dressed in white, stands barefoot on a sandy beach by the ocean, smiling at the camera—capturing precious memories with a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A large family stands together on a sandy beach, all wearing matching white shirts and hats with palm tree designs. The ocean is calm in the background. Some adults hold young children, and everyone is smiling at the camera, beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • Three children wearing white shirts and black caps sit on sandy beach facing the calm sea, with gentle waves and a hazy silhouette of land in the distance under a soft, pale sky, beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A person in white stands alone on a sandy beach near calm, gentle waves at sunset, captured artfully by a Playa Conchal photographer. Bare tree branches frame the serene scene overhead.
  • Smiling young boy in light-colored clothes stands on a sandy area with trees and sunlight in the background, captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A woman in a pink dress stands on the beach, lifting a child playfully above her head as calm ocean waves and a pastel sky appear in the background, perfectly captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A family of four stands at the edge of the ocean during sunset, captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer. The father holds a young child, while the mother in a pink dress helps another child wade in the shallow water. Trees and mountains are in the background.
  • A man and woman hold hands, smiling as they walk barefoot along a sandy beach near the water. The woman wears a yellow dress, and the man wears a floral shirt and shorts, captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer.
  • A family of four walks on the beach at sunset, captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer. Two adults each carry a child on their shoulders as they stroll along the shore, framed by colorful pink and purple clouds stretching across the ocean sky.
  • A man does a headstand on the beach at sunset while two children and a woman stand nearby, smiling and laughing by the ocean, perfectly capturing a joyful moment that any Playa Conchal photographer would love to preserve.

Staying at a Villa in Reserva Conchal?

A lot of my clients at Playa Conchal aren’t staying at either hotel — they’re in one of the private rental villas or condos inside Reserva Conchal. Families and groups often prefer this setup — you get the space and privacy of your own home while still having access to the Beach Club and Playa Conchal itself.

For portrait sessions and proposals, villa guests meet me at the Conchal Beach Club. That’s where everyone accesses the beach from, and it’s a natural starting point. From there we head out to the beach together — same shell sand, same calm water, same reliable sunsets. The experience is the same whether you’re at the W, the Westin, or a private house.

A couple walks hand in hand along a sandy beach with shallow water, smiling at each other, with lush green trees and hills in the background under a blue sky—beautifully captured by a Playa Conchal photographer.
A man smiles while carrying a young girl on his shoulders at the beach during sunset, captured beautifully by a Playa Conchal photographer. The sky is pink and purple, and the ocean waves gently hit the shore in the background.

Playa Conchal Photography

I photograph every session personally.

Weddings, proposals, and family portrait sessions at the W, the Westin, and for villa guests throughout Reserva Conchal. I’ve been working on this beach for years and I know where the light is, how the tide affects the sand, and how to make the most of whatever the evening gives us.

Take a look at my Costa Rica wedding packages or get in touch directly. Tell me what you’re planning and I’ll get back to you within a day or two.

VIEW FULL PROCESS
Aerial view of the impressive Riu Guanacaste resort

Check out my Guide to the Best All Inclusive Wedding Venues in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to an incredible variety of All Inclusive venues, offering couples the perfect setting to celebrate their love. Whether you dream of a romantic beachfront ceremony, or a secluded rainforest retreat, there are options to match every wedding style.