Wedding at Luxurious Resort in Costa Rica

It’s a small world, and the resort wedding I shot at Riu Palace Resort is a testament to that. When I met Samantha and Kyle for the first time the day before their wedding, we realized that we had two friends in common.  It turns out that some friends whom I had met at the Canada Photography Convention I go to every year went to high school with Samantha and Kyle.

We didn’t realize this the whole time we had been planning the wedding by email, just a crazy coincidence. My friends from the conference are great, and that was the first sign for me that Samantha and Kyle were an awesome couple.  The wedding was held at the gorgeous Riu Palace in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Riu Palace is an impressive 5-star hotel on the edge of Matapalo beach. It is the perfect place for a wedding. The buildings are elegant and have their own private coves for the guests. The rooms are luxurious, it has large outdoor swimming pools, and a great fitness center.

The Big Day

I started the day taking photos of Samantha and the other girls getting ready. The guys were getting ready nearby, so I was able to hop over to their room and get some photos of them hanging out as well.  We later walked over to the beach for the ceremony. There we were met by the cheering and hooting of all the other guests along the way.

It happened to be a windy day at Riu Palace. It was the windiest wedding I have ever photographed. Every 10 minutes or so we all had to cover up as huge gusts blew the fine sand everywhere. Samantha and Kyle and the wedding party were all so laid-back. They were able to have fun and joke around during the mini windstorms.

The ceremony started early in the afternoon so we had plenty of time to shoot portraits with friends and family before the portrait session with just Samantha and Kyle.  We walked along the beach and found some unique spots for photos before the gorgeous sunset.

The sunset near Riu Palace was so different than what I am used to in Manuel Antonio. It was exciting to have the opportunity to photograph the different scenery. It was just one of the things that makes Riu Palace Resort wedding photography so fun.

Afterward, the reception was held on the roof of the palace.  We were still in the dry season so it was a perfect night, and everyone tore it up on the dance floor.

Trash the Dress: The Day After Session

Early the next morning I met Samantha and Kyle for a Trash the Dress Session again on the private beach.  Because it was early morning, the light was totally different. Thus, the photos from the session have their own distinctive look.

As I had hoped, Samantha and Kyle had no problem getting in the water and having fun, and we were able to get some great shots.  To see more about this Riu Palace Resort wedding photography, you can check out the write up about it on the very popular Wedding Blog: https://blushingblog.com/real-wedding-samantha-kyles-dw-costa-rica/

Your Resort Wedding

Choosing to have a resort wedding is a handy way to kick back and enjoy your wedding day. Too many couples are far too stressed out making wedding plans. That’s the beauty of destination weddings. You can let somebody else handle all the minute details and all you have to do is show up and have fun!

Or check out my resource page for more info for Weddings at Riu Palace Guanacaste.

Need more ideas for your Trash the Dress Session in Costa Rica? Check out my complete guide below!

Want to learn more about All Inclusive Weddings in Costa Rica? Click on my guide below: