Wedding at Nauyaca Waterfalls

Nauyaca Waterfalls is considered one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, which is why my friends Sarah and Todd knew it would be the perfect place to have their wedding ceremony. This was not an easy feat, as we had to travel by horse for 45 minutes through hilly terrain to get to the waterfall. This meant that after a long horse ride, Sarah would have to get ready in the middle of the rainforest. But Sarah and Todd are troopers, and fully enjoyed the experience of getting married in such a magical and unique place.

Once we arrived at Nauyaca Waterfalls you could hear the roar of rushing water. You could feel the tiny droplets of spray sprinkle on your skin. Looking up from the very base of the falls there is a first set about 20 meters high. These falls are cradled in a canyon of rock, jungle vines, and tropical plants that open up with a full view of the sky above. This first set empties into a natural pool where visitors can cool off for a leisurely swim. However our bride and groom were not about to go swimming on the day of their ceremony. Above the first set is another beautiful drop about 45 meters high. The base of this second set is a nest of many massive boulders with multi-colored green mosses forming on the rock. Both sets of falls have their own unique beauty, forming one of the most picturesque spots for a wedding ceremony.

Due to the lengthy 45 minute long trek, albeit a very beautiful one, there were only 12 close family members and friends who participated in the ceremony. I have seen many wonderful ceremonies but nothing beats an intimate setting with close friends, family, and the surrounding beauty of nature. We came prepared for the worst as we expected some rainy weather, but hoped for the best. Sure enough, we got the best. It turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny day at Nauyaca Waterfalls. The lighting was perfect to catch some great shots with mist coming off of the rocks and roaring waters.

After the ceremony we went to the Makanda Hotel for the reception. We were met with a larger group of friends to celebrate Todd and Sarah’s special day. Here there was a very light sprinkling of rain for the afternoon. The rainclouds made for an incredible sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Nauyaca Waterfalls had been frighteningly slippery at times and we were limited to the kinds of photos we could take. We could do very little moving around in order to avoid a water-soaked, badly scraped and cut up, bride and groom. So we decided to have a Trash the Dress Session, or “Day After Session” the following morning at Playitas beach in Manuel Antonio. Again, Sarah and Todd were awesome, easy-going and enthusiastic about climbing up the big rocks in Playitas. We could get some unique photos from the high up perspective. From different vantage points we could have a backdrop of the jungle or a backdrop of the beach and other islands near the shore.