Alyssa and Jordan

Aerial view of a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with two people standing in the ocean, surrounded by swirling white sea foam and dark water, both appearing small against the vast, textured waves.
Aerial view of a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with two people standing in the ocean, surrounded by swirling white sea foam and dark water, both appearing small against the vast, textured waves.
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Alyssa and Jordan

A couple in white clothing, celebrating their recent elopement in Costa Rica, stands close together under large tropical palm leaves, surrounded by lush greenery and smiling gently at the camera.

After 8 years of dating during college and grad school, Alyssa and Jordan decided to get married in Costa Rica with just their immediate families.

We just needed to plan on how to have an intimate beach elopement ceremony without a lot of fuss. They rented a house close to the beach big enough for their whole family to stay for the week. Now they just needed florals and hair and make up artists. So I recommended vendors who I work with and are local who I knew they were going to love.

Now the only thing was chance of rain. For about 3 days before the wedding day it had rained very hard in the late afternoon and during sunset. So we all decided to push the start time a couple hours earlier to give us a chance to have the ceremony and some portraits afterwards with less chance of rain.

We started the day with the getting ready process at their rental house.

  • Aerial view of a sandy beach with gentle waves, lush green trees along the shore, and a small rocky island in the calm blue ocean under a cloudy sky—perfect for a recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A bouquet of pink roses, anthuriums, and greenery—perfect for a recent elopement in Costa Rica—is tied with a pale lavender ribbon, resting on a light gray textured surface.
  • Close-up of a bouquet from a recent elopement in Costa Rica, featuring pink carnations, white babys breath flowers, and green leaves, set against a soft, blurred background.
  • A close-up of a womans hair styled in loose waves and secured at the back with a decorative gold hairpin, featuring white flowers, small pearls, and delicate gold leaves from her recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A woman smiles warmly in the background while another woman applies makeup to a young woman in the foreground, preparing for her recent elopement in Costa Rica. The setting appears to be indoors, with natural light coming in through a window.
  • A woman with curled hair is having her makeup done, gazing into a mirror. A white wedding dress hangs blurred in the background, softly lit—a serene moment before her recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A smiling woman with light brown hair sits indoors, wearing a white shirt, holding a phone and touching her chest—clearly excited about her recent elopement in Costa Rica. A bed and open suitcase are visible in the background.
  • A woman with light brown hair styled in loose curls smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a white top, posing against a plain, light gray background, radiating joy from her recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A black and white photo shows a couple on a couch inside a modern home, sharing a kiss after their recent elopement in Costa Rica. Reflections of trees and sky are visible in the large window, blending with the intimate indoor scene.
  • A man in a white short-sleeve shirt and beige pants stands barefoot, smiling and leaning against a closed gray door in a modern, minimalist room, radiating joy from his recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • Aerial view of a sandy beach bordered by ocean waves and dense green trees, with a few people and small structures—perfect for a recent elopement in Costa Rica near the edge of the forest.
  • Black and white photo of a smiling bride in a lace dress during her recent elopement in Costa Rica, as joyful bridesmaids help her get ready, adjusting her earrings and hair.
  • Four women stand side by side, smiling at the camera. Celebrating a recent elopement in Costa Rica, the bride in the center wears a white wedding dress and holds a bouquet, while the others wear colorful, floral dresses against a plain background.
  • An older man smiles warmly at a woman, seen from behind, in a light room with a bed—capturing a joyful, emotional moment that hints at a recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A smiling bride in a white wedding dress, fresh from a recent elopement in Costa Rica, holds a bouquet of pink and orange flowers as she stands beside an older man in a light blue shirt. Both look happy and cheerful against a plain light gray background.

Once everyone was ready we all walked to the beach together from the house.

  • Aerial view of a tropical coastline in Costa Rica, where a recent elopement took place on a sandy beach bordered by lush green forest and turquoise ocean waves under a cloudy sky.
  • A bride in a white dress holding a bouquet walks arm-in-arm with an older man in light clothes along a sandy beach, surrounded by trees and greenery, both smiling after their recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A bride in a white dress holding a colorful bouquet walks arm-in-arm with an older man in a light blue shirt and white pants. They are outdoors, surrounded by greenery and trees, smiling after their recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A bride in a white dress walks barefoot on the beach during a recent elopement in Costa Rica, holding a bouquet and smiling, escorted by an older man. Guests in colorful outfits stand on either side, clapping as lush green trees frame the celebration.
  • Three people stand on a beach after a recent elopement in Costa Rica: an older man holding a book, a young man with hands clasped, and a woman in a blue floral dress covering her mouth, appearing emotional. The ocean is in the background.
  • A small group stands in a semi-circle on a sandy beach during a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with the bride and groom holding hands under a cloudy sky, ocean waves in the background.
  • A small group of people stands on a sandy beach near the shoreline, celebrating a recent elopement in Costa Rica. A large tree frames the left side, and an island is visible in the distance under a cloudy sky.
  • An older couple holding hands after a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with the woman in a colorful blue and green dress holding a bouquet of pink and peach flowers. The photo is cropped to show only their torsos and hands.
  • A man in a white shirt smiles warmly at a woman with light brown hair, styled with floral pins, as they stand together outdoors near a beach—capturing the joy of their recent elopement in Costa Rica. The background is softly blurred.
  • Close-up of a person placing a ring on another’s finger during a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with an officiant holding a book in the blurred background. All participants are wearing white clothing.
  • A bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other during a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with an officiant standing between them, also smiling, and the ocean waves in the background.
  • A couple kisses lovingly on a beach after their recent elopement in Costa Rica, with gentle waves in the background. The woman wears a white dress and the man wears a white shirt and beige shorts, holding each other closely.
  • A bride and groom kiss barefoot on a sandy beach during their recent elopement in Costa Rica, surrounded by cheering guests in colorful attire. Green trees frame the scene as one woman smiles, holding a bouquet.
  • A bride and groom stand barefoot on the beach after their recent elopement in Costa Rica, holding hands and smiling, surrounded by cheering friends and family under a cloudy sky. The bride holds a bouquet as the group celebrates in bright, summery clothes.
  • Three young women smiling and hugging outdoors, celebrating a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with one in a yellow dress and another in blue embracing, while another stands behind them—everyone radiating happiness and joy.
  • A wedding party poses barefoot on a sandy beach after a recent elopement in Costa Rica. The bride and groom stand center, surrounded by family and friends in colorful, summery attire, with the ocean and cloudy sky behind them.
  • Four people pose and smile on a beach after a recent elopement in Costa Rica: a bride with a bouquet, groom in white shirt and beige shorts, and two men in light shirts. Waves and a green island create a stunning backdrop.

The rain held off for the ceremony and the family was able to walk back to the house without getting wet. During the couple photos with just Alyssa and Jordan it started raining really hard for about ten minutes, and we captured some great moments of the two of them running in the rain. Then it stopped just long enough to finish the session and get back to the house before the sky really opened up. But we were able to do everything outside as planned.

  • A rocky island covered with sparse greenery sits in the ocean under a cloudy sky, gentle waves approaching a sandy beach—an idyllic scene reminiscent of a recent elopement in Costa Rica.
  • A bride and groom stand on a beach after their recent elopement in Costa Rica, smiling at each other. The bride holds a bouquet of flowers and wears a white dress, while the groom wears light attire. The ocean and wet sand are visible in the background.
  • A bride and groom, barefoot and smiling, hold hands while walking along a wet sandy beach after their recent elopement in Costa Rica, with waves in the background on a cloudy day.
  • A bride and groom walk hand in hand along a deserted, wide sandy beach in Costa Rica, the scene of their recent elopement, with gentle waves and lush green hills in the background under a cloudy sky.
  • A bride and groom smile at each other while walking on a sandy beach during their recent elopement in Costa Rica. The bride wears a white dress and the groom wears a white shirt with tan pants, with waves and greenery visible under a cloudy sky.
  • A smiling bride in a white wedding dress stands on a beach after her recent elopement in Costa Rica, holding her gown with both hands. The ocean is in the background, and the blurred shoulder of another person is visible in the foreground.
  • A couple in white clothing, celebrating their recent elopement in Costa Rica, stands close together under large tropical palm leaves, surrounded by lush greenery and smiling gently at the camera.
  • A couple stands outdoors, smiling and laughing together after their recent elopement in Costa Rica. The woman wears a white dress, and the man wears a white shirt, surrounded by lush green trees and foliage.
  • A couple stands on a sandy beach, embracing and smiling at each other after their recent elopement in Costa Rica. The woman wears a light dress, and the man wears a light shirt. The image is black and white, with a soft, romantic atmosphere.
  • A person in a lacy, patterned dress stands barefoot on wet sand after a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with gentle waves around their feet; only their lower legs and the dress hem are visible as the scene reflects in the water.
  • A bride and groom, fresh from a recent elopement in Costa Rica, run barefoot along the shoreline, laughing as ocean waves roll in and a distant island sits beneath the cloudy sky.
  • A smiling couple walks barefoot on the beach after their recent elopement in Costa Rica, holding hands. The woman lifts her wedding dress as the joyful, candid scene unfolds with waves in the background.
  • Aerial view of a recent elopement in Costa Rica, with two people standing in the ocean, surrounded by swirling white sea foam and dark water, both appearing small against the vast, textured waves.
  • Cloudy seascape with gentle waves, a lush green island on the left, and small rocky outcrops in the ocean. The overcast sky creates a calm, misty atmosphere—perfect for a recent elopement in Costa Rica.

Wedding Album

Click the video to the left to see how the highlight wedding album came out.

Ready to plan your elopement in Costa Rica? Just click the link below:

Wedding Elopement Packages
Vendors:

Location:  Playa Espadilla Manuel Antonio

Officiant: Marcelo Galli

Hair and Make Up: Priscilla Solano

Florals: Floristeria Quepos

Want to learn more about the best wedding venues in Costa Rica? Check out the link below.

Hacienda Pinilla. A seaside wedding setup with rows of wooden chairs facing floral arrangements. Palm trees frame the scene, and two musicians with string instruments stand to the right. The ocean is visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

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

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

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About Kevin Heslin Photography

Real Moments, Real Memories

Capturing Your Costa Rica Wedding

I’m based in Tamarindo and I’ve been photographing weddings and portraits in Costa Rica for over 20 years.

Before every wedding I spend time getting to know my couples — who will be there, how the family interacts, what moments are worth anticipating. That’s what makes the photographs look like their wedding, not just a wedding.

You can see my Costa Rica wedding packages here.

If you’re planning a wedding or portrait session in Costa Rica, I’d love to hear about it.

Get in Touch