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Janessa and Kevin’s Elopement at the JW Marriott in Hacienda Pinilla

micro weddings in guanacaste. A woman in a white dress and a man in light clothing run playfully along the wet, sandy beach under a cloudy sky at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with lush greenery in the background, capturing the joy of an intimate elopement.
A smiling bride with long wavy blonde hair and a veil holds a bouquet of white and purple orchids, wearing a white lace wedding dress at her elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica.
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Elopement at the JW Marriott in Hacienda Pinilla

Aerial view of a beachfront resort ideal for an elopement at JW Marriott in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with red-roofed buildings nestled in lush greenery along a sandy beach, framed by gentle waves and distant rolling hills under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of JW Marriott in Hacienda Pinilla

Janessa and Kevin had originally planned on having their wedding in Greece, but at the last minute plans were not working out so they needed other ideas for a beautiful place to have a simple elopement.

So they called me and asked me to see if it is even possible to set up a last minute elopement. “Of Course!” I told them, and explained that for a simple elopement, we just roll up on the beach and do the ceremony how ever we want. The most important thing is to make sure the vendors are available. I recommended an officiant, a hair and make up artist, and a floral company for the wedding day. I work with these wedding vendors all the time and could vouch for their amazing work.

  • A man in a beige suit with a pink boutonniere walks down an outdoor corridor, smiling during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. Palm trees and lush greenery create a beautiful tropical backdrop.
  • Assorted seashells and small stones are scattered on a white cloth, with a silver necklace and matching earrings placed among them—evoking the relaxed elegance of an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. Some sand grains are visible on the cloth.
  • A woman wearing a robe smiles as someone applies makeup to her lips and another styles her hair with a curling iron during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The image is in black and white.
  • A woman with long, wavy blonde hair and a floral hair accessory smiles while looking into a pink handheld mirror. Wearing a light robe, she appears happy and relaxed before her elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica.

Janessa and Kevin reserved at the JW Marriott in Hacienda Pinilla so I knew it was the perfect place to get ready. To not have to involve the hotel, we decided to have the beach wedding at the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club, where we could just walk out and choose our own spot.

Aerial view of ocean waves gently washing onto a sandy beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with small rocks and sparse vegetation along the shoreline—an idyllic setting for an intimate elopement.
Aerial View of the beach at Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club

All day we were worrying that it might rain, but the rain held off and we had the perfect weather for the ceremony on the beach.

  • A smiling bride in a white wedding dress walks outdoors on a sandy path at an elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, holding a bouquet of flowers and surrounded by lush green trees, tropical plants, and thatched-roof buildings.
  • A bride in a white dress holding a bouquet of flowers stands on a sandy beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, gazing into the distance with the ocean and a cloudy sky in the background—an idyllic elopement setting.
  • A man in a light-colored suit and sandals stands smiling on a sandy beach near the ocean at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with waves and an overcast sky in the background—perfect for an intimate elopement.
  • A groom in a beige suit smiles on the sandy beach during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, gazing at his bride in a white dress and veil holding a bouquet with ocean waves in the background.
  • A bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla Costa Rica, with an officiant behind them and ocean waves beneath a cloudy sky in the background.
  • A bride in a white dress holding a bouquet of purple and white flowers smiles at a groom in a beige suit during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica’s stunning beachside wedding venue.
  • A bride in a white dress and veil stands facing a man in a beige suit who wipes tears from his eyes, holding a bouquet. The heartfelt elopement unfolds outdoors at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, framed by a soft, blurred sunset in the background.
  • A bride and groom exchange vows on a beach during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The bride, holding a bouquet of white and purple flowers, smiles at the groom as an officiant stands beside them with the ocean in the background.
  • A bride and groom stand together outdoors during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, smiling at each other. The groom wears a light suit, and the bride holds a bouquet, both with flowers in their outfits. An officiant stands nearby holding a book.
  • A smiling bride with long wavy blonde hair and a flower in her hair looks at the groom during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. She holds a bouquet of white and purple flowers as they stand against blurred greenery.
  • A bride with long, wavy blonde hair and a white veil looks lovingly at a man in a beige suit during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The ocean is blurred in the background.
  • A bride and groom hold hands and face each other during an elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The groom wears a beige suit with a boutonniere, while the bride wears a white dress and veil with flowers in her hair.
  • A joyful bride in a white dress holding a vibrant bouquet laughs beside a smiling officiant with an open book, celebrating their elopement on a beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with gentle waves in the background.
  • A bride and groom kiss on a beach under a cloudy sky during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The bride wears a white dress and veil, holding a bouquet, while ocean waves roll gently in the background.
  • A bride and groom stand on a sandy beach at their elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica; the groom in a beige suit gently kisses the bride’s hand as she smiles, eyes closed, holding a bouquet of white and purple flowers with ocean waves in the background.

After the wedding ceremony we had plenty of time to take some photographs walking on the beach, ending with the spectacular sunset.

  • A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers walks barefoot along a sandy beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with waves and an overcast sky in the background—capturing the magic of a beachfront elopement.
  • A bride in a white dress and veil stands on a sandy beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, holding her dress with both hands as gentle waves approach the shore—perfect for an intimate elopement by the ocean.
  • A bride in a white dress walks barefoot on the beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, smiling toward the camera with waves and her reflection in the wet sand; a blurred person is in the foreground, facing her at this intimate elopement.
  • A smiling woman in a white lace wedding dress stands on the beach at an elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, facing a man in a light suit. The sandy, blurred background suggests a joyful wedding scene.
  • A bride and groom embrace on a beach at their elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, smiling and touching foreheads. The bride wears a white dress with a veil, the groom a light suit, with ocean and sand in the background.
  • A bride and groom walk barefoot on a sandy beach at their elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, holding hands and smiling. The bride wears a white dress with floral details; waves and ocean fill the background.
  • A couple in wedding attire walks barefoot on a wet beach at their elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The groom carries the bride, their reflection shimmering on the sand with the ocean and cloudy sky behind them.
  • A couple in wedding attire stands barefoot on a sandy beach at Hacienda Pinilla, embracing and smiling, with gentle waves and a cloudy sky in the background. This black and white photo captures an intimate Costa Rica elopement.
  • Silhouette of a couple holding hands on a beach at sunset at an elopement in Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica, with one person holding a bouquet and dramatic clouds above the ocean.
  • A man embraces a smiling woman from behind, kissing her cheek. Both appear happy and affectionate during their elopement at Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica. The black-and-white image features a soft focus in the background.

Ready to learn more about having an elopement in Costa Rica? Just click the link below:

Eloping in Costa Rica
Check out the Highlight Wedding Video

Wedding Album

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

Vendors:

Location: Weddings at Hacienda Pinilla

Officiant: Marcelo Galli

Hair and Make Up: Tamara Sabate

Florals: V Art Florals

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