TRASH THE DRESS IN COSTA RICA
Have you seen them? Those photographs of brides rolling around in the surf with their grooms, traipsing through muddy fields, or even setting their beautiful wedding dress on fire?
If you’ve ever asked yourself why anyone would destroy the perfect dress that they worked so hard to find, read on. Here, I’ll explain why couples love Trash the Dress Sessions and why you too will want to consider one for your destination wedding in Costa Rica.
“My only regret is not hiring Kevin for a day after session.”
HEATHER TEPE
What Is a Trash the Dress Session?
The first Trash the Dress Sessions started trending around 2001. Also called “rock the frock” or “fearless bridal”, Trash the Dress Sessions depict brides doing things you wouldn’t expect them to do in a wedding dress. You can trek through the rainforest, climb a tree, or hike to a hidden waterfall and plunge into the water in full formal gear. The idea has evolved a lot since 2001 and you don’t actually have to trash the dress if you don’t want to. Nowadays, Trash the Dress often means an extra portrait session for the wedding couple that takes place after the wedding day. I refer to these sessions as Day After Sessions so they don’t sound so scary.
By far, here in Costa Rica, Trash the Dress or Day After Sessions on the beach are the most popular. On the wedding day, we take photographs on the beach with a Costa Rican sunset behind you. Then the following morning, we head out again for a completely different set of creative photographs. The light is totally different — dark blue skies, soft morning glow — and that variety is what makes a wedding album really compelling. See more about weddings in Costa Rica and wedding photography packages.
Why Should You Consider a Day After Session?
Okay, so it sounds kind of fun, but you might still be wondering how anyone could ever have the heart to destroy their wedding dress.
1. It’s a Lot of Fun (i.e. Stress Relief)
A destination wedding is typically less stressful than a huge affair in your hometown, but it’s still a bit taxing. I always have fun with my couples when we take photographs on the day of the wedding, but they’re often pretty jazzed up. There’s so much anticipation and excitement, they don’t really relax until the event is over.
A Trash the Dress session the next day gives couples the chance to slow down and enjoy some moments alone without worrying about where they need to be next. They can let their hair down, enjoy each other’s company, and just plain have fun.
2. Creative Photographs
I work hard to capture genuine moments as well as be creative with my photographs. I know you don’t want wedding photographs that look like everyone else’s. However, let’s be realistic, there’s only so much you can do on the day of the event while we’re keeping your dress as clean as possible.
Trash the Dress gives us the opportunity to do whatever you want to do without worrying about looking amazing for the reception later. It can get quite exciting.
Trash the Dress Sessions (without Actually Trashing It)
Keep in mind that not every Trash the Dress session completely trashes the dress. Many brides have their dresses cleaned and boxed up after rolling around in the surf and they look just fine. Also, some brides will buy a less expensive dress specifically for the Trash the Dress session. This is why I like to call these sessions “Day After Sessions” instead. Many brides are not quite so sold on destroying their wedding dresses but I don’t want them to miss out on the fun of a Day After Session. You can have your cake and eat it too — it all depends on how crazy you want to get.
The couple typically gets dressed up in the same wedding attire, although some brides choose a different dress for this session. Some brides have the makeup artist come back for a highly polished look and others choose to have their friends help them. You can even ask your stylist on your wedding day for tips on how to leave your hair down the next morning for a more relaxed look.
One thing to keep in mind: when a couple goes into the water, the dress gets heavy fast. If the dress is long, I don’t recommend going in deeper than waist high — it becomes too heavy to move freely. That’s why having a backup option with a simpler dress gives you more freedom to jump in, let it swim around, and get those photographs. For example, if you wore a long dress and heels on the wedding day, for the day-after session many brides switch to a simpler dress and go barefoot. Either approach works. The important thing is that the pressure is completely off.
The Light Is Gorgeous
Sunset is early in Costa Rica — around 6:00 pm — so most weddings I photograph happen close to sunset. The best part about that is a brilliant Costa Rican sunset as the backdrop for some of your photographs.
The soft morning light on the beach is completely different. The skies are dark blue, the light is gentle, and everything has a different feel from the afternoon before. By doing a Day After Session, you get to take advantage of that light and come away with two totally distinct sets of photographs. Both are stunning and you’ll love them. You can check out this post to see how the photographs have a different vibe.
We Can Explore More Locations
The beach isn’t the only breathtaking backdrop in Costa Rica. During a Day After Session, the wedding party isn’t waiting for us so we can take more time to explore. I’ve taken couples to Llanos de Cortes waterfall for romantic shots, or to a local park on the water with rocky outcroppings that look completely different from the beach. A lot of times, if the ceremony was at one beach, we’ll go to a different beach the next morning — somewhere that looks completely different and photographs in a completely different way. That variety is what makes a wedding album really interesting.
I’ve even gone with the entire wedding party to visit a dramatic waterfall out in the Costa Rica jungle. We got some incredible shots from that one that you can check out here. The possibilities are endless and you can customize them to fit your vision. Many couples that come to Costa Rica to get married are adventurous couples who love nature — and the creative photographs from a Day After Session in a stunning location show off that side of your personality in a way that photographs from the wedding day just can’t quite do.
How a Day After Session Actually Works
It doesn’t always need to be the day after. A lot of couples come to Costa Rica for the whole week, so we find a day that works — a couple of days before the wedding, or a couple of days after, whatever fits their schedule best. Some couples do want to do it the day after because they want to get everything done around the same time. Either approach works perfectly.
We start early — around 7:00 in the morning. That way we go to the location, get the photographs, and are back before the couple loses any time with their guests. By the time we’re back, the guests are just getting up and having breakfast. It’s a quick, clean session that doesn’t take anything away from the week.
Sometimes couples want to do a half-day session and bring their whole wedding party along. When we do that, it’s a longer session and we usually all get lunch together at a typical Costa Rican place afterward. It turns into a really fun group adventure — one of those experiences everyone talks about for years.
Best Locations for a Trash the Dress Session in Guanacaste
For beach sessions, the approach is straightforward — if the ceremony was at one beach, we head somewhere different the next morning. A beach with rocks, or volcanic coastline, or a different character entirely. The variety in the photographs is what makes the album so much more interesting than if everything was shot in the same place.
Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Llanos de Cortes is one of my favorite spots — a beautiful wide waterfall about 25 minutes from Tamarindo with a sandy area at the base that photographs beautifully. It’s not too far from where most couples are staying, easy to get to, and stunning at any time of year. I have a good relationship with the people who run it, so sometimes I can get there early or stay a little longer than regular hours.
La Leona Waterfall
For couples who are really adventurous, La Leona is another option — more remote, more dramatic, and a bigger commitment logistically. It’s not for everyone, but for the right couple it produces some of the most striking photographs I’ve ever taken. If you’re up for an adventure, this is the place.
The Beach — Same or Different
On a wedding day, couples often don’t want to be pulled away from their guests for too long — so the wedding day beach session is quick and focused. The day-after session is where we slow down, get creative, and really explore. Going to a nearby beach that has a completely different feel — rockier coastline, tidal pools, dramatic waves — gives the album a range that makes it feel like a real story rather than one continuous moment. See more: elopements and micro weddings in Costa Rica.
What to Expect at a Waterfall Session
A waterfall session is an adventure. Expect to be walking on slippery rocks and through mud to get from spot to spot. That means river shoes or old sneakers are essential for getting around — once we’re set up for the actual photographs, if you want to take them off that’s completely fine. Don’t wear anything you’re not prepared to get wet and muddy.
We always go early in the morning — fewer people, better light, and less chance of rain. In the dry season, I sometimes take couples in the late afternoon after the waterfall has closed to the public. I have good relationships with a number of waterfall locations here, so I can often get access at times that aren’t available to regular visitors. That means we get the place to ourselves — no tourists in the background, no noise, just you and the waterfall.
Waterfall sessions work best for couples who are genuinely up for an adventure — not everyone is, and that’s completely fine. For couples who prefer to keep it easier, the beach gives us just as much creativity without any of the mud. Either way, the photographs are completely different from the wedding day and that’s the whole point.
A Day After Session in Costa Rica
A destination wedding in Costa Rica is already pretty epic. A Day After Session takes it one step further — a completely different set of photographs, a different location, a different light, and all the time in the world to explore.
Or maybe you didn’t get a chance to get married in Costa Rica like you wanted to because COVID got in the way. Give a nod to your original plans by coming here on your one-year anniversary and enjoying a Trash the Dress session. You’ll get photographs that you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
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