Why Have a Symbolic Wedding in Costa Rica?

Why get married indoors in a city, when you can get married outdoors in an exotic location? Would you rather have wedding photos taken in a decorated venue or against the spectacular backdrop that is a beautiful beach on the Pacific Ocean?

Hands down, that beach won out for Shereen and Dave.

While getting married legally in Costa Rica is simple, Shereen and Dave preferred to take care of the legalities at home. Then they opted for a symbolic wedding ceremony at Villa Caletas in Costa Rica. 

It couldn’t have been more perfect — a radiant bride, a brilliant sunset, the ocean as far as the eye can see.  When you don’t want to deal with the paperwork, you opt for a symbolic wedding in Costa Rica. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the most perfect day of your life.

A Wedding in Costa Rica

Shereen and Dave met 3 years ago at work in Toronto. Their love blossomed through their many shared interests, including travel. 

Thus, it only seemed natural that they travel to a new destination for their wedding. They felt like other common destinations like the Caribbean or Mexico were overdone. They wanted to do something different and Costa Rica is far more beautiful anyway.

Just like that, they ended up in front of my camera in Costa Rica.

An Unforgettable View

The view from Villa Caletas is quite impressive. It is hard to top nature when it comes to dazzling vistas, but Villa Caletas adds to the view quite nicely. The styled columns give the ceremony platform an ancient Greece feel and perfectly frame the view of the Pacific Ocean.

Shereen and Dave couldn’t have picked a more lovely spot to exchange vows and celebrate a symbolic wedding with their family and friends. 

To top it off, during the reception the Raptors, a beloved Toronto basketball team, won a game. Many of the guests were ecstatic and I was able to get a shot of their excitement. It’s included below so keep an eye out!

The Day After Session

Weddings are meant to be enjoyed. Some folks feel like taking a ton of pictures the day of keeps them from spending as much time as they would like with friends and family and enjoying the festivities. 

This is what makes a Day After Session such a nice choice.  These sessions are also referred to as Trash the Dress Session, but you don’t even need to get your dress wet if you don’t want to.

You get to slow down, take your time, and enjoy the reception. Then, the next day after you’ve rested and the stress and excitement have faded away a little, you and your new spouse can enjoy some intimate moments together and have them preserved in precious photographs. 

For this session, we visited Nahomi Park in Quepos and, of course, the beach in Manuel Antonio. 

Nahomi is a small park near the Pez Vela Marina in Quepos. It makes a fantastic location for photographs because there is so much variety. There is a small beach, some rock formations that are great for climbing on, some greenery, and even a playground and outdoor exercise equipment. 

It is on a point that juts out into the ocean, thus it has the sea wrapping around on three sides. There are several points where you can get great photos with an ocean backdrop and it looks like you are in a completely different location in each one!

Having a Symbolic Wedding in Costa Rica

Maybe you love the idea of having a destination wedding in Costa Rica but shy away from doing the paperwork. Don’t let it scare you away. Many venues/officiants will happily handle the filing and any document translations as necessary. 

But if you’d still rather not, there’s nothing stopping you from having a symbolic wedding and taking care of the legal stuff at home. A wedding is all about the ceremony and the party anyway. You can take care of the boring part when you’re not on a tropical vacation.

Need more info for your wedding at Villa Caletas?  Check out my complete guide below:

Would you like to have a Trash the Dress Session at your wedding? Just click below for more info!