Top Ten Reasons to Plan a Wedding in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a gorgeous destination. Imagine yourself at a mountaintop villa in a light, romantic dress, with orchids in your hair, on a warm, tropical evening, the air scented with flowers.  You walk through a stone arch onto a stone terrace where a Spanish fountain provides a calming babble in the background. You make your way to your groom’s side where you both have an awe-inspiring view of an island-studded deep blue sea.  After the ceremony your friends toast to your happiness as the sun sets and the stars and moon rise over the azure sea. You dine on delicious, fresh fish flavored with cilantro, lemon and lime, and afterwards the celebration and dancing begins to the beat of Latin music… 

TOP TEN REASONS TO PLAN A WEDDING OR HONEYMOON IN COSTA RICA

1. Affordable, direct flights from the east coast of the United States. I recently flew to Liberia Airport from Hartford, CT. I left at 6 in the morning and was sipping a margarita in the infinity pool by 2 that afternoon! 
2. Affordable in general! You can rent a mountaintop villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean from costaricanrentals.com for rates that start at as little as $150 per person per night, and that includes all of your meals! Many of the villas can accommodate a wedding as well. 
3. So much to do!  Many of the popular regions of Costa Rica offer mountain, jungle and ocean fun all in one area. One popular activity in Costa Rica is ziplining...an exhilarating, and fascinating high-speed ride through the rainforest canopy.  Zipline and canopy tours are all over the country, and acclaimed as the best in the world. I can attest to the thrills personally....I also went deep sea fishing, and we caught seven good-sized Dorado (also known as mahi-mahi). Jennifer, the cook at our villa, prepared them for us that night...yummmmm!
4. Latin culture, reliable services. Costa Rica offers the best of Latin American culture ...cuisine, textiles, pottery, music, hospitality…yet the infrastructure is better than most Latin American destinations, especially for weddings and events.  
5. The orchids. You have never seen orchids until you have been to Costa Rica; there are 1200 varieties! For one Costa Rican wedding I planned, we hired an orchid grower to come with a truck full of orchids from which the bride chose her favorites! They come in every color of the rainbow. Because of the abundance of flowers and foliage, it is very easy to design a wedding in Costa Rica. We designed tablescapes on our most recent tour, and everything I used to design my table was collected from the garden and jungle surrounding the villa. 
6. Convenience.  Costa Rican electricity is the same as ours; most people in the service industry speak English; and you can pay with dollars wherever you go. 
7. Gracious hospitality. The Costa Rican people are very warm and friendly. The motto in Costa Rica is ‘Pura Vida,’ or “Pure Life,” and they truly live by it. They say that Costa Rican people are among the happiest of the world. And while you’re there, you’ll understand why: daily life surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty, the land and the sea. The country is a worldwide leader in eco-tourism. 
8. The food!  My memories of Costa Rica are so delicious… fresh fish, fish tacos, plantains, delicious breakfasts of huevos rancheros with avocados and freshly squeezed juice!  You can taste the sun, and the Tropics in every meal.
9. Legal-ease. Costa Rica makes it possible for foreigners to be married legally there.  There are some requirements, and it is important to pay attention—and get qualified help—in meeting them.  But I plan weddings all over the world, and the legalities in Costa Rica are not that difficult.
10. Drama.  Weddings are momentous occasions.  In Costa Rica, the views—everywhere you look—match the drama of the occasion.  Breathtaking vistas for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.   

In a nutshell, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for couples who want something exotic, yet easy to get to, and easy to navigate. Couples who love Latin American culture and cuisine, and the outdoors, will love Costa Rica