How To Start Planning a Destination Wedding in Costa Rica

Posted by Moraya Iacono on February 28th, 2017

Many brides dream of having a destination wedding - and not just for the Instagram and Snapchat opportunities. Especially if you live in a colder climate, it's tempting to escape from it all and have your wedding on the beach or at a resort.

A destination wedding is far more difficult than a local one, for a lot of different reasons, including cost and travel logistics. The average wedding planner is used to working either locally or regionally and wouldn't be able to handle it. But Costa Rica welcomes the challenge, and many resorts would love to help host your wedding.

While there is no real magic wand for solving these problems, there ARE several options to Americans planning weddings.

The people of Costa Rica are known for their hospitality; this country hosts a culture of service and openness. Resorts throughout the country are set up specifically to connect you with English-speaking ministers, planners, caterers, and even lawyers in some cases. They'll help you take care of all the necessary paperwork...and there's a lot of it, so take all the help you can get!

How to choose the perfect destination:

Think about the setting.

Do you dream of getting sand between your toes, or is a jungle paradise more your scene? Whatever your style, Costa Rican resorts are there to help you plan and create lasting memories. From the beaches of Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula to the rainforests of Tortuguero to the culturally rich city of San Jose, you can find the ideal backdrop for your perfect destination wedding, and you won’t have trouble finding help.

Seek the wisdom of others.

Use your favorite travel site to read reviews and see what feedback other newlyweds have about the hotels and events located where you want to get married. The most popular social tourism sites are TripAdvisor and Travelocity, but there are also sites that are specific to Costa Rica, like Vacations to Costa Rica and Adventure Hotels of Costa Rica.

Make a list of pros and cons about each potential wedding site.

What appeals to you about them? Put all the pros and cons of each place next to each other and make note of all the "must haves" your dream site should have.

You can trust that whatever you choose, you'll have an amazing experience. Costa Rica is full of friendly people and unbelievably beautiful settings.

Ask the resort directly - how can they help?

Once you've narrowed down your choices to a few possible wedding sites, reach out to them directly to ask about planning and logistics. Inquire about group packages and whether they can help your guests with their travel plans.

Learn to trust in the experience of others, and learn to let the options on paper guide your final decisions. Costa Rica can help you turn your dream of a tropical destination wedding into a reality if you let it.

If you’re after a tropical beach wedding in Costa Rica, contact Ylang Ylang Beach Resort.

About the Company:

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is one of the most renowned and affordable beach resorts in Montezuma, Costa Rica. We are a sister resort of El Sano Banano Village Hotel and offer an array of tours and activities including curú wildlife refuge, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding and more. We also offer yoga retreats and peaceful spa treatments inspired by the most natural of ingredients found in Costa Rica.