The Perfect Costa Rica Wedding Package May Not Exist--But Here's How You Can Mar

Posted by Cheryl Smith on September 21st, 2016

Ah, Costa Rica, a nation overflowing with beautiful vistas and magical moments. And so inexpensive! You couldn’t ask for a better place for a destination wedding, could you?

Are YOU dreaming of a destination wedding on the cheap? Perhaps you’ve been referred to this wondrous Latin-American nation.

But hold on a second.

You're not likely to find an all-inclusive wedding package with airfare, lodging, food and complete wedding services all for 0 per person. If you find a deal at that price, you better double check -- is it too good to be true? If it sounds that way, it probably is.

A destination wedding is not the same as an elopement. It’s still a major affair, and in fact, in many ways is MORE difficult than dealing with a wedding here at home, because travel is complex and brings costs you wouldn’t otherwise have.

But just because there's no such thing as perfect, you can still have the wedding of your dreams. Smart planning and an understanding of what is possible will take you anywhere you want to go!

Here’s how you can whip up the perfect dream wedding that is both romantic AND affordable…

REMEMBER THE VENUE

In Costa Rica, like at so many venues in the United States, you’re very likely to find lodging where you hold the ceremony and reception. Costa Rica doesn’t have many grand halls built exclusively for parties and weddings, but hotels, resorts and even hostels have gotten very creative with their tropical surroundings. So when choosing a venue, keep in mind that it’s likely to be a central spot for you and all your guests. Choose your environment: jungle? Beach? Volcano view? It all starts with the venue.

Many resorts will also offer destination wedding services such as bilingual translators and English-language lawyers for all that paperwork. Talk to your venue about their additional services.

Also, pro tip: many resorts offer honeymoon packages as well as wedding services, so you can have a seamless, simple two weeks without the excessive travel burdens. After a wedding, you might need it!

PLAN IN ADVANCE

Costa Rica, for all its otherworldly charm, is really quite modern, and you’ll be able to make arrangements well in advance. Like, a year or more. And you may need that kind of time to get things straightened out down there while you live your life back at home.

Choose a venue and pick a date, and before you finalize that date, talk to your venue about the services they can provide given your timeline.

And while “plan in advance” seems like easier-said-than-done advice, sometimes people need to be told. A proper destination wedding isn’t easy to throw together with just a couple weeks’ notice...but people try!

Don’t be one of those people. Give yourself the time you need to prepare the perfect destination wedding.

Another benefit of booking and planning in advance is you’ll actually wind up saving money. You’ll make fewer snap judgments, you’ll be able to shop around, and you’ll certainly pay less for airfare.

ALWAYS BE SKEPTICAL OF VENDORS

This goes as much for the US as any other country. As mentioned before, a “package deal” that seems too good to be true probably is too good to be true. If you sign up for a 500-dollar-a-person deal, you may be on the hook for a certain amount of people...and if you aren’t able to convince all those people to fly to Central America for your wedding, you’ll have to pay the difference, and that can end up costing you much, much more than you would otherwise have paid.

Beware of third-party caterers as well; a modern resort can guarantee its food safety, but freelancers in Costa Rica might not. Use in-house food of a resort with a reputable restaurant.

The bottom line is smart planning. Give yourself time, don’t make decisions without due consideration, and be prepared to spend what is a reasonable amount of money, because unreasonable amounts never cut it.

For a resort with experience handling Costa Rica weddings with style, beauty and efficiency, contact Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma.