Weddings Costa Rica

COURTESY OF MELIA PARADISUS PLAYA CONCHAL

Have the wedding of your dreams in Costa Rica

If you are looking for a place for your romantic wedding, an ultra-special honeymoon, an anniversary celebration, a renewal of vows, or just a romantic get away, you need look no further than the natural tropical paradise of Costa Rica

Imagine your family and friends watching the ceremony on the sand as a glorious sun slowly drops toward the horizon on the sparkling Pacific waters, creating a magnificently romantic background to your special day. A flutter of live butterflies can be released to mark the moment. Your reception and honeymoon to follow will be equally romantic and beautiful, meticulously planned by our consultants according to your instructions.

All the beauty of this paradise is waiting for you in one of our Luxurious Hotels located both in the North or Central Pacific Coast, and the Central Valley or the Northern Plains. Whether you are looking for intimate accommodations for just the two of you, or a 5 star Hotel and Spa Resort for a party of two hundred, we can create the perfect atmosphere for your romantic ceremony in this beautiful tropical setting where you can drink champagne and dance on the beach.

Costa Rica is a republic in Southern Central America, geographically located South of Nicaragua and North of Panama. The water boundaries of our country are the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Our country has an unmatched combination of the beauty of unspoiled beaches, mountains, volcanoes and eco-tourism, all displayed in beautiful tropical colours. This country will fascinate and astound you with it's diversity and spectacular beauty.

Costa Rica is a country of hard working people and has become one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. It is a country with high levels of education, a stable economy, a year round temperate climate, a modern telecommunications infrastructure, and it is a country where many visitors have decided to stay and call it home. It's beautiful pristine beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea surrounding by rain and cloud forests, provides endless opportunities for fun, adventure, and relaxation.

Located in Central America, it is easy to get to with daily flights in and out of the country to North America and Europe. It is only 3 hours by air from Miami. It is both less expensive and safer to visit here than most European countries.

Once your decision is made to have your dream wedding or honeymoon in Costa Rica, we would consider it a privilege to help you plan it every step of the way.

Our Country

From valleys to mountain tops, from sunny beaches to tropical rain and cloud forests, a country spanning from one ocean to the other with a year round temperate climate, this has become one of the fastest growing tourist spots on the globe, and an increasingly popular choice for destination weddings and honeymoons. Find out why travel agents are calling Costa Rica the New Hawaii.

Spanish is the official language, but English is also spoken in many places. This peaceful country has been characterized by a democratic system for 150 years. Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America where family values are respected. It boasts a higher literacy and life expectancy rate than the United States, and is a peaceful, progressive country.

A beach wedding with breathtaking sunsets or exchanging your vows in a peaceful rain forest with a Volcano as your back drop are a few of the many reasons to choose Costa Rica for your wedding, honeymoon, or other romantic celebration. In addition to it's natural beauty, Costa Rica invests it's resources in health, education and environmental conservation programs. Many of the Costa Rican people speak English and are eager to make your visit a pleasant and relaxing one. Whatever location you choose, be assured we will give you the service and peace of mind you deserve during the most important time in your life.

Our wedding consultants can help you plan everything. After your ceremony, invite your guests to a small or large reception. Then choose an exciting honeymoon with ocean adventures, or tours into the rainforest, or visit one of the world's largest volcanoes. See spectacular waterfalls, or take a deep sea fishing trip or dolphin exploration boat ride. Pass giant sea turtles that are so important to Costa Rica, and in season observe the mighty humpback whales.

About us

Once you have made the decision to have your dream wedding in Costa Rica, working with a capable wedding planner is the next step. If you don't know the language it will not be any problem working with our wedding consultants. All they are fully bilingual: English and Spanish, and even some of them speak a third language. From the wedding cake to the honeymoon, we will make your dream wedding a reality down to the smallest detail.

Planning a wedding can be hectic but we can take all of the stress off of you. We will coordinate your wedding to your specifications and also the reception and honeymoon if you wish. We will make the daily phone calls to hotels, florists, and all of the other providers for your wedding leaving you free to think about the important things in your life.

We will custom tailor every detail to your specifications to make it an event with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

We will help you to find the location for your wedding that you have dreamed about. Whether you want to be married on the beach with the Ocean behind you or in front of a rumbling volcano as a backdrop, we can make it happen. We will contact you as often as necessary by phone, or e-mail to keep things running smoothly and within your budget.

Whether your dream is a romantic ceremony for two or a grand party of friends and family joining you in witness to the happiest day of your life, we have access to special locations all over Costa Rica to give you the most romantic setting possible.

The legal aspect

Getting married in Costa Rica is not difficult, but as in most foreign countries, it requires a little bit of paperwork. A lawyer will be appointed to handle all the legalities to make your marriage legal in Costa Rica as well as in your home country. Getting married here is a straightforward process. We do not require blood tests, birth or civil status certificates, or a minimum stay in Costa Rica.

All weddings performed outside of a Catholic church requires the presence of a lawyer, who then files all of the legal documents with the Costa Rican Civil Registry, as well as your Embassy, to ensure your marriage is legal and recognized internationally. Our lawyers and consultants handle all of the legalities. All necessary information will be requested from you before your arrival.

We work with various lawyers who are professional and responsible. They will also be available to help you with any other business you may have when in Costa Rica. Following you will find a brief explanation of the procedure required for getting married in Costa Rica:

Before you come to Costa Rica, our lawyer will send you a questionnaire via email, asking for some general information about yourself and your spouse-to-be (i.e. civil status, occupation, parent's names, age, birthplace, current address etc.) and the name and passport number of two witnesses, that you need to fill out and send back with a copy of your passports. (If you do not have witnesses, we can provide them for you). With this information, the lawyer prepares the marriage document and the sworn statements, which must be signed immediately after the ceremony.

The Bride and Groom will need to bring with them their original passports, two copies of their passport, and one copy of their witnesses' passports. Upon arrival, they will be required to sign a sworn statement that all information provided is correct. After the ceremony, the Bride, Groom and witnesses will sign a marriage certificate which will be filed in Costa Rica, sent to your own country's embassy and a copy sent to your home address.

Once all the documents have been submitted to the Costa Rican Civil Registry, the lawyer will submit a final certification to your Embassy for Consular Authentication. The authenticated documents are usually sent to you within 90 days from the day of the event (via Fedex or certified mail)

Witnesses

Costa Rican law requires two witnesses to sign the necessary documents. If you need witnesses, we will be happy to provide them for you. If you are travelling with friends they may act as your witnesses, however, immediate family members are not allowed to act as witnesses. Your witnesses will need to supply the following information:

Full name, no initials

Date and place of birth

Current address

Passport number and nationality

For both Bride and Groom:

Full name of both Bride and Groom, first, middle and last. No initials will be accepted.

Passport numbers and nationality

Birth dates

Place of birth

Foreign address

Occupation/Profession

Marital status-if divorced you will need to provide a copy of the divorce decree. If the Bride has been divorced for less than 12 months, she must present a negative pregnancy test to the nearest Costa Rican consulate for authentication.

Father's full name and nationality

Mother's full maiden name and nationality

Parent's address

With the above information, local attorneys will create all of the necessary documents to process your marriage certificate once the ceremony has taken place.

They will, Obtain the certificate itself. Obtain the authentication of the Secretary of Civil Registry on the Certificate. Have it translated from Spanish to English through an Official Translator, who will be duly appointed by The Department of Foreign Affairs here in Costa Rica. Both signatures of Secretary and Translator have to be certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs. They will get the Certification from Notaries at the Embassy of your country here in Costa Rica. And then your Marriage Certificate will be mailed to you so you can proceed to register your marriage in your country.

Courier services such as DHL, UPS or FedEx are available and can be paid in advance in order to receive documents quickly and securely.

Among the many services we can arrange for you:

Assistance from a professional wedding consultant

Availability of our staff for any needed assistance

Selection of wedding location.

Airport welcome and transportation to selected hotel.

Travelling arrangements for the remainder of your trip.

Pre-ceremony rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding

Pre-ceremony, relaxing spa treatments for bride and groom

Massage, manicure or pedicure

Bouquet for the Bride

Boutonniere for the Groom

Professional hairdresser and makeup artist for bride

Religious or customized ceremony

Handling of all vendor payments and contracts

Traditional and digital photography

Video

Catering

Fireworks

Dresses

Release of butterflies or white pigeons- for good luck and great pictures!

The Reception

We can help you to plan the kind of reception you want for any number of people. Our consultants will arrange every detail from a simple gathering with Hors D'oeuvres and Champagne to a complete dinner and dancing with a live band.

You will be involved in the selection of your wedding cake, from two tiers to seven, the flavor and colors of the frosting and decorations on it. You will pick the kind of music you want, the room decorations and flower arrangements.

Every special moment and detail will be recorded for you in photographs and video tape.

Our wedding consultant will work with you to arrange every detail to your specifications, with the same attention to detail applied to the planning of your wedding.

We can arrange for the following items for your reception. All according to your specifications:

Decorations

Wedding cake from one or two tiered... or seven!

Tropical flowers for center pieces such as orchids, multicolor gingers, bird of paradise or the traditional beauty of roses, lilies, bird of paradise to create the most amazing arrangements,

Reception dinner, or simply cocktails, hors-d'œuvre, etc.

Dj, or Live entertainment from the best bands in Costa Rica

Bottles of champagne

Gift bags for your guest

A variety of limousines are available, of the most recent models, available in black or white

Your Honeymoon

When you are finally alone together, find a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for you in your room. Enjoy a romantic turn down service with rose petals strewn on the bed, a bottle of chilled champagne, and room service at your fingertips.

In the morning, enjoy a relaxing breakfast in bed and then prepare for any activities or tours we have arranged for you. If you prefer you can spend the day relaxing poolside or on the beach with anything you desire to eat or drink available at your beck and call. After dinner take a sunset horseback ride and stop to view the awesome beauty of a pacific sunset shimmering on the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Another option is to play a round of golf, a game of tennis, or spend time in the Spa and Health Club, where you can have a massage, body and facial treatments, or enjoy the gym with modern work out equipment.

Costa Rica is famous for its sport fishing. You can treat yourself to the exhilarating experience of fighting a 300 pound Marlin or Sailfish for an adventure you will remember. If your interest is just viewing marine life, you can take a boat ride and watch playful dolphins native to these warm coastal waters frolic in the wake of the boat, pass giant sea turtles gliding through the clear waters, and if you are lucky in season you might even be lucky enough to spot the majesty of whales.

Baula National Park provides the rare opportunity to witness one of the few remaining nesting grounds for the Giant Leatherback Sea Turtle. Watch as the world's largest reptile lays her eggs and returns to sea. A professional multi-lingual guide from the National Parks, the Park entrance fees, a video show, as well as refreshments and transportation from the main hotels in Tamarindo are included in the price.

You can explore the tropical beauty and wildlife of your surroundings on horseback with an experienced ranch hand. As evening falls, witness the spectacular along the shoreline. The tour includes a guide, refreshments and transportation from the main hotels.

On a snorkelling cruise you can explore the beauty of the different beaches and pass by some breathtaking islands. This tour is a great opportunity to relax and get a totally different perspective of the area while enjoying the breeze, tropical fruits and drinks. The vessel will return as soon as the sun sets behind the horizon.

A full day of adventure awaits you in the rainforest. The tour begins with a drive to the rain forest area of Tilaran and Lake Arenal. Considered one of the most beautiful spots in Costa Rica, the area abounds with natural pools and springs heated from the volcanic waters. Experience dinner below this breathtaking natural wonder while watching the lava course down the mountainside. This unforgettable tour includes bilingual guide, lunch, and dinner.

Visit the active volcano in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and discover the natural mud baths. You can get to this fantastic place either by horse or walking. The tour includes: transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee and lunch.

The famous Cloud Forest is home for the Quetzal and unique species of plants and animals native to this forest. This tour includes: transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee and lunch.

With a guide, enjoy awesome snorkelling at pristine water bays, explore vibrant coral reefs and observe amazing schools of brightly coloured tropical fish. If you brought your surfboard, experience also first class wave breaks along these renowned beaches.

We can arrange these tours and more for you to enjoy on your honeymoon, making it the memorable time of your life that it should be.

The Hotels

Following are only a few examples of the hotels that are available for your Wedding, honeymoon, renewal of vows, or other romantic event. We have included these for you to have an idea of the variety of possibilities. We can help you to find the hotel, resort, boutique hotels and villas that are in the right location and fit your budget.

Melia Paradisus Playa Conchal

Melia Paradisus Playa Conchal presents all of Costa Rica's unique attributes in a premier all-inclusive beach and golf resort. Thanks to the exciting eco-adventures available at this Costa Rica beachfront resort and the championship Reserva Conchal Golf Course, you will find yourself embraced by 2,400 amazing acres of world-class sports and nature at its best.

Resembling a luxurious seaside village set amidst meandering walkways, bubbling fountains, shimmering lakes and lush tropical gardens, the newly appointed Paradisus Playa Conchal has redesigned the concept of the "worry-free family vacation".

Once at the resort, you will experience the best of all world with Costa Rica's most beautiful one-and-a-half mile white-sand beach, and an extraordinary 18 hole championship eco-golf course designed by golf legend Robert Trent Jones II. with each hole incorporated into the rhythm of the native tropical landscape with majestic vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Four bars, five la carte and one buffet restaurants, 24 hour room service, nightly musical reviews, free-standing kids center, beauty salon, and a shopping arcade with gift shops, are only a few of the many amenities to be found here.

Paradisus Playa Conchal offers the following additional resort facilities:

One spectacular outdoor swimming pool for adults and children with one Jacuzzi set in 20,000 sq. ft. of beautiful gardens

An exclusive Royal Service pool for adults only

Small children's pool

An 18-hole golf course par 71 designed by Robert Trent Jones

Spa and Health Club including massage cabins, body and facial treatments, spa boutique, spa salon and a gym with modern work-out equipment

Four lighted tennis courts

Casino

Flexible meeting space encompassing 5 meeting rooms

Tour desk

Car and bicycle rentals

Laundry service

Babysitting service

Medical staff on-call 24 hours

24-hour taxi service

Wi-Fi available in public areas

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort is a five-star resort located at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, in the northern region of Costa Rica. A three-time World Travel Awards recipient and three-leaf Sustainable Tourism Certificate holder, the 114-room property offers luxurious accommodations and friendly service in a quaint tropical environment.

It offers a unique natural setting with the Arenal Volcano and beautiful flowing hot springs as a backdrop. Tabacón Resort will provide you only with the very best in services and amenities. The hotel is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, in the middle of the rainforest.

Tabacon's hospitality mission is to provide the ideal setting and personalized services to help you attain a state of complete relaxation. The perfect dining experience is the ultimate complement to a full day of adventure, spa treatments and relaxation in our hot springs and verdant gardens.

Tabacon provides the most exclusive Thermal Resort facilities in all of Arenal with visitors arriving daily, seeking the sanctity of a 740 acre paradise at the foot of the Arenal Volcano. As a guest of Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort hotel, you benefit from longer hours at the Termal Springs and the Grand Spa, and gain generous savings on the day pass entrances, already included in your room rates. For the comfort of your vacation getaway, our hotel pool and outdoor Jacuzzi are open daily.

The award-winning The Grand Spa capitalizes on its choice Thermal Resort location with signature treatments and therapies, including Temazcal, a native american sweat lodge ritual unique in our region

Lose yourself in the Tabacón world-famous hot springs, an oasis embedded in a primary rain forest, featuring twelve natural thermal spring pools and lagoons, waterfalls, exotic gardens and trails.

The Hotel features a quiet swimming pool and outside Jacuzzi filled with thermal mineral water, the perfect place to enjoy the natural surroundings of the property: the rainforest and volcano.

Inroom Amenities

Internet access Charge: $5 per hour or $10 per day

Air conditioning unit

Cable TV

Safe deposit box

Coffee maker

Hair dryer

Mini-bar

Valet cloth hanger

DVD Player

Alarm-clock

Shoes bag

Laundry bag

Umbrella

Ironing board with iron

Bathrobes

Telephone

Cordless Telephone

Suitcase Stand

Slippers

Vanity Kit

Shaver Kit

Sewing Kit

Cala Luna Hotel and Villas

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas is located in Langosta Beach, on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, adjacent to Tamarindo, a charming fishing community which has been quickly growing into the most visited and fast developing beach village in the country, it enjoys all the nearby conveniences while at the same time being far enough removed to serve as a quite escape.

The deluxe hotel rooms and Villas with private swimming pools offer privacy combined with outstanding personal service.

Cala Luna consists of spread out villas which are surrounded by lush tropical vegetation; each enjoys a private pool and are connected to other villas, the hotel rooms,
Cala Moresca Restaurant, La Caletta Sushi Lounge and the hotels lobby, by winding paths that navigate through it's picturesque natural surroundings.

It is truly a garden with sand at it's feet, a short path takes you from the hotels restaurants and swimming pool area to the most beautiful and private beach point around, where even the birds and monkeys stop to see the sun dip dramatically every evening into the ocean. The sunsets at Langosta Beach along with it's pristine white sand is the perfect setting for weddings and other special events for which the friendly staff of our Agency and Cala Luna come together to create such memorable moments.

During your stay you will forget the world you left behind, you will dream and indulge while being our special guest in paradise.

Ocotal Beach Resort

Ocotal Beach Resort & Spa, is located 100 yards away from the beach. Its panoramic views of Papagayo Gulf provide a glorious backdrop for a storybook wedding. The resort offers luxury beachfront rooms. Ocotal beach is a white volcanic calm and tranquil sandy beach about one-third of a mile in length. It is an ideal beach for swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the sun and cool ocean breeze.

Ocotal is known for its outstanding style, comfort and service The resort has a spa, three pools, two jacuzzi, a tennis court, two restaurants, a gym, a scuba diving center, a sport fishing and scuba diving program.

The largest of the three pools is beachfront with a wet bar and poolside restaurant. The sunset infinite pool offers a cocktail service during one of the most glorious sunsets in Costa Rica. A signature feature of the resort is the amazing cliff-top Roca Bruja Restaurant, boasting a 270 degree view of the Pacific Ocean.

The resort has 12 bungalows, five suites, and 42 standard rooms. From your private terrace or balcony experience these breathtaking panoramic views of the Gulf of Papagayo or watch the multicolored sunset over the ocean and surrounding islands. A swimming pool and a Jacuzzi are located near these rooms. Newly remodeled and located along a cliff overlooking Ocotal bay, between the Reception and the beach, the spacious duplex Bungalows provide more privacy in a classy ambience. Extra features include refrigerator, private parking space and a plunge pool with ocean view (every 2 bungalows share a pool). Suites have an independent living area, refrigerator, spacious bathrooms with Jacuzzi and an impressive panoramic view of the ocean.

The Ocean Suite is beachfront with a king bed and a spacious bathroom, living and dinning area, refrigerator and private terrace. The Garden Suite is a spacious one room suite with two queen beds, large bathroom, and a private terrace. The Panoramic View Rooms offer a private terrace or balcony with a marvelous vista of the Gulf, and are located near the pool and Jacuzzi. The Bungalow Junior Suites are along the cliff overlooking the bay, with a plunge pool, and private parking.

All rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, telephones, coffee makers, safe deposit boxes, hair dryers, and private terraces or balconies. Suites include a living room, refrigerator, and Jacuzzi. Food and beverage service is available at all pools, rooms, and beach areas.

Our wedding planners will arrange everything from the rehearsal dinner to floral arrangements. Whether it is an intimate wedding for two on the beach, or a reception for your guests on a deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean, every detail will receive our personal attention.

For your honeymoon, in addition to the health spa, there is sport fishing, snorkeling, adventure tours such as canopy, horseback riding, or sea kayaking. Ocotal is also considered one of the best scuba dive destinations in the world, and offers the ultimate diving experience, with massive schools of tunas, rays, jack's, whale and bull sharks, giant mantas, sea turtles, dolphins, and more.