If you are thinking about planning a wedding in Costa Rica, there are some things you should know.  I am from the States and my husband is from Costa Rica.  We are having a wedding in Tamarindo Beach at the Diria in January so I know have a lot of experience with the wedding planning here in the country.  I want to give you some tips if you are considering having a wedding in Costa Rica.

 1.  It takes a long time to receive your marriage certificate.  I actually had my civil ceremony 8 months ago, because this makes the process smoother. We got married 8 months ago because we knew it would be a slow process and there is no way I wanted to be planning the wedding for an entire year and then waiting, waiting, and waiting for the certificate after the wedding.  With the slow legal processes here in Costa Rica, it took 5 months to get our wedding papers back.  Not only do you have to wait to get your certificate back from Costa Rica in Spanish, but then it needs to be translated by an official translater in English, and then you need to take it back to the States and have it filed in your county.

2.  Weddings here are not cheap.  After seeing my brother spend $15,000 on his wedding in the States last year, for nothing luxury, I was excited to save a few dollars here!  Now that I am actually having to pay for things, I’m realizing we are not saving much other than having fewer guests because of the distance and commitment it takes to travel.  Our wedding for 80 guests is costing about $8,000.  When I compare that to my brother’s wedding, he had 250 guests for $15,000.  He almost got the better deal!  I feel like I am getting some deals on flower arrangements and set up costs, and the food and open bar is outrageous!  Even the all-inclusive Hotels in Costa Rica charge $40/person for a private dinner for your guests when everyone should be eating for free!!

3.  Loss of control over details.  Even though I am living here, it is hard to plan a wedding in a foreign country.  Most things are up to the events planners at the hotel because they are the ones with the contacts and control.  You just need to hope that they are listening and taking note of what you want and that it turns out right.  Because it is not easy trying to book your own details in Spanish and doing it the Tico way.  I would say, to have a wedding here you need to be open to the details and and not worry if things don’t turn out your way. 

4.  No one will have a more beautiful wedding than you!  Here is the most positive point, the country is beautiful.  Can you imagine having the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers, chairs set up with white covers and bows,  in a lush garden overlooking the ocean.  Your guests are not only going to the most beautiful wedding, but you are giving the ones who could make it an entire life experience and something they will never forget!

5.  Only get married here if you are willing to give up on the details and looking for an incredible experience.  And do the legal stuff before you come and have a symbolic ceremony on the beach!

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Filed under: Travel on September 10th, 2007