Destination Wedding Photographer for the Adventurous Couple

It has always been a huge goal of mine to evolve into a destination wedding photographer, developing my skills in new environments and capturing a couple with a fresh perspective. I was delighted when I was able to be part of a larger vendor team (second photographer perk!!) heading down to Costa Rica to create the dream wedding for Lillie and Riley.

How They Met

Lillie and Riley are both bold, courageous, wandering souls that thrive off of adventure and new experiences. When they first met, Lillie had just gotten back from a trip to Peru and Ecuador and he had recently visited Vietnam. They bonded over their love for travel and instantly hit it off. Two years later and deep in love, they went to Costa Rica together, where Lillie had a feeling he would propose. After scenic outings in the jungle and romantic walks along the beach, Riley eagerly popped the question over brunch. When thinking over where to get married they wanted to share the country that held such special memories for them both: Costa Rica.  

Destination Wedding of Their Dreams

There was no other location more fitting for Lillie and Riley than the Arenas Del Mar Resort in Costa Rica. The free atmosphere, the warm sun, the tropical flowers and fruits and exuberant culture were all elements they wanted to highlight in their wedding ceremony. They included Pura Vida signs, and lots of bright colors in true Costa Rican fashion. They even incorporated their Corgi in details throughout the day, since he couldn’t travel to be there. My personal favorite was his hand painted likeness on the individual fans given to their guests at the ceremony. With every moment of their day, Lillie and Riley did an incredible job bringing Pura Vida flare to their special day and I know each guest had an incredible time celebrating these two. 

Lillie chose a stunning, glittery wedding dress by Berta, and bold Jimmy Choo shoes for her ceremony look. She would later change to a reception dress by East Meets Dress, and then one more party outfit change to Bronx and Banco, because again, this was the wedding of her dreams–so why not?! She’s got style. 

Arenas Del Mar, Costa Rica

For their first look, Lillie and Riley chose a cliff overlooking the ocean. Lillie shared that after being kept away from each other all morning, she instantly teared up when she saw Riley. I love these quiet sweet moments that couples get to have during their first look. I always want to give the couple time to just enjoy the moment, and relish in the experience of soon-to-be newlyweds.

The ceremony location was on a private beach and the views were just spectacular. The altar’s wooden structure was absolutely gorgeous, covered in palm leaves and pink orchids and roses that were a natural element to their tropical backdrop. Riley was grinning ear to ear as she glided towards him, and you could really see the joy and excitement in Lillie’s eyes. Their personal vows included quotes from Parks and Recreation, and with a kiss to seal the deal, the guests showered the newlyweds with tropical petals as they left the ceremony as husband and wife. 

Destination Wedding Photographer

The rest of the night was unforgettable! From the magical long single table under a canopy of twinkle lights, to their signature cocktail drinks and a neon glow sign. They wanted tropical, and all of us vendors put everything in to make it stunning and everything they dreamed. I usually don’t get the opportunity to help the wedding planners with decorations, but it was an all-hands on deck weekend, so I even got to sneak in a little shopping at the Quepos Farmers Market the night before to grab fruits to decorate the tablescape and bar with. 

It was an incredible day to remember, an iconic destination wedding that I was so lucky to be a part of. To any couple wondering if they should do a destination wedding? YES, do it! Where would you want to get married? 

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