How to Plan the Perfect Costa Rica Wedding

When you dream of your ideal destination wedding do you think of white sand beaches dotted with palm trees and mountains covered in lush tropical rainforests? If so, Costa Rica is the destination for you. But you already know that or you wouldn’t be here! 

After you’ve crafted the mental image of your perfect wedding day in Costa Rica, it’s time to start the planning process. You may be wondering where to even begin with planning a wedding thousands of miles away. There are some things you should know before you jump on a plane. Here’s all the information you need, straight from an experienced Costa Rica wedding planner.

When should you begin planning a Costa Rica wedding?

The timeline for planning a destination wedding is important because it takes time to bring a wedding together even when you’re not adding in travel. Take the time to do your wedding right, and don’t expect the process to be as simple as texting your friends a week in advance and filling your suitcase with swimsuits. 

Remember your guests need time to plan as well. Send out save the dates at least nine months in advance and invitations about six months in advance. This makes sure that your guests can take time off work, book tickets, and organize their schedules to include your wedding date.

One of the perks of planning a destination wedding is the opportunities for adventures outside of your ceremony and reception. Recreational activities should be planned about three months in advance to give time for rearrangements and possible cancellations. Some popular recreational activities are hiking trips, jet skiing, and hot springs. The Arenal volcano bathing facilities are a great example that offer swim-up bars, water slides, and tropical cocktails. 

What time of year is best for a Costa Rica wedding?

April and early May are some of the best times to have a wedding in Costa Rica. Generally the rates are low for flights in late spring and the summer crowds have not yet begun to flock to the beaches. January, February, March, and late November are the next best options because these are the height of the dry season and you are less likely to have a sudden torrential downpour putting a damper on your celebrations. 

How much does a Costa Rica wedding cost? 

Your dream wedding in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be any more expensive than a wedding at home. Prices depend on a variety of different options you’ll need to consider for your event. For example, will you be paying for your guests accommodation or will that be left to your guests? How many of your family and friends will be attending? How lavish or low-key do you envision your ceremony and reception? An experienced wedding planner can help you find the best deals available for your wedding day with their established network within Costa Rica. 

Do you need a Costa Rica wedding planner? 

Planning a wedding takes a lot of coordination, especially when the celebration is taking place far from home. A wedding planner with experience in Costa Rica can make the entire process much easier and less stressful. Having a wedding planner is helpful to find vendors, venues, flights, and lodging. Working with someone who has a background in Costa Rica wedding planning helps keep the process seamless. 

Here at Blue Linden, we’ve planned weddings all over the world. The Costa Rica wedding community is one of our favorite places to bring celebrations to life, and we help to ensure that your destination wedding goes off without a hitch. We work with local venues and vendors to create your dream Costa Rica wedding and create an experience for you and your guests that you’ll never forget. We provide all the pieces needed to bring your perfect day together, from florals to seating and everything in between.

Learn more about how we can help you plan your dream Costa Rica wedding!