It’s hard to imagine that it’s been six years since we got married in Costa Rica.  Since my husband and I were both previously married, we wanted to do something more fun than a traditional party. So we decided to elope with the kids to Costa Rica for a beach destination wedding.  We were getting married in Costa Rica!
Having worked as an event planner in the past, the idea of planning my own wedding in a different county was terrifying.  After much research on the internet, I found an event planning company in Costa Rica called Tropical Occasions.
Both Aimee and Karen at Tropical Occasions were wonderful. They took care of everything the flowers, hair, wedding cake, music, rabbi, photographer.  You name it, they took care of it.  We spoke regularly on the phone and thru emails, exchanging ideas.
One of the best suggestions they made was telling us to get our marriage certificate here in the states. The legal requirements and paperwork process is slow in Costa Rica and it can take a few months for them to file it. My husband and I had it all planned out.  We went to City Hall and applied for the marriage license.
We waited two days before our trip to Costa Rica, picked up our kids at school and told them that we were going to the court house to get married.  We drove to the Deerfield Beach County Court House with all three kids and when we got there the lady behind the counter told us it was too late. I was devastated.  John, my husband reasoned with her for a few minutes and she agreed to marry us.  As an encore, he sweet-talked her into marrying us outside in the courtyard instead of the office with the neon lights.
We went outside in the courtyard on Dec. 17th and said our I do’s.    We kissed, hugged the kids, and drove home.   Left two days later to Costa Rica with my wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses for the girls, and suits.
The day after we arrived at our hotel Si Como No  (means “Sure, Why Not” in Spanish), our wedding planner arrived at the hotel around 2:00 p.m to meet us. Shortly, afterwards the madness began with the hair/make-up artist showing up with our photographer Costa Rica Weddings.  The next few hours were crazy getting everyone dressed.  We split up, the boys got dressed in the kids room, and the girls stayed with me in our room.
The boys went down to the beach with the Rabbi and Wedding Planner.  We were waiting for a driver to pick us up.  I had arranged to have a Huppa on the beach for our wedding ceremony.  “A huppa–often spelled “chuppah“–is a Jewish wedding canopy with four open sides.
The ceremony was suppose to take place on the beach right before sunset.  We waited and waited and no driver (the driver had gotten a flat tire).  Our wedding planner finally showed up wondering what had happened.  We drove so fast down to the beach that all of us were queasy.   My husband “John” thought I had changed my mind, he told me later.
One by one the girls started walking towards the Huppa. As I walked towards everyone I could hear the music playing from the Guitar Soloist.  The sun was sitting, and there stood my family with the Rabbi.
It was a very magical moment for all of us. Simple, romantic and surreal. After the ceremony we walked around the beach taking pictures.  We couldn’t ask for a better background for pictures.
We went back to the hotel Si Como No , and had a nice family dinner.  They made us a two tier cake for us to enjoy after dinner and take pictures.
Costa Rica has become one of the most popular destination wedding locations. Â I highly recommend our photographer Costa Rica Weddings.
After the marriage, we traveled for another week around Costa Rica having more adventures and mishaps. Â Stories to follow….
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Cheryl
December 8, 2013 at 4:10 pmI am so happy for you! My husband and I lived 8 months in Manuel Antonio/Quepos and we saw many wedding parties while there, especially at El Avion. I know Si Como No well as I love to buy jewelry there. Congratulations. We have been married 24 years, but only had a judge wedding. My husband has pronised me a beach wedding when we return to CR life again, hopefully for our 25. If you have time, stop by my blog and look around. I began it while living there. Much luck to you. Your photos were lovely!
Carmen
December 8, 2013 at 5:12 pmThanks Cheryl. Congrats on 24 years of marriage. CR would definitely be a great place to celebrate your 25th. I’m looking forward to checking out your blog and pictures.
Maria Puentes
December 8, 2013 at 7:54 pmCarmen that was a great location, Costa Rica is so special, love that you guys got married there. Manuel Antonio is fantastic as it is so unspoiled. Love Ya,
Luly
Rob @ Hungry Escapades
January 11, 2014 at 5:20 pmOh your poor husband! He missed have been so worried when he thought you stood him up!!
It looks beautiful, what a perfect way to tie the knot 🙂
Carmen
January 12, 2014 at 1:08 amHi Rob, I think he was more nervous than worried. He was very glad when we did show up. It’s was the perfect setting.
Nina
January 28, 2014 at 7:45 amWow, this looks so wonderful, so romantic and what a great location! My boyfriend has also been married before, so for this ‘second time’ we are also looking for a special location and ceremony. Your post gave us some great ideas.
Gongrats on your five year anniversary!
Carmen
January 28, 2014 at 3:05 pmThanks Nina. It was perfect for us, quiet, romantic and intimate. Another fun place to get married is “Little Palm Island” in the Florida keys. I believe I did a post about them too. BTW- I’m also an event planner so if you need any ideas or suggestions, just asked.
Ronen
January 11, 2015 at 11:51 pmWhere did you get your Rabbi for the wedding?
Carmen
January 21, 2015 at 1:33 amHi Ronen,
The rabbi was recommended to us by Tropical Occasions our wedding planner. We had several conference calls with him, including individual calls. He did a great job and the kids enjoyed the ceremony because he had each of them tell us what our wedding meant to them.
Mandy Yanga
October 7, 2018 at 11:55 pmIt looks so perfect! Nothing extravagant, but I can feel the love overflowing in the pictures! Congratulations 🙂
Eva Gradovska
March 7, 2020 at 2:54 amI’m in the process of my research before visiting Costa Rica and hiking the Poas Volcano… And here it is, your article with such a beautiful story. So happy for you!
Carmen Edelson
March 13, 2020 at 3:50 pmGlad I could help, Eva!
Jacob
April 22, 2020 at 5:09 amThanks for the useful information, we’ll put it to good use!
Carmen Edelson
April 25, 2020 at 9:24 pmGlad to hear it, Jacob!
Luma Weddings
May 17, 2020 at 1:53 amSo so so happy I came across your blog! One, I LOVE that you are a travel writer – and I LOVE that you got married in Costa Rica! My wife and I had our honeymoon there, and we would love to do a vow renewal there. And as a wedding photographer myself, I am still just waiting for the day where I can shoot a wedding there myself! We love that country so much.
Carmen Edelson
May 18, 2020 at 7:28 pmThank you so much, I hope you’re able to do your vow renewal in the near future 🙂
Delwyn Joy Klevenow
October 22, 2020 at 12:39 amThis is a great article about wedding.
Carmen Edelson
October 27, 2020 at 2:22 amThank you!
Lisa
November 16, 2020 at 9:41 pmOMG!! This place is really beautiful! Especially the beach in the evening! if the wedding can be held in this place, it must be ab unforgettable experience.
Carmen Edelson
November 22, 2020 at 2:03 pmThanks, it was definitely unforgettable!
Polina Ivanchenko
March 22, 2021 at 6:57 amAwesome blog! I’m glared you shared
Carmen Edelson
March 24, 2021 at 5:06 pmThanks for reading!
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Carmen Edelson
May 18, 2021 at 2:47 pmThanks for reading!
Sarah
May 19, 2021 at 7:05 amAw your pictures look amazing! Congratulations! We also got married on the beach in Costa Rica (up near Tamarindo) and had such a great experience. Granted, you seem to have gone the less stressful route. We had about 30 family and friends join us and it was super hectic doing the whole destination wedding thing with all of those people.
Carmen Edelson
May 19, 2021 at 2:01 pmAwww thanks for sharing, Sarah! Congrats to you too.
Delwyn Joy Klevenow
June 18, 2021 at 4:04 amThanks for sharing this wonderful article.
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Carmen Edelson
June 22, 2021 at 7:13 pmHappy to share!
Aditya Singh
February 14, 2022 at 5:43 amNice content, keep sharing with us.
Carmen Edelson
February 16, 2022 at 7:12 pmWill do, thank you 🙂
Legends Bridal
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Carmen Edelson
May 11, 2022 at 8:13 pmThank you!
Berley CPA, LLC
December 28, 2023 at 1:09 amThank you for the post!
Carmen Edelson
January 5, 2024 at 5:45 amHappy to share 🙂