You’ve seen the photos. A couple stands on a deserted beach in Tamarindo, the sun dipping into the Pacific like a melting orange, and everything looks... effortless. But honestly? Planning a Costa Rica wedding is anything but a breeze if you’re relying on Pinterest boards and generic travel blogs. People think they can just show up with a white dress and a dream, but then they meet the "Green Season" rains or the reality of Costa Rican bureaucracy. It’s a lot.
The vibe is incredible, don't get me wrong. There is a reason why this tiny Central American country remains the heavyweight champion of destination weddings. It’s the biodiversity. It’s the Pura Vida ethos that actually, physically slows your heart rate down the moment you clear customs at Juan Santamaría International Airport. But if you want a wedding that doesn’t end with your guests stuck in a mudslide or your marriage license being invalid in your home country, you need to know how things actually work on the ground.
The Rainy Season Reality Check
Most brides obsess over the "dry season." They want January or February. Blue skies. Zero clouds. It makes sense, right? But here’s the thing: everyone else wants those dates too. Prices for resorts in the Papagayo Peninsula or Manuel Antonio skyrocket during these months. You’ll be fighting for vendors, and the heat can be—well, it’s oppressive. We’re talking 95 degrees with 80% humidity. Your makeup will literally slide off your face before you say "I do."
Enter the "Green Season." This is the period from May through November. Most people see the word "rainy" and run for the hills. Big mistake. Usually, it’s sunny all morning. You get these massive, dramatic tropical downpours in the afternoon that cool everything off, and then a clear, moody evening. It’s stunning for photos. Plus, the rainforest actually looks green instead of dusty brown. If you’re brave enough to book a Costa Rica wedding in June or July, you’ll save thousands. Just have a "Plan B" interior space. Seriously. Do not trust a tent in a Caribbean downpour.
Regional Nuance is Everything
Costa Rica is small, but the microclimates are wild. You can be shivering in a fleece in the Monteverde cloud forest and three hours later be sweating through your shirt in Jacó.
📖 Related: Terro Drain Insect Killer: Why Your Sink Is Crawling and How to Actually Stop It
- Guanacaste: This is the dry forest. It feels like a tropical version of Arizona. Very reliable weather, but very expensive.
- The Caribbean Side (Puerto Viejo): It has its own weather pattern. When the rest of the country is soaking wet in October, the Caribbean is often dry and gorgeous. It’s funkier, less "resorty," and way more affordable.
- The Central Valley: Often overlooked. If you want a cathedral wedding in San José followed by a reception in a coffee plantation, this is your spot. It’s sophisticated and usually cooler.
Making it Legal (The Boring but Vital Part)
You can’t just have your best friend "officiate" and expect it to count. To have a legally binding Costa Rica wedding, you need a lawyer, not just a celebrant. In Costa Rica, attorneys are the ones who perform civil ceremonies.
You’ll need to send your passport copies, birth certificates, and sometimes a "civil status" affidavit to your lawyer about a month in advance. They handle the registration with the Registro Civil. After the ceremony, it takes about three months for the official certificate to be processed, translated, and sent to you with an Apostille stamp. If you don't get that stamp, your marriage is basically just a very expensive party in the eyes of your home government.
Some couples skip the headache. They do the "paperwork" at a local courthouse back home and then have a purely symbolic ceremony in the jungle. It’s cheaper. It’s faster. Honestly, nobody at the wedding will know the difference unless you tell them.
The "Tico Time" Factor
If you are a Type-A person who needs everything to happen at exactly 4:02 PM, stay away. Just don't do it. Costa Rica runs on "Tico Time." It’s a real thing. It doesn’t mean people are lazy; it means they prioritize human connection and the current moment over a ticking clock. Your florist might be twenty minutes late because there was a sloth crossing the road or a fallen tree. It happens.
Embrace the chaos. The best weddings I’ve seen in Nosara or Santa Teresa are the ones where the couple just leaned into the flow. If the power goes out—which it might—you light candles and keep dancing. That’s the Pura Vida spirit. If you fight it, you’ll just be a stressed-out tourist in a tuxedo.
🔗 Read more: The Finger Food Hors d’Oeuvres Recipes People Actually Want to Eat
Logistics: The Guest Experience
Let's talk about your guests. They are spending a lot of money to be there.
A common mistake? Choosing a venue that requires a five-hour drive on unpaved roads after a ten-hour flight. Unless you’re renting a private charter to a remote landing strip in Drake Bay, think about the transit.
Liberia (LIR) airport is a godsend for anyone getting married in the Northwest. It’s modern, quick, and close to the beach. If you fly into San José (SJO), you’re looking at a long haul to get to the coast. Advise your guests to rent a 4x4 if they plan on exploring. A sedan in the Osa Peninsula is a recipe for a towing bill.
What to Eat and Drink
Skip the imported salmon. Why would you do that? You are in one of the richest agricultural zones on the planet. Go for the local Mahi-Mahi, the Red Snapper, and the endless arrays of passion fruit (maracuyá) and soursop (guanábana).
And the coffee. Oh, the coffee. A Costa Rican coffee bar at a wedding reception is a game-changer. It keeps the party going way longer than an open bar of cheap tequila ever could.
The Sustainability Trap
Costa Rica is famous for being "eco-friendly," but the wedding industry can be incredibly wasteful. Shipping in thousands of roses from South America has a massive carbon footprint. Instead, look for local flowers like ginger lilies, birds of paradise, and orchids. They’re native. They won't wilt in ten minutes.
Many venues now have strict rules about "fake" flower petals (they’re plastic, don’t use them) and balloons. The ocean is right there. Turtles eat that stuff. A truly great Costa Rica wedding respects the landscape that makes it so beautiful in the first place.
Actionable Steps for the Couple
- Hire a Local Planner: Not just a "destination wedding expert" based in Miami. You need someone who has the WhatsApp number of the local DJ and knows which roads flood in September.
- Budget for Shipping: Shipping decor to Costa Rica is a nightmare. It will get stuck in customs for weeks. Buy local or bring it in your suitcase.
- Check the Tides: If you're getting married on the sand, check the tide charts. I have seen more than one "altar" get taken out by a rogue wave because the couple didn't realize high tide was at sunset.
- The Footwear Talk: Tell your guests to leave the stilettos at home. Sand and cobblestones are the enemies of high heels. Flip-flops or wedges are the only way to survive.
- Sunscreen and Bug Spray: Provide it in bulk. The "No-See-Ums" (tiny biting gnats) at sunset are no joke. They will eat your guests alive during the vows if you aren't prepared.
Planning this kind of event is about balancing the wildness of the jungle with the precision of a celebration. It’s never going to be perfect, and that’s actually the point. The wind will blow your hair, a monkey might howl during the speeches, and it might get a little sweaty. But when that sun finally hits the horizon and you’re standing there with your feet in the sand, none of the logistics will matter. You’re in paradise.
🔗 Read more: Why the Nike Dunk Panda Low Anniversary Still Rules the Streetwear Scene
Focus on the marriage, let the lawyer handle the paperwork, and let the jungle do the rest of the work. That is how you actually pull off a wedding in Costa Rica without losing your mind.