Destination Wedding in Jaco Costa Rica

I am so thrilled to share with you Mandi and Dan’s gorgeous destination wedding in Jaco Costa Rica, now featured in the newest issue of Inside Weddings Magazine!

Mandi and Dan were married in one of my all time favorite places on this earth: Costa Rica. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited this beautiful country many times over the past few years and have made a lot of friends, memories, and participated in a few adventures! When Mandi and Dan got engaged they knew they wanted to have a destination wedding and as an avid surfer, Dan had traveled to Costa Rica on a boys trip a few moons ago and loved the country. While I was there on business, I scouted out some locations for them at Los Suenos Resort. They flew down shortly after and the rest is history!

Guests were welcomed to Los Suenos with these amazing out of town bags designed by Mandi’s mom, who owns a company that creates these custom masterpieces. I absolutely adore mine and tote it to the beach whenever I get a chance!

Mandi’s vibrant color story was shades of sunset mixed with greens. I absolutely love the palette her bridesmaids wore in all different colors. Color was everywhere and as it should be; Costa Rica is a colorful country! We couldn’t have pulled this off without an amazing team, who I want to give kudos upon kudos to in our credit reel. Seriously. They are amazing.

The Ceremony & Reception

Our ceremony was simple: a pretty structure draped with white linen, some benches with comfy cushions, parasols to shield guests from the sun, and THE Roberto Congoman on music. They have a CD. We have it. It is awesome.

We took over Casa Marlin, hid the furniture in the garage, removed the sliding glass doors that went out to the infinity pool and threw a rocking party. Long tables with centerpieces designed by Tony of Datura: A Modern Garden— mostly using foliage (and y’all say you don’t want foliage but look how pretty it is!) found in the houses garden. Yup. All the flowers you see– everywhere– from the bouquets to the centerpieces– Tony collected from the land. That’s what Tony does! He’s a floral magician.

Guests danced under a disco ball, aptly provided by our kick ass DJ who surprised us all with some blazing tunes. At some point in the night folks started diving in the pool fully clothed. We knew that was going to happen!

Lasting Memories

I have to say that I adore Mandi and Dan and their families. This amazing weekend filled with unique challenges (that only a destination wedding can bring! ever try to get a golf cart up a mountain? I don’t encourage it), lots of laughs, tears of joy, and feeling like you are more than just the wedding planner but an extended member of the family is the reason why I love what I do. I’m grateful to know that I get the opportunity to share in special life moments like this– where family histories are born. What an honor it is to have this job!

And without further adieu, here is the lovely wedding story of Mandi and Dan, as only Carla Ten Eyck can tell through that magic lens of hers. And be SURE to watch the amazing AMAZING AMAZING video by Jim Altieri of Vintage Cinema. Pura Vida! xx

Credit Reel

Bridal Gown: Modern Trousseau
Bridal Boutique: The White Dress by the shore
Cake/Catering: El Buensabor Chef Privado and Catering Service
Event Planning: Candice Coppola for Jubilee Events
Floral Design: Datura: A Modern Garden
Menswear: J.Crew
Invitations: Renaissance Writtings
Jewelry: Portobello Jewelers
Linens: Eventos Boadicea
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Rehearsal Dinner: The Terrace Lounge at Los Suenos Resort Marina Village
Rentals: Eventos Boadicea
Venue: Casa Marlin at Los Suenos
Videography: Vintage Cinema