An Intimate Tamarindo Costa Rica Beach Wedding
Cassie and Shawn’s epic destination Costa Rica Beach Wedding was truly out of this world incredible. This couple is truly the life of the party. Cass and Shawn’s relationship is centered around their love for big celebrations and spending time with all of their best friends. In other words, they love to party and they love to go big.
When it came time to plan their wedding, they knew they wanted to do something a little out of the box. They share a passion for travel and big adventures. After looking at venues across Idaho, it felt like something was missing. Finally, they decided to take their love abroad to Costa Rica with just 40 of their closet friends and immediate family. Cass told me she realized she could invest in a full week long experience with her favorite people rather than a one day experience in Idaho. A Costa Rica Beach Wedding felt true to who they are and what they truly wanted!
Mil Besos Costa Rica Wedding Planners
Hiring a wedding planner is always a smart idea. However, hiring a wedding planner who is an expert in planning destination weddings is an absolute must. I have worked with so many wedding planners over the years, but I can truly say I’ve never worked with a planner as organized or friendly as Mils Besos. This incredible team organized every detail- from airport transfers, taxis, timelines, a full travel itinerary for my ‘off’ days, and more- they blew my mind!
Cass and Shawn envisioned a disco beach dance party with classic black and white details. I remember walking into their outdoor reception space and feeling absolutely transported to a magical oasis. Mil Besos went all out to blend the natural elements of the sand, giant palm leaves, lush jungle, and elegant details together. It felt intimate, fancy, timeless, and FUN.
Cass and Shawn’s Wedding Day at Pangas Beach Club
Of all the incredible wedding venues in Costa Rica, Pangas Beach Club had everything and more. It was the perfect choice for Cass and Shawn. Their hope was for their best friends to dance and party all night on the beach. They also wanted a venue close enough to town so no one would have to rent a car or drive home from the wedding. Pangas Beach Club is located in Tamarindo. Tamarindo is the perfect destination wedding location. The town is small enough to be easily accessible, but has a variety of amazing restaurants, cafes, and nightlife. No matter which hotel you stay at, you can get everywhere in town by walking. The beaches and proximity to water falls, volcanoes, and jungle is also incredible for adventure lovers!
It’s hard to choose just one favorite moment from Cassidy and Shawn’s Costa Rica Beach Wedding. I absolutely loved the beautiful beach house where Cassidy got ready with her bridesmaids. The all glass house blended in effortlessly with the jungle and no matter where you were in the house, you could see the ocean.
I also loved their personal and intimate wedding ceremony. Shawn’s dad officiated their wedding. Weaving in stories over their 8 years together as a couple created such a special intimate experience. Cass and Shawn shared self-written vows, each promising in their own way to continue building a beautiful life together with their furry family members and love for friends. It felt like a true celebration and honor to see two people who grew up together throughout their 20s promise to spend the rest of their lives supporting one another’s individual goals and self growth.
An Epic Dance Party on The Beach
By far, my favorite memory of Cass and Shawn’s Costa Rica Beach Wedding was their epic dance party that lasted all night. Every single person, no matter how old they are, danced for hours. Despite the 99% humidity and 95 degree temps, no one backed away from the chance to party. Cass and Shawn requested a lot of punk/grunge alt pop and the DJ delivered. There were countless shots of tequila. Layers and layers of clothes got removed. Piggy back rides. And just so much sillyness. At one point, I heard an animal noise and realized there were howler monkeys in the tree above the disco balls. Only in Costa Rica!!!
I’ll remember this wedding forever. Shooting destination weddings is such a joy. It feels like I get to personally invest more of myself in my work because of the extra time I have with every guest and wedding party member. I walk away feeling like I’ve made all new friends and got to know so many people on a very personal level. I can’t thank Cass and Shawn enough for bringing me with them!
If you love this destination international wedding, you might also love the Sayulita Mexico Wedding I photographed here. I also got to go to Italy for this Florence Italy Elopement here and Lake Como for this shoot! Scotland is also one of my favorite countries to visit. I photographed this amazing Isle of Skye elopement here.
Amazing Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Mil Besos
Location: Tamarindo Costa Rica Pangas Beach Club
Dress: The Bespoke Bride Boise
Hair & Makeup: Famous Points Bridal Experts
Florals: Los Primos Design
