fernando

absolutely. doable, easy and adventurous. (this is a long reply so make sure you have time before tackling it) your guests shouldn't kill you, they should thank you (especially if you plan it right) ideally more of the all inclusive crowd should be willing to venture out and see some of the road less traveled. first and foremost you have to decide between your choices of all inclusive properties in the country. there aren't too many so that will make that decision process easier. google the following: 1.) paradisus playa conchal. seems to be the most popular choice. 2.) occidental grand papagayo. i believe this is a close second. 3.) barcelo playa langosta. great beach location with happening tamarindo nearby. 4.) barcelo playa tambor. the farthest of all of them (assuming you're flying into LIR and not SJO) but actually a really good option for the more adventurous travel. second thing to consider is weather. November is actually one of the very best months if you stick to the Pacific Northwest of Costa Rica. Your chances of nice weather for the day of your wedding are increased exponentially in the first three locations. third is the trickier part: exact itinerary. i could see it working like this: At Barcelo Playa Langosta: fly into Liberia (airport code: LIR) check in day 1, relax all day on day 2, have your wedding in Langosta or Pinilla on Day 3. Rent a big van or hire a driver to take you on days 4, 5, and 6 to Arenal and/or Monteverde. Return to Barcelo Langosta for days 7, 8, etc. fly out of LIR example of wedding at the beaches immediately around Langosta (all within 5 to 10 minutes from their property): Costa Rica Playa Tamarindo At Paradisus Playa Conchal: fly into Liberia (airport code: LIR) check in day 1, relax all day on day 2, have your wedding in Flamingo on Day 3. Rent a big van or hire a driver to take you on days 4, 5, and 6 to Arenal and/or Monteverde. Return to Paradisus Conchal for days 7, 8, etc. fly out of LIR. sample of a few weddings in Flamingo: Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging At Occidental Grand Papagayo: fly into Liberia (airport code: LIR) check in day 1, relax all day on day 2, have your wedding in Ocotal on Day 3. Rent a big van or hire a driver to take you on days 4, 5, and 6 to Arenal and/or Monteverde. Return to Paradisus Conchal for days 7, 8, etc. fly out of LIR. sample weddings at Ocotal: Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging At Barcelo Playa Tambor: Fly into San Jose (airport SJO). Check in day 1, relax all day on day 2, have your wedding in super fabulous remote and amazing Montezuma or Cabuya or Santa Teresa or Malpais. Do day drives to Cabo Blanco absolute natural reserve, Montezuma waterfalls, and Santa Teresa and Malpais for surf lessons and to see some of the really remote and spectacular parts of Costa Rica. Warning: this is for traveler's with a great attitude and a more refined sense of adventure. If your group can't be too far from the hotel amenities, has limited mobility, and is generally not adventurous don't consider this option. Sample wedding in Malpais/Santa Teresa: Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Sample wedding in Montezuma/Cabuya: Album View - Lifetime Digital Imaging Of course you can just choose to get married at the all inclusive hotel and make your life easier (and just focus on your activities after without worrying about having a movable wedding as well). In that case let me suggest the Langosta location because it is the perfect combination of a photogenic beach with all the conveniences of an all inclusive and all the activities of an interesting town adjacent. hope this helps!

the last time i was there was on june 5, 2009. this is where they held the ceremony. i don't know if since then they have moved their ceremonies to a different location. hopefully they have. let me suggest that you ask for a very recent photo (with a specific date) of where they are proposing to hold your ceremony. photographically speaking this location is limited at best. i guess one could make this work if you hold the ceremony as late in the afternoon as possible (think twilight), remove the trash cans, and bring in an exaggeration of candles. of course with enough details you can make anything look great. the one drawback of the aforementioned plan is that you'd be surrendering the very best light for formals at the sunset hour. (for some reason it's not letting me display an image... you can see it at http://www.weddings.co.cr/ceremonysite)

the most experienced wedding officiant in the country is Marcelo Galli Esq. do a web search for him (i don't know that it's cool to plug people's direct websites here). if you have him do the wedding he'll get around the birth certificate requirements.