where2wed2012

We went with Sylvia from Costa Rica Paradise Weddings. Got quote from Larissa Banting who probably would've put together a great wedding, but quoted around $4k - insane! We received other quotes within the same range and didn't want to blow our budget on a planner. We also corresponded with Tropical Occasions but then they never replied to my last email, so not sure what happened there. Sylvia was responsive and sweet. She was patient with all my questions and reasonably priced. I like that she's Costa Rican and felt she had a great relationship with every other vendor we used. We did some research on our own and booked some vendors independently but she was connected to everyone in the end and helped make our time in CR so easy! She was also reasonably priced - definitely feel like we got a great value. She had to put up with a lot of long emails and many many questions! She helped coordinate some amazing flowers, a beautiful venue, and stunning ceremony setting. Couldn't be happier with her and so so glad we didn't pay over double for a planner, as we ended up with the wedding of our dreams! Good luck with whomever you choose!

Congrats! We got married in MA this past August (2012) and I'm finally adding updates because it was really hard to find info while we were planning. Noticed Brad commented - he and his band Los Mojitos played at our reception. They were perfect for our group and had everyone out on the dance floor! We used Sylvia from Costa Rica Paradise Weddings to plan - she was reasonably priced (some other planners quoted $4000 - insane and almost a 1/4 of our entire budget - she was less than $1500) and incredibly helpful! She's also super sweet and patient. The flowers arrangements she ordered based on our conversations couldn't have been more amazingly beautiful or perfect! Her day-of planning may be another option and I'd say it was worth having her help, as we had not visited MA ahead of time. We didn't want the Jaco area- too built up and touristy, but also thought the Caribbean side might be too rustic for some of our guests. Here's what we did: Stayed in Casa Paraiso with our wedding party - amazing villa which was also used to host welcome BBQ and farewell brunch. Concierge helped arrange chefs and every aspect of the villa was stunning. Nothing's too far away in MA either and we rented a car so getting around was easy. Had ceremony at Hotel Karahe on beach in shady trees. Guitar and drums as music with cocktails/beer and snacks from hotel. Stunning backdrop w/ crashing waves and sunset! (Wouldn't recommend staying there). Shuttled our guests from all hotels and villas (Sylvia helped arrange) and between ceremony and reception. Benches as seating. Reception was going to be at El Avion but was switched to the Event Center (both affiliated with Costa Verde). So glad we ended up at event center - perfect Costa Rica setting! Rustic but still really beautiful. Was hesitant about food, but it was yummy! Paid for drinks per consumption so avoided the insane open bar costs (this is where having Sylvia really helped!). Rented chairs and glad we did - the big chairs that are already there are really bulky and a little too rustic! El Velo did the photography and included the video montage as bonus - so so glad we have the video and paid a little extra for the raw footage - also really worth it. As I already said, Los Mojitos was great. Appealed to all and really friendly too. We are happy with every single decision and hope this helps Good luck!!!

We were afraid the Event Center would be too big for our 72 guest wedding but it was perfect! The dance floor was the just-right size and the band set up in the front (not on the band platform) so the space felt filled perfectly. We used Sylvia from Costa Rica Paradise wedding, El Velo for photography, Los Mojitos for live reception music, and Karahe for ceremony venue. We stayed in Casa Paraiso and arranged/paid for transportation for our guests to the ceremony from all their villas and hotels and between ceremony and reception. Many of guests stayed in villas and loved them. Just realized I'm adding an update to my own question from before, but had such a hard time with every decision and scoured this website and others for info, so hopefully this update on our August 2012 wedding will help others. We wouldn't change a thing and highly recommend all our vendors - good value and great outcomes!

we were debating between Koralas (Los Altos) and Karahe/Costa Verde's Event Center or El Avion. We ended up with the event center and it was gorgeous, but may be too big for 40 guests. Koralas would probably be just right for that size. It's modern and pretty, but the views aren't as striking (which doesn't matter much after the sun goes down anyway). I can't speak about Los Altos's beach b/c we didn't visit, but Karahe's is a stunning backdrop and has really reasonable pricing (agree with last poster and wouldn't recommend staying at Karahes). Los Altos condos are really pretty and can be affordable if you stay on a lower floor or share the space. They also have a great happy hour! We stayed at Casa Paraiso in La Reserva (a little further up the road but still accessible) and it was one of the highlights of the trip. There may even be enough space to have the wedding right there, but not sure if that's ideal. We used Sylvia from Costa Rica Paradise Wedding and were really happy with all her help. She's reasonably priced and we might have been able to plan a wedding without her, but we probably would've paid more and had a ton more headaches - she was especially helpful b/c we didn't visit beforehand and she really helped with every decision and all the logistics. The flowers alone that she helped get couldn't have been more perfect! We didn't visit Arenas Del Mar while we there and none of our guests stayed at the hotel, but that could be a good option for a smaller wedding. Punto de Vista is also an incredible villa. We didn't see it, but it looks beautiful online and becomes more reasonable if everyone stays there. We visited the Parador and are glad we didn't have things there - just not our style at all - definitely prefer Karolas or Costa Verde's venues over Parador's. Although if you're looking for a more resort-like hotel with ambiance inspired by ancient Rome, the Parador's your place. We ate at the Gaia restaurant and would probably choose Karolas over that location as well. Overall we were fine with our guests being in different hotels and villas - nothing was too far away (we rented a car) and there were plenty of opportunities for us all to get together (welcome BBQ, ziplining trip, rafting trip, wedding, and brunch). Just fyi, it's not easy to visit guest in Los Altos or the Parador (esp the Parador), so this may be worth noting if you have guests who will be staying in other locations. Everyone who had a villa was really happy - Casa Antonio, Casa Paraiso, Casa Feliz, Casa Capuchin, and Casa Miramar (all different levels of luxury and various locations - Alex from Vacation Villas Costa Rica helped my parents, my brother and a group of our friends get really good rates). We also loved Casa Romantica from the pics on the internet but it was booked during our wedding weekend, so no one we knew was able to rent the place. Good luck with everything! I was so overwhelmed at this time last year planning for our August '12 wedding, but we and our guests had an amazing time - everything was perfect and don't regret a single decision (although we - or I - agonized over each one!!)

We planned everything within a year and spent less than 20k for it all - airfare, wedding officiant, rentals, ceremony music drinks and apps at Karahe, rings, dress, live band for reception, planner, gorgeous flowers, amazing venue, luxurious villa, welcome BBQ, and day-after brunch - for 72 guests. We used Sylvia (Costa Rica Paradise Wedding) and she was well worth her reasonable fee. She is super sweet and helped us get great deals for Costa Verde's Event Center. We had a per consumption bar - it was open to guests but instead of really expensive open bar rates, we only paid for what everyone drank. The venue was amazing and didn't feel too big for our size. The food was really good, we weren't sure what to expect and thought it might even be bad, but we were pleasantly surprise. Brad and his band Los Mojitos did the music for the reception and everyone was dancing - the music appealed to all age groups, which was especially nice. We stayed at Casa Paraiso in La Reserva with our wedding party. The villa is amazing and the concierge (Dallas) is so helpful and friendly! Syliva helped coordinate everything with ease and we couldn't have been happier. The flowers and table settings were amazing. El Velo, our photographers, did a great job. I would say a planner made everything so much easier; we still followed up with some things on our own, but having Sylvia helped so much. At the very least would have her for day-of coordination b/c I can't imagine everything coming together without her!!! we didn't do all-inclusive because we wanted a personal touch and we don't usually travel that way, so we did spend some extra time visiting our guest in all their different hotels. There are definitely some pluses to having everyone in one place, but the luxuriousness of a villa really can't be beat! We loved Manuel Antonio for its lush setting, but have heard great things about the Guanacaste region too. I visited the Caribbean side about ten years ago and loved Cahuita but it was a really small town then and (unless it's changed a lot), I think Manuel Antonio was the perfect setting. We went rafting and ziplining too - would highly recommend rafting and planning group trips that your guests are welcome to join in on. Good luck with everything. Costa Rica is an amazing place and think we'd only have had about half as many people joining us if we'd chosen "just another" island.

We used Sylvia (Costa Rica Paradise Wedding) for our 72 guest August 2012 wedding and think she ended up saving us money and a ton of headaches. We also followed up with some vendors on our own, which helped us get lower prices through her, but overall she helped get us an amazing value through Costa Verde's Event Center, and we wouldn't have been able to do it without her. There were times when I wasn't sure and I refused to pay some of the pricier quotes we received from other planners, but in the end Sylvia pulled together an amazing wedding (everything was perfect) and we couldn't be happier!!

I'm getting married in Costa Rica this summer, but going through all the travel details with guests now. We have a large wedding (in terms of destination weddings) - 70+ people, and are heading to Manuel Antonio. We, the wedding party, and many of our guests, are planning to stay at the La Reserva Villas (casa paraiso, romantica, reserva & feliz), but they are out of the way and not near many restaurants or hotels. If I was starting over, I'd stay in Tuelmar, where there are bungalows and villas; that ways guests could be close, but still have shuttle access to the beach and nearby restaurants. I'm still looking forward to Reserva as all the villas look amazing - just hoping that they aren't too inconvenient! I'd have also considered Punta de Vista a bit more - once everybody splits the cost, it's not that much more than the other expensive villas. Just wouldn't want to have the wedding there, as I'd be afraid some people would just wander the villa and miss the party.

I've been looking into this tooo. Thought Arenas Del Mar cut off parties at 80 or so. I'm looking for the Manuel Antonio area and so far have only seen Costa Verde's Event Center, which might be too big. Does anyone know another place in Manuel Antonio that can hold around 85+ people with room for a dance floor?

These look great and it's nice how close they are. Did you negotiate price down? Were there minimum stays?

I've been considering this villa for family and wedding party. Did you have to rent it for 7 days? Is it Sat-Sat only? Also, didn't realize it's green - I've only seen the pics of the outside at night. Pics look amazing though!!

We are debating Costa Verde for our July 2012 wedding. How many guests are you anticipating? Where did you decide?