No Costa Rica beach weddings?

[amcarter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymddn My fiancee and I are getting married in Costa Rica in December. We have booked our stay and the wedding at the Paradisus Playa Conchal. The plan was for us to get married on the beach at the Paradisus. A few weeks ago the wedding planner at the Paradisus notified us that weddings were no longer allowed on Playa Conchal. She told us that we could however have the wedding at Playa Flamingo which I guess is the next beach down about 15 minutes away. We weren't thrilled about it but figured that if we wanted to have the wedding on the beach we might as well go down to the Playa Flamingo. Then just this past week we were told that we could no longer have the wedding at Playa Flamingo and that weddings cannot be held on ANY beach in Costa Rica!!!!!!! Are you kidding me. Does anyone here know anything about this? I find it hard to believe that the entire country of Costa Rica is not allowing beach weddings. I would think that Costa Rica would be a popular destination for such occasions. I am starting to rethink our decision on Costa Rica as our destination wedding location. Thanks in advance for anyone that has any input. Casey

I was originally going to have my wedding at a Paradisus location in the DR. I decided against the AI b/c I didn't feel comfortable with the cost of the rooms. In my research, I can personally say that there was a huge delay in responding to my many emails. I had to email a different Paradisus location just to get a quote from Costa Rica. Since you have already put your deposit down, I would recommend asking them for photos of recent wedding that were held there. They have the photos. I've seen them. In fact they offer similar cookie cutter packages at their other locations. One thing that you can also do is google wedding photos at Paradisus Costa Rica and you should find photographs taken by local photographers at real weddings. Eventhough I'm not using an AI, my wedding planner in CR was nice enough to send me contact info for recent clients. I spoke to one that was nice enough to provide her personal photos of CR and she provided a lot of feedback about her wedding experience. You can perhaps ask your wedding coordinator for contact info from recent brides.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

[Ask.CostaRica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve&Julia Frenando, seems like you know the hotel well, and I would like to ask. I am getting married at the Paradisus July 10, 2010 I have made my deposit for the rooms and where I think the hotel is a beauty from the pictures and all the research I did. But after reading what you wrote I'm concerned my finace and I have no interest to get married on the beach but wanted the gazebo church with no walls looking thing. Is that not pretty? do you recommended another location? Also to Fernando or anyone else who is going to be there before me. What are good wedding favors? I am guessing 30 or so guest (more then what I expected) and this is just from my save the dates, I haven't sent out the invitations yet. I was thinking of hopefully arriving early enough to purchase pretty "costa rica photo alubms" if i find that and have that for everyone in a nice bag or maybe the costa rican alcholol guaro. but can I buy that from the hotel or will I need to find an outside vendor?

Dear Steve & Julia,

Save yourself some cash and buy some of your souvenirs at AutoMercado in Tamarindo. They have a section with coffees for export, liquors, bags, etc. For albums on Costa Rica try a bookstore on the way to Conchal (2km before Conchal on your left) but compare prices there to the ones in Conchal, I'm not sure it will be cheaper.
I think I was able to upload a photo of the Gazebo so you get an idea. I was having trouble attaching.
Hope this helps.

[Ask.CostaRica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymddn My fiancee and I are getting married in Costa Rica in December. We have booked our stay and the wedding at the Paradisus Playa Conchal. The plan was for us to get married on the beach at the Paradisus. A few weeks ago the wedding planner at the Paradisus notified us that weddings were no longer allowed on Playa Conchal. She told us that we could however have the wedding at Playa Flamingo which I guess is the next beach down about 15 minutes away. We weren't thrilled about it but figured that if we wanted to have the wedding on the beach we might as well go down to the Playa Flamingo. Then just this past week we were told that we could no longer have the wedding at Playa Flamingo and that weddings cannot be held on ANY beach in Costa Rica!!!!!!! Are you kidding me. Does anyone here know anything about this? I find it hard to believe that the entire country of Costa Rica is not allowing beach weddings. I would think that Costa Rica would be a popular destination for such occasions. I am starting to rethink our decision on Costa Rica as our destination wedding location. Thanks in advance for anyone that has any input. Casey

Casey,

I wanted to share with you a beautiful wedding done at Flamingo by Paradisus Playa Conchal. Hope this helps.

candace & mike - paradisus playa conchal guanacaste, costa rica 2009

[Steve&Julia]

Hello thanks for the response what is AutoMercado in Tamarindo? and where is that? near hotel or on the way or by the airport? I wanted to get like a beach bag thing that says Costa Rica or pura vida and just put goodies like flip flops or a little souveniour from CR but not sure if i'll have time tofind this while i'm out there preparing for the wedding. I found some place that the travel agent gave me and they stuff is nice but EXPENSIVE like $6 for a deck of cards this can add up considering i might want 30 deck of cards plus i want to buy bottles of Guaro the CR alcholol and that iknow i want one per guest.

 

Any thoughts on where to to get this quick and easy once i get out there?

 

Now my travel agent is telling me that the hotel only allows 3 adults to a room not 4. that stinks because two couples i know wanted to share a room and save in cost but this is not going to be an option now. has anyone had this issue? if so any thoughts?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ask.CostaRica Dear Steve & Julia,   Save yourself some cash and buy some of your souvenirs at AutoMercado in Tamarindo. They have a section with coffees for export, liquors, bags, etc. For albums on Costa Rica try a bookstore on the way to Conchal (2km before Conchal on your left) but compare prices there to the ones in Conchal, I'm not sure it will be cheaper. I think I was able to upload a photo of the Gazebo so you get an idea. I was having trouble attaching. Hope this helps.

[Ask.CostaRica]

Sorry about that. AutoMercado is our best grocery store chain in the country. It is about 1 km from the center of Tamarindo. As far as the bags, try downtown Tama at some of the souvenir stores, haggle, haggle, haggle.

Guaro? at AutoMercado.

As far as the rooming situation goes. I will do some asking and let you know.

[Steve&Julia]

Well thank you for everythng, but we moved our wedding to Mexico.. we loved Costa Rica but flights to Liberia are not senseible. no direct flights from NY and the flights right now are over $600...its asking too much of our friends. if its that much now we know it wont go down for next July. Flights to Mexico are $400 cheaper.

 

Off to Paraduisus Cancun we go.

Farewell

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ask.CostaRica Sorry about that. AutoMercado is our best grocery store chain in the country. It is about 1 km from the center of Tamarindo. As far as the bags, try downtown Tama at some of the souvenir stores, haggle, haggle, haggle. Guaro? at AutoMercado. As far as the rooming situation goes. I will do some asking and let you know.

[Ask.CostaRica]

Sorry to hear that we won't have you here in CR. We wish you the best in Mexico. Please let us know when you have your photos up to take a look.

 

All the best to you,

 

El Velo Photography Team

[yumii28]

Great information