The thing about destination weddings is that, while the wedding is the main event, they end up being about the overall experience. I first met Helene & Adam in Playa Grande, and loved them immediately. Cool, laid back, artistic and talented… with an idea for a wedding weekend that was all about enjoyment that was music to my ears. I knew, based on what they wanted, that Las Velas Blancas was going to be the perfect venue for them: a place where friends and family could stay together, in front of one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica (I live here, so maybe I am biased, but I think not), where they could host a weekend of activities.

Yoga, surfing, pool time, dinners… a nicely planned weekend with a distinctly relaxed vibe that was all Helene & Adam.

The main event was in fact the wedding, when almost 100 guests joined together to witness them say their I dos by the ocean, followed by a laid back communal dinner under lights and palm trees. Simple, green, minimal decor was all that was needed because the love was everything!

{photo} Jeffrey San Juan

{venue} Las Velas Blancas

{floral} Stylos & Flores

{rentals} Los Primos Designs / Eventos Artesanos

{DJ} DJ Guana

{hair} Famous Points Beauty

{makeup} Maravilla Makeup

{catering} Pots & Bowls

{bar} El Bar CR

{cake} Victoria Zoch

OK, so I have to admit that I have been waiting about a year to title this post (so yes, this was an early 2020 wedding, it is not like we were gathering maskless at any recent time!) !! And… I also must accept that even though 2020 was by far a most challenging year, particularly for people in the event business, and even more so in the destination event business (yep, no gathering AND no traveling, are a bad combination), the few weddings we were able to have at the beginning of 2020 were absolutely worth it.

I mean, look at Michelle & Kyle’s amazing celebration. Beautiful, fun couple, stunning florals, custom beers, one of the best beachfront locations… DINOSAURS (I mean, look at those place card holders!!), hand painted cakes and a rocking band that kept everyone dancing all night (only we had known what was to come, we all probably would have danced a lot longer!).

Hindsight is 20/20 (no pun intended), but as I post these photos (and more early 2020 weddings to come in the next few weeks), I can only thing that hindsight means nothing if we don’t learn from it. So as the world slowly moves towards a semblance of what celebrations used to be like, I, for one, have learned to savor every moment. Smile, dance, love. Live today as if you do not know what tomorrow hols… because to be honest, no one does.

{photo} Raw Shoots

{video} Bacalao Films

{floral} Artflower

{venue} Pangas Beach Club

{ceremony music} Ricardo Fonseca

{band} Shine and The Shakers

{hair} Famous Points Beauty

{makeup} Maravilla Makeup

{cake & donuts} Cakeology