What You Need To Know About The Cost Of A Costa Rica Wedding
As a general rule, it is recommended that you budget $300 per guest for a destination wedding in Costa Rica. Every couple is unique and each wedding is different which is why it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number. The amount of money you’ll need to budget depends on a variety of things such as the time of year, the area of the country, and how elaborate you want the wedding to be.
Costa Rica might be expensive but you get what you pay for! The country is safe, easy to travel, the people are super friendly, there are quality wedding venues and vendors, and in my humble opinion, it is the most beautiful in Central America.
Unsure if Costa Rica is the right fit for you? Check out The Pros and Cons of Getting Married in Costa Rica.
THE COST OF A COSTA RICA WEDDING
Let’s discuss numbers. Now, when I give these #’s I’m talking about the wedding day budget. This includes things like the venue rental, officiant, passed appetizers during cocktail hour, dinner, cake, an open bar, musicians, flowers, and event rentals like lounge setups, dining chairs, tables, and seating.
What does the wedding day budget NOT include? Your dress, hotel, flight, hair and makeup, gifts for the wedding party, you get the idea…
As a minimum, you should budget $200 per person.
I like to keep it real though and I’m all about being transparent, so let’s be realistic because this is a big decision. You should really aim for $350-500 per person, because what is the point in making your friends and family fly alllll the way down to Costa Rica just to give them a so-so wedding. At a destination wedding, the venue, the food, the music, the floral and decor need to be totally on point because you did all that hard work for a year+ just to have your guests feel underwhelmed.
So, what do individual items cost? Let’s dive in.
I’m giving you a range because everything is going to depend on the location, quality of the provider, etc, etc.
COSTA RICA WEDDING COSTS BREAKDOWN:
VENUES
Every venue has a distinct way of pricing since they have distinct policies, rules, and food and beverage minimums. Site fees can often range anywhere from $500 to $4,000.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Passed hors d’oeuvres: $3 to $8 per person
Plated dinner or buffet: $50 to $110
5-hour open bar: $55 to $110+ per person
Cake: $4 to 10+ per person plus delivery and cake stand rental
Dessert bar: $8 to 16+ per person
*Tax applying to food and beverage is on average 23% (13% sales tax and 10% service fee). Venues may have an additional service fee or banquet fee. Providers such as caterers may include sales tax in their prices but could possibly have a higher service fee. It is always good to verify the taxes and fees before this before signing the contract.
EVENT RENTALS
COCKTAIL HOUR
Cocktail tables: $20 to $40+ per table
Bar setup for cocktail station: starting at $50 to $150
Lounge with blankets, a low table, and cushions: $250 per lounge
CEREMONY
Ceremony chairs: $3.50 to $8 per chair (pricing will vary depending on the provider and style of seating chosen)
Benches: $15 to $20+ per bench (each seat 2-3 people)
Altar, arch, or chuppah: $150 – $400+
**Ceremony seating can be repurposed for small groups but a mid-event move fee of $50 to $100+ will apply. So keep in mind that the detail shots of your reception before the guests arrive won’t have the chairs in the photos which will look off. For large groups, this option won’t be available because the move will cause too much commotion during cocktail hour.
RECEPTION
Round or rectangular banquet tables (require tablecloths): $10 to $12+
Basic tablecloths: $10 to $15+
Specialty tablecloths and/or overlays: $20 to $25 each
Exposed wood rectangular tables: $60 to $130+ per table
Chairs $4 to $10+ each
Benches $15 to $25 (typically seat 2-3 people each)
Charger plates $2 to $3+ each
Napkins $0.50 to $1+ each
**Also keep in mind that transportation fees will apply for rentals. The transportation fee can be anywhere from $150 to $600 depending on how far the company’s warehouse is located from your venue.
FLORAL
Bride’s bouquet: $100 to $250+
Bridesmaid bouquets: $60 to $150+
Boutonnieres: $15 to $20+
Corsages: $20 to $25+
Floral crowns: $40 to $120+
Bridal hair flowers: $25 to $50+
Flower girl petals: $45+ each
Altar design: $150 to $2,000+ depending on design and size
Aisle petals: $200 to $700+
Aisle chair décor: $30+ each
Cocktail table centerpiece: $40 to $65+ each
Dinner table centerpiece: $100 to $250+ each
Buffet table flowers: starting at $150+
Cake table arrangement: starting at $100
Wedding cake floral design: $20 to $50+
Floral delivery, setup, and breakdown: $75 to $350+ depending on florist and location
DECOR & LIGHTING
Cafe lighting: depends on location and intricacy of setup
Metal lanterns: $10 to $35 each (includes candle)
Pillar candles in glass cylinders: $5 to $10
Votives with tea lights: $1 to $6 each
MISCELLANEOUS DECOR
Placecards: $.50 to $3 each
Programs and/or menus: $1 to $3+ each
Favors: depends on items
Gift bag: varies depending on items
Custom chalkboard: $75 to $400+
HAIR & MAKEUP
Hair $75 to 125+ per person
Makeup $60 to 95+ per person
*Travel fees typically apply and vary.
OFFICIANT
Symbolic (non-legal): $400 to $900+
Legal Officiant: $700 to $1,200+ (includes all documentation and processing)
Ceremony speaker with microphone for the ceremony and toasts $150 (some officiants provide their own sound system for the ceremony)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Prices range dramatically for a photographer but we recommend putting as much as possible towards this area. These are the memories you will share with everyone and they last a lifetime!
For an elopement, the cost is about $1,500 for two hours.
For a wedding, the cost is around $2,500 for four hours, which is the minimum amount of coverage you will need. Adding additional time will cost between $400 and $600+ per hour.
VIDEOGRAPHY
Packages start at $1,500 typically but can increase up to $6,000+ depending on the package you select.
MUSIC
Pricing for live music depends on the number of musicians and the style of music. The typical minimum package time is 2 hours.
DJ with 4-hour base package: $1,200 to $2,200+
Latin guitar: anywhere from $400 to $1,200 for 2 hours
Latin band: $1,500 to 3,000+ for a 4-hour package
Reggae band: starting at $500 per hour
Cover band $1,200-$1,600 for a 2-hour package
Sound system with iPod connectivity: $250 – $450+
ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
Cigar Roller: $500+
Aerial ballet: $1,000+
Bonfire: $200+ (where permitted, usually fire pits are required)
Fire dancing: $750 – $1,5000+
Fireworks: $1,500 – $4,000+
At some venues, the fireworks must be lit from a barge on the water for fire hazards. In this case, you should budget on the higher end of the spectrum.
As you can see, rates vary WIDELY depending on the area of the country and the quality of the provider. Do your research and make sure that the providers are reliable. Always ask to see photos and videos of their performances.
Want more tips on how to plan your destination wedding? Check out the blog posts below!
