How To Start Planning Your Costa Rica Wedding

We are asked all the time by couples where they should start when planning their wedding in Costa Rica. I'm going to break it down into six steps that you should do when you begin the wedding planning!

1. Create the guest list

I start with the guest list because so many other factors depend on this. The number of attendees will impact which wedding venues can hold your group size and how much you need to budget.

The first thing you should do when creating the guest list is write down everybody you would like to attend, and then categorize them into three groups based on how important it is they attend the wedding. This trick will help you in the case you must narrow down the list.

Wondering how many will attend your wedding? Well, pre-covid about 50 to 60% of invitees make the trip for a destination wedding, but during the pandemic, I've seen it be closer to 30 or 40%.

2. Build the budget estimate

I often see that people are not realistic about the cost of having a wedding in Costa Rica. Yes, Costa Rica is in Central America, and it can be less expensive than the USA or Canada. However, Costa Rica is one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive country in Central America. The cost for weddings is on par with what you'll see in the United States.

As a general placeholder. I recommend budgeting a minimum of $250 per person, and more realistically, $500 per person for the wedding day budget. What's covered in the wedding day budget? Things like the venue, officiant, your hair and makeup, entertainment, food and beverage, floral, and decor. What's not included would be things like your flight, wedding dress, and hotel room.

3. Create your Pinterest board and start pinning

Now on to something fun! Creating your Pinterest board will help you define the theme and color palette, and help you select your venue and the providers for the floral design and furniture.

4. Select your wedding planner

I strongly recommend you hire a wedding planner, because it will save you so much time and stress. You may not realize it when you start the wedding planning, but there are endless details and decisions that need to be made.

Having an expert guide you through the planning and take care of all of the details on the wedding day is a priceless investment. Take a look at my video on tips and questions that you should ask a wedding planner when hiring one.

5. Select the town

Costa Rica is a small country, but the different regions vary quite a lot. For example, the Guanacaste region will be different from the San Jose Central Valley, the mid-Pacific, and the Caribbean.

Some things you'll want to consider are the climate during the time of year you'd like to get married, the accessibility of the town, the town's size and offerings, what hotels are available at the budget, mid-range and luxury price points, and what activities are available nearby.

6. Book your venue

Finally, I recommend selecting the venue and locking in your wedding date. Remember to ensure your venue can accommodate your anticipated number of guests and that there is a rain backup available (if needed!).

Looking for help planning your wedding? Inquire with us about our wedding planning services for your Costa Rica wedding!