You’ve made the incredible decision to have a destination wedding/elopement in Costa Rica. This is so exciting! Costa Rica has so many beautiful options for you to choose from as the backdrop for your special day. This article will walk you through how to get married in Costa Rica + when to elope, what to wear, a planning checklist, and the top 5 places in Costa Rica to host your wedding, the top 5 places to elope in Costa Rica, and the top 5 Airbnbs to enjoy.
Getting Married in Costa Rica
Use this section to review how to make your marriage official (and legal), planning tips, when to get married + what to wear! Then, keep reading for my recommendations of where to get married and where to stay!
How to Legally Get Married in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is such a popular destination for elopements and weddings. So long as you follow the marital laws of Costa Rica your marriage is legal and recognized internationally. You’ll need to apply for a marriage license in Costa Rica, once you receive a translated copy at home (a few months later), you’ll bring it to your local town office to have it registered. The US Bureau of Consular Affairs outlines standards for international weddings here.
Below you can find general steps:
- Complete an application at least 1 month prior to your wedding/elopement date. Be sure to include all relevant copies of paperwork and identification. The attorney you choose to work with in Costa Rica will help you fill out the paperwork and submit it.
- Hire a qualified officiant. To ensure the marriage is legal, you want to have the right person officiating your wedding.
- Civil ceremonies need a registered lawyer or judge to preside over the ceremony. They will also provide the “attorney’s protocol” (in English if you do not speak or read Spanish). This protocol must be signed by you and your partner on the wedding day, and be filed by your officiant.
- Catholic ceremonies must take place in a Catholic Church with a priest presiding. You and your partner must be confirmed Catholics, and complete all of the church’s requirements including premarital counseling. Note, these services often take place only in Spanish.
- Other religious ceremonies are considered civil ceremonies and must comply with civil ceremony standards. If you would like to be married by a non-Catholic religious leader, be sure to have a lawyer or judge present to fill out the appropriate paperwork and meet the standards.
- Have at least 2 witnesses who are not related to you. If you are having friends at your wedding this will suffice. If you are eloping and having a private ceremony your venue or vendors may count. The witnesses will sign your marriage certificate along with the attorney, you, and your partner.
- Register your marriage at home. After the wedding, your attorney will file the paperwork with the Costa Rican Civil Registry. Here your marriage certificate will be official and notarized. It will be translated and forwarded to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs which will again notarize your marriage certificate and then forward it to your home. When you receive your marriage certificate (after about 3 months), you’ll bring it to your local municipality to have it registered.
Planning Your Elopement in Costa Rica
One of the biggest concerns when planning a destination wedding is not having control or an opinion in the planning process from afar. Rest assured, you can be as involved in the planning process as you would like. And in some ways, planning a destination wedding lets you get creative and customize the affair. Check out this article about ways to add personality to your wedding day.
When planning your destination wedding vendors you may want to hire a combination of local and traveling vendors. Mil Besos and Costa Rica Wedding Planning are great resources for finding local vendors in Costa Rica to help make your dream wedding a reality. You can also check out this article about hiring your destination wedding photographer. You will want to hire vendors like your photographer and videographer if you choose to have one early in the planning process since they’ll be able to help you coordinate your wedding and elopement.
If you are getting married at a venue, check in with their wedding coordinator to see what is included in their packages, and if they work with or recommend specific vendors.
Traveling to Costa Rica
Costa Rica boasts two international airports (Juan Santamaría International Airport [SJO] + Guanacaste Aeropuerto [LIR]), receiving direct flights from many major US airports. You just need a valid passport (good for 6 months beyond your travel dates) and a return ticket or proof of continuing travel to another country. Travel visas are not required.
When to Have Your Costa Rican Wedding/Elopement
While the weather in Costa Rica is generally hot and humid. Here are some things to consider about each season to help you plan when to have your Costa Rica wedding:
Winter is the most popular tourist time. December through March is the driest season in Costa Rica, and the perfect time/location to escape the cold weather of the north.
Spring is gorgeous. The cooler weather is perfect for hiking to your jungle elopement, but you should note that May is the start of the rainy season.
Summer is the rainy season. During this time of year, you can expect extreme humidity and frequent rain showers. BUT, there are fewer tourists and therefore more privacy for your wedding during the summer.
Autumn is VERY rainy through late November on the Pacific Ocean side. The Caribbean coast is driest in September and October, so location matters.
What to Wear & Traveling with Your Attire
No matter the time of year, you’ll want to generally plan for your Costa Rican wedding to be hot and humid. You’ll want to plan your wedding or elopement attire accordingly. You’ll want breathable material that will hold when traveling to Costa Rica, and if you are adventuring!
If you are flying with your wedding dress, suit, or other attire you’ll want to note these tips for keeping them as wrinkle-free as possible while traveling:
- Use a garment bag to transport your wedding.
- Keep your elopement attire in your carry-on. Do not check any items you will need on your wedding day.
- Lay your attire out in the garment back, and pad it with tissue paper. Roll up the garment back and attach it to your luggage or backpack.
- Once you arrive lay out your attire and hang it up.
- Use a wrinkle-release spray or a portable steamer to get out any wrinkles.
Costs of a Costa Rican Destination Wedding
Costa Rica Wedding Planning explains that Costa Rica is the most expensive of the Central American countries to visit. It’s a tourism hub and a popular destination for weddings and elopements because of its varied and luxurious landscapes. Being realistic about the costs of your Costa Rican wedding will save you headaches and frustration in the long run. Costa Rica Wedding Planning recommends budgeting a minimum of $250 per attendee, but more realistically this number should be closer to $500 per attendee. You can see the outline of costs and expenses Costa Rica Wedding Planning considers here. You can also check out my article on the cost of planning an elopement to help you plan accordingly.
A Brief Checklist to Help You Get Married in Costa Rica
- Choose your location (check out recommendations below)
- Pick your date
- Information about visas & marriage licenses
- Book flight and accommodations
- Book vendors
- Elope!
Top 5 Venues for Your Costa Rica Wedding
Ready to plan your destination wedding in Costa Rica? Here are the top 5 venues for you to choose from for your special day!
Villa Punto de Vista has five stunning locations for you to choose from for your destination wedding. From the wild jungles, and the picturesque beaches to ballrooms and courtyards – your wedding will be the makings of your dreams. Included in your destination wedding package: variously sized wedding locations, on-site staff to help coordinate and set up, in-country concierge to help coordinate adventures throughout Costa Rica, pre-arrival concierge to help you plan your stay, wedding planning assistance, gourmet breakfast, accommodations for larger parties, and handicap accessibility accommodations. Perfect for you to get married in Costa Rica, and celebrate your honeymoon all in one place!
Hacienda Pinilla has three different resorts along the Pacific Ocean Coast. With fabulous views of the volcanoes, jungles, and ocean it’s an inclusive location you’ll never want to leave! Hacienda Pinilla prides itself on being your one-stop shop for your wedding, offering luxury, variety, and activities to entertain you and your guests before and after you get married in Costa Rica.
Whether it’s an intimate ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean or a lavish soiree in a Palace, Hotel Villa Caletas is here to serve you. With a focus on elegance and experience, Hotel Villa Caletas is a stunning backdrop for your Costa Rica wedding.
With six unique spaces for your wedding, Andaz Costa Rica offers “comprehensive destination wedding services, exceptional planners and vendors specialize in creating uniquely perfect events for weddings of all sizes. Our in-house team will help ensure that each detail is executed exactly as planned—including the décor, florals and coordination with our preferred vendors and other service providers for a variety of weddings, including civil, LGBTQ, Indian and Jewish ceremonies.” To call this venue gorgeous is an understatement.
Situated in breathtaking surroundings, Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas is a perfect place to get married in Costa Rica or to elope! This venue boasts several open-air spaces and award-winning dining!
Top 5 Places for Your Costa Rica Elopement
Tamarindo is a small, seaside town with big culture – a favorite for tourists and locals! Here you can enjoy water sports, a jaunt in town, horseback riding, golfing, and authentic Costa Rican cuisine. Eloping on the golden sands of these beaches with crystal clear waves crashing behind you would be stunning!
Where the jungle meets the beach, this new seaside town offers a variety of locations for your elopement. The area offers biking and hiking trails, stunning beaches, and more for you to enjoy and take in. Note: This is a carless city meant for you to explore on foot.
Imagine your sense of adventure brings you to the crater on the Poás Volcano! You’ll be able to hike up the volcano, taking pictures along the way to memorialize the occasion, and elope with one of the crater lakes in the background!
Hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall and enjoying the stunning views is one thing, and enjoying the orchid gardens built into the forest is another, and they’re both available in this one location! You can elope with the waterfall in your background, and take portraits along the hike with the orchids, the jungle, and the bright blue pools of water. Note: this is a nonprofit conservation site, tickets are required.
The Tenorio Volcano State Park offers hiking travels and adventures in a lush jungle forest, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls for you to enjoy. You’ll be able to find a private spot to step aside and elope, or marry more publicly at the popular attractions.
Prettiest Airbnb’s You Can Stay at When You Elope to Costa Rica
Condé Nast Traveler lists the top 15 Airbnb’s in Costa Rica, here. Of those, these are my favorites:
- Clifftop villa in Tamarindo has gorgeous views of Tamarindo and the surrounding forest that you can enjoy from the cliffside infinity pool.
- Open-air treehouse in Puntarenas is a 2-story treehouse near Punta Banco where you can spot the native monkeys and sloths. Here, you’ll be immersed in nature!
- Santa Teresa, Puntarenas beach house is a villa where luxurious amenities meet jungle living. Near town, jungle + beach this home is a convenient and stunning stay!
- Light-filled San José loft is the ideal downtown Airbnb with stunning views of the mountains and nearby volcano.
- Remote Surf Haven in Puntarenas is a modern luxury villa with dramatic views within walking distance of the beach and tide pools.
How I can help you plan the perfect way for you to get married in Costa Rica?
If you’re looking for a photographer for your tropical destination wedding…hi! My name is Lexi Foster. I am available for travel worldwide. With each and every wedding couple, I work hard to help them plan + scout locations, figure out permits, the legality of getting married in an international wedding location + remove all the headaches away from planning a destination wedding. Let’s chat about how I can help you!
[…] For instance, in Costa Rica, the witnesses signing your license cannot be family (learn about planning a Costa Rican Elopement). Or some places may have specific guidelines an officiant must […]