Luxury Costa Rica Wedding
One of the best perks of being a wedding photographer is getting the opportunity to travel to exotic locations around the world. There was no hesitation on my part when some of my best friends, Hanieh & Nate, asked me to capture their wedding at the luxurious private Villa Punto de Vista in Manuel Antonio on the west coast of Costa Rica. I never dreamed of experiencing a wedding like this! Keep scrolling to see what made this one of the most memorable weddings I've ever photographed.
Wedding Planner : Samantha Kohn of Events Costa Rica | Website
Chef: Desiree | Website
Getting married? Feel free to reach out to me to chat about your big day!
I was fortunate enough to have my wife Lindsey with me to share in the experience. We were some of the first guest to arrive at the Villa since we got to Manuel Antonio a few days earlier to relax and explore the area before the festivities began. As we arrived at the 10 bedroom Villa nestled into a hillside among the tropical trees, we were greeted by friendly and attentive staff who instantly made us feel at home. We started off the grand tour of all the unique rooms. You could really tell the owner, who is also the architect, put an unimaginable amount of thought into each detail of the Villa. It is a true masterpiece where the boundary between indoors and outdoors doesn't really exist. Every sightline is taken into consideration to make the most of the panoramic views.
What makes this venue truly unique is how it takes advantage of the natural wonders that surround it. Near by is the world famous Manuel Antonio National Park, which means that birds and monkeys are plentiful. There are cables setup around the property for troops of capuchin and squirrel monkeys to pass through to wow all of the visitors.
The welcome dinner was a perfect opportunity for everyone to meet each other, and it set the tone for the rest of the celebration.
Breakfast was when the Villa truly came alive! The capuchin monkeys greeted us as we sat down for a delicious energizing meal provided by the staff. The capuchin monkeys weren't shy about showing their presences. There was also a troop of squirrel monkeys that passed through along the perimeter.
Following breakfast most of the guest got to hang out and enjoy the property while it was time for me to get to work.
Hanieh got ready in the best room the Villa had to offer, the Blue Room, which was on the 4th floor, so the views were incredible.
Having the whole wedding day in one location made it easier to capture all the details of the day by myself. The ceremony setup was simply amazing thanks to the hard work of all the vendors. Hanieh is Iranian, so the details had a Persian theme. Each detail at the ceremony site had a cultural significance. Stylos y Flores provided the flowers, and Samantha Kohn of Events & Weddings Costa Rica took care of the styling of the rest of the décor. The Villa was absolutely stunning!
I went to the Ice Room to catch up with Nate getting ready next to a nice pool table, which made for some classy shots of him and his crew.
The ceremony site was breathtaking! They chose to have the ceremony on the roof deck where you get a 270 degree view of Manuel Antonio. The guitarist, David Coto, provided the perfect ambiance. It definitely was one of the most unique backdrops to a wedding that I've been lucky enough witnessed.
Following the ceremony the staff took us down to the beach for a 10 minute portrait shoot. Ideally, I could spend hours photographing Hanieh & Nate, especially with a setting like that, but being a December wedding meant the sun went down early, so we worked fast to get some stunning shots of the newlyweds.
After some family photos it was time to party! The ballroom has more than enough room for a world class reception that can go late into the night.
One of the best things about a wedding like this is that the experience isn't over after the wedding. Everyday we had a gourmet breakfast prepared by the staff. After the wedding day it was time for some much needed relaxation on the beach. It was divine!
The next day we all went on a trimaran boat cruise to see the beauty that Manuel Antonio has to offer from the ocean. Another photographer was working on the boat, so I got to relax with everyone. Following the cruise, a few of use were lead on a short scenic hike by the head concierge, Josue.
That evening we had a little shoot around the villa followed by our final dinner that was concluded by one last trip down to the beach to send off Chinese lanterns. On the beach we were greeted by an Olive Ridley sea turtle that was preparing to nest. Unfortunately, we accidently scared it away that night, but it was a site none of us will forget!
Sending off the Chinese Lanterns was a perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable wedding! Congratulations Hanieh & Nate! It was such an honor to be there to capture your one of a kind wedding day!