Katie and Jeremy were so excited to be getting married. I was so excited to be documenting their wedding day. A week or so before the wedding Katie sent me an even more exciting email, that she was expecting! The couple planned to tell their parents on their wedding day and were thinking of ways of how they could creatively tell them. A sweet plan was devised and only a few were in know. 

Katie and Jeremy stayed with their wedding group at a beautiful new villa called Vista Hermosa. The getting ready took place their as well as the reception. I started the day with Katie and her maid of honor getting ready. Katie was so excited, double checking that she had everything she needed and that all the details were taken care of. 

Katie surprised her fiance Jeremy with a hand written note. She was laughing the whole time knowing that he would have to write her one back, out of obligation. She was right, shortly after Jeremy's note was delivered Katie received a response. It is so adorable how well this couple knows each other.

The ceremony was held on the Manuel Antonio beach, under the wild almond trees that grow along the shore. I love Katie's expression of excitement as she made her way down the aisle to meet her husband to be.

After the ceremony guests were treated to a delightful cocktail hour at the beach. Delicious food and drinks were served while the couple went off with me for a few portraits. The beach was really crowded, but thanks to a handy little thing I call Photoshop the photos came out beautifully.

After sunset we headed back to the villa for an intimate dinner reception. I had snapped a few day time detail photos of the tropically set dinner table. The night time photos came out beautiful as well. 

Katie and Jeremy cut their cake, and shared in a first dance. After that the garter was in place and ready to go. Katie and the best man were going to play a trick on Jeremy and have him search for the garter blind folded, but on the best man's leg instead of Katie's. Jeremy somehow discovered what was going on and so luckily for him he only went searching on his wife's leg.

After all the traditions were over with the couple revealed the big surprise to their parents. The couple stood facing them all, holding little onsies behind their backs. Once revealed it took a split second for everyone to realize that they were showing and telling them. Everyone was surprised and had even more to celebrate that night.

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Vista Hermosa
Wedding Planner: Weddings Costa Rica
Hair and Makeup: Hair by Monica
Flowers: Stylos y Flores
Caterer: Cafe Lago
Cake: Mariposa Pastry

Amy and Will sure do know how to have fun! Not just during the very thrilling moments of life, but even during the hanging and waiting around moments. Amy has an energy about her that seems never ending, a never ending flow of joy and happiness that comes streaming out of her heart and out of every pore of her body. Will perfectly balances his beautiful wife, he goes with the flow and has such a peaceful and calm demeanor about him.

For their wedding day they wanted to do something fun, something adventurous, something purely Costa Rican. They had a beautiful morning ceremony, and then took all of their guests with them on an exhilarating rappelling tour. More to come on that, but I just want everyone to get the sense of adventure this couple has. Who goes rappelling on their wedding day???? This awesome couple, that's who.  

I started the morning with Amy, her sister and their mother all getting ready. I have to admit that upon arrival I just kept wondering if I could pull off short hair like Amy's. She just seemed so carefree and I thought that maybe if I cut off my long locks that were weighing me down I too could be light as a feather like her. After a quick reality check I realized it was not Amy's hair that made her so light, but the actual LIGHT and happiness she was expressing. I think she was the happiest and most enthusiastic bride I have ever photographed. 

Amy had a stunning full ball gown dress. She delightfully pranced around the room in it. In her wonderful excitement she began jumping on the bed up and down, while her mother and sister cheering her on. 

The ceremony was setup on the rooftop terrace of the villa. A stunning tropical arch awaited Amy and Will.

It was a small group of family and friends that joined the couple in Costa Rica. During the ceremony they asked them all to make a small gathering around them, while the couple exchanged rings and their first kiss as husband and wife. The newlyweds also did a beautiful butterfly release, releasing about 100 Morpho butterflies.

Just after walking their way back down the aisle the couple turned toward their guests and simultaneously did a little victory dance. 

After taking some family photos Amy and Will whipped out their drone. They seem to love techie things and the drone was something Amy was really looking forward to playing with on their wedding day.

After a quick wardrobe change the entire wedding group loaded into some vans to take the drive on the bumpy dirt road to Quepoa Canyoning, where they would start the next phase of the wedding adventure. 

After getting geared up and cutting holes in wedding dresses everyone was loaded up again into some 4x4 jeeps and taken on a questionable road to start their adventure. We had to cross a stream by foot as impending rain meant a possibly higher river and threatened our chances of driving back across. 

Amy and Will's whole group were great troops, finishing the entire course including the waterfall repel. After the tour everyone headed back to the villa to clean up and change for dinner.

After dinner guests returned back to the rooftop for dancing and cake. They welcomed the newlyweds in with a fun sparkler entrance.

The wedding day ended on the rooftop with the party, but the celebrating continued. I met Amy and Will the next morning for a photo session at the beach. They didn't want to be away from their guests on the wedding day so they opted to take their photos the following morning. Amy's dress looked stunning on the beach.

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Casa Espanola
Wedding Planner: Costa Rica Paradise Wedding
​DJ: Joshua Stewart
Tour: Quepo Canyoning

Angela was nothing short of beautiful on her wedding day. She was cool yet excited when I met her at Dreams, in the spa, getting ready with her bridesmaids.

The wedding planner came in to make the final call on whether or not the reception would be held outdoors, due to looming weather conditions. Angela called a few people from her group, who were out soaking up the sun, and they said...it is starting to rain, oh wait, it is stopping, oh wait raining again. This went on for a good 15 minutes or so where the sun would come in and out from behind the clouds. Angela finally made the call and took the risk to hold it outdoors. She said, "we have always done everything in life by the seat of our pants, why not do this as well." Luckily, it was the right call, and the sprinkles stopped and beautiful weather followed. 

A simple ceremony awaited the bride and groom on the beach. A small gathering of friends and family sat nice a close to the alter, creating an intimate space for Angela and Branden to say their vows. 

The reception was held on an open air rooftop terrace, luckily with no rain. Delicate strings lights along with a live trio brought a sense of intimacy to the normally empty terrace. Guests mingled and enjoyed cocktails. After the couples first dance everyone was invited to a seated dinner.

The little boy pictured above was just the cutest thing ever. He was happy as can be, but as soon as a camera was pointed his way he would break out into tears. The photo above is the groom and his best man's reaction as soon as the squeals started coming from the little boy. Too cute!

The party kicked off and there was no shortage of shots. The magical blue drink was everywhere to be found and got the group going on the dance floor!

Angela wanted to beat Branden to the punch, so before they even cut a piece of cake she grabbed a fist full of frosting a smeared him with it. Branden didn't stop to think for one second before giving it right back to Angela. 

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Dreams las Mareas 

Krystle and Luke married one another in front of family and friends in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Their entire group stayed at the beautiful vacation villa, Casa de las Brisas, where the wedding was also held. The wedding was just a few days after hurricane Otto had hit, and rain storms were still in the area. These two love birds were as happy as could be and didn't care one bit about the rain, they were both smiling the entire day and just so happy to be marrying one another.

I arrived and walked into the room where Krystle was getting ready. Upon meeting her I instantly felt her excitement. She was so utterly sweet, and eager, and nervous and excited. Her emotions were so nice to see, you could just feel her enthusiasm in the air. 

The tented ceremony was set on the rooftop, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful iris' were found along the chairs and in the floral arrangements. As well as hanging butterflies which Krystle's mom had brought for the wedding.

I love the expression on Krystle's face below. It was an expression witnessed throughout the wedding day, but during the moment of the vows it was on her face the entire time. To me is was an expression of, "I love you", "I am so lucky to be marrying you", "I can't believe this is actually happening", and "you are my everything". It was just such a beautiful moment to witness and document as her feelings all came through in the look she was giving her husband.

And they were married! The newlyweds walked down the aisle and turned around to view at all their guests. This is the moment of everything settling in and breathing a sigh of relief as you look to your loved ones proudly knowing that you are now and forever more husband and wife. 

It was still drizzling a bit but Krystle and Luke made their way down the slippery steps to the pool deck for some photos outdoors by the jungle. 

While cocktail hour and photos were taking place downstairs, the rooftop was being transformed from ceremony to reception. Twinkle lights lit up the space and the beautiful butterflies were hung above the tables. 

The newlyweds performed a song together for thier guests. Speeches were given that brought both laughter and tears. And a beautiful cake was cut. 

Upon my leaving time Krystle had had enough of the big wedding dress and was ready to change into something a little more comfortable. She requested that I take a few laid back photos of her and Luke in their room, I was more than happy to and love how these shots of the couple just hanging out turned out. 

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Casa de las Brisas
Wedding Planner: Oasis Destination Weddings
Hair and Makeup: Priscila Solano
Officiant: Rodrigo Campos
Cake: Mariposa Pastry
Flowers: Costa Brava
Guitarist: Alvin Urbina