Kyle and Amanda married one another with their toes in the sand on Langosta Beach, at the laid back yet beautiful wedding venue Langosta Beach Club. It was a clear and windy day, and Amanda's ringlets blew softly in the breeze. Kyle was the one who contacted me and was my main point of communication during the pre-wedding process. It isn't often that I communicate with just the groom, but he was noted as the organized one during one of their speeches, so I guess that makes sense. 

One of the things that I really loved about this wedding was that it seemed like the parents and the older adult crowd was having just as much fun as the younger crowd. Everyone took over the dance floor once the DJ started playing.

The couple both got ready in their two story condo at the Diria Hotel. Kyle and the boys took over the downstairs while Amanda and the girls occupied the upstairs. Amanda did her own makeup and chose a bold lip color that looked beautiful with her sparkly blue eyes.

The simple ceremony garland arch looked beautiful with the blue ocean in the background. 

Photography: Madison Baltodano Photography
Venue: Langosta Beach Club
Wedding Planner: Lat 10 Weddings and Events
​DJ: Dj Zach Schmidt
​Flowers: Floristeria Ocasiones
Rentals: Eventos Boadicea
Transportation: Tamarindo Shuttle

 Lou and Chelsea are just the sweetest couple I have ever met. Normally I find that with couple's one person is a bit more outgoing and the other bit more reserved, which normally leaves me connecting more with the outgoing one, but in this case Lou and Chelsea were just both equally outgoing, kind, fun and generous. They invited me along to photograph their rehearsal dinner the day before. The dinner was held on a sailboat with everyone enjoying drinks, dinner and snorkeling. Their guests had a blast and it was so nice to get to meet the wedding group before the wedding day.

Lou and Chelsea brought a group of about 70 guests from NY all the way to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. The Guanacaste region of the country tends to be more windy, and their wedding day was no exception. It was a clear day without a cloud to be seen, and the breeze helped to keep everyone feeling fresh and cool. The ceremony and reception were held at Langosta Beach Club, which is situated beach front and works perfectly for weddings. 

Chelsea was getting ready in her room at the Diria Hotel with her mom and two flower girls. She opted to wear a bird cage veil which looked beautiful on her, and accented her delicate sweetheart neck line dress perfectly. 

Lou was getting ready with his best man and officiant in another part of the hotel. He proudly wore his "game over" shirt, as he blow dried his hair for what he told me was the first and probably last time in his life. 

Lou and Chelsea decided to do a first and see each other before the wedding. The idea was to take as many photos ahead of time so that they could spend more time with family and friends during the cocktail hour. I love the excitement on Chelsea's face as she approaches her husband to be. 

The ceremony was setup at the edge of the beach with the beautiful blue Pacific and blue skies behind it. 

Maria, Chelsea and Lou's wedding planner, loves these two just as much as I do. This is the first photo I have of Maria, even after working with her for so many years and so many weddings. She wanted to make sure she got one with them before the night was over. (She will probably fuss at me for posting a photo of her, she is so beautiful and so talented at what she does though, she deserves the recognition). 

The reception was held just off to the side of the ceremony area, where guests could still have their toes in the sand. It looked beautiful with the bistro lights overhead and the aftermath of the sunset in the background.  

One of Chelsea's girlfriends couldn't make it to the wedding so the other friends decided to print out a photo of her face and attach it to a stick. It made appearances throughout the night in group photos, at dinner and on the dance floor. It was such sweet idea, one that I had never seen before. 

A delectable dessert table was setup for guests near the dance floor. The desserts were made and styled by Victoria Zoch, the best baker in Guanacaste. 

The little flower girl got a hold of the veil and just loved wearing it. Her mom told me that when she mentioned to her daughter that she would have to take it off at some point, the flower girl responded, "well I won't sleep in it". So cute! And she really did keep it on the rest of the evening.

Lou came up to me and mentioned he may want to jump in the pool. moments after that, before he could even come up with a plan, his friends all canon balled in. 

Chelsea's family has a "family song" which is Puff the Magic Dragon. When the DJ played they all linked arms and sang the song together at the top of their lungs while swaying back and forth. It was so much fun I am thinking of coming up with a family song of my own for me and my loved ones.

The dancing and celebrating continued on after I left and from what I heard the younger crowd was planning to bar crawl their way back down the Tamarindo strip to their hotel. 

Photography: Madison Baltodano Photography
Venue (getting ready): Hotel Diria
Venue (wedding): Langosta Beach Club
Wedding Planner: Lat 10 Weddings
Hair and Makeup: Marisol Santana
Music: Joe Hrbek
Flowers: Floristeria Ocasiones
Cake: Victoria Zoch
DJ: DJ Zach Schmidt
​Rentals: Los Primos

Allison and Guillermo traveled from California to the hip surf town of Tamarindo to marry one another. A large group of family and friends both from the United States and from Argentina joined the couple to celebrate their union. From the beginning Allison knew she wanted to have a muted, vintage look to her photos. I absolutely love this style and often use it on my personal family photos, so I was more than happy to offer this option to her. 

The day started with Allison and her girlfriends getting ready at the Diria Hotel, which is located beach front. She was cool and calm as she had her hair done, and gracefully slipped into her dress in a matter of seconds. 

The ceremony was held out on a green area just inside the sandy shoreline of the ocean. A beautiful tropical arch awaited the couple. Guillermo wiped tears from his eyes as he escorted his mother down the aisle.

After the ceremony we explored the property and its green spaces for photos. Allison originally didn't want to go onto the beach for photos, but I am so glad she changed her mind because it was an amazing sunset that evening. 

We took a brief break in between the gardens and the beach. Allison and Guillermo mingled with their guests and enjoyed the cocktails and hors d'Oeuvres. 

The reception was held in the restaurant of Diria Hotel. Beautiful tropical flowers decorated the tables. The guests enthusiastically welcomed the newlyweds in, starting the evening off the right way.

Photography: Madison Baltodano Photography
Venue: Hotel Diria
​Wedding Planner: Eunice Torelli
Hair and Makeup: Famous Points Beauty
Officiant: Einer Villavicencio 
​DJ: Zack Schmidt 

Drool.....Look at that amazing dress! I am not sure how Linda even got that beauty down to Costa Rica, but OH MY was it gorgeous to photograph. The only thing more beautiful than the dress itself was the lovely bride wearing it. Justin and Linda traveled to Tamarindo, a Costa Rica surf town, to marry one another. Friends and family excitedly celebrated and danced the night away with the couple.

The wedding ceremony and reception was held at Pangas Beach Club, my favorite venue in Tamarindo. It is located right on the beach and has a tree front and center that makes great privacy for the beach ceremony.

I started the day with Linda and her bridesmaids, many of whom were her sisters. Her family was also in the house getting ready and having laughs with one another. I could tell that Linda was so excited to finally be marrying the love of her life.

Justin and his groomsmen were getting ready at the Ocho Artisan Villas in Tamarindo, a really funky complex of villas. 

The ceremony was set on the beach at Pangas Beach Club. It is located at the end of Tamarindo beach, just by the estuary that joins the ocean. You can often see fishermen with their small boats in this area of the beach.

After the ceremony the newlyweds were welcomed with open arms by their friends and family. They congratulated them on this new chapter of their lives, and we headed out towards closer to the beach for photos.

The reception area was setup adjacent to the ceremony space. Romantic fresh garlands draped down the center of the tables, while lanterns and twinkle lights lit up the space and added to the intimacy. 

There was no better way to end this epic night than with a sparkler exit which lead the way to the after party. Pura vida!

Photography: Madison Baltodano Photography
Wedding Planner: Tropical Occasions 
Wedding Design: Jaime Campos
Day of Coordination: Natalie Denton
​Venue: Pangas Beach Club
Hair: Famous Point Beauty
Makeup: Maravilla Makeup
Cake: Victoria Zoch
DJ: Costa Rica Wedding DJ
​Florist: Floresteria Cristal

Not ever a hurricane could damper the spirits of Jordan and Kenady and their wedding group. The day after Hurricane Otto made landfall in Costa Rica these two wonderful people married one another and threw a party that no one will forget. 

Kenady and Jordan married one another on a surprisely beautiful day. The sky was clear, the storms had passed and the beach ceremony was carried out as planned. The wedding was held at Langosta Beach Club, right outside of Tamarindo. Jordan was getting ready on a hilltop hotel with beautiful views on the ocean and town below. 

Kenady and her bridemaids were getting ready just across the street from the Beach Club. Kenady was very laid back and relaxed as she effortlessly got ready. Her dress was the most perfect beach dress I could ever imagine. In seemed to be inspired by the ocean and had sweet and timeless waistline to it.

Kenady and Jordan did a blindfolded first look just outside the villa. Jordan's reaction to his beautiful bride was priceless. 

The intimate ceremony was held on the beach. Green garlands linned the aisle and draped the arch. It was simply perfect.

And they were married! I already had an idea that it was going to be a fun night, but this was the moment I became sure of it. Kenady and Jordan ran through the brige created by their bridal party to start the celebration off right!

During the sunset photo session guests were entertained with cocktail hour and a super fun photo booth. 

The reception was also held beach-side under a tent. The rectangular wooden tables were beautifully decorated with natural greens and golden accents. I loved the unique table numbers on the coconuts, it was a true representaton of Costa Rica.

Speeched were given during a beautiful candlelit dinner. The afternoon storms finally caught up with us and the rain began, but that did not dampen the spirit of the celebration. If anything it made it stronger. Shots of tequila flowed as the group banged the tables and cheered on guests who would empty the pockets of water pooled in the tent edges. The great thing about getting stuck in the rain in Costa Rica is that it is warm rain!

The party was moved pool side where the DJ was setup and dancing began. There is nothing like dancing in Costa Rica with your feet a little wet. The couple shared a first dance and followed it with high fives from their guests who rallied for them.

Photography: Yours Truly
Second Shooter: Kristen Brown
Venue: Langosta Beach Club
Wedding Planner: Weddings Costa Rica
Hair and Makeup: Jessica Nelson
DJ: Dj Zach Schmidt

Jenny and Kevin were just as sweet as could be. They are a Texan couple and their southern hospitality was apparent throughout their wedding day. A great group of friends and family joined this couple on their wedding adventure. They chose to have their wedding in Tamarindo at Capitan Suizo, a beachfront hotel well groomed with tropical plants and flowers. The wedding was just in front of the sandy shores with the reception a stones throw away from the beach. When you think of the Costa Rican destination wedding, this is exactly what one would imagine. Pure natural beauty, simplicity, sandy toes, tropical breezes and stunning sunsets.

Jenny was getting ready in a room overlooking the ceremony setup and ocean. She was joined by her bridesmaids who were all giddy with excitement. I think being able to see the progress of the ceremony setup made everything that much more real. Jenny chose to wear a simple cotton dress, adorned with lace sleeves, the perfect dress to compliment her classic beauty and ringlet curls.

Jenny's mom surprised Jenny with a gift of a beautiful diamond necklace from her husband to be. The gift was accompanied by a very special story.

Kevin had requested to meet with Jenny's parents because he wanted to get their opinion about a gift he had gotten her, her parents assumed he was going to ask for her hand in marriage. When he pulled out the gift it was the diamond necklace. Jenny's mom's heart skipped a beat as she thought Kevin wasn't ready to take that next step. Kevin asked what they thought about the gift, and then said it was the gift he wanted to give Jenny on their wedding day. He then pulled out the stunning engagement ring as Jenny's parents gave him a loving appoval. He kept his word and surprised Jenny with the lovely gift and a touching note to accompany it.

Kevin and his groomsmen were getting ready on the other side of the resort. I have never tried "fireball" but it must be super amazing as I have seen it recently at many weddings during the guys getting ready moments.

For the ceremony a beautiful green arch was set overlooking the Pacific waters of the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Palms leaves and petals created an aisle for the bride to walk down.

Keri, the wedding planner, descretely lulled a beach dog away from the ceremony area just after things had gotten started.

After the ceremony the bridal party took to the beach for photos. The lighting was magical as the sun had ducked behind the jungle lined beach, creating a beautiful golden hour.

The tented reception was setup beautifully. Driftwood, succulents and eucalyptus adorned the tables and created a romantic space for everyone to celebrate. Toasts were given, smiles were shared and tears were shed.

The couple thanked their guests for joining them, which I believe is such an important part of a wedding but even more so a destination wedding. Couples don't often think about the sacrifice their guests make to join them in a foreign country. The costs involved, vacation time from work spent, travel time, etc. But the wonderful thing about it all is that it really isn't a sacrifice for the people there. They truly want to be there because they love the couple so much that they would do anything to be apart of such a special moment in their lives.

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Capitan Suizo
Wedding Planner: Lat 10 Weddings and Events
DJ: Zach Schmidt
​Officiant: Dr. Alejandro Leon
Florist: Colette's Flowers
Makeup: Marisol

Emily and Parker are just as sweet as can be. They are both super down to earth people who enjoy a good laugh. It was such a pleasure getting to know both of them, as well as their friends and family. I was invited to photograph the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, which allowed me to hear all sorts of stories about the couple and their relationship. 

The wedding was held at Capitan Suizo, a beautiful hotel with jungle paths leading to Playa Tamarindo. I started the day with Emily getting ready with her girl friends. 

Throughout the day I was skipping back and fourth between the girls and the guys. The closeness of the venue allowed me to do that. Parker was getting ready with his Dad and his friends. 

The ceremony was set beachfront with vibrant petals covering the aisle. Flower cones adorned each chair for the guests to shower the newlyweds on their way out from the ceremony.

Emily and Parker looked great on the beach. And they were down for anything, getting the dress a little wet, climbing out on slippery rocks, and whatever else I threw their way.

The sunset was magical that night, orange hues lite up the entire sky.

Photography. Yours Truly
Venue. Capitan Suizo
Wedding Planner. Lat 10 Weddings
Officiant. Dr. Alejandro Leon
DJ. Zach Schmidt
Cake. Victoria Zoch 

Lisa and Mike traveled from Canada to marry one another in front of family and friends. They choose Panga's Beach Club as their venue, it is perfect for weddings as it is located right on the sand of the beach. Lisa, the stunning bride, was getting ready with her mom and sister at a villa close to the beach club,

The ceremony was held under a giant tree. Guests were entertained by the howler monkeys who passed through and made a racket just before the wedding started.

I feel like I need to tell the story of the two photos in this post that include this bush. In the middle of the beach there was a big prickly dry bush. It was thorny, mostly ugly and reminded me of a huge tumbleweed. Mike was drawn to it for some reason and really wanted to take a photo with it. Lisa sarcastically mentioned that it really represented love and marriage. I wanted to find a way to include the bush, but still have a beautiful photo. The first photo in this post is also with this bush, and I love how both images turned out.

The reception was so romantic. Beautiful green garlands ran down the centers of the tables, all setup under the stars.

Photography: Yours Truly
Venue: Panga's Beach Club

Kimberly and Chris have been visiting Tamarindo as one of their favorite vacation spots for many years now. When they thought of a beautiful and meaningful place to get married it was at the top of their list. The couple and a small group of family and friends traveled to stay at the Bali House, a beautiful villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

Kimberly was getting ready with a few girlfriends, I could sense her excitement from the moment I walked in.

I just love Kimberly's expression as she gets into her dress, wondering whether or not it will fit. Almost every bride goes through this nerve-racking moment on their wedding day, and I just loved how Kimberly made humor out of it.

The entire event was held at the Bali House, which made it easy to jump back and fourth between the ceremony, reception and getting ready area. Because of this I was able to take some daytime detail shots of the beautiful reception setup. The simplicity of it was a perfect balance to the extravagant house.

The weather that day was tittering back and fourth between rain and sunshine. Even though it looked like a big black storm cloud was heading our way it ended up clearing just in time for the ceremony to be held outdoors.

Chris eagerly awaited his bride, only after getting a Costa Rican fist bump from the officiant.

After the ceremony we took photos around the villa and property.

The cocktail hour was held by a beautifully lit pool, complete with tropical floating candle arrangements.

The reception was held in the main room, adjacent to the upper pool. 

Photography: Yours Truly
Wedding Planner:​ Lat 10 Weddings and Events
Venue; Casa Bali, Tamarindo
Hair and Makeup: Marisol
DJ: Zach Schmidt
Caterer: Sunset Catering
Florist: Colette's Flowers
Cake: Victoria Zoch
Officiant: Alejandro Leon

Charlotte and Wouter decided to do a trash the dress session the day after their wedding. We started the session off with some more portraits of the couple, taking a path from the hotel front desk to the beach and stopping along the way.

Photographer: Your truly
Location: Playa Langosta