Best Places to Get Married in Costa Rica 2026. Costa Rica is small, about the size of West Virginia, but incredibly diverse. You can choose between Pacific beaches, Caribbean coastlines, misty cloud forests, volcanic landscapes, or lush rainforests. The key is matching the location to your wedding vibe and your guests’ comfort level.

Best wedding venues costa rica

Here are the most popular regions, each with its own personality:

Guanacaste (Northwest Pacific Coast): The most popular choice for destination weddings. Think sunny beaches, luxury resorts, and reliable dry-season weather. Towns like Tamarindo, Papagayo Peninsula, Playa Flamingo, and Nosara offer everything from all-inclusive resorts to intimate boutique hotels. If you want guaranteed sunshine and easy logistics for guests, this is your safest bet.

Manuel Antonio (Central Pacific): Jungle meets ocean. This region offers dramatic coastal views with rainforest backdrops. It’s more humid and lush than Guanacaste, with excellent wildlife (monkeys, sloths, toucans crashing your ceremony is not uncommon). Perfect for couples who want that “Jurassic Park” tropical vibe.

Arenal/La Fortuna (Northern Highlands): Volcano weddings with hot springs. If you’re drawn to misty mountains, waterfalls, and dramatic volcanic views, Arenal is stunning. Keep in mind it’s rainier here year-round, but the landscape is unmatched for adventurous couples.

The Caribbean Coast (Puerto Viejo/Cahuita): Laid-back, bohemian, and colorful. This side of Costa Rica has a completely different culture, reggae vibes, Afro-Caribbean influence, and a slower pace. It’s less developed for weddings but perfect for couples seeking something unconventional.

Guanacaste vs manuel antonio wedding

This is the big decision most couples face:

• Guanacaste: Drier, sunnier, more resort options, easier airport access (Liberia International Airport). Best for larger weddings and guests who want convenience.
• Manuel Antonio: More lush and dramatic, smaller-scale venues, slightly more adventurous. Best for intimate weddings and couples who prioritize scenery over predictability.

Jungle wedding venues

If a rainforest ceremony is calling you, look into places like:

• Pacuare Lodge (remote eco-lodge accessible only by raft, seriously epic)
• Finca Rosa Blanca (organic coffee plantation near San José)
• Hacienda Guachipelín (working ranch near Rincón de la Volcán)
• Rio Perdido (canyon views with natural hot springs)

These venues are ideal for couples who want total immersion in nature and don’t mind trading beach sunsets for waterfall backdrops.

Pro-Tip from Your Costa Rica Wedding Photographers: I’ve shot weddings all over Costa Rica, from Guanacaste’s golden coastlines to Monteverde’s cloud forests, and I love returning to familiar spots where I know exactly how the light falls. That said, I get genuinely excited about new locations because they push me to see things with fresh eyes and create something completely unique for you. If you’ve found an off-the-beaten-path gem, I’m all in.

When Is the Best Time to Get Married in Costa Rica 2026. The most popular wedding season in Costa Rica is the Dry Season (December through April), when you can practically guarantee sunny skies and zero rain. But here’s the truth most couples don’t know: the “Green Season” (May through November) might actually be better for your wedding.

Costa rica rainy season wedding

Yes, it rains during Green Season, but not the way you’re imagining. Rain typically arrives in short, predictable afternoon bursts (around 3-5 PM), then clears up for stunning sunsets. Morning and early afternoon are usually bright and beautiful. Plus, the landscape is absolutely lush and vibrant, which makes for incredible photos.

The benefits of Green Season weddings:

• 20-30% lower venue costs compared to peak season
• Fewer tourists, so beaches and venues feel more private
• More dramatic skies and incredible light for photography
• Vendors are more available and flexible with dates

Best month for costa rica wedding

If you’re set on Dry Season, here’s the breakdown:

December-January: Perfect weather but premium prices and high demand. Book 12–18 months in advance.

February-March: Peak season. Reliably sunny, but expect top-dollar pricing on everything.

April: Still dry but getting hotter (especially in Guanacaste). Excellent shoulder-season value.

May-November (Green Season): Variable rain, but dramatic beauty and significant savings. July and August tend to have a “mini summer” with less rainfall.

Weather in guanacaste by month

Guanacaste (the northwest Pacific coast) is Costa Rica’s driest region. Even during Green Season, it receives less rain than the rest of the country. If weather anxiety is high, focus your venue search here, places like Tamarindo, Papagayo, or Playa Conchal offer the most predictable conditions year-round.

Pro-Tip from Your Wedding Photographer in Costa Rica: My documentary style thrives in any weather. I’ve shot in sudden downpours, golden-hour mist, and dramatic storm-light skies, and honestly, some of my most breathtaking images come from “imperfect” weather days. Rain creates emotion, spontaneity, and once-in-a-lifetime moments. If you trust the process, Green Season can give you photos that don’t look like everyone else’s.

Here you can check our full Costa Rica Wedding Weather Guide, with month by month information and insights 

Is It Legal for US Citizens to Get Married in Costa Rica 2026. Yes, absolutely. Marriages performed in Costa Rica are legally recognized worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, and throughout Europe. This is one of the most common concerns for destination wedding couples, but the process is more straightforward than most people expect.

Legal requirements for wedding in Costa Rica

Costa Rica welcomes foreign couples with relatively simple documentation. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Valid passports for both partners
• Birth certificates (original or certified copies, translated to Spanish by an official translator)
• If previously married: Divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse (also translated)
• Tourist visa: Most US citizens receive a 90-day tourist stamp upon arrival, no special visa required

One major relief: No blood tests are required, unlike in some US states. This outdated requirement doesn’t exist in Costa Rica, simplifying your timeline considerably.

Getting married in Costa Rica US citizens

The ceremony itself must be performed by a licensed Costa Rican attorney or a Catholic priest. Most wedding planners and venues have trusted attorneys they work with regularly. The attorney will handle the legal paperwork, and you’ll receive an official marriage certificate (in Spanish) that you can then translate and authenticate for use back home.

Processing time is typically 2-3 months after the ceremony for the final certificate, so plan accordingly if you need it for legal name changes.

Documents needed for marriage Costa Rica

Your wedding planner or attorney will provide a complete checklist, but having your documents translated before arrival saves valuable vacation time. Expect to spend $300-$500 on document preparation and attorney fees for the legal ceremony.

Pro-Tip for Eloping Couples: If you’re eloping and need witnesses for your legal ceremony, your Elopement photographer(me) can serve as one. It’s happened more times than you’d think, sometimes it’s just the two of you, your attorney, and me with my camera. It’s actually pretty special.

How Much Does a Wedding in Costa Rica Cost 2026. While a destination wedding in Costa Rica is often significantly more affordable than a traditional wedding in the United States or Canada, the final price tag depends entirely on your vision. 

Average cost of wedding in Costa Rica

In 2025, the average cost for a standard wedding with 40–50 guests ranges between $15,000 and $25,000. However, savvy planning can lower this, while luxury expectations can easily push it higher.

Costa Rica wedding packages prices

To help you budget, here is a realistic breakdown by wedding style:

The Intimate Wedding (20–40 guests): $12,000 – $20,000

This tier often utilizes boutique hotels or private villas where you can save on venue fees by staying on-site.

The Full Resort Wedding (50–100 guests): $25,000 – $45,000+

Large all-inclusive resorts (like those in Guanacaste) charge per head. While convenient, keep in mind that “All-Inclusive” packages often include generic photography, so many couples allocate extra budget to hire an outside photographer for better quality.

Cost of elopement Costa Rica

The Elopement (Just the couple): $3,000 – $6,000

This usually covers a symbolic ceremony, a bouquet, a private dinner, and, most importantly, professional photography to capture the adventure.

Pro-Tip for Savings:
If you are flexible with dates, booking your wedding during the “Green Season” (May through November) can save you 15–20% on venue rentals compared to the peak Dry Season months.

If you really like a vendor like wedding photographer or videographer,  but is out of your budget, explain your plan and vision so they can understand. We work for the pay but also for our passion as explorers, visual artist and storytellers. 

How much does a destination wedding in Costa Rica cost? For a celebration with 50 guests, couples planning weddings in Costa Rica should budget approximately $17,550 to $27,550 total. This comprehensive estimate covers essential elements including venue rental, catering, coordination services, and professional photography from a Costa Rica photographer. The range reflects variations in luxury level, specific location choice, and included services. Cost breakdowns for Costa Rica weddings typically include ceremony expenses. As a wedding photographer in Costa Rica with extensive industry knowledge, I’ve observed that destination weddings Costa Rica often provide better overall value than equivalent domestic celebrations when you consider stunning natural venues, tropical beauty, and the combined wedding-vacation experience for traveling guests.

When is the best time to get married in Costa Rica? The optimal time for weddings in Costa Rica is January through April, the heart of dry season when weather is reliably sunny, humidity is lower, and rainfall is minimal.

As a Costa Rica Wedding photographer who’s shot hundreds of celebrations, I can confirm these months offer the most predictable conditions for outdoor Costa Rica weddings couples envision. However, for couples who love lush, vibrant green landscapes and don’t mind occasional afternoon showers, June or July presents beautiful opportunities with fewer tourists and often better vendor availability.

During these months, brief rain showers typically enhance rather than disrupt celebrations, and as a photographer in Costa Rica, I’ve captured some of my most dramatic imagery during green season. The months to generally avoid are September and October when heavy rainfall is most common, though even these months can work for couples with flexible, indoor-capable venues. Ultimately, the best time for your Costa Rica wedding depends on your priorities regarding weather predictability versus lush scenery and budget considerations.