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.

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.

The full picture is in my guide to the legal requirements for getting married in Costa Rica, which covers the documents, the witnesses and how the marriage is recognized back home.

How long does it take to receive photos after a Costa Rica wedding? Most professional Costa Rica wedding photographers deliver fully edited galleries within 2-3 weeks after your celebration, though timelines vary. As a Costa Rica photographer committed to quality and efficiency, I typically provide a sneak peek of 20-30 edited images within 72 hours after your wedding, perfect for sharing on social media while the excitement is fresh.

The complete gallery of all edited images is then delivered within 6-8 weeks through a private online platform. This timeframe allows for meticulous editing of each image to ensure consistent quality throughout your collection from weddings in Costa Rica. Some photographers in Costa Rica offer rush delivery for additional fees if you need images sooner for specific reasons.

During peak wedding season (January-April in Costa Rica), delivery times may extend slightly due to volume. When booking, clarify expected timelines and whether sneak peeks are provided. For destination weddings Costa Rica couples planning from abroad, online delivery makes receiving your gallery seamless regardless of location.

What’s included in Costa Rica wedding photography packages? Costa Rica wedding photography packages typically include several core components, though specifics vary by photographer.

Standard inclusions for weddings in Costa Rica usually cover: specified hours of coverage (commonly 6-10 hours), professionally edited high-resolution images (usually 60-75 per hour), a private online gallery with download access, and full print rights to your images. Many Costa Rica photographers also include travel within the country, a second shooter for larger weddings, and engagement sessions. My packages additionally offer HD highlight films (5-10 minutes), short social media reels, complimentary prints, and for premium collections, custom albums and trash-the-dress sessions.

When comparing photographers in Costa Rica, carefully review what’s included versus additional costs, some charge separately for travel, prints, albums, or extra coverage hours. For destination weddings Costa Rica packages should also clarify backup equipment plans, image backup systems, delivery timelines, and what happens if unexpected circumstances arise.

Can I see full wedding galleries from Costa Rica photographers before booking? Absolutely yes, and you should always request full wedding galleries before hiring any Costa Rica photographer! While curated portfolio highlights showcase a photographer’s best work, complete wedding galleries reveal consistency, storytelling ability, and how they handle challenging lighting or less photogenic moments throughout weddings in Costa Rica. As a transparent Costa Rica wedding photographer, I’m happy to share full galleries from recent celebrations similar to what you’re planning.

This allows couples to see exactly how many images they’ll receive, editing consistency across an entire day, and the documentary narrative style I bring to destination weddings Costa Rica events.

Reputable photographers in Costa Rica should willingly provide these galleries, if someone refuses, consider it a red flag. Full galleries also show how photographers handle common Costa Rica wedding scenarios: tropical weather, outdoor lighting, evening receptions, and the unique aesthetic of Costa Rican venues and landscapes.

Do wedding photographers in Costa Rica also do engagement photos? Yes, absolutely! Most Costa Rica wedding photographers, including myself, offer engagement sessions either included in packages or as add-ons for couples planning weddings in Costa Rica.

These pre-wedding sessions provide multiple benefits: they help couples become comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day, allow photographer and couple to build rapport and trust, and create beautiful images for save-the-dates or wedding websites. For destination couples, engagement sessions can be scheduled during a pre-wedding visit to Costa Rica, perhaps combined with venue tours and vendor meetings, or conducted in your hometown if you’re based elsewhere.

As a photographer in Costa Rica, I particularly love engagement sessions that explore the country’s diverse landscapes, from beaches to rainforests to coffee plantations. These sessions for weddings Costa Rica couples create romantic imagery in the destination where you’ll celebrate and serve as location scouting for your wedding day.