Catching up on a backlog of events that we would love to share with you!
Amanda & Shay are a perfect example that timing is everything. They had met while working together at a restaurant, dated for a few years and spent a few years apart before reconnecting. And as Amanda put it, “now here we are!” Sometimes life brings us back to that perfect person, that might have arrived a bit too early the first time around.
Together with their closest family and friends, Amanda & Shay exchanged vows on the Tulemar Beach while enjoying their stay at Buena Vista Villas. They filled the time surrounding their wedding with adventures and exploration, and plenty of monkey spottings!
Many thanks to El Velo Photography for capturing the day in both photo & video. Coordination & design Meghan Cox, Our Costa Rica Wedding. Delicious cake from Mariposa Pastry. Stylos y Flores created the beautiful flowers, and Costa Mesa provided rentals.
It was a complete joy to be part of Meghan & Tom’s wedding celebrations. They truly are a couple that embodies how effortless love can be.
Meghan & Tom had been guests at another of OCRW’s weddings and gave us a call as soon as they became engaged. To us, it’s the ultimate compliment to be hired AFTER they’ve seen what we can do!
Meghan & Toms’ friends and family were right on board with taking over Jaco for this wedding weekend, filled with surfing, ziplining, and plenty of Imperial while lounging poolside at the oceanfront condo property, Bahia Encantada.
Bahia Encantada Imperial and Patron
We had an absolutely gorgeous day for set-up. The guys enjoyed the pool while the girls drank mimosas and got beautiful! Meghan is a hair stylist as are some of her closest friends, so a couple of the bridesmaids took care of the ladies styling for the day. They even found time to give me a lesson on the sock-bun which held my hair nicely throughout the day and night, and I still use that trick frequently! Thanks ladies!
Wedding Day Preparation
The color scheme was green, pink, and soft brown brought together with bamboo effects in the canopy, runner on the table, chairs and bar (Meghan even put bamboo coasters in the welcome bags!) and the wedding party’s attire. Love the guys shirts in this wedding! Meghan did a great job pairing the brighter pink on the girls with the softer hue on the guys.
Wedding Canopy
Wedding Canopy Bridal Party in Pink Groomsmen & Bride
Signature drinks of Sangria and Mojitos emphasized the color palette, as did green cocktail tables with under-lighting that lit up as the sky darkened.
Cocktail Hour
The couple stole off for a few quiet moments while guests enjoyed cocktails & hors d’ouevres. There are way too many gorgeous images from this bit of time that we couldn’t decide which to share but here are a couple…
Bride and Groom Bride and Groom
Flowers consisted of plenty of native plants to Costa Rica, ginger, hydrangea, dendrobium orchids, and beautiful phalaenopsis orchids. The bride’s bouquet was white and pale green hydrangea with white phalaenopsis orchids.
Tropical Arrangements Bridal Bouquet
Meghan’s earrings were stunning, I am sure you’ve noticed them in other photos already but here’s a well deserved close-up:
Bride’s Earrings
The guys wore starfish as their boutonniere’s, a token from the bride’s sister’s wedding. Placecards were made by the bride’s mother, and included the starfish as well.
Starfish Details
In lieu of a traditional guestbook, guests were asked to sign a board made of native Costa Rican wood crafted by a local artisan and engraved with their wedding date. This piece now hangs in the couples home. As March can be a windy time of year on the Pacific Coast (though we lucked out with gorgeously calm weather) this couple elected to frame their menus instead of using paper menus at each place setting. They then re-used those frames for their wedding photos in their home and also in gifting photos to family. Nice touch!
“Guestbook” & Menu
Dinner was privately catered and served Family Style to encourage interaction and in keeping with the couples laid-back style. One long table accommodated all of the guests and resulted in a dramatic effect with globe lanterns hanging above.
Dinner
The cake was a two tier vanilla cake with strawberry filling, and decorated with green dendrobium orchids. Though fondant holds up better in Costa Rica’s tropical climate, Tom & Meghan preferred buttercream frosting which was easily arranged by keeping the cake in cool storage until closer to when the cake would be cut.
Wedding Cake with Orchids
We could dedicate an entire post to the party that ensued. Multiple bottle dances occurred and I’m not sure there was a guy left with his shirt on by the end of the night! We couldn’t be happier for this couple and are so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of their day. Congratulations you two!!
Tom & Meghan
Many thanks to Jeremie Barlow for the lovely photos, Cristina Coronas at ArtFlower for the gorgeous flowers, Chelsea Brandau for the delicious cake, Los Mojitos for the sweet ceremony music (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was beautifully done!), and Joshua Wilson for keeping the party going!
