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Warm and Picturesque Costa Rica Wedding

May 7, 2022 | riley

Imagine saying “I do” with sparkling coastlines, powdery sand, and breathtaking sunsets as a backdrop, followed by dancing with the love of your life under starlit skies and the soft sound of waves in the background. Talk about absolutely dreamy. A romantic beach wedding is truly a magical experience. With One Heart Planning and their amazing vendor team at the helm, Andy and Catalina’s Costa Rica wedding was a dream come true. 

El Mangroove’s stunning beachfront was the perfect setting for a picturesque ceremony. Asymmetrical arrangements of lush tropical foliage and white orchids by Romero framed the couple as they exchanged emotional vows. The couple and their guests were transported to a tropical paradise in the reception that followed. The theme continued with gorgeous tablescapes of greenery and orchids, coconut candles, woven chargers, and a bamboo teepee cake display. To top it all off, a canopy of string lights and floating palm leaves added just the right touch of whimsy. 

And if the decor wasn’t enough to have you dreaming of a tropical destination wedding, then the wedding fashion will. The couple was stylishly cool for their oceanside affair, with the groom wearing a relaxed cream suit and brown moccasins and the bride looking effortlessly elegant in her strapless tulle gown paired with statement earrings. 

Imagine the warm breeze, sunny skies, and sand between your toes as you scroll through these beautiful images captured by Junebug member Javier Mendez. If you and your partner are planning a tropical big day with a panoramic beach backdrop, then this wedding has plenty of inspiration!

The Couple:

Catalina and Andy

The Wedding:

El Mangroove, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Why They Wanted A Costa Rica Wedding

Destination weddings are a lot to ask of your guests. Still, we knew we found the perfect fit after visiting El Mangroove, touring their fantastic facilities, and seeing how close and convenient they are to Liberia International Airport. We wanted all of our guests to feel comfortable, have a great time, and create their own memories. I think we succeeded.

Recommended Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Planning A Beach Wedding

Hiring A Local Planner Was The Best Decision

Weddings involve many moving pieces that are difficult to coordinate. We’re so happy we decided to hire One Heart Event Planning to help us put together an amazing vendor team that made sense for our wedding. They also had lots of great tips on how to utilize our budget in the most effective way possible.

Recommended Reading: Ultimate Guide to Planning A Destination Wedding

It Was A Great Experience To Work With Junebug Member Javier Mendez

Javier felt like he was just another one of our friends and guests on the day of the wedding. He put everyone at ease and was never overly pushy. He had some great ideas for wedding photos that wouldn’t be too staged. We couldn’t be happier to have an amazing library of photos to look back on and remember all of the parts in the future.

Recommended Reading: Tropical Wedding Ideas to Transform Any Venue Into Paradise

Eco-Friendly Edible Wedding Favors That Wouldn’t Go To Waste

We try not to be wasteful so we gave out consumable wedding favors for everyone to enjoy. The refreshing, cold coconuts for the ceremony were a big hit, as were the local artisanal jellies with guests’ names on them to take home and savor.

Recommended Reading: Destination Wedding Budget Breakdown

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Javier Mendez
Event Planning & Invitation Design – One Heart Event Planning
Venue & Catering – El Mangroove
Floral Design – Romero
Cake – José Pablo Vega
Officiant – Katia Pochet
Live Music – Grupo Taboo
Makeup Artist – Luis González
Hair Styling – Kevin Calderon
Wedding Dress – LBR Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – Adrian Park Custom Suits
Rings – Brilliant Earth
Rentals – Elegante Frenesi
Favors – Koko Natural Water

 

Congratulations to Andy and Catalina on their warm and picturesque Costa Rica wedding. And big thanks to Junebug member Javier Mendez for capturing and sharing this beautiful wedding with us. To see more of his work, check out his profile in our directory of expert photographers from around the world

A destination wedding like this one is exciting for everyone involved. But between the venue, the food, accommodations, and airfare, it all adds up pretty fast. To avoid getting overwhelmed by all the major details and price tags, it’s best to start out by making a spending plan. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Check out our destination wedding planning and budget guides to discover practical and creative ways to plan your dream day on a budget.

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Intimate Oregon Wedding Among the Trees

May 4, 2022 | riley

Hayley and Gabby originally wanted to elope with just the two of them, an officiant, and their photographer. But once word got out, their friends and family wanted to join them on the happiest moment of their lives. So the couple planned a slightly bigger celebration to include their closest loved ones. With a great love for travel and the outdoors, their intimate Oregon wedding among the trees was the perfect magical setting for their big day. 

Tucked away in the middle of an enchanting forest, their ceremony on the Redwood Deck featured a statement triangle arch, dreamy florals by Songbird Floral Designs, and glowing lamps. The couple said their “I dos” under towering trees with gorgeous light coming through. They brought the romantic boho woodland vibe into their cozy Opal 28 reception with an eye-catching macrame backdrop, tablescapes full of greenery, and gilded details. 

With the help of their planner Keen Events, the two brides were able to pull off an unforgettable celebration, all beautifully captured by Dionne Kraus Photography. Scroll through to learn more about their wedding journey—there’s more than meets the eye. Despite the hurdles, this wedding is proof that love truly conquers all. 

Dionne Kraus Photography’s Thoughts On This Intimate Oregon Wedding

I came home from this wedding so teary. I didn’t know beforehand, but some members of the family didn’t RSVP because they didn’t support the marriage. On the day of, they decided to come last minute and even participated although they were pretty quiet and reserved for the most part. Some of my last photos of the night during the dance party were of the family embracing their bride and crying with their now married daughter. 

The peacefulness and acceptance will forever stay with me. The power of that moment was tangible, and I don’t think there was anyone in that room not crying. When the song ended, they danced with their daughter’s new wife. The happiness showed as they held the woman who loved their little girl, I just can’t put into words. 

The Couple:

Hayley and Gabby

The Wedding:

Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, United States

Recommended Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Planning A Micro Wedding

Recommended Reading: The Prettiest National Parks for Your Wedding

Recommended Reading: Read This if You’re Planning an LGBTQ+ Wedding

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Dionne Kraus Photography
Event Planning – Keen Events
Ceremony Venue – Hoyt Arboretum
Reception Venue – Opal 28
Floral Design – Songbird Floral Designs
Cake – Dream Cakes
Live Music – DanceHall Days Band
Makeup Artist – Blossom and Beauty
Rentals – Power of Love Rentals

 

Congratulations to Hayley and Gabby on their intimate Oregon wedding among the trees. And big thanks to Dionne Kraus Photography for capturing the love, joy, and overall emotion of their special day. 

This wedding proves that you can be surrounded by your loved ones while still having the intimate affair that you desire. You can even swap traditions for more forward-thinking ideas, so feel free to craft a wedding day that’s as unique as you and your partner.

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Low-key Intimate Multicultural Elopement

May 2, 2022 | justine

A beautiful blend of traditions, two epic outfit changes, and spectacular views of the Olympic National Park—Helen and Tommy’s intimate multicultural elopement was a dreamy way to tie the knot. They decided to trade their large original planned celebration for an anything-but-traditional elopement with their closest friends and family.

The couple started their day getting ready at the charming Eagles Perch Treehouse. Surrounded by forest canopies overlooking the beach, their outdoor ceremony included a wedding tea ceremony to pay tribute to the bride’s Chinese culture. It was followed by an emotional vow exchange framed by lush ground floral arrangements by Viet Dinh

The couple then changed into Cambodian wedding attire in honor of the groom’s heritage for their magical sunset portraits. From the enchanting forest ceremony to the foggy and romantic moments at the iconic rugged coastline of Ruby Beach—soak in every little detail of their big day with these gorgeous photos captured by Henry Tieu.

The Couple:

Helen and Tommy

The Wedding:

Olympic National Park, Washington, United States

Beautifully Blending Traditions At Their Intimate Multicultural Elopement

Growing up as an Asian American, I always felt torn between the two cultures. I had always envisioned my wedding to blend both cultures. I wanted to walk down the aisle in a white dress, hear the chaos from my future husband playing traditional door games, and serve tea to our elders for their blessings. It was essential for us to incorporate Chinese and Cambodian traditions for our wedding because it would not be us if we didn’t. Somehow we managed to do all of those things, and that is something that we are so proud of.

Advice From The Couple: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Our advice to couples when it comes to planning a wedding or elopement is to try not to sweat the small stuff because when the actual day comes, everything that was ever stressful before the wedding seemed to not matter at the end of the day. Just have fun and be present.

Working With Henry Tieu Photography

It is difficult to talk about how amazing Henry is without rambling on about him. He was one of our greatest supporters during this journey, so it was like seeing an old friend when meeting him in person on our big day. When working with him, he was pretty much on top of everything. He made us feel so comfortable around him and in front of the lens.

Home Cooked Asian Fusion Wedding Menu

Our wedding menu consisted of our favorite dishes made by our grandmothers and mothers. When getting ready for the wedding, you see these amazing women in one kitchen preparing these dishes (it was hectic but a beautiful scene.) They prepared Bò Kho (beef stew) served with french bread, Bok Lahong (papaya salad) with white rice, Sach Ko Jakak (beef skewers), and Chè Thái (fruit cocktail) for dessert. To top everything off, we ordered 60 bubble teas from our favorite spot—Seattle’s Best Tea.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Henry Tieu Photography
Event Planning – Channary’s Khmer Wedding Services 
Floral Design – Viet Dinh
Cake – Sift And Gather
Videography – Jeffrey Le
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Angie Evans
Rings – Blue Nile

 

Congratulations to Helen and Tommy on their low-key intimate multicultural wedding. And big thanks to Henry Tieu Photography for capturing and sharing the precious moments that made this celebration one for the books. 

Whether it’s a big traditional wedding or an intimate elopement like this one, your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you’ll want to remember and relive. Check out our guide on choosing the right photographer and be at ease knowing that your special day is captured and preserved through beautiful photographs.

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