There was so much to love about Brianna and Dakota’s wedding day.
They started the day in Las Catalinas, getting ready surrounded by their closest friends and family. And if you’ve ever been to Las Catalinas, you know how special it is for photographs. The beautiful front doors, colored architecture, hidden streets, and that almost Tuscan feeling make every corner you take feel different. Brianna and Dakota decided to do their first look there, and it ended up being one of our favorite parts of the day.
We took our time walking through Las Catalinas together, photographing the two of them before the ceremony and making the most of such a beautiful setting. Later, their friends joined us for wedding party photos and they were SOOO much fun! We will always remember this group. They were sweet, excited for Brianna and Dakota, and brought the kind of energy that makes a wedding day even better.
Why we love doing portraits before the ceremony
This is also something we love about having a first look. It gives us time to photograph the two of you without feeling rushed, and we can often take care of the wedding party portraits before the ceremony too. That means that once you’re married, you don’t necessarily have to disappear for another long photo session. We can focus on friends & family portraits, take a few photographs during the beautiful evening light, or you can simply go enjoy your cocktail hour and reception. There is something really nice about getting those photographs done earlier and then being able to be completely present for the rest of your wedding.
From Las Catalinas to the Playa Potrero Mountains
After Las Catalinas, we headed to Castillo de Lilo, tucked into the mountains above Playa Potrero. Blue skies, Guanacaste mountains and the Pacific Ocean in the distance make this such a beautiful setting for the ceremony and reception. Brianna walked down the aisle with the ocean behind them, and later everyone joined them to celebrate in the same incredible setting. Their wedding was planned by Heidy Quesada from Heidy Events Design, who we always love working with. Heidy has such a beautiful way of bringing Costa Rica into her weddings and letting the nature surrounding a venue become part of the design.
But more than anything, we’ll remember how this wedding felt.
Brianna was an absolute joy, Dakota was the sweetest, and their friends and family made the entire day so much fun to photograph. The people surrounding you on your wedding day matter, and this was one of those wedding parties that reminded us exactly why. This wedding was a beautiful Costa Rica Wedding from beginning to end... from walking through the colorful streets of Las Catalinas to watching the sun begin to fall over the mountains in Potrero.
And one we were very lucky to photograph.
Planning your wedding in Costa Rica?
Whether you're celebrating by the ocean, in the mountains, or somewhere completely your own, we'd love to hear what you're planning.