August 1, 2023
I teased about this a couple of weeks ago in my post about curating a unique and memorable guest experience, that I would be sharing a beautiful Costa Rica wedding and here it is! This wedding was a little extra special to me because not only did the bride and groom give me total creative freedom (my favorite) but the bride is also a close friend. I designed everything from their invitations to their day-of signage and stationery and loved every minute of it! I can’t wait to share the gorgeous boho tropical wedding details with you today. If you have ever considered a destination wedding in Costa Rica (or any other dreamy beach location), keep reading!
I always love to help couples design their wedding invitations (hello first impression!) but with a destination wedding, there’s a little extra pressure. Ashley and Eric gave me TOTAL creative freedom and I wanted their suite to have a classy, boho tropical feel, while including fun elements that represented both of their personalities. I wanted to be sure that their invitations would get their guests just as excited for their destination wedding as I was! While keeping with a neutral color palette, I tied in a brighter pop of color with the belly band, created a tropical-themed monogram (that you’ll see throughout the wedding design!). Then, we used playful phrases throughout the cards instead of standard verbiage to let their guests know they should get ready for a PARTY.
When the groom finally saw their full suite in person, his exact words were
“Ours is the best invitation I’ve ever seen!”
And as someone who spends a good portion of their time dreaming up wedding invitations and other stationery… I have to agree! I love the way everything came together.
When I talk about personal and sentimental wedding details, I usually gush over some of the calligraphy pieces, and for this wedding, we took it a little further. We made sure to honor Ashley’s mom, who sadly passed away unexpectedly less than a year before the wedding, as much as possible throughout the day and week through details such as an “in memory” sign for her seat at the ceremony, using her favorite color of pink in the bar signage, and naming her favorite drink, a margarita, after her.
On top of that, Andrea of Love, Amarie created the most beautiful custom bridal clutch using fabric from the dress that her mom was going to wear to the wedding, and even included an inscription on the inside from a beloved Kristin Hannah quote. There have been so many times throughout the years I have been grateful for the amazing wedding vendors in my corner and this was definitely one of them! Ashley’s mom was present throughout the entire day in ways both big and small.
When I started to design their wedding, I wanted something that was tropical and bohemian to reflect the gorgeous Costa Rica destination wedding, but still feel sophisticated. I incorporated their monogram throughout the pieces and echoed the invitations with arch-shaped acrylic for the wedding reception decor. We kept the colors neutral (with white and gold accents!) so that the tropical boho florals from the venue were guaranteed to blend flawlessly.
I’ve talked about packing up your wedding calligraphy pieces in this post, but Costa Rica had a few extra logistical considerations. Throughout the design process, I had to keep travel in mind since it was a destination wedding, so we made sure everything could be packaged safely in suitcases. This meant using smaller acrylic pieces and a fabric welcome sign. I designed the seating chart and worked with Ashley and Eric’s planner, Maria of Nosara Magica, to have it printed locally in Costa Rica.
I’m incredibly honored to be a part of ANY of my couples’ weddings, and this was of course no exception. Not only did I get to enjoy the planning and design process with my bestie, but I also got to experience the pieces firsthand as a guest. When she shared their wedding photos, I actually got shivers reliving the day and swooning over the day-of details. Their wedding was in January, and I couldn’t imagine starting 2022 off any other way. If you are planning your own 2022 wedding, I only have a few spots left for day-of details (and am booking quickly for 2023!). If you are obsessed with a cohesive design that is extra personal, make sure to get in touch by clicking the button below.
Venue: Pangas Beach Club
Hotel: Jardin del Eden
Planner: Nosara Magica
Flowers: Stylos y Flores
Rentals: Eventos Artesanos
Hair: Famous Points Beauty
Dress: Rue de Seine via Lovely Bride
Heirloom Clutch: Love, Amarie
Stationery + Signage: Write Pretty For Me