We just adore this small and intimate wedding from Katherine Stinnett that took place abroad in the beautiful Costa Rica! The bride wore a stunning Vera Wang ruffled gown that just made her stand out in the bride and groom photos on the beaches of Costa Rica. Thank you Katherine for sharing this beautiful tropical destination wedding with us!
From the bride and groom: Woke up and had breakfast in the Villa with our friends and then headed down to the Pacific Ocean for a mikvah, a Jewish ritual much like a baptism. The bride says a short prayer as she immerses herself in water to symbolize the fresh start of a married life with her husband. Although not particularly religeous, we liked the symbolism, the tradition, and even the excuse for a dip in the warm and welcoming ocean water as small waves of surf rolled past. The wedding was not until shortly before sunset, and the 40 or so people gathered for our short ceremony next to the pool, with panoramic views overlooking the ocean from our villa perched on the hillside. Ashley's brothers Maxwell and Samuel, her sister Noelle, and Jason's friend Scott stood beside them. Maxwell and Sam stood in back, with their heels positioned just before the edge of the infinity pool, the rabbi standing in a similarly precarious spot near the pool edge, but fortunately nobody stepped backwards. First dance: Into the Mystic by Van Morrison. With a relatively small group of about 40 with a broad range of ages, we hoped for a memorable celebration with family and friends, but didn't have a particular expectation of how the night would go. We were delighted with the momentum and positive energy that remained for hours as people danced and partied, first in their wedding attire and then becoming casual before evolving into a flat-out pool party. Throughout the entire wedding week (5 days really), we enjoyed such an unforgetably positive attitude of loving energy and warmth from those who were able to make the trip. Besides the wedding, the vacation with 40 of our closest friends and family was also a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I don't think we could have possibly experienced something so memorable (for ourselves and our guests) had we remained close to home.
Vendors: Photography: Katherine Stinnett Photography // Venue: Villa Paraiso in Tamarindo, Costa Rica // Wedding Dress: Vera Wang // Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss // Caterer: Seasons by Shlomy // Event Planner: Liquid Weddings // Florist: Stylos Flores // Hair & Make-up: Noelle Campbell (sister of bride and professional stylist)
