Costa Rica is a Latin American country located in Central America.
It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea as well as Nicaragua and Panama.
Costa Rica also contains many islands, Calero Island being the largest.
Why Get Married In Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has a tropical climate all year round and is a beautiful country, making it a popular destination for a beach wedding! There are so many wonderful aspects of the country to enjoy, including the beaches, rain forests, jungles, mountains, volcanoes and more.
What to know:
- If you’re planning a wedding on the beach in Costa Rica, you’ll want to have it during dry season, which is from December to April. Try your best to avoid rainy season which coincides with hurricane season!
- Costa Rica is divided into 7 provinces, so choose which province is best for you and your fiance. Guanacaste is known for its gorgeous beaches and being the driest region in the country, which makes it a great choice for a beach wedding.
- Limon and Puntarenas are two other popular options, as they also have stunning beaches. Each province has something different to offer!
What is Costa Rica Known For?
Costa Rica is known for being a beautiful country, with so many different species of animals and plants. It’s also known for amazing beaches, coffee plantations, unique culture and more. Anywhere you go in the country makes for a magical backdrop for your wedding ceremony or reception!
Each province is then known for different things. San Jose is the capital and the most populated. In the city there is so much to do and the province also extends to the Central Mountain Range, where you’ll find National parks, forests and coffee plantations.
Heredia is known for its architecture, heritage, coffee plantations, mountains, Braulio Carrillo National Park and Barva Volcano. Cartago is known for colonial art, mountains and Irazu Volcano. Alajuela is known for its rainforest, volcanoes and natural beauty.
The province you choose depends on what type of environment and feel you want for your wedding day! The most romantic would probably be on the beaches of Guanacaste, Limon or Puntarenas. Since Costa Rica is a fairly small country, you and your wedding guests can always travel to multiple provinces during your time there to experience everything the nation has to offer.
What is the Best Time to Get Married in Costa Rica?
The best time to get married in Costa Rica is during dry season, which is from December until April. This gives you the best chance of sunshine and beautiful weather on your wedding day, which is one of the main reasons couples choose to have a destination wedding. You don’t want rain to ruin your beach ceremony!
Dry season is peak tourist season and wedding season, so you will want to plan all details far in advance if possible. Send out a save the date to your guests so they can also get a head start on planning their trip and saving up money to attend.
Rainy season in Costa Rica is May through November, which also coincides with hurricane season. Although this would be a more affordable time to visit the county, some regions experience constant rainfall and storms could affect the flights of you and your guests.
If you do decide to plan your beach wedding in Costa Rica during rainy season, it’s best to have it in the province of Guanacaste because it’s the driest region in the country. It’s also recommended to get flight insurance and maybe have an indoor backup option for your ceremony and reception.
What are the Marriage Requirements in Costa Rica?
Getting married in Costa Rica is a pretty easy process, which is another reason it is a popular destination for weddings. All the bride and groom needs are their passports, original birth certificates, affidavit of single status, divorce decree if applicable and two witnesses. You will also need to fill out a questionnaire.
You will need to get a lawyer in Costa Rica who will help with all the details. He will officiate the ceremony, however, if you prefer someone else to, then the lawyer will just witness it. Once the ceremony is over, your marriage statement will be sent to the Costa Rica Civil Registry.
The registration process takes several weeks after your wedding day, however, once it’s complete, you will be mailed the official marriage certificate. Along with paying necessary fees these are the main marriage requirements! For the complete list of marriage requirements in Costa Rica click here.
What to do next? Read more about planning a destination wedding here.