After kicking off our Ask the Expert series with Jamaica, we’re turning to the sun-soaked and beautiful destination of Costa Rica. Andrea Traña, Social Catering & Banquets Curator at Nekajui Peninsula Papagayo, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, shares how couples can make the most of this Pacific coast setting, with celebrations that leave plenty of time for good food, local experiences, and time with their favourite people.
Planning your “I do” in Costa Rica
At Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, couples can exchange vows amidst the lush flora overlooking the Pacific Ocean – sunset in particular is the golden hour. The chapel is one of the most extraordinary settings for a ceremony, with more than 650,000 handcrafted mosaics creating a space that feels intimate, artistic and deeply meaningful. There are also more secluded outdoor settings surrounded by the natural beauty of Peninsula Papagayo, perfect for celebrations that feel quiet, personal and closely connected to the destination.
“For couples drawn to the landscape, the oceanview venues offer an entirely different kind of beauty, with the Pacific stretching out beyond the ceremony and the light changing throughout the day,” says Traña. “A destination wedding begins long before the ceremony itself. It is about creating a sense of place, bringing loved ones together, and shaping a series of moments that feel as meaningful as the celebration at the heart of them.”
Weddings here unfold as immersive experiences, she adds, framed by the natural beauty of Peninsula Papagayo and the Pacific beyond. “From intimate gatherings and shared meals to quiet moments by Playa Pochote, each element becomes part of a larger story that guests carry with them long after the celebration ends.”
When it comes to trends, Traña says the resort is seeing couples embrace destination weddings as experiences that extend well beyond the ceremony itself. “The focus is increasingly on creating something deeply personal, considered and entirely their own.” That often means a celebration unfolding over several days, with intimate dinners, wellness moments, time outdoors, local experiences and unhurried gatherings woven throughout. Each moment creates another opportunity for people to connect, spend meaningful time together, and experience the destination at its own rhythm, she notes.
“The landscape, sense of privacy, and rhythm of Peninsula Papagayo lend themselves naturally to this kind of celebration, allowing the destination to become part of the story itself.”
ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/lirrz-nekajui-peninsula-papagayo-a-ritz-carlton-reserve
Next up in our Ask the Expert series: a wildly romantic island escape where turquoise waters and powder-soft sands set the scene for “I do.” Any guesses where we’re going next?
For more expert advice and destination inspiration, read our full digital Destination Wedding Guide here.
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