elizamaria

Hey AskCostaRica, do you have any pictures? I'd love to see them! Thanks, Eliza

Hey Natalie! I'm getting married at Casa Fantastica in January also! I'd love to hear what your'e planning, and share my thoughts as well! Eliza

Hello and welcome! I am getting married in Manuel Antonio in Jan 2010, and decided to rent a big house for the wedding/reception and place to stay. As far as luxury accommodations, you will not find super nice mega resorts in Costa Rica. It isn't anything like Cabo or the Mayan Riviera. Almost all the all the hotels are boutique hotels, and will be small, family run operations. Not that that's bad, it's just harder to know what you're getting. Personally I am so glad we decided o Costa Rica! Most all our friends and family have never been, and the price is turning out to be cheaper than anywhere else! Also, it such a beautiful,amazing country that I am so glad to visit again! You may want to look in to renting a house, there are so many in Costa Rica for half the price of a Cabo/Pedregal mansion. The houses seem nicer than the best hotels! Here's the site I rented my house from : Manuel Antonio Costa Rica Vacation Rentals, Villas & Houses, Luxury Beach View Rental Homes & Lodging Accommodations - Rent a Holiday House, Villa, Home Well good luck and happy planning! There aren't many of us Costa Rica brides! Eliza

The 750.00 wedding site fee doesn't include anything, it is just for wear and tear on the house. The one problem getting married at a house instead of a hotel is that I can't just get a wedding package....Our chef is actually coming with us, we will buy all the food/drinks ourselves. I will probably hire someone to bar tend. I chose this house so I also didn't have to rent tables/chairs, as there are plenty for buffet style dinner. The price of the house doesn't change if we have more people, although there is a maximum. There is 7 bedrooms, so I don't want more than 16 people staying there, even though the house is big, I'd prefer not to have every couch being slept on! Still working on the rest of the details... E

Hey Janine, The house rents for 10,000 a week. That seems like a lot, but were splitting it between 16 people, so it works out to less than 100.00 per night per person. All the nicer hotels in the area are around 200/nt, so it's really reasonable. I think it will be so fun to have our own pool/hot tub/bar for just our friends! We're also paying an extra 750.00 to have the wedding ceremony/reception there. I'm hoping to have around 50 people and we're trying to do all the planning ourselves-luckily the house is so beautiful I wont need to do too much! Eliza

Hello, I can recommend the Martino, it is only about 15 min or less from the airport and is a nice European style hotel. They have a great restaurant and pool, and right across the street is a zoo. It's perfect if you are flying out the next day or getting in late. We stayed there last year and our guests will be staying the first night there so we can all drive/fly to the wedding location the next morning. Most of the flights from the U.S get in late, so having somewhere close to the airport is good, especially if you are flying a small plane to another part of the country. E

Hey all, I have booked my MA villa!!! I actually went with a different one than Casa Nova that is much larger, 11,000 square feet!!! Also, it is closer to other hotels and town, as well as being brand new. Here is the link... http://www.villascostarica.com/ma5/index.html I can't wait!!! E

Hello! I am officially a Costa Rica bride now! I am getting married Jan. 14th 2010 in Manuel Antonio at Casa Fantastica Luxurious Tropical Vacation Home in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica - Elegant Home for Family Vacations in Central America, Costa Rica Ocean View Villaoverlooking Manuel Antonio National Park and Playa Espadilla, Casa Fantastico Its just a huge house where we can have the wedding and reception as well as stay for the whole week with 15 of our friends! Haven't planned much else, but I'm pretty excited! E

Hey There! I am also getting married in Manuel Antonio and having been there before, I know the drive is pretty scary. Nature Air offers daily flights to Quepos, which is a short drive to M.A. The flight is 30 min and costs around 70.00 USD. This is what I'm suggesting for my older and less adventurous guests. Although they are small planes, which I know scare some people. Good Luck and happy planning!

I also am not having a bridal party, I feel like it would be wierd to have 20 people there and 10 standing up with us. All our close friends will be there, so it's hard to decide. I am toying with the idea of to asking all our guests to wear white,(I won't be) so it will be like everyone is our bridal party. so, your'e not alone...

Wow, you ladies are scaring me..If I had 20,000 I would remodel my kitchen! That said, i am just beggining my planning and was thinking $5,000 would be a good budget. Wer'e getting married winter 2010 in Costa Rica that would include.. One week at a private villa which also doubles as ceremony and reception site as well as accommodations for 10 friends. Our friends will pay their share, so we'd pay $1,000 for the place. And the rest will go to spending money and food for about 20 people the night of the wedding. I am a fashion designer, so I will be making my own dress, as well as invitations, STD, etc. I was hoping to have a close friend do the photography as a wedding gift. Neither of our parents are very well off and approaching retirement age, so we won't be accepting any help from them, just that they pay their own way. Geez..I hope we can pull this off!!

Hi all, I am new to the forum, no date set yet, just trying to find a place first. I had origannly thought about Cabo, up until pricing out places and realizing that going farther to Costa Rica may actually cost less. Plus all our family and friends have never been. We spent a week there last year and loved it! I found a villa in Manuel Antonio called Casa Nova Estate. It looks as if it is large enough for a ceremony and reception, as well as being affordable. Has anyone heard of it or been there? I am so excited I just want to book it right away! Private Luxury Estate, Manuel Antonio Executive House Rental, Vacation Home in Costa Rica great Family Accommodations in Central America, Home with Private Grounds Anyway I'd love to hear anything more about anyone's Costa Rica experiences! Eliza

Hello Jocy, I am considering Costa Rica myself, and saw that you were thinking about the Cala Luna boutique hotel. I stayed there last summer and the it was amazing! Nice rooms, staff, location-out of everywhere we stayed it was our favorite!There is a lot to do in Tamarindo also. I don't know about the other places, but I loved Costa Rica and I think it would be a perfect place for a wedding! Good luck- Eliza

Hey Ladies! I'm thinking about getting married in Cabo next December... actually i am going there this December to check it out..Nice to join you all! Eliza

Hey Ladies, My name is Eliza and I'm getting married next winter-not totally sure where yet, possibly Cabo because I go there every X-Mas (Timeshare). But for sure on the beach somewhere and I need help!! Anyway, nice to join you all! Eliza