I love a good wedding. It seems to me, with the proliferation of social media and technology, opportunities for true candor, face to face, between people are becoming more and more rare. That is why weddings can be such a special moment for all those in attendance. They provide that rare opportunity for people to truly express how they feel for one another. And not just for those getting married. Loved ones expressing their appreciation and love for the bride and groom (or bride and bride, or groom and groom) seem to experience a level of truth seldom, if ever, felt in day to day life. And this was something I witnessed take place a few days ago on an isolated black-sand beach on the Osa Peninsula.
Last week, I had the enormous pleasure of photographing the Osa beach wedding of Sherri and Jory. Weddings are meant to be beautiful, and a destination wedding in Costa Rica takes it to that next level. It is the natural beauty of the landscape and the culture here that makes living in Costa Rica such an amazing experience. And, it is this daily exposure to breathtaking beauty all around me that makes me so grateful for being able to experience life here on the Osa Peninsula.
Sherri and Jory just after the ceremony. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
As a wedding photographer, it is your job to present those getting married, and also those in attendance, in the best light possible. And with a destination wedding on the Osa, the landscape does half of this job for you. Not only is every photo set against the natural backdrop of jungle and mountains colliding with black sand beaches, but you can see the joy and awe that the landscape instills in the expressions of those you are photographing.
Sherri posing for her individual portraits. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
Sherri and Jory’s wedding took place on Carate Beach directly in front of The Lookout Inn. All of the wedding party stayed in Lookout for the weekend, and the Lookout staff did an amazing job setting up a “chapel on the beach” for the ceremony using only natural materials. Palm fronds, bamboo, and local wildflowers decorated the setting, and the incredible vista of the Osa provided the backdrop. It being June, rain was definitely a concern, but the weather cooperated, and the seasonal clouds rolling across the peninsula made the landscape that much more dramatic.
Sherri and Jory exchange a kiss in the surf. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
If you or someone you know are considering a destination wedding, I urge you to consider the Osa Peninsula. Costa Rica is brimming with beautiful destinations. But, the Osa offers the opportunity to be surrounded by seemingly limitless natural beauty. I have friends who were married at a resort in Costa Rica, and I feel that they may have missed out on some of what makes getting married here such a special opportunity. By cutting themselves off from the culture and wildlife behind the walls of an all-inclusive resort, they didn’t see the real Costa Rica. And, if you are making the trip all the way down here to get married, I say get married amidst the real Costa Rica!
I am happy to share with you some of my favorite photos from the day. Do enjoy, and a big congratulations to Sherri and Jory!
Sherri walks "the aisle." Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
Jory expressing his vows to Sherri. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
Sherri places Jory's wedding band on his hand. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
Jory and Sherri, newly weds! Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.
And one more shot of the beautiful Sherri. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. June 2018.