Why get married in Costa Rica:what the setting offers.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Couples get married in Costa Rica for the range of settings: Pacific beaches, rainforest and volcano country, cloud forest and the Central Valley, each with its own climate. It suits couples who care about the place, are comfortable planning a destination wedding with local help, and can be flexible about the season. Two decisions shape the plan more than any others: where you celebrate, because rainfall differs by region, and whether you want a legal marriage in Costa Rica, which has its own paperwork and lead time.
Four reasons couples get married in Costa Rica.
Adri is Costa Rican, so this guide comes from living and working here. It is meant to help you decide, not to sell you on the country.
The setting. Beaches, rainforest and volcano landscapes sit within one country. On the Pacific coast the sun sets over the sea, which is why many beach ceremonies are planned around it.
The venues. The range runs from resorts to private villas and secluded beachfront spots. Whether a venue fits your guest count, budget and ceremony plans is something only the venue can confirm, so ask for capacity, inclusions and the rain plan in writing.
The vendors. Costa Rica has a working community of local planners, florists, makeup artists and photographers. Hiring locally means people who already know the venues and how the light behaves there. Our guide to choosing a wedding photographer in Costa Rica lists the questions we would ask.
The pace. “Pura vida” is a common Costa Rican expression for things being good. For many couples it also describes the pace they want: unhurried and flexible, with room for the weather to change the plan.
Choose the setting first, then the details.
Each region offers a different backdrop and asks different questions. Compare them before you compare venues.
| Setting | What it offers | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Guanacaste Pacific coast | Beaches facing the Pacific, with sunset over the sea. A clear dry season from December to March (IMN). | Beach access and ceremony permission, shade and heat for guests, and a covered backup in the rainy months. |
| Nicoya Peninsula and Santa Teresa | Long open beaches and a relaxed surf-town feel. | Travel time from your arrival airport, and where guests can stay nearby. |
| Arenal and La Fortuna | Volcano and rainforest, with waterfalls nearby. IMN places Arenal in a region that is rainy through the year. | Permits for waterfalls and protected areas, a covered option, and footwear for guests. |
| Central Valley and cloud forest | Misty overlooks and coffee-country light. Convenient if you fly into San José (SJO). | Weather cover, and the time of day that gives you the light you want. |
| Manuel Antonio and the central Pacific | Rainforest directly behind the beach. | Whether your spot is inside a protected area, and which rules apply there. |
Descriptions are general. Rainfall regimes come from IMN regional studies (see section 04). Confirm access, permits and rain plans with the venue or your planner. For more venues, see our Costa Rica wedding venues guide.
The calendar changes
with the region.
IMN divides Costa Rica into climate regions. Three come up often for couples. Averages describe a typical year, not your date.
- Guanacaste and the Nicoya peninsula.IMN’s Pacífico Norte study puts the dry season from December to March, when about 4% of the year’s rain falls. April is a transition month and the rains settle in around the last third of May. A relative pause called the veranillo comes in July and August, September and October bring the largest share of rain, and November is a transition back toward the dry season. (IMN regional study)
- The Arenal area and the north.IMN’s Zona Norte study places the region in the Caribbean rainfall regime: rainy all year, with a relative decrease in February, March and April. Arenal appears on that study’s rainfall profile, so the Pacific dry-season dates do not carry over. (IMN regional study)
- The Caribbean slope.Two rainy periods separated by relative minimums, in September and October and again in February and March. It is not a dry-season coast from December to March. (IMN regional study)
For month-by-month figures on the Guanacaste coast, see our guide to the months to get married in Costa Rica.
Marriage and entry,
in plain terms.
We are photographers, not lawyers. This section summarizes official pages so you know what to ask.
A symbolic ceremony
A ceremony you design, with or without an officiant, that is not itself the legal act. Some couples handle the legal marriage at home and celebrate here. Check with your home authorities how a marriage abroad is recognized.
A civil marriage at the Registro Civil
TSE describes this route: both partners apply together. Foreign applicants present valid identification, an apostilled birth certificate and an apostilled civil status certificate, with an official translation if they are not in Spanish. Two named witnesses attend with ID, a notice is published in the official gazette at the couple’s cost, and TSE gives an average of 4 to 6 months once the application is complete and the notice is published. The service is free. (TSE procedure sheet)
Length of stay and onward travel
The immigration officer sets your length of stay at arrival according to your country group. A return or onward ticket is required if you arrive on a one-way ticket or your return is dated more than 90 days after arrival. Check your nationality before you book. (Visit Costa Rica, entry requirements)
The TSE sheet is a file dated July 2026 and rules change, so confirm the current steps with a qualified local lawyer, your planner or TSE before you rely on them. This is one route, and the right one depends on your situation.
What we ask
early on.
From planning weddings here, in English and Spanish.
Where, and at what time?
We build the photography timeline around your location and the light. Once you have a place and a rough ceremony time, we can talk through when portraits fit.
What is the rain plan?
Ask the venue where the ceremony would move and how long the change takes, in any month. See the complete guide to planning your Costa Rica wedding for more.
Can you meet before you book?
A short call tells you more than a portfolio. Choose people you feel at ease with.
Thinking about Costa Rica for your wedding?
Short answers, with the source behind each one.
Do we have to marry legally in Costa Rica?
No. A ceremony can be symbolic, with the legal marriage handled elsewhere. If you want the civil marriage here, TSE describes the Registro Civil route and an average of 4 to 6 months once the application is complete.
When is the dry season on the Guanacaste coast?
IMN puts it from December to March, with April and November as transition months and the rains settling in around the last third of May.
Is the whole country dry in the same months?
No. IMN describes the Arenal area and the Caribbean slope as rainy through the year, with relative minimums at different times.
How early should we start?
Start the legal paperwork first if you want a civil marriage here, because of the lead time. For venues and vendors, ask about availability for your date as soon as you have a place in mind.
Can we marry outdoors in a protected area or at a waterfall?
Often only with permission. Confirm current access and event permission with the property or the relevant authority before you plan the ceremony there.
Do you work in English and Spanish?
Yes. You can plan with us in either language.
- IMN, Pacífico Norte regional study: seasons and rain shares.
- IMN, Zona Norte and Vertiente del Caribe: rainfall regimes outside the Pacific.
- TSE, Solicitud y celebración de matrimonio civil: documents, witnesses, gazette notice, average time.
- Visit Costa Rica, entry requirements: length of stay and onward ticket.
Costa Rica wedding photographer · Adri Mendez
Written by Adri and Lucas, based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and working throughout Costa Rica. Official requirements change, so check the sources above for your own date.
Weighing Costa Rica
for your wedding?
Tell us the places and months you are considering. We are happy to talk it through.
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