The journal / Real weddings / Santa Teresa

Mariella
& Luc in Santa Teresa.A WEDDING ON COSTA RICA’S PACIFIC COAST

A romantic Santa Teresa wedding photographed by Adri, with the beach, the trees and the Pacific as the setting.SANTA TERESA · PACIFIC COAST
Bride in a white dress sits in a wicker chair on a shaded terrace, adjusting her shoe
SANTA TERESA · COSTA RICAPHOTOGRAPHY BY ADRI MENDEZ

SANTA TERESA WEDDING · REAL CELEBRATION

Mariella and Luc’s Santa Teresa wedding was photographed by Adri on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Below are their photographs, how we approach a wedding, and a few practical notes for couples considering Santa Teresa.

Photography by Adri & Lucas Weddings · Story by Adri & Lucas

Planning a wedding in Santa Teresa? Check our availability for your date. Based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and working throughout Costa Rica.

Mariella and Luc’s wedding at a glance

THE COUPLEMariella & Luc
THE PLACESanta Teresa
THE COASTPacific, Costa Rica
THE PHOTOGRAPHERAdri

Photographed by Adri for Adri and Lucas Weddings. Venue and vendor credits were not listed in the original post and are not named here.

A documentary way to photograph a Santa Teresa wedding.

Every wedding is different, and so is the way we document it.

We aim to tell the story as it happens, from the joyful tears to the spontaneous laughter, so each emotion stays in the pictures. Adri and Lucas have photographed and filmed weddings since 2013.

Before a wedding, Adri takes time to get to know both people: their story, their personalities and their vision for the day. That connection shows in the photographs.

Pair of strappy heels resting on bridal tulle

The details that stay with you.

It is often the small things that leave the biggest impression: the lace of a dress, the design of the rings, the way sunlight filters through the flowers. We photograph those moments so they sit alongside the portraits and the celebration.

Each wedding is a reflection of the couple. Read another Costa Rica wedding story from us.

Round greenery wedding arch on the beach with wooden folding chairs in front, Santa Teresa

Why couples choose a Santa Teresa wedding.

A natural, laid-back stretch of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

Santa Teresa is known for its natural beauty and relaxed feel. Couples look at its beaches, its sunsets and its warm hospitality when they imagine a romantic ceremony with their toes in the sand.

Those beaches range from the quiet corners of Playa Hermosa to the livelier shores of Playa Santa Teresa, so the same stretch of coast can suit different kinds of weddings.

SANTA TERESA AT A GLANCE

Five things
to know.

General notes for couples, not a venue guide.

A SANTA TERESA WEDDING

Beaches, light and season.

What couples tend to ask about first.

  1. 01

    The beaches

    Playa Hermosa and Playa Santa Teresa

    Quiet corners at Playa Hermosa, livelier shores at Playa Santa Teresa.

  2. 02

    The evenings

    Sunset over the Pacific

    Warm evening light is a natural place to plan portraits.

  3. 03

    The guests

    Surf, yoga and nearby parks

    Things for guests to do around the wedding, from surfing to yoga on the beach.

  4. 04

    The season

    Dry season

    Costa Rica’s tourism board places the Pacific dry season at about December to March, with April a transition month.

  5. 05

    The traditions

    The arras ceremony

    Some couples include the arras tradition, in which the groom gives the bride thirteen coins.

General information for planning, not a recommendation for any date. Confirm season, traditions and logistics with your planner. Season source: Costa Rica’s tourism board.

Mariella and Luc, by the Pacific.

More photographs from their wedding, in the order they appear in our gallery.

Two-photo collage: bride hugging a woman in a gold dress, and the bride having her makeup done
Collage of a beach ceremony setup with a round greenery arch, wooden chairs and a welcome sign
Collage of a guitarist playing on the sand, guests watching, and guests posing in colorful dresses
Three women in sunglasses and colorful dresses stand together on the beach
Wedding guests in sunglasses and colorful dresses smile for a photo on a beach path in Santa Teresa
Bride in a long veil walks down a sand aisle lined with flowers between seated guests toward a greenery arch
Bride and a man in a light suit face each other at the start of the beach ceremony, ocean behind
Couple kisses beneath a round greenery arch on the beach while guests look on
Collage of friends hugging on the beach and a guitarist performing at a party by the sea
Collage of beach reception details: high tables, long dining table with flowers, lounge area and a menu card
Collage of long beach dining tables set with tropical flowers under trees and string lights
Couple kiss at night on the sand, each holding a lit torch, flower lei around the groom's neck
The bride and groom embracing and smiling on a sandy beach under a tree, with the ocean and greenery behind them
Bride sits on a tree trunk on the beach as the groom stands beside her, backlit by the sun
The bride and groom, seen from behind, walking hand in hand on a rocky beach at sunset, her veil trailing behind her
IF YOU’RE PLANNING HERE

Notes for a
Santa Teresa wedding.

Four things to settle early, based on the general information in our original post.

  1. Plan portraits around the light.

    Sunsets are a highlight of the Santa Teresa coast. Ask your photographer to build the portrait time around the evening light.

  2. Choose your season with the weather in mind.

    The Pacific side has a dry season and a rainy season. Read our notes on when to get married in Costa Rica and confirm the forecast pattern for your date with your planner.

  3. Ask what is available for your date.

    Local planners can help with venues, decoration, catering and entertainment. Ask them what is open on your date, and compare options such as Costa Rica beach wedding venues.

  4. Confirm the legal steps early.

    Confirm the current legal requirements for your situation with your planner and the Costa Rican authorities before you travel.

USEFUL ANSWERS

Questions about a Santa Teresa wedding

Answers from this real celebration and from general information. Confirm the details for your own day.

Who photographed Mariella and Luc’s wedding?

Adri photographed their Santa Teresa wedding for Adri and Lucas Weddings.

Where is Santa Teresa?

On Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, known for its natural beauty and laid-back feel.

When is the dry season on the Pacific coast?

Costa Rica’s tourism board describes the Pacific dry season as December to March, with April a transition month and the rainy season running from May to October. Confirm the pattern for your own date with your planner.

What is the arras ceremony?

A traditional ceremony in which the groom gives the bride thirteen coins as a symbol of commitment. Some couples include it; it is entirely your choice.

Do you photograph weddings in Santa Teresa?

Yes. Adri photographed this one, and we work throughout Costa Rica. Send us your date and we will tell you if we are available.

What should we ask about the legal steps?

Ask your planner what applies to your nationality and date, and check with the Costa Rican authorities before you travel.

Season information: Costa Rica’s tourism board. The photographs document Mariella and Luc’s wedding; venues, season and legal steps for your date need separate confirmation.

THE PEOPLE & PLACES

Place · Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Photography · Adri & Lucas Weddings
Venue and vendors · not listed in the original post

A NOTE ON THIS STORY

Story and photographs by Adri and Lucas Weddings.
Based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and working throughout Costa Rica.

YOUR DAY, YOUR PEOPLE

Planning a wedding
in Santa Teresa?

Tell us your date and the place you have in mind, and we will tell you if we are available.

Check your date on WhatsApp ↗Or send your date through our contact page

Keep reading: a celebration of love and adventure in Costa Rica · Costa Rica beach wedding venues · when to get married in Costa Rica