The journal / Real weddings / Guanacaste

Lexie & Evan near JW Marriott Costa Elena.A WEDDING IN GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

A palm-lined outdoor ceremony, portraits from open shade to beach sunset, and a candlelit poolside reception that ended in the pool.GUANACASTE · COSTA RICA
Bridal party members celebrate with their arms raised beneath tropical trees.
GUANACASTE · COSTA RICAPHOTOGRAPHS BY ADRI & LUCAS

JW MARRIOTT COSTA ELENA WEDDING INSPIRATION · REAL CELEBRATION

Lexie and Evan’s wedding photographs are JW Marriott Costa Elena wedding inspiration for couples imagining an outdoor destination celebration near the resort in Guanacaste. Below is how their day looked, from the ceremony among palms to sunset on the beach and a poolside party, and what to ask when you plan your own.

Photography & story by Adri & Lucas

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

Lexie and Evan’s wedding at a glance

THE COUPLELexie & Evan
THE REGIONGuanacaste, Costa Rica
THE CEREMONYOutdoors, among palm trees
THE PARTYPoolside, under string lights

Photographed by Adri and Lucas Weddings · Current resort information: Marriott’s official wedding page.

THE GALLERY IN ORDER

From the pool
to the dance floor.

What Lexie and Evan’s photographs show, in the order of the gallery.

A GUANACASTE WEDDING · VISUAL REFERENCE

One celebration, five scenes.

From the wedding party to the pool after-party.

  1. 01

    The wedding party

    By the pool

    Bridesmaids, groomsmen and a young flower girl.

  2. 02

    The ceremony

    Outdoors, among palms

    White seating and a circular floral installation.

  3. 03

    Sunset portraits

    On the beach

    From open shade to warm beach light.

  4. 04

    The reception

    Poolside

    Candles, string lights and an illuminated dance floor.

  5. 05

    The after-party

    In the pool

    Guests joining the celebration in the water.

This shows the order of scenes in the gallery, not clock times. Planning details for your own date are worth confirming with your planner and the venue.

How Lexie and Evan met

Lexie remembered Evan after they first met. Months later, she spotted him at Sand Bar, walked over and started a conversation.

Their relationship grew from there, eventually bringing family and friends together for this tropical wedding celebration.

Friends, family and a poolside warm-up

The gallery opens beside the pool. Bridesmaids sit together at the water’s edge, the bride hugs a young flower girl, and the bridal party raises its arms beneath the trees. The groomsmen walk across the lawn in matching light suits, raise their arms by the pool and toss one of their own into the air.

Bridesmaids sit together at the edge of a swimming pool.
Bride poses with her bridesmaids in neutral dresses.
Woman in a satin pajama set hugs a young girl beside the swimming pool
Two members of the bridal party celebrate beside a pool.
Lexie and Evan walk up the outdoor ceremony aisle as guests cheer.
Groomsmen raise their arms together beside a swimming pool.
Groomsmen walk together across a lawn in matching light suits.
Groomsmen toss another member of the wedding party into the air.
Man in white carries another man in his arms on a shaded lawn

An outdoor ceremony among palms

The ceremony took place outdoors, framed by palm trees, white seating and a circular floral installation. The wide frames show how the aisle, the guest seating and the flowers sit together. The close frames follow the bride walking toward her family, the groom wiping away tears, the kiss at the floral arch and the walk back up the aisle as guests applaud.

Outdoor ceremony setup with white chairs and a circular floral arch.
Outdoor ceremony aisle framed by white chairs, flowers and palm trees.
Wide view of outdoor wedding-ceremony seating among palm trees.
Bride walks toward family members before the outdoor ceremony.
Groom wipes away tears during the outdoor wedding ceremony.
Bride walks down the aisle with a family member as the groom watches.
Outdoor wedding ceremony photographed from behind the seated guests.
Lexie and Evan kiss at the floral arch during their outdoor ceremony.
Lexie and Evan walk up the aisle holding hands as guests applaud.

From the pool to the beach at sunset

The full wedding party gathered for a group portrait beside the pool. Then the portraits moved from open shade to warm beach light around sunset: Lexie and Evan embracing beneath a broad tree near the beach, holding hands at sunset, walking along the water, face to face beneath the veil, and standing at the ocean’s edge.

Full wedding party poses together beside a swimming pool.
Lexie and Evan embrace beneath a broad tree near the beach.
Lexie and Evan dance on the beach at sunset as her dress swirls
Lexie and Evan dance on the sand at sunset, her veil flowing behind
Close-up of Lexie and Evan touching foreheads in warm sunset light.
Lexie and Evan face each other beneath the bride's veil at sunset.
Lexie and Evan pose together on the beach after sunset.
Lexie and Evan embrace at the ocean's edge.
JW Marriott Costa Elena wedding inspiration: Lexie and Evan on a Guanacaste beach at sunset
Evan walks along the shoreline toward Lexie in her gown at dusk
Bride stands on a darkened beach with her train behind her.

A candlelit, poolside reception

String lights, candles and their reflections give the evening depth. The frames show candlelit tables between the palm trees, place settings under a canopy of string lights, the wedding party beneath the reception lights, and the poolside tables at night.

Candlelit reception table set beneath strands of warm lights.
Round reception table with candles and white flowers under string lights.
Reception tables and chairs arranged beneath lights between palm trees.
Candlelit place settings beneath a canopy of string lights.
Group of men in white and tan pose together under reception string lights
Poolside wedding reception at night with string-light reflections.
Reception tables beside a swimming pool under string lights.

Dancing, cake and an illuminated dance floor

The party filled the illuminated dance floor. A bridesmaid dances waving a napkin, a guest performs a flip, the bride dances with her bridesmaids, and Lexie and Evan laugh and dance together. The cake was cut beneath the reception lights.

Woman in a white dress dances while waving a napkin beneath string lights
Guest performs a flip on the illuminated reception dance floor.
Lexie and Evan cut their wedding cake beneath reception lights.
Slice of wedding cake beside bridal shoes, a pearl necklace and an instant camera on a white tablecloth
Wedding guests cheer together on the dance floor.
Lexie and Evan laugh and dance together on an illuminated floor.
Women crowd the dance floor, one holding a bouquet and another a shoe overhead

A pool after-party

At night, guests took the celebration into the pool beside the dance floor, with splashes, cheers and one more flip.

Guest flips into the swimming pool during the nighttime reception.
Large group of wedding guests celebrate together in a pool at night.
Wedding guests celebrate in the pool beside an illuminated dance floor.
Wedding guests splash water during the pool after-party.
Large group of wedding guests cheer in the swimming pool at night.
USING THESE PHOTOGRAPHS

JW Marriott Costa Elena wedding inspiration: how to use this gallery

Three notes for a Guanacaste outdoor wedding. Confirm current options with the resort and your planner.

  1. Ceremony layout.

    Notice how the aisle, the guest seating and the floral focal point read in both wide photographs and close moments. Ask the resort which of its current venues fits your guest count, accessibility needs and weather backup plan.

  2. Portrait timing.

    The gallery moves through shaded portraits, open coastal scenery and changing evening light. Build buffer time into your photography plan, then confirm the sunset time and portrait route for your date with your planner and photography team.

  3. Reception atmosphere.

    String lights, candles and reflections create strong visual depth after dark. When you review the resort’s current options, ask about lighting, power, sound restrictions, floor placement and the rain plan, rather than assuming a past setup can be recreated.

USEFUL ANSWERS

Questions about a Guanacaste wedding near JW Marriott Costa Elena

Answers from this real celebration. Confirm the details for your own day with the resort and your planner.

Was this wedding photographed at JW Marriott Costa Elena?

No. It was photographed before the resort opened as JW Marriott Costa Elena. We present it as regional visual inspiration for couples researching a celebration at the property.

Where is JW Marriott Costa Elena?

Marriott’s official page lists JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive at Playa El Jobo, La Cruz, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. See Marriott’s official wedding page.

What can couples learn from this gallery?

It helps you talk through ceremony framing, group portraits, sunset pacing, evening lighting and how a poolside party photographs. Venue availability and policies must be confirmed directly with Marriott.

Who photographed Lexie and Evan’s wedding?

Adri & Lucas photographed the celebration. We are a Costa Rica wedding photography and film team and work in English and Spanish.

Can I check my date for a wedding in Guanacaste?

Yes. Send us your date and the venue you are considering, and we will tell you if we are available.

Where can I read more about planning near the resort?

Start with our JW Marriott Costa Elena wedding photographer guide and our planning timeline.

Sources: Marriott’s official wedding page for the resort’s name and location. The photographs document this earlier wedding; current availability and arrangements at the resort need separate confirmation.

THE PEOPLE & PLACES

Couple · Lexie and Evan
Region · Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Photography · Adri and Lucas Weddings

A NOTE ON THIS STORY

Story and photographs by Adri and Lucas Weddings. Their Junebug Weddings vendor profile is public.
Based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and working throughout Costa Rica.

YOUR DAY, YOUR PEOPLE

Planning a wedding
in Guanacaste?

Tell us your date and the venue you are considering, and we will tell you if we are available.

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

See the planning and photography guide, or explore more visual references.
Also: JW Marriott Costa Elena wedding timeline