Crystal and Kyle contacted us with the goal of saying I do with an unbelievable view. They envisioned an intimate destination wedding that kept them present in the moment and focused on the meaning of the day. Though avid travelers, they had never visited Costa Rica before and fell in love with the idea after seeing some of the beautiful weddings we have shared on Instagram. We wanted to create something beautiful, memorable, and unique for this genuine couple.

When they arrived they were greeted with private transport from the airport to Santa Teresa / Mal Pais on the Nicoya Peninsula. A big priority for the bride and groom was really beautiful accommodations, and they wanted to splurge on a room with a private pool. They wanted this wedding trip to also feel like a honeymoon for them and a relaxing getaway for their guests. With ceremony view being the main priority, we knew that OCIO and Casa Chameleon Mal Pais were the perfect properties for them.

The bride started the morning with a light workout and some yoga. The groom relaxed in the morning before getting ready in his oceanview villa room. We loved that this selfless couple - seriously, their volunteer work and dedication to keeping their faith as a guiding principle in their daily lives is beautiful to see - but we loved that they also have an affinity for quality attire and unique accessories. Crystal has a thing for pretty shoes, and we can relate! From her bright colorful earrings to the groom's fleur de lis cufflinks, everything had a story. Our favorite accessory of all was the custom feather bowtie that was handmade in Charleston with upcycled feathers and matched Kyle's navy suit so well. Crystal carried a simple tropical bouquet. She loved flowers but didn't want anything over the top so we stuck with local blossoms like roses, lisianthus, carnations, mums, and anthurium.


There were showers throughout the day but the satellite kept us positive for a clearing around ceremony time. And it didn't let us down! The skies cleared in time for the ceremony. The aisle needed some work due to the amount of water on the helipad but our team was on it and made it walkable.
The vibe for this wedding ceremony was really delicate and natural with whimsical accents. We loved when the bride said, "Imagine Venice meets the tropics" as the vibe for her wedding. We wanted to really emphasize the view of the mountains and ocean from a vista above the sand. The entry to the helipad was a long walking bridge that the florist wrapped in greenery. The beautiful tropical trees hung overhead shading her from the sun before she stepped out to the light. She carried her white and ivory bridal bouquet with oft notes of blush. Crystal really loved the idea of a ribbon and we agree! It looked so elegant in the breeze on the helipad. As she approached her handsome groom she really began to soak in the breathtaking views all around. Crystal and Kyle said their vows in front of a free-standing wood cross with wispy florals and mixed petals on each side of the aisle. During the ceremony, we took the opportunity to squeeze in a sentimental surprise. During design planning, Cata had commissioned a woodworking team to custom-make the cross and she had the idea to have a miniature cross made from the same piece of wood as the ceremony cross! We asked the Pastor to surprise the couple with this gift during the ceremony. After saying their vows, they shared their first dance on the helipad as the sun was starting to set before heading back for dinner.

Helipad Wedding Playlist
Songs while getting ready
The Blessing by Elevation Worship and Kari Jobe
You Hold It All Together by Maverick City Music and UPPERROOM
King of Kings by Hillsong Worship
Graves Into Gardens by Brandon Lake
Living Hope by Bethel Music and Bethany Wohrle
Banks by Needtobreathe
Kyle Seating the Moms Song: Can't Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart
Bride Entrance Song: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, Orchestre de Chambre +49
Recessional Song: Amen by Micah Tyler
First Dance Song: I Will Always Be Yours by Ben Rector


For the intimate family dinner, everyone headed to a private open-air space near the restaurant. The beautiful whitewashed table was surrounded by wooden chairs with white cushions. On top of the terracotta-toned table runner were wooden boxes filled with local tropical flowers, dried elements, and tapered candles to add an elegant touch. The mood was set with hanging rattan lamps and warm-colored cafe strand lights. The guests sat down to their place setting each that had a boho placemat, a wood charger, neutral napkins, a blue goblet, and gold flatware.
You would never know from looking at the photos that this was the backup plan for dinner! With the showers throughout the day, we knew we were blessed for that ceremony but didn't want to push our luck for dinner. Cheers to Casa Chameleon and Brasas del Mar for their flexibility with the weather changes and willingness to go the extra mile to celebrate love!
Helipad Wedding Menu
Hors d’oeuvres
Fish Ceviche, Beef & Potato Gallos, Chayote & Corn Gallos, Patacones with Guacamole and Beans
Starters
Caprese Salad, Seared Tuna Tartare, and root chips
Main Course
Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Seared Shrimp in light garlic butter with potatoes au gratin, Blackened Mahi Mahi with basil and lime butter
Dessert
Banana and Mango Foster
Two-tier cake with strawberries and cream and tangy lime and coconut

Just before dessert, everyone gathered around to watch a homemade video of their love story. Everyone laughed and giggled at some of the momeries that brought them this far. After cutting into the wedding cake, everyone danced to a few sentimental songs. -- We hope you enjoyed this fairytale of a wedding day.. and they lived happily ever after!
