Alex + Emily met in 2011 at a holiday party for the hospital where both of their mothers worked as OR nurses together. Alex had moved to Florida from Texas a few months prior to the party, and was looking to get enrolled at UCF, where Emily was in her junior year of college. Little did they know their moms set them up at the party. Emily agreed to show Alex around campus and the rest was history! They spent the next decade making adventures together. They bonded over their love of nature, animals, and life in the slow lane. They went on date nights searching out the best comfort foods and craft breweries around Central Florida. Alex showed Emily his passion for the great outdoors and Emily shared her love of house plants - which they now both enjoy caring after their 100+ plant collection! They have a sweet dog together named Rory who they self proclaim is their pride and joy.
They share a birthday week and always made it a point to celebrate together! In 2019, they took a 2-week trip to Thailand where they visited an elephant sanctuary for a week, explored different parts of Bangkok, and ended the trip relaxing on the beach on an island for 5 days. Emily commented on that trip saying "I think what made it so amazing was the amount of different places, sights, and activities we got to see and do in a country with such a different culture from our own. We unintentionally planned the trip with the most rigorous and exhausting activities first and ended it in ultimate relaxation, which worked out ideally." This was the same vibe they were going for with their elopement! They wanted to plan an elopement first, activities second, and a relaxing end to the trip before heading home.
When we asked Emily where we envisioned for the big day she said "We'd love to see all of the amazing facets of Costa Rica on a long trip! My dream wedding has a breathtaking backdrop, right now I'm obsessed with the waterfall elopements and the Arenal volcano is stunning. Alex is dying to trek through a rainforest. The cloud forest sounds so whimsical. Alex also likes surfing, so we'd be happy to explore beach towns as well." We thought - oh you guys are in for a treat here! Then we got to planning the most epic trip for them!
First they were welcomed to the San Jose airport with their rental car ready. Then they headed to stay at a beautiful boutique hotel on the grounds of the famous La Paz Waterfall Garden and Nature Park, known to be among the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. The lodge offered a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi, internet access, and many fun things to do, such as, the waterfall gardens, a hummingbird gallery, aviary, trout pond, serpentarium, and even.. a jungle cat exhibit! Their room had views of the La Paz River Valley and the mountain area surrounding Poas Volcano. Their room came with a fireplace, Jacuzzi tub on the balcony, a bathroom with a mosaic tiled tub and a large waterfall shower. This venue gave them complimentary access to La Paz Waterfall, the garden, and the conservatory for over twenty five species of butterflies with more than 4,000 butterflies flying around. There was so much to see at this location.
La Paz was top of the list for the elopement. They had done a ton of research and realized that this waterfall was super accessible and also close to other places for adventures. They wanted an intimate elopement ceremony amidst one of Costa Rica’s amazing waterfalls. They love nature and the outdoors so a tropical destination a bit outside of the norm was a no brainer for their big moment. They wanted to do something special for just the two of them and planned to have a smaller ceremony back home in Florida. The morning of the wedding was slow and calm. They enjoyed breakfast with a view before stepping into their wedding attire. The bride's dress was stunning and prefect for an adventure elopement. It was lightweight and boho-y, very comfortable and relaxed. Alex was semi-casual with a chic combo of leather suspenders and a floral bowtie. They shared first looks and a quick twirl in the garden under the palms before heading to the ceremony terrace. Everything was decorated in bright colorful flowers that were sparkling under the mist of the falls. They shared their vows with sounds of birds overhead and the rushing of the water crashing on the rocks around them. Then they headed down the the jungle bridge and along the waterline for photos before heading back to the resort for a romantic dinner.
The next day they headed to a five-star luxury boutique hotel that is widely recognized for providing premium luxury, amenities and ultra-personalized service located on the outskirts of the Arenal Volcano. Their room had a large balcony overlooking the volcano and with a private outdoor jacuzzi. They spent that first day settling into the hotel and resting before the next big adventure. The next morning, they headed out to hike to the Arenal Volcano and learn all about the wildlife that inhabits the surrounding jungle. We had breakfast and dinner planned for before and after so they didn't have to worry about a thing. After the long hike they headed to the hot springs to relax a bit and unwind. The next day, they took a Riverboat Safari to explore nature more by water. They took a relaxing boat ride through the Rio Frio in the wild Caño Negro National Park. A bilingual naturalist guide helped teach them about the local wildlife, flora, and fauna that call this park home. This reserve is an important sanctuary for a wide variety of endangered species. It was such a special day for these two. It was relaxing and exotic - everything you need on vacation. They saved up some energy for the next stop on the journey - thrill seeking. We organized a canopy zip line adventure, where they soared through the rainforest and over top the spectacular waterfall of La Fortuna. It was an exhilarating last day in Arenal.
The next day they woke up early to drive the rustic mountain roads to a hotel in the Monteverde Cloud Forest area. They headed to a rustic but elegant Austrian chalet style eco-lodge located near the reserve. The family-run hotel is constructed of high-quality local hardwoods, providing a warm and welcoming ambiance for honeymooners and couples. This lodge had a restaurant, bar, spa, Jacuzzi, and hiking trails on site. Their room had a wooden balcony with views of the Nicoya Peninsula and the vast gardens. After a peaceful night in their new space, they headed to the sloth sanctuary! In this guided tour they learned about the natural history of sloths while observing close to 20 individuals of the two species that exist in Costa Rica. They learned about the mission of the sanctuary and the way in which they collaborate to protect and preserve this emblematic species. After a long day meeting sweet sloths they spent the night lounging in a hammock overlooking the gardens at their hotel.
The next morning they headed to see the coast from the beaches in Uvita. They stayed at a high end Bali style villa resort in a prime location for nature lovers perched in the jungle-lined hills overlooking the Pacific coast. This hotel had a swimming pool, spa, restaurant, yoga deck, and tropical bar. They stayed in the jungle view villa with enhanced opportunities for wildlife viewing. There is only a glass wall separating them from the rainforest. The villa is super private and has no neighbors, making it a true escape into a hidden oasis. The next day was a scheduled chill day of sleeping in and soaking in the views. They enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Uvita, famous for the palm studded shoreline and wildlife. They tanned in the sun and sipped fruity cocktails with their toes in the sand.
For their next big adventure, they decided to turn it up a notch! They drove to Las Tumbas a took a rather strenuous hike up the mountain side with a bilingual naturalist guide. They stopped along the way to point out different edible plants and plants with medicinal purposes. After a couple hours of hiking they reached the majestic Baru Waterfalls. The falls are a very special place and actually fall in front of a cave, where you can actually spend the night! The family that runs this unique tour has equipped the cave with modern conveniences such as beds, fully functioning kitchen, modern toilets and showers. After settling into camp, they had the opportunity to rappel down the waterfalls several times, utilizing the latest safety equipment and techniques with your guides.
After a hearty breakfast they left camp and headed for the Diamante Waterfalls. This was another strenuous hike - but well worth it! The hike took them to the Primary Cloud Forest and to the falls. Here they had the opportunity to jump off cliffs into the refreshing pool below. After a few hours at the waterfalls they started descent back down to ground level. Once back from the hike, they headed back to the beachfront villas to relax for a romantic evening. On the final day they headed to the beach to relax and explore Uvita and Dominical. This area is famous for surfing and wildlife, as well as a lively beach town with good food and local art.
For the last night they drove back to the city of San Jose where they stayed in a luxury hotel that basks in the high life, literally. It is clinging to the hills of alto de las palomas in the western part of San Jose, between the cities of Escazu and Santa Ana. It presides above costa rica’s central valley overlooking the sprawling mountains and volcanoes beyond. They enjoyed a spaced room with gardens outside of the balcony. The next morning they were taken back to the airport in a private car and headed back to the US as Mr.and Mrs.