Costa Rica—Planning a Wedding in the land of la Pura Vida!

By Milena Santoro, CMM, CMP, PIDP, MS Productions, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,and Larissa Banting, PBC™, Weddings Costa Rica, Costa RicaPura vida, or “pure life,” is the Costa Rican motto. The people in this small country believe life is simple, short, and that it’s important to live it to the fullest. Perhaps that’s why the country is also home to many adventurous opportunities. For those who like the pure life with a dash of spice, Costa Rica is the answer.Why Costa Rica?Located between the Caribbean and Pacific Coast, Costa Rica is filled with lush rainforests, waterfalls, majestic volcanoes, and black- and white-sand beaches. So small is it, that you can drive from coast-to-coast within a day. Don’t let its size fool you though. There is not a shortage of activities and adventure—from horseback riding, surfing, snorkeling, and fishing to simply relaxing. Visitors experience the most bio-diverse regions in the world with 20 natural parks, eight biological reserves, and a series of protected areas that captivate ecotourism lovers.Easy to get to, easy to wedCosta Rica is a popular wedding destination getaway. With two international airports and direct flights from the United States and Canada, it’s also an easy place to reach. What’s more, getting legally married in Costa Rica is a simple and straightforward process. Lawyers must be present for all weddings as they file papers with the civil registry and the couple’s embassy, thus ensuring the marriage is legal and recognized internationally. Lawyer's fees are approximately $800. And while a pastor, rabbi, or other officiant may perform the ceremony, the lawyer must be present. Here’s how it happens:• The lawyer sends couples a questionnaire via email before the couples visit. The questionnaire asks general information, such as occupation, parents’ names, age, birthplace, etc.• The couple and two witnesses (not immediate family members) must fax the lawyer two copies of their passports.• During the ceremony, the lawyer has the necessary information in an affidavit that the couple will sign.• After the wedding, the lawyer files the paperwork with the couple’s embassy.• Once processed, the embassy forwards it to the couple in their hometown, a process that takes about one month.Here’s what you need to knowThe People (Ticos): Costa Ricans are warm, friendly folks from a cultural mosaic, primarily Spanish with minorities of European and Asian ancestry. Since the army was abolished in 1949, the country poured its funds into education, which is why Costa Rica boasts a literacy rate of 96 percent.Climate: The high or dry season is from December to April. The low or green season is May to November. If it does rain, typically it’s short and sweet and in the late afternoon to early evenings. Most people don’t even notice as the rains are short and refreshing.Music: Costa Rican music is influence by the Spanish, Caribbean, and African cultures. Typical folk music is played with the Marimba, the national instrument of Costa Rica. Wedding guests dance the night away to merengue, salsa, cumbia, and the national dance of punto Guanacaste. A Brazilian tradition that is deeply embedded in Costa Rican culture and is a show-stopping addition to wedding experiences is the comparse (carnival).Cuisine: Wedding menus in Costa Rica consist of fresh ingredients livened up by local, creative chefs. Comida tipica is known as flavorful, yet fairly mild, with a high reliance on fresh fruits and vegetables. Rice and black beans are staples of most traditional Costa Rican meals. Along with meat or fish, fried plantains, plántanos, are the quintessential Tico snack. And with two coasts, you can expect plenty of seafood. The term from sea-to-table is fitting. Corvina (sea bass) is the most commonly served fish and is prepared many ways, including ceviche. Coconuts are plentiful, and you can find fresh, green ones at roadside stands. Frescos, refrescos, and jugos naturales are usually made with fresh fruit and milk or water. Among the more common fruits are mangoes, papayas, blackberries, and pineapples. You'll also come across maracuyá (passion fruit) and carambola (star fruit).Places you won’t want to missSan Jose is the hub of Costa Rica, while Sarchi is the unofficial craft mecca where couples can find the perfect guest favors. Tour the best coffee plantations in the world in Central Valley, also known as ruta del los santos. Manual Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s wildlife playground with three species of monkeys. Take a dip in La Fortuna Waterfalls near the Arenal Volcano, an area very famous for its hot springs. Finally, Santa Teresa is known as the surfer’s paradise.There really is something for everybody in Costa Rica and it is truly la pura vida.Did you know? Cost Rica is…• Home to 10 percent of the world’s butterflypopulation.• The first country in the world to reversedeforestation and the pioneer of Ecotourism.• Known as the happiest country.• Third greenest country in the world (the Climate Reality Project).