Beach Wedding in Playa Conchal Costa Rica || Eliza + Bryan:
From the moment Eliza and Bryan met while both working in Nicaragua, it just felt right. Even Eliza’s parents could tell there was something special between the two of them after casually meeting “surfer dude Bryan” while visiting Eliza. Eliza and Bryan became fast friends, and after a couple of months, they started dating. Or in Eliza + Bryan’s own words…
Bryan and Eliza first met in April 2010 at the kitschy GHOP (George’s House of Pancakes) in Managua, Nicaragua. Although Eliza wondered about his fashion-sense, she liked his surfer scruff and smiling eyes, and wondered how it could be that there existed a Gringo in Managua who “the crew” hadn’t met! Bryan was overwhelmed by all the new and friendly faces and immediately singled out Eliza as something special, despite her clear lack of appreciation for his California style.
From GHOP, Breliza and their 28 friends migrated to the party boat at Laguna de Apoyo and they immediately clicked — spending the afternoon floating and story-telling like old friends. At the end of the day they exchanged numbers, Eliza questioned the veracity of his last name (she could already tell that Bryan likes to pull a leg!), and over the next few months their friendship was solidified through bus rides to the beach, cooking budget meals for their roomies, and being perfectly “mediocre” salsa-dancing partners.
After a fateful beach weekend that August, which involved cooking a meal for friends by candlelight (because the power went out!) and a 2-hour taxi and motorcycle adventure to Popoyo, Breliza became official — to no one’s surprise!
To say the least, the chemistry between these two is magnetic…but it only took eight years for them to officially tie the knot as husband and wife! And if anything speaks to not only the love that surrounds Eliza and Bryan, as well as their relationships with their family and friends, is their beautiful wedding in Costa Rica. Sure, a destination beach wedding in Play Conchal Costa Rica naturally is stunning. But Eliza + Bryan didn’t just have a wedding in Costa Rica…200+ family and friends traveled from near and far! AND six months before the wedding, Eliza and Bryan had to make the difficult decision to move their wedding from Nicaragua to Costa Rica due to political unrest — and still, their 200+ guests didn’t flinch, changing their travel plans to attend Eliza + Bryan’s wedding!
Their whole wedding was nothing short than full of love and intimate — well, as intimate as a 200+ person wedding can be! The ceremony was personal and heartfelt — Bryan’s parents performed two beautiful songs, their good friend Dave officiated, and Eliza’s mom read a special poem. And as Bryan and Eliza walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, everyone joined in singing, “Shower the People” performed by Bryan’s parents.
And when it came time to party, from the moment DJ Guana got the party started, the whole group danced until 1AM! This group had some killer dance moves…especially when it came to a throwback, the Macarena!!!
Felicidades Eliza + Bryan!
Pura Vida,
Kristen
Dress: Pronovias
Makeup:
Hair:
Flowers:
Planning: Maruja at Lat 10
DJ: Zach at Costa Rica DJSs
Video: White Diamond
Venue: Reserva Conchal
Photography: Samba to the Sea Photography (me!) and Richie Ramone
P.S. Thinking of a getting married on the beach in Costa Rica? Check out my Insiders’ Costa Rica Wedding Guide!
P.P.S. You’re ready to chat? YESSSS!!! – – I’m so stoked 😁😎🙌🏻!! Fill out the form below & my assistant Gidget the Chihuahua will let me know it’s time to catch a wave in from surfing!
