Langosta Beach Club Wedding: Amy + AJ –

Providence College (PC) in Providence, Rhode Island is a pretty small university with about 3,700 undergraduate students. So what are the odds that the groom from a wedding I second shot at last month just so happened to attend PC? AND what are the odds that he also a college athlete for the Friars? Oh, let’s also add in that this wedding was a destination wedding in Tamarindo, Costa Rica at Langosta Beach Club. Well, obviously the chances are not that slim because I was oh-so-pleasantly-surprised to meet AJ, the groom, and quickly find out that we are both PC Friars.  Although I was only two years ahead of him in college, we didn’t know know each other at PC because I transferred to Emory University in Atlanta, GA to finish my undergraduate work with a business degree in Finance the year AJ started at PC. (Yes, I know that it is quite the leap from Finance to Photography, but my business degree is certainly helping me run my photography business!)

After opening up this PC can of worms five minutes into me arriving at the condo where AJ and his groomsmen were getting ready, let’s just say I had a blast photographing this crew! It certainly was a great experience, especially since I normally am at the bridal suite photographing before a wedding. AJ and his ten groomsmen certainly know how to pre-wedding well: playing pool, watching international soccer games on the numerous flat screens in the condo, drinking beers and toasting shots to the man of the hour, and finally, showing me their tricks to getting dressed up – women’s sock liners AND women’s deodorant. Yes, ladies, you heard it right here – the men are paying attention and utilizing our helpful knowledge.

But let’s get to the good stuff, after all this is about Amy and AJ’s love story and their beautiful destination wedding in Costa Rica… . After AJ graduated from PC, he moved to New York City to work for investment firm, Goldman Sachs. And 70 miles up the road from Providence, Boston University graduate Amy did the same. And even though AJ and Amy were now living in the same city, their bond started when they both started international assignments in Tokyo and Hong Kong, respectively. They frequently talked on the phone, discussing work projects as well as sharing their adventures in new, foreign cities.

When they came back to the Big Apple, their conversations continued. One day AJ asked Amy to attend a Zach Brown Concert. Although Amy was not an enthusiastic Zach Band Brown fan like AJ, she  figured if AJ liked the band, they couldn’t be that bad. With their unofficial first date behind them, AJ asked Amy out to dinner to their first official date. And as the couple so eloquently wrote on their wedding website, “That night at dinner, AJ passed the true test (if you know Amy): he allowed her to eat off his plate without a flinch. The rest is really history.”

To say the least, Amy and AJ’s wedding at Langosta Beach Club in Tamarindo, Costa Rica was a beautiful gathering of family and friends from near and far. A 130 person beautiful gathering! It certainly was a true testament to not only this couple’s love, but also their friendships with their guests. There were tears of joy as AJ and Amy exchanged intimate vows and loud cheers as the couple kissed for the first time as husband and wife. There were touches of Amy throughout the wedding, from the invitations and place cards that she hand calligraphed to the macrame back drop that she made for the photo booth. So, so beautiful!

Who wins the bridal party jump?

Amy’s dad kicked off a wonderful dinner under the tents with a heart felt and humorous speech. He admitted that he was tempted to utilize some tricks from the movie “Meet the Parents” the first time he met AJ, but he knew that Amy really liked AJ. He toasted Amy and AJ, saying that “he must have done something right” for her Amy to turn out so beautifully despite him being a “hands-off dad” and was beyond proud to say that “he was gaining a son” with AJ.

Amy’s bridesmaid, Esther, followed up a beautiful toast with a beautiful toast celebrating their friendship and roommate shenanigans on Maiden Lane – soaking their feet in hot water in bed and eating plenty of Chinese pastries. To top it all off was AJ’s best man, Sean, who had everyone laughing from the very beginning when he confirmed that he indeed travels with a hair dryer.

With the toasts and dinner over, this crew was ready to enjoy the amazing deserts, dance and party! Let’s just say the party ended with more pool water outside of the pool!

Amy and AJ, I wish you a lifetime full of love and happiness! Your wedding certainly was one to be remembered!

XOXO,
Kristen

P.S. Love this wedding venue location in Tamarindo? Check out more Langosta Beach Club weddings in my Wedding Photography portfolio!

P.P.S. Christina, thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to photograph with you! You are such an amazing photographer and a beautiful person! XOXO

Venue: Langosta Beach Club
Cake and pastries: Victoria Zoch
Wedding Planner: Meghan Cox at Mil Besos
Photography: First Photographer, Christina Craft at Funkytown Photography; Second Photographer: Kristen M. Brown (me!), Samba to the Sea Photography
Officiant: Pastor Lyle
DJ: DJ Teemor
Flowers: Artflower