photo by Comfort Studio
There is a saying that everything (and everyone) can look great on their website. Entrusting your wedding day to someone else, thousands of miles away, takes a huge leap of faith. As Costa Rica doesn't have a Wedding Wire or review system of wedding vendors as found in North America, TripAdvisor has become the forum for couples to review their wedding experiences abroad. We at Weddings Costa Rica are very proud of all the excellent reviews we've received from clients over the years as we have the best TripAdvisor review standings of all the planners in the country. Knowing clients are so happy with our services they want to tell the rest of the world - well, it's humbling and immensely gratifying at the same time.Here are a few from over the years...
jwinquist
Charlotte, North Carolina
Feb 07, 2013, 5:03 PM
We got married at the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club (
Tamarindo) January 19th. We spoke to a few planners, but as soon as I spoke and met with Larissa we knew in she was the one. I sent her pictures and explained our vision and she executed everything exactly how I pictured it. Everything went so smoothly and made my day completely stress free! I didn't have to worry about a thing!! There was 130 people staying in different houses and she organized transportation for every house and everyone made it on time! That's a rarity, especially on island time. Friends and family said that was the best wedding they've ever been to! Her attention to detail was over the top. She took my breath away. All the vendors she chose for us were great too! She helped with our rehersal dinner as well. I liked how she decorated and created a completely different vibe from the wedding. The guest didn't feel like they were at the same party 2 nights in a row. I can't thank her and the staff from Weddings Costa Rica
kittsjl
Vancouver, Canada
“ Wedding Planner Costa Rica ”
Nov 18, 2012, 7:20 PM
Hi all, This isn't a question so much as some information I wanted to share. I got married in Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio) in November and had Larissa Banting from Weddings Costa Rica plan the wedding, and it was so beautiful and just everything I could have hoped for. We started talking over email and then used Pinterest to share photos and we had decided on 2 photos that were the inspiration for the decor, and Larissa just completely nailed it. Her eye for detail is impeccable, and her presence is person is so calm and collected, and really just added a nice tone to the whole day. I can't say enough. If you have any questions, please let me know and I'd be happy to give you more insight. With out a doubt though, I'd hire Larissa. And as a side note, I shopped around a bit and spoke to a few other planners, and Larissa's pricing was very competitive as well.
JulianAndrade
Sacramento, California
Jan 29, 2013, 6:48 PM
After my wife and I decided that we would have a destination wedding in Costa Rica, our fist task was to search for a wedding planner. One of the top sites on our Google search was 'Weddings Costa Rica'. I was a bit sceptical about sending money to a stranger in a foreign country but after several emails, phone calls and a couple skype sessions, I felt a bit more comfortable. We got to know the very personable and talented Larissa Banting over the next year of planning. Larissa did an amazing job of listening and responding to every question and concern; and due to her many years of experience with the locals she answered questions we didn't even know to ask. Even when she was busy with another wedding she let us know that she received our message and would return it at her earliest convenience; which she always did with the utmost professionalism. She was very budget conscious and made several changes as we fine tuned the numbers down to the wire. She put us in contact with Latitudes very early on who made all of our and our guests local travel/hotel arrangements. We had 0 complaints out of 30 guests. She recommended Villa Caletas for our venue and we couldn't have been happier. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. She and her assistant arrived early and made sure that everything from the rehearsal to the reception went smoothly. She was very upfront, honest, knowledgeable, responsive and professional and I would recommend her to anyone looking for a great destination wedding planner! 5 STARS! Thank you again, Larissa!Pura Vida!Julian M. Andrade
missyogini
New York City, New York
May 05, 2011, 6:53 PM
Hello! I was just married in
Tamarindo in April! I'd love to offer any input that I can to help you! I planned my entire wedding in just 4 months and called in a wedding planner just shy of 4 weeks before my actual wedding date! We had 27 total people and our group stayed in Tamarindo for 5 days. We'd never been to CR, but we chose Tamarindo because great surf was a requirement of my fiance's. From there, a friend who got married at the Nibbana Restaurant recommended we look into them as our venue over a resort (better food and more flexibility). I chose to have our group stay at the Hotel Diria as it got good reviews, the pools looked beautiful, it's footsteps to the beach, and it's central location in the town. I also wanted my guests to fell comfortable and safe, so I felt that resort lodging would be best. In addition, it worked out that Nibbana Restaurant is right next door to the Diria Resort. Fabien, the owner of Nibbana assured me they could arrange for a DJ, flowers, ceremony seating and private dining space. However, I kind of freaked out last minute because I had a vision of this beautiful beach front wedding and a reception with special details, and I didn't think a restaurant owner should be responsible for pulling off the vision in my head. Last minute I reached out to Larissa Banting at Weddings Costa Rica. I reached out to others as well, but Larissa was by far the most responsive. Every time I emailed her she responded right away (communication is key when you're so far away). I can't say how extremely grateful I am for her! Without her, I probably would have been running around, looking at flowers, buying last minute things, and stressing about how my wedding was going to turn out. Instead I was able to relax with my friends and family the entire time! Larissa and I worked together mostly through email and a phone call or two. All I had to do was describe what I wanted, I sent her a few pics for ideas, and she totally got it! I can honestly say that my wedding was like something out of a magazine. It was a wedding/reception that I dreamed could be mine, but I never thought I could afford it. We had our ceremony on the beach with a big white canopy, mahogany chairs, a guitar trio, sound system for my friend to sing, white rose petals on the isle and many more details. After the wedding, our guests were served appetizers, pineapple mojitos, beer and water while we took pictures. The reception was amazing... we had a private area in the sand. The asian/tropical decor, strings of lights and paper lanterns, amazing cake, great food, guest book tree, a great DJ, our own stage for dancing, and so much more... I could really go on and on! The best decision I made was to use Larissa as my wedding planner. Oh, can I remind you again that she pulled the entire wedding off with less than 4 weeks of planning! Amazing... I can't say enough about her!!
Christie2011 - Marlton, New Jersey,
Apr 07, 2011, 4:26 PM
First off, congrats on your engagement! This is such an exciting time for you and your fiancé so enjoy every second of it. In regards to a wedding planner in Costa Rica, I HIGHLY recommend Larissa Banting from Weddings Costa Rica - www.weddingscostarica.com or info@weddingscostarica.com I got married February 2011 at Villa Caletas, Zephyr Palace with about 64 guests. She and her crew were absolutely AMAZING. I truly can't say enough about her. When the officiant who was to marry us got caught in a 2 hour car delay, out of nowhere she lets me know that she is an ordained minister and ended up marrying us! There is nothing that Larissa can't do!!! She has been planning wedding is Costa Rica for many years and it shows with her well developed relationships with all types of vendors. We put a lot of faith in her recommendations for the location of our rehearsal dinner (Villa Lapas which I highly recommend) and the band, Espresso (amazing!). We are so happy that we trusted her and she definitely didn't let us down but rather went way over and beyond. If you are looking for a wedding that will "WOW" your guests and be the perfect start to your marriage, send Larissa an email today and let her planning wheels start turning. You will be so happy that you did! Take the stress out of wedding planning and enjoy these months of bliss before your big day :)A huge thank you to all of our clients for sharing their experiences working with Weddings Costa Rica! It means so much to us.
