Wide view of Claudia and Ricky's outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking the mountain valley at Zephyr Palace in Costa Rica

When I started photographing as The Nikon Kidd back in 2014, I never thought I would have an opportunity like this one. I was invited to Costa Rica to shoot one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen. As far as destination weddings go, you cannot get much better than this.

I arrived a few days early in San Jose, hopped in a cute Daihatsu rental, and started exploring.

June is the rainy season in Costa Rica, which means fewer tourists and more adventures in the clouds. I absolutely love the rain, so this place was paradise for me.

When I first arrived at the wedding venue, I was absolutely in awe. The hotel had beautiful rooms, each themed with a different art style, and wonderful Costa Rican architecture. The altar was before an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Wedding weekend dinner plate with fajitas guacamole and tortillas in Costa Rica Bride getting makeup applied before Costa Rica destination wedding Professional makeup eyeshadow palette during bridal prep in Costa Rica Wedding guests laughing together during Costa Rica wedding weekend Bride adjusting hair in mirror wearing I Am Bride tank top before wedding Bride holding succulent boutonniere detail before Zephyr Palace wedding Bride updo with succulent and floral hairpiece for Costa Rica wedding Wedding rings resting on succulent plant before ceremony in Costa Rica Makeup artist brush belt during bridal getting ready in Costa Rica Bride smiling while hair is styled before destination wedding Bride in robe on balcony during getting ready black and white photo Woman setting tables in arched hallway at Zephyr Palace Jaco Wedding reception ballroom with gold chairs and tiered cake at Zephyr Palace Bride and groom walking on pool terrace at Zephyr Palace Costa Rica Bride and groom laughing on infinity pool terrace overlooking Pacific Ocean at Zephyr Palace Jaco Costa Rica Bride in wedding dress facing Pacific Ocean at Zephyr Palace Jaco Bride holding bouquet of roses and succulents at Costa Rica wedding Reception table with gold terrarium succulent centerpiece at Zephyr Palace Groom in white shirt and suspenders getting ready in Costa Rica Tiki torch being lit for outdoor wedding reception at Zephyr Palace Bride escorted by parents through doorway at Costa Rica wedding Groom waiting at ceremony altar with blue hydrangea flowers at Zephyr Palace Close-up of white wedding dress layers before Zephyr Palace ceremony in Jaco Costa Rica Bride and groom exchanging vows with Pacific Ocean backdrop at Zephyr Palace Bride and groom first kiss during oceanfront ceremony at Zephyr Palace Jaco Bride and groom kissing by stone obelisk at Costa Rica wedding venue Bride and groom forehead to forehead near palm trees black and white portrait Bride leaning on groom beside palm tree at Costa Rica destination wedding Wedding party group portrait on stairs celebrating at Costa Rica wedding Bride and groom laughing while embracing on reception terrace at Zephyr Palace Couple dancing on black and white checkered floor at Zephyr Palace reception Bride and groom raising hands on checkered dance floor at wedding reception Bride groom and guest in Richy and Claudia wedding photo frame June 2018 Bride and groom cutting naked wedding cake with succulents in Costa Rica Bride and groom dancing under pink party lights at Zephyr Palace reception Groom dancing in circle of wedding guests at Costa Rica reception Wedding guests dancing under blue stage lights at Zephyr Palace reception Wedding guests laughing with drinks at Costa Rica reception party Guests dancing in party hats at wedding reception black and white photo Wedding guests dip dancing on checkered floor at reception Wedding guest dancing joyfully on checkered dance floor Groom playfully feeding bride wedding cake at Costa Rica reception Bride laughing during playful wedding cake moment in Costa Rica Bride and groom kissing beside succulent wedding cake at reception Guests dancing through haze and light beams at wedding reception Wedding guests dancing under colorful party lights on checkered floor Bride throwing bouquet on checkered dance floor at Costa Rica wedding Groom and bride dancing in oversized silly hats at wedding reception Wedding DJ at booth with green laser lights at Zephyr Palace reception Wedding guests dancing in masks and party hats black and white Costa Rican mascarada performers walking through wedding venue hallway Hora loca performers with feather masks on wedding dance floor Wedding guest smiling on dance floor under colorful party lights Crowded wedding dance floor with hora loca performers in feather headdresses black and white Hora loca feather performers dancing with guests at Costa Rica wedding Live hora loca drummers and percussion performers at wedding reception black and white Wide view of wedding reception ballroom filled with haze and guests Hora loca performer in orange feather costume at Costa Rica wedding Hora loca performers dancing with guests on checkered floor Hora loca performer in pink feather headdress at wedding reception Wedding guests celebrating with hora loca performers under colorful lights

After the wedding, I spend a week traveling the country in my little rental car and experiencing one of the most beautiful places in the world. I climbed Volcan Irazu, saw the rainforests, and met some of the nicest people. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

Airplane wing over clouds at sunset during travel to Costa Rica Black sand beach with fishing boats and rainforest hillside in Costa Rica Green fishing boat on calm ocean under overcast Costa Rica sky Silver rental car parked in Costa Rica with tropical foliage and license plate Rural Costa Rica road with motorcycles truck and rainforest greenery Vintage Toyota Land Cruiser parked near Costa Rica rainforest Mountain road through misty green hills with motorcyclist in Costa Rica Rental car parked at hillside overlook above green Costa Rica valley San Isidro Costa Rica street scene with soda restaurant and vintage truck Misty mountain valley with winding river in Costa Rica highlands Turquoise crater lake at Volcan Irazu Costa Rica with clouds rolling in Volcan Irazu volcanic ridge disappearing into clouds in Costa Rica