Renée & Carlos — Wedding at Reserva Conchal, Costa Rica

Renée and Carlos celebrated their wedding at Reserva Conchal in one of my favourite parts of Guanacaste. I have always kept wonderful memories of this place, so returning to photograph their celebration was a very special experience.

Reserva Conchal lies beside one of Costa Rica’s most distinctive beaches. The pale sand of Playa Conchal is mixed with countless tiny fragments of shells shaped by the sea. This unusual feature gives the shoreline a beautiful texture and luminosity.

Renée is from the United States, while Carlos is from Brazil. Therefore, they chose Costa Rica as a meeting point for their families and closest friends. Everyone could come together for a destination wedding in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature.

As a couple, Renée and Carlos are calm, approachable and great fun. Their personalities allowed the entire day to unfold naturally. They did not need grand gestures to reveal their connection. Their glances, smiles and small shared moments said everything.

Renée also has some of the most intensely blue eyes I have ever photographed. The delicate work of Tricia from Maravilla Make-Up enhanced them even further. As a result, her portraits have remarkable strength and luminosity.

A wedding at Reserva Conchal surrounded by nature

The surroundings offered everything needed to create a beautiful visual story. Pale sand, turquoise water and the natural landscape of Guanacaste formed an elegant yet relaxed setting.

However, the location was not the most important part of the celebration. The true essence of the wedding came from the couple’s quiet connection and the happiness of everyone who had travelled to join them.

Each moment unfolded spontaneously. Consequently, the photographs preserve the emotions exactly as they happened. There were embraces, laughter and honest gestures that reflected the relationship between Renée and Carlos.

Barbara and the team at Four Nineteen Weddings handled the planning and decoration. As always, it was a pleasure to work with them. Every detail looked beautiful, while the entire celebration flowed naturally and effortlessly.

This wedding at Reserva Conchal allowed me to return to a place I had not visited for a long time. More importantly, I returned to document an intimate story filled with authentic moments.

Thank you, Renée and Carlos, for your trust and for allowing me to be part of such a special day.

I wish you both every happiness in the world!

Pura vida!