Vibrant Destination Wedding in Costa Rica was Overflowing With Colorful Tropical Florals and a Romantic Candlelit Reception

Opulent tropical florals mixed with a beautiful ocean-side estate made this destination wedding in Costa Rica a dream come true!

Held on the island paradise of Costa Rica, Temitayo and Jasper’s dreamy destination wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean was a vibrant mix of culture and fairytale tropical florals.

After meeting online, the couple’s relationship grew and Jasper (despite the sweltering heat) planned a gorgeous surprise proposal at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia.

With the help of their creative team, the soon-to-be bride and groom kicked off their wedding planning journey by choosing the luxury Punto de Vista estate and celebrating local florals by incorporating the area’s tropical landscape into their one-of-a-kind wedding decor.

The vibrant hanging floral arrangements and candles incorporated into their reception brought colorful flair and fun to Tayo and Jasper’s chic and romantic “I do’s.”

More snapshots from the couple’s wedding in Costa Rica are waiting for you below!

Couple: Temitayo and Jasper
Occupations: Physicians
Wedding date: July 22, 2023
Wedding location: Punto de Vista, Costa Rica

Quick Facts:

Gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen: Fabric, clothing, geles, fans, and travel jewelry boxes for the aso ebi ladies (aka bridesmaids).
Gifts for one another: The wedding and the amazing week in paradise with all those we love most.
Ceremony entrance songs: We each had our own entrance songs. Groom: “King’s Motorcade” by Nile Rodgers for Jasper (from Coming to America); Jasper’s Family: “Appreciation” by King Sunny Ade; Tayo’s Family: “Tire ni Oluwa” by Sonny Okosun; Flower Girls: “Happy Day” by Patoranking; Bridal Party: “Duro” by Tekno
Recessional Song: “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson
First Dance Song: Lauren Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” was sung by a friend and ended with all the guests singing along!

How we met…

We met online.

Bridal details…

Finding the one…

I wouldn’t say there was a specific moment—at some point, I just realized that he accepted me for me, flaws and all. That complete acceptance and his willingness to compromise and continue to work to maintain and elevate our relationship was enough for me.

Tell us about the proposal:

It was at Longwood Gardens, a large botanical garden outside of Philadelphia. The day was hot (!) and after walking around the beautiful grounds for hours, we stopped to stretch in their “Idea Garden.” I stood up from stretching and turned around and he was down on one knee! The funniest part is that he wanted to propose earlier in the day next to the fountains, but I was hot and “hangry,” so I refused to go to the spot he had chosen because there wasn’t any shade!

Our first look…

What advice can you give to couples planning a destination wedding?

Find an amazing planner. Your ability to plan a fantastic destination wedding will be based on the contacts and relationships your planner has, their organization, and the communication you share.

What adjectives would you use to describe your wedding?

Vibrant, fun, entertaining, and picturesque.

Our wedding style…

We opted to have a Nigerian/American blended ceremony, so we wore traditional attire with a modern edge. I found a designer in Nigeria and sent her sample designs, so I never had the traditional wedding shopping experience. The Clothes however became a big part of the overall look of the wedding and the colors blended perfectly with all the flowers used. I could not have been happier with how it all turned out.

Gorgeous ceremony florals…

Culture…

Given that my husband and I are both Nigerian (Yoruba), we wanted to incorporate some traditional aspects of a Yoruba wedding since we opted out of having a traditional Nigerian wedding. The attire, music, and the dancing out of the families and wedding parties were elements that we chose to include.

Mr. & Mrs…

Our memories…

The ceremony as a whole—the dancing, music, friends, family, and joy—was the best! As well as seeing our reception for the first time and just being so happy with how it all turned out so beautifully.