Picturesque Winter Wedding in Costa Rica: Codie + Tommy

Filmmakers, Codie and Tommy met just a few years ago at the cinephile mecca for independent film, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and instantly clicked. After a surprising birthday proposal just months after the two met and with a passion for travel, the two chose to have a destination wedding in the oh so beautiful Costa Rica. With a love for the Indian culture, Codie wanted to incorporate the mehndi tradition in her union. More on how this all came together below!

Wedding Date: February 21, 2015
Wedding Location: Tamarindo, Costa Rica
First Dance Song: “Whenever You Call” by Brian McKnight & Mariah Carey

Tell us about how you met and all about the proposal!
Tommy and I met at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival when he premiered his directorial debut, 1982. We crossed paths three times in one day and then talked until 3am that night, 5am the next night, and had lunch the last day we were at the Festival. Back in LA, we went on dates four days in a row and our fate was sealed…. Six months after we met, Tommy proposed on his 30th birthday on the rooftop of the Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles. We were surrounded by 80+ friends and family from all over the world!

Wedding Style
I was somewhat baffled wedding dress shopping, so I tried on a few things to figure out what I liked. Things I thought were beautiful in magazines either weren’t right for my body type or for the beach wedding we were having. I knew I wanted a stress free dress. I didn’t want to obsess over my weight or be too hot or uncomfortable.

A friend googled “bustier wedding dress” and several things popped up. There was a photo we loved but couldn’t figure out who the designer was so we “google image” searched it. (I would have been lost without my friend there.) The designer, Tatyana Merenyuk, is based in Brooklyn and hand makes gorgeous wedding dresses and they were not crazy expensive. I had tried on enough dresses to know I’d found the one. I actually bought my dress having only tried on a sample Tatyana sent me in LA, but I ended up on a work trip to NYC and met with her in her Brooklyn studio. She is amazing and we played all afternoon trying everything on. I HIGHLY recommend her. The dress was light, feminine, and perfect.

Culture
Our wedding was about family. We chose Costa Rica because we wanted a getaway for everyone. With no cell service, everyone was forced to hang out and it was amazing. Parties every night!

 I always wanted to incorporate the Indian tradition of mehndi into my wedding. I think it’s a beautiful symbol and experience for the bride and the women she loves. I decided to do it at my bridal shower rather than the wedding as it would have been harder to arrange in Costa Rica. It was a fun afternoon and memory for my friends and family, especially the older ladies who thought it was silly but enjoyed it once they saw it on themselves.

Memories
The experience of being in Costa Rica with friends and family for a week was incredible. Tommy and I had a house with six other friends, a pool, and a grill. We had parties every night. Just hanging out with people one of us had never met before as well as those we don’t see enough and, of course, watching our friends become friends, we will cherish that.

Help a bride-to-be out!
A) Don’t forget to eat. B) Figure out what your main priorities are and then get rid of anything that is stressing you out. Unsure about chicken or fish – pick one and move one. These flowers or those – pick it and be OK with it. Nothing matters besides the two of you enjoying yourselves.That doesn’t mean ignore everyone else. It just means don’t worry about anything that is not a priority.

Vendors:
Photography: Katherine Stinnett Photography
Wedding Planner: Aimee Monihan of Tropical Occasions
Wedding Venue: Pangas Beach Club
Wedding Dress Designer: Tatyana Merenyuk
Décor Rentals: Costa Mesa
Specialty Lighting: Cabo Luna
DJ: Costa Rica Wedding DJ
Dessert Bar and Wedding Cake: Victoria Zoch
Photo Booth: Photo Booth Costa Rica