Drew has plenty of personal history with Costa Rica but never dreamt he would get married there someday. He first went to Costa Rica in college to study Spanish for a month. While in Costa Rica, Drew visited Manuel Antonio (where the ceremony took place) and instantly felt a connection with its tropical beaches. While on that same trip, he even slept on the beach right in front of where he would eventually get married someday. After college Drew and his friend (and mine) Jeremiah got in a car and drove over 7,000 miles to Costa Rica. What was their final destination? Manuel Antonio!

Here’s a shot of them in Guatemala on the ride down there:

Unfortunately a short time after they arrived, they ran their car off a bridge.

They luckily were O.K. but the accident forced them both to head back to the States prematurely.

Fast forward a few years and Drew falls in love with a beautiful girl named Shay. They get engaged and start planning a wedding. Shay always wanted a beach wedding but wasn’t excited about the beaches in Florida (where they live) and wanted to think about something different. Slowly they began to consider an international beach wedding and Drew mentioned the idea of returning to the beaches of Manuel Antonio to get married. Soon this unlikely option becomes a reality.

The wedding week was a relaxed time with friends and family. Most of the wedding guests (along with me and my team) the week before the wedding at Karahe, a resort which was next to the house where the wedding took place.

Overall, the entire week was an amazing experience for me and my team.

To view their album, click HERE!

The amazing Branden Lower came with me and shot an 8mm film:

Shay & Drew 8mm from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

Shay and Friends

Drew and Friends

The ceremony was on the beach under the trees. One of the most meaningful aspects of the ceremony for Drew was the role his father played. He had just finished his second year and seminary and was able to perform the ceremony for Shay and Drew!

Married!

The reception was at a nearby restaurant that over overlooks the ocean from above. Since Shay and Drew had spent the week before with all their guests, they could party at their reception and not feel like they had to greet and talk to everyone that came! And what a party it was!