I just got back from an incredible trip to Costa Rica for my sister’s wedding with my whole family and a bunch of friends. We also had the great pleasure of having my great friend and amazing, wonderful, fantastic photographer, Travis Broxton and his wife with us so Travis could be the official photographer for the wedding and the trip. It was great to have the freedom to totally relax, which was wonderful. But of course, I couldn’t go to Costa Rica empty handed and ended up with some images that really and truly remind me why I love what I do… There is nothing more to melt my soul than beautiful sunsets and breathtaking landscapes! And give me a gorgeous bride and groom mixed in with those two ingredients? Forget about it, I was in heaven!!

It was just fabulous… I got to photograph my lovely little sister in a gorgeous place on one of the biggest days of her life! I got to ride a wild horse through the jungle up to an amazing waterfall on my 30th b-day which was completed that evening with a sunset cruise through the mangroves. Small tip, don’t ever tell a local in another country like Costa Rica that you are “cool” with horses! Clearly my definition of cool and theirs was a few miles apart. I’m lucky I’m not stuck up in the tree tops somewhere. That horse I got on was craaaaaazzzzy and was determined to be in the front and wanted to RUN! Whoaaaa mama! I found out later that Hitana (sp?) means “jumping dancer” (Or something close! How appropriate. I might ask for the translation of the name before my next ride! ha!)

Anyway, I enjoyed the week off to the max. We went scuba diving and saw more sharks all at once than I have ever seen before. There were about a dozen or more 5-8 ft. long white tip sharks swimming around us in the cold currents….it was so cool. We surfed (well…I attempted fairly unsuccessfully, much to my dismay), we zip-lined through the jungle, we played on the beach, we played in waterfalls, we drank, danced, and just had a grand ol’ time in general.

But now, without further ado, here are the photos that for me define this amazing trip. If you want the “full story” and more crazy photos of all of our silly clan go to Travis’s blog. Most of the images posted here are mine. The ceremony shots are Matt’s, and some of the silly ones of my sisters and I at the end in the little waterfall were taken by my friend Scott. But for me, nothing beats amazing sunsets… Or my beautiful sister and new brother in law, Sean, kissing as the sun dipped beneath the horizon after an incredibly beautiful, totally emotional, and amazing wedding ceremony that my father officiated with true eloquence.

I want to say thank you to the universe for gracing me with such amazing people…both the friends and the family that I am continually surrounded by, and also for the spectacular beauty that exists in this world!

Sunset, Day 1…

Day 2, I turned 30! Time to take a wild ride and jump (literally) into the next decade. Bring it on baby!

The Chaos ensues….

Louise, my sister, the bride… who is actually “cool” with horses!

The spectacular Nauyaca Waterfalls… I climbed my butt up there and jumped three times!

The top and bottom falls together… not bad little piece of nature to have in your backyard!

And my dear Louise…. all dolled up in paradise.

With this shot, I am officially adding hairstylist and make-up artist to my list of “can do!” I was nervous about being responsible, but between Jesse and I, we pulled it off and it was awesome!

Work it girl….

Own it… Love it….

And of course, the handsome groom, and my new brother!

La la la la.. I can’t sing I like Jesse can, but I have the words etched in my mind and heart.

“Honey you…are my shining star, don’t you go away”

“I wanna be, right here where you are, till my dying day… yes I do”

“Don’t they realize how you hypnotize me… makes me love you more each time. Oh oh oh oh….”

“It feels so good, when we’re lying next to each other, lost in love, lost in love, drifting on a cloud”

“Ooo baby when we touch, I love you so much, you’re all I ever dreamed of….”

Yep, that’s me… it’s almost GO time!

I love this shot I got of Jesse, who sang her little heart out… and of course sweet Robby. He looks especially good carrying my flowers!

The relief! They did it! Hurray!

Such a beautiful memory…

The wedding wouldn’t have been complete without our little animal spirit that adopted us for the ceremony! How appropriate for the Vet in the family!

Ummmm. I love this one.

The jungle tour up to the zip line was gorgeous and I got to see some baby cocoa pods!

Here’s Louise, the fearless bride, zipping through the jungle like a crazy little monkey!

There goes Matt one handed! My goof ball!

There goes Travis! Hanging on for dear life!

Swinging through the tree-tops was such a blast!

Hurry hurry, get to the beach before the sun goes down…. hurray, we JUST made it! sweet!

As the sun was setting and I was being pummeled by waves, one after another, I traded in my surf board for my camera. And I’m not sorry! Does it get any better?

Ahhh… can I say love? It got more and more beautiful by the second.

Our last day…. My sistas & my friends! Gotta love auto timer, even if I did stub my toes to get it! ouch!

As usual with us… Louise, you go first!

Ok, I guess I have to now…..Yikkkkkkeees!

How long can you hold your breath?? Go weezie go!

Come on Jimmy… the girls did it!

And finally…. the wrecked car that luckily no one got all bashed up in! It would seem that there aren’t really any “road rules.” The local that smashed us tried his hardest to convince me (and the cop) that the crash was MY fault. I was shaken, hot, angry, and stubborn and wasn’t having one bar of it…. guess who won that argument?! You know it baby! (It only took 5 hours!! argh!)

Posted: February 18th, 2008 under Weddings, Family, Travel.
Comments: 13