Morgan & Ruben — A Caribbean Micro Wedding

Morgan and Ruben’s micro wedding day began at Shawandha Lodge, tucked into the jungle just outside Puerto Viejo. Each of them got ready in separate private villas, with family close by, before coming together for a first look at the lodge.

The first look happened with their family present, making it feel shared and personal rather than staged. From there, it was just the three of us as we headed to the Gandoca–Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge to explore and photograph along the coastline and forest paths. We moved with intention — walking, shooting, adjusting — letting the landscape guide where we stopped.

As we were leaving Gandoca, they spotted their first sloth, a small but memorable moment that perfectly marked their introduction to Costa Rica’s Caribbean side.

Before reaching the ceremony site at Playa Punta Uva, we stopped along a forested pathway leading to the beach. Massive trees filtered the sunlight into soft, dappled patches as howler monkeys echoed overhead. The setting felt immersive and deeply connected to the surrounding environment.

At the ceremony location, family and the officiant were waiting beneath a backdrop of beach greenery, sand, and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. The ceremony itself was emotional and lighthearted, followed by a shared toast with fresh coconuts, family portraits, and time together on the beach.

As the sun dipped behind the trees, Morgan and Ruben stepped away for a few final portraits — some with the iconic washed-up barge visible in the background, a subtle reminder of the raw beauty of this stretch of coastline.

Their wedding day was rooted in experience and place — a meaningful, intimate celebration on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.