It all started with my good friends Christina and Bryan three years ago and their Rancho Santana destination wedding, and I knew it was a spot I had to get back to for another.
The universe did its part, and last week I was back in one of the coolest places on earth for another epic wedding–this time with New York surfer / traveler couple Charlotte and Derek.
We made the event into a three-part soiree, with a Thursday beach/sunset/bikini & boardshort engagement session at Playa Escondida, a rehearsal dinner at Casa Rosada Friday, and then the main event Saturday.
The dudes got ready in a magnificent house overlooking Playa Rosada, drinking Toñas in the pool until jamming over to Casa Los Perros just in time for the ceremony.
The ladies prepared themselves in the grand, old-style European villa at Casa los Perros, the stunning ceremony site.
With about 80 friends and family in attendance, they had a concise ceremony led by my roomate for the week, the inspirational Father Sacha, before we headed up a pretty gnarly dirt road to a point overlooking Playa Duna and much of the Rancho Santana coastline. From these spot, you can see south down to Parque Nacional Santa Rosa in northern Costa Rica, and north along the insane Nicaraguan coastline.
We crushed sunset up on that point (Thanks to Erik at Rancho Santana for the intel), before jumping back in the intrepid Suzuki Gran Vitara and heading back to the reception at the Inn at Rancho Santana.
After an incredible dinner, Miami-based DJ Zog kept the party sweaty until only the most hydrated of the group were left standing–scroll down and you’ll get it.
It was an unbelievable week down there in a place I’d love to spend more time. There aren’t many better and quicker spots to escape California mountain winters than Central America and this spot, three-ish hours south of Managua, is super easy to get to.
Thanks to C&D and the whole crew down there for a magical time, let’s do it again soon!
If you don’t know Rancho Santana, click here–their website kicks ass.
-Brandon
