Real Bride Phoebe’s Destination Love Story in Costa Rica

Sun, sea, and a wedding dress that survived 30-degree heat!

Some weddings are about more than just two people. For Phoebe and Danny, the story of their family celebration began with a surprise proposal on a Dominican beach and unfolded in Costa Rica, with their closest loved ones around them. It was a wedding full of sun, adventure, and a dress that proved sleeves can work for a destination wedding!

Phoebe chose a stunning Mori Lee wedding dress for her Costa Rica celebration. It looked fabulous on the day, and it's easy to see in these pictures how genuinely happy Phoebe felt in it.

Real Bride Phoebe’s Destination Love Story in Costa Rica

We're very pleased to be sharing Phoebe's real wedding story, and lots of beautiful shots of her Costa Rica nuptials!

How did you two meet?

Danny and I started off as friends and started dating in 2017. We were 17 and 19 years old.

How did you get engaged?

We got engaged in 2022 in the Dominican Republic on a private beach with our two daughters joining us with the ring! So a destination wedding was always on the cards, as we had a destination engagement.

What was your favourite moment(s) from the wedding?

My favourite moment from the wedding…? I loved it all! From the moment we woke up in Costa Rica with rainforest in the background to the moment it ended. I loved having a small wedding with all our favourite people who made the effort to travel to celebrate with us. I got to get ready with my daughters, who were 8 and 4, and it was magical having that time with them before I walked down the aisle to marry their dad. Our wedding was a celebration of us as a family rather than just me and Danny. 

Tell us all about your wedding dress!

I always wanted a wedding dress with sleeves, even in 30-degree heat! The dress was classic. I loved the balloon sleeves, the fit, the button detail, and the pearls on the back! The veil sat perfectly over my train. It made me feel like me on my wedding day and not an imposter. I felt like it was a dress made just for me.

What was the general decor for your big day?

Our general decor was classic white, letting the tropics of the Costa Rican background shine through.

Do you have any advice for future Bellissima Brides?

If you are thinking of wearing your hair up, keep that in mind when trying on wedding dresses. I knew I was going to have my hair up in the heat, and so having my hair up during the bridal appointment made a difference in visualizing the end goal.

Enjoy the experience! The girls at Bellissima know what they’re doing, so tell them what you love and don’t love about a dress, and don’t be afraid to try on dresses you think aren’t for you—you might be surprised!

Do you have any local suppliers you would like to recommend?

All our amazing suppliers were booked through our wedding planner in Costa Rica.

How was your Bellissima experience?

My Bellissima experience was amazing. I felt comfortable and looked after the whole time. Even during my alterations, I always felt well taken care of. Everyone was so kind and so passionate about me, the bride, finding my dress.