The Costa Rica wedding calendar — the best month to marry, by region.

I have produced weddings in every calendar month, in every region of Costa Rica. February dawns in Tamarindo where the trade winds will not stop until you stake the linens. June afternoons at a private villa in Las Catalinas where it rained for forty-five minutes at 3pm, exactly when I'd told the couple it would, and then the sky cleared and the sunset was the most beautiful one I have ever produced a wedding under. The first real rain of the year at Manuel Antonio in late April, which arrives one evening with no announcement and rearranges everything for the next six months.

This is the version of the seasonal conversation I would have with you in person. It is the version most wedding websites won't give you because the easy answer is "December to April" and the easy answer sells more shoulder-season inquiries. I would rather you marry in the right month for the right region than book a dry-season Saturday and never know that your same wedding, in late October, would have cost 15% less and been just as beautiful.

The two seasons, honestly explained

Costa Rica has two seasons, not four. Verano (summer) and invierno (winter) — and they sit roughly opposite to the U.S. and European calendars, which trips up half the couples I work with.

Dry season — verano — December through April. This is the country's "summer." The skies are clean, the trade winds are reliable, the rivers are low. It is also the country's high tourism season — flights are more expensive, hotels are more expensive, and the best wedding venues book 14 to 18 months ahead. Weather risk is low. Demand risk is high.

Green season — invierno — May through November. This is the country's "winter." The land turns vivid green. Mornings are clear and bright. Afternoons bring rain — sometimes a fifteen-minute downpour, sometimes a longer storm — and evenings clear back out, often beautifully. Hotels discount. Vendors are more available. Some weeks are so dry you would not know it was the rainy season. Other weeks, especially September and October at certain venues, can be genuinely wet.

Regional weather is not uniform — the whole thesis of this piece

If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this: Costa Rica's weather is not the same on both coasts, or in both halves of the same coast. A "rainy" month in Manuel Antonio can be a perfect month in Tamarindo, four hours away.

Guanacaste — Tamarindo, Papagayo, Las Catalinas, Playa Conchal, Playa Hermosa

The driest region of the country. Guanacaste sits in a rain shadow created by the country's central mountain range. Even in green season, Guanacaste's rain pattern is mostly: clear morning, mid-afternoon shower, clear evening. May, June, and November can be entirely usable for outdoor weddings. This is where I would recommend any couple worried about weather marry — especially in late October, early November, or late April.

Central Pacific — Manuel Antonio, Jacó, Quepos

A significantly wetter region than Guanacaste. May through July is moderate green season. August through October is genuinely wet. I have produced weddings at Manuel Antonio in October that were entirely outdoor and beautiful; I have also produced one where it rained for eleven hours straight. If you are set on Manuel Antonio, my honest recommendation is January through early April, or late November through early December.

South Pacific — Uvita, Dominical, the Osa Peninsula

The wettest of the regions I produce weddings in. The Osa Peninsula is one of the rainiest parts of Costa Rica, full stop. September and October are the wettest months of the year here. December through March is the clean window.

Caribbean coast — Puerto Viejo, Cahuita

The Caribbean coast runs on a different calendar entirely. Its driest months are September and October — the exact months when the Pacific is at its wettest. Most couples don't know the Caribbean inverts the country's pattern.

The big table — month by month, region by region

Print it. Send it to your partner. The shorthand: Dry = reliably clear. Light Rain = mostly clear, possible afternoon shower. Heavy Rain = real weather risk, build tent contingency.

The twelve months, written out

January — peak season, deepest dry

January in Guanacaste is the cleanest weather window of the year. Trade winds are strong but the air is dry, the sky is clean, the sunsets are reliable. Mornings break with a sharp clarity you don't get later in the year. Central Pacific and South Pacific are also dry — this is one of the few months I would book an outdoor ceremony anywhere in the country without a tent. The cost: this is peak season. Venues are at their highest pricing. Top private estates book 14 to 18 months out for January Saturdays.

February — driest, windiest

February is the driest month of the year. It is also, for Guanacaste, the windiest — trade winds peak. Beach ceremonies require wind-aware design (no loose linens, no unsecured candles, hair pinned harder than the bride is used to). Demand is at peak. Valentine's weekend in particular pushes pricing on photographers and select florists.

March — hottest, last reliably dry month

March is hot. Inland temperatures can reach the high 90s; the coast moderates with sea breeze but the midday sun is genuinely strong. Plan ceremony times accordingly — a 4pm ceremony in Guanacaste in March can be uncomfortable for guests on a beach without shade. I move most March ceremonies to 4:30 or 5pm. Spring break demand from the U.S. layers onto wedding demand. Lodging is at its tightest.

April — the transition, watch Semana Santa

Early April is still dry. Late April is when the first real rain typically arrives — sometimes a dramatic evening downpour, sometimes a series of soft afternoon showers that build over a week. The exact date varies year to year.

The big honest flag for April: Semana Santa (Easter Week). Most of Costa Rica essentially closes for the week leading into and including Easter Sunday. Many vendors are unavailable. Lodging is booked solid with domestic tourism. Pricing surges. I strongly recommend marrying outside Semana Santa for any April wedding.

May — green season begins, Guanacaste still workable

May is where the regional differences begin to matter intensely. In Guanacaste, May is still mostly dry — the first rains arrive in the afternoon, often a 30-minute shower at 3 or 4pm, and clear by ceremony time. May ceremonies in Tamarindo or Papagayo are some of the most beautiful I produce. In Central Pacific, May is moderate green. In South Pacific, May is real rain. Pricing: 10–20% venue relief begins in May.

June — the planner's hidden Guanacaste gem

June is the month I quietly recommend to couples who want a Guanacaste wedding at meaningful savings. The pattern in Tamarindo, Papagayo, and Las Catalinas in June is reliable: clear sunrise, sunny morning, building cumulus by noon, afternoon shower between 2 and 5pm, clearing by sunset. Ceremonies at 4:30–5:30pm consistently catch the clear-evening window. Sunsets in late June in Guanacaste are some of the most cinematic of the year — the post-shower atmosphere makes the light do things you cannot manufacture.

July — green with a mid-month surprise

Costa Rica has a phenomenon called the veranillo de San Juan — a small dry window that often arrives in mid-July, somewhere between July 10 and July 25, lasting four to ten days. Skies clear, the air dries, and the country gets a brief reset before the deeper rains of August and September.

August — Guanacaste workable, elsewhere genuinely wet

August begins the deeper green season. Guanacaste is still workable. Central Pacific and South Pacific are entering their wettest stretch. Demand softens further. Many of the top venues will quote noticeably better pricing in August than in March.

September — the wettest Pacific month, the cheapest pricing

September is the wettest month on the Pacific coast. This is the cheapest month to marry in Costa Rica. If you are pricing-sensitive, value-seeking, willing to design for weather rather than against it, and you understand the tradeoff, September is the bargain. The country flip-side: the Caribbean coast is at its driest in September.

October — Pacific still wet, Guanacaste shoulder begins

Early October mirrors September on the Pacific — wet. But late October is the shoulder. Guanacaste's rain pattern starts to ease in the final week. The last week of October in Guanacaste is one of my favorite quiet recommendations.

November — Guanacaste re-opens, the bargain windows close

November is the most important transitional month for couples who want a value wedding. In Guanacaste, November is mostly dry — particularly the first three weeks. The trade winds return, the skies clean up, and pricing remains in green-season territory through about mid-month before December rates and demand begin to surge.

December — dry season returns, holiday demand spikes

December is dry across most of the country. The grass is still bright green from the November rain — December has some of the most photogenic landscape of the year. The cost: December is peak holiday demand. The week between Christmas and New Year is the highest-priced wedding week of the year. If you want December, marry the first two weeks and book 16+ months out.

Best month for a Tamarindo / Guanacaste wedding

February or March. Peak dry, peak everything. If you want the cleanest possible weather, the most reliable sunset light, and the certainty that nothing about the calendar will surprise you, you marry in late February or early March in Guanacaste. The one caveat: trade winds. February is the windiest month of the year on the Pacific coast. Build for it.

Best month for a green-season bargain (the planner's secret)

Late October to early November, in Guanacaste. This is the answer most couples never get told. The dry season has not yet returned, but the deep green has begun to end. Guanacaste is mostly clear, the land is at its most lush, pricing is still in green-season territory (10–20% under February), and demand is at its lowest before the December surge. Same recommendation does not apply to Manuel Antonio or Uvita in late October — those regions are still genuinely wet.

Best month for couples who don't mind some rain

June, in Guanacaste. June is the most consistently workable deep green-season month in the country's driest region. The rain pattern is predictable — clear mornings, afternoon shower, clear evenings — and the savings are real. The honest tradeoff: you build the design with the rain in mind. Tent contingency is real. The ceremony time is set to catch the post-shower clearing.

What to budget for weather — the tent contingency

This is the section every couple wants me to skip, and the one I will never let them.

If you are marrying in green season (May through November) anywhere in Costa Rica, or in late April or early December in transitional weather, you build a tent contingency into the budget from day one. Not as an option. As a line item.

• $4,000–$6,000 for a smaller wedding (40–60 guests), modest tent, basic flooring, lighting integration
• $6,000–$9,000 for a mid-size wedding (70–90 guests), pole tent or clearspan, more refined flooring, integrated lighting
• $9,000–$12,000+ for a full-estate wedding (100+ guests), clearspan structure, climate considerations, full-design integration

A note on Semana Santa — the week to avoid

Every April, Costa Rica observes Semana Santa (Holy Week / Easter Week), the week leading into Easter Sunday. Most of the country closes. Banks, government offices, many restaurants, much of the vendor community — closed. Local lodging is booked solid with Tico domestic tourism. Pricing surges across hotels and flights. Many of the best vendors I work with take the entire week off and will not produce a wedding during Semana Santa for any price.

I recommend avoiding Semana Santa entirely. Check the dates each year (Easter 2026 is April 5; Easter 2027 is March 28; Easter 2028 is April 16) and plan around them.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to get married in Costa Rica?

Dry season — December through April — is the safest weather window across the entire country. Within that, February and March are the cleanest, driest, and most reliable. They are also the most expensive and the most booked. For couples seeking better value with low weather risk, late October to early November in Guanacaste is the planner's quiet favorite.

Is May a good month for a Costa Rica wedding?

In Guanacaste, yes — May is mostly dry, with afternoon showers that rarely interfere with evening ceremonies. May ceremonies in Tamarindo, Papagayo, and Las Catalinas are some of the most beautiful I produce. In Manuel Antonio and the South Pacific, May begins to be genuinely wet — plan accordingly.

When is the rainy season in Costa Rica?

The rainy (green) season runs from May through November on the Pacific coast and through the Central Valley. The Caribbean coast runs on a different calendar — its driest months are September and October. The wettest months on the Pacific are September and October.

Is October too rainy for a Costa Rica wedding?

For Manuel Antonio, Uvita, and the South Pacific — yes, October is genuinely wet. For Guanacaste, October is wetter than February but still produces beautiful weddings, especially in the final week of the month when the shoulder season begins.

What is Costa Rica's peak wedding season?

December through April. Within that, January through March is the peak of the peak. Demand and pricing are highest, top venues book 14 to 18 months ahead, and weather risk is lowest.

Should I avoid Easter Week (Semana Santa) for a wedding?

Yes. Most of Costa Rica closes for Semana Santa. Many vendors are unavailable. Lodging is booked solid with domestic tourism. Pricing surges. Check the date each year and plan around it.

Is December a good month for a Costa Rica wedding?

December is excellent for weather — dry across the country, with the landscape still lush from the November rain. The trade-off is holiday demand: the week between Christmas and New Year is the most expensive wedding week of the year. If you want December, marry the first two weeks and book early.

When does it stop raining in Costa Rica?

In Guanacaste, the rain meaningfully eases by mid-to-late November. In Central Pacific, by mid-to-late November. In South Pacific, by early December. The country is fully into dry season by December 10 in most years.

Is February or March the best month for a Costa Rica wedding?

Both are excellent and broadly equivalent for weather. February is windier (peak trade winds); March is hotter (inland highs in the 90s). February gives you slightly more reliable sunsets; March gives you more guest-comfortable temperatures along the coast. I marry slightly more couples in March than February for that reason.

Should I have my wedding in green season to save money?

If you understand the trade-off and you build a real tent contingency, yes — green season can save 10–20% on venue and offer better vendor availability. The wrong way to use green season is to assume "it might not rain." The right way is to design with the rain in mind, choose a region (Guanacaste) where the rain is more predictable, and budget the tent.

Is November dry in Costa Rica?

The first three weeks of November in Guanacaste are mostly dry. Central Pacific dries through the month. South Pacific lags about two weeks behind. November is the most important transitional month for couples seeking shoulder-season value in Guanacaste.

What's the windiest month in Costa Rica?

February in Guanacaste, with January and early March close behind. Trade winds are strong, the air is dry, and beach ceremonies require wind-aware design (no loose linens, weighted floral, hair plans built for the breeze).

Is the Caribbean coast a good wedding destination?

For most luxury couples, no — the road, the lodging infrastructure, and the vendor depth are not at the level needed to produce a luxury wedding. The Caribbean's biggest selling point is that it runs on an inverted calendar (driest in September and October), but the broader logistics make it a niche choice.

How does weather differ between Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio?

Significantly. Tamarindo (Guanacaste) is the country's driest wedding region, with reliable trade winds and predictable rain patterns even in green season. Manuel Antonio (Central Pacific) is noticeably wetter — its peak rain months (August through October) are genuinely wet, while Tamarindo in the same months is mostly afternoon-shower. The two regions are four hours apart by road and feel like different climates.

What month has the best light for a Costa Rica wedding?

Late June through July in Guanacaste, post-shower. The atmospheric quality after a green-season rain produces some of the most cinematic golden-hour light I have ever produced a wedding under. February's light is cleaner but harder; June's light is softer and more layered.

Do I need a backup plan for an outdoor ceremony in February?

Not seriously — February in Guanacaste is the safest weather month of the year, and most of my February ceremonies are produced fully outdoors without a tent. I do still budget a $2,000–$3,000 small-cover contingency at outdoor venues for peace of mind; Costa Rica's microclimates have surprised me enough times that I do not produce a wedding without one.

Can I get married in the rainy season and still have an outdoor ceremony?

Yes — but you build the design around the rain pattern, not against it. In Guanacaste, schedule the ceremony for 4:30–5:30pm to catch the post-shower clearing. Design with a tent contingency that enhances rather than emergency-covers. Choose a venue with covered alternative spaces that feels designed if you need to move.

What is the best month for a green-season wedding in Costa Rica?

June in Guanacaste, by my preference. Predictable rain pattern, deep savings on pricing, generous vendor availability, and post-shower light that produces some of my favorite weddings of the year. Late October to early November is the alternative for couples who want even less rain risk while staying in green-season pricing.

Region matters more than month. A February wedding in Uvita and a February wedding in Tamarindo are the same date and entirely different events.

What I would tell you if we were sitting across from each other right now

The honest truth about Costa Rica's wedding calendar is that region matters more than month. The country is small enough that this feels surprising, and varied enough — in terrain, in mountains, in coast — that it is genuinely true.

If you have a region you are set on, marry in its best month. If you have a month you are set on, marry in the region that month is best for. If you have neither — you just want a beautiful wedding in Costa Rica and you want to make the right call — let me know your budget and your weather tolerance, and I can place you on a date in a region inside of thirty minutes.

The calendar is not the wedding. The wedding is the design, the vendors, the way the day flows, the people you love eating dinner together with the sound of the Pacific in the background. The calendar is the frame around it. Pick the right frame and the work inside it gets to be what it should be.