Stephanie & Jim from Hotel Casa MarBella
One of our, my husband and I, favorite towns in Costa Rica is Santa Teresa, which is located on the Nicoya Penninsula, about four hours South of Tamarindo. Its a remote location, with eclectic restaurants and fun people. Every time we go there, we stay at a different place, but I believe we’ve found our spot, Hotel Casa MarBella. Its a boutique hotel, with zen-like decor, a view that can’t be beat, and an infinity pool. Its about a four minute walk to the beach, within a half of a mile of about a dozen restaurants and right next door is an amazing one. I enjoyed it so much, I had to have Stephanie and Jim (and daughter, Naia) be the interviewees of this weeks “WQS”!
What do you do? We own and operate Hotel Casa MarBella.
Where are you from? New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Who are you in 5 words? Work Hard and Play Hard
What is your style? Less is more.
What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? The kiss because of the feeling of pure love that surrounds the moment.
What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? The intimate and loving gazes that the bride and groom give one another throughout their special day.
What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? Don’t sweat the small stuff!
In a few sentences, as to not bore us 
, what brought you to Costa Rica? The idea of doing something different with our lives that we could enjoy together as a family.
What is your favorite place in Costa Rica? Why? Santa Teresa, because of the small hometown feeling that we have grown accustomed to over the years.
What do you love about your line of work? Meeting people from around the globe and sharing this beautiful area with them.
Tell me something, anything. We all need to step “outside of the box” sometimes!
For more information on Casa Marbella, check out their website here, fill out their contact form or feel free to email Stephanie and Jim directly, contact@casamarbel.la .
Bathsheba from Costa Rica Catering
Bathsheba, owner and chef of Costa Rica Catering, lives and works in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Everything she touches and anything that comes out of her kitchen is wonderful! My personal favorites include her panko crusted Mahi Mahi and her vanilla, passionfruit cake with butter-cream icing…okay, I’m drooling!
- What do you do? I put people in happy, blissful, food comas.
- Where are you from? Anywhere you want me to be from, but mostly India.
- Who are you in 5 words? I am obsessed with food.
- What is your style? Classic, conservative, bordering on the ridiculous.
- What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? I like when everybody gets really drunk, with joy, and jumps, fully clothed, in the pool.
- What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? I always manage a quick peek, through the kitchen smoke and the flames, at the bride as she emerges to join the wedding party, and it’s a very special moment, no matter how many times you witness it…
- What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? Just to relax, and let Kristina take care of the details..she’s a professional! To remember to have fun, and oh yeah, enjoy the food!!!!
- In a few sentences, as to not bore us , what brought you to Costa Rica? I stuck a thumb tack in the map of the world.
- What is your favorite place in Costa Rica. Why? No matter where we travel to in CR, and how short our time away might’ve been, I am happiest driving back into Tamarindo, in excited and slightly fearful anticipation of being lovingly ( ! ) mauled by my excited and uncontainable dogs, whom I’ve missed so much!
- What do you love about your line of work? I love painstakingly building a beautiful plate of food, or spending many stressful hours baking and decorating a cake and watching people demolish it till they are scraping their plates clean in an effort to consume every last morsel, and being able to make a living from it!! ( Sorry, was I supposed to be brief?? )
- Tell me something, anything. Life gets interesting when you have no sense of direction.
Toh from Bidrop
- At November 2, 2011
- By admin
- In Wednesday Question Session
1
Toh has been doing photography for about 15 years, both commercially and now for weddings. He lives in Tamarindo with his family and we thoroughly enjoy working with him!
What do you do? I capture moments and create images.
Where are you from? Born and raised in the center of good old Europe: France.
Who are you in 5 words? Image lover creative curious photographer
What is your style? I guess it is either documentary or carefully crafted funky photography.
What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? Just after the ceremony, when all the stress is down, people totally relax and just appreciate the moment they are living, not anymore the anticipation of it.
What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? Well, the fact that it happened…
What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? Relax… take it easy, especially if you are in Costa Rica… Enjoy the moment don’t ruin it with unnecessary stress, don’t be a BrideZilla, be a Pura Vida Bride…
In a few sentences, as to not bore us , what brought you to Costa Rica? A travel habit fueled by curiosity. I have visited a lot of countries but fell in love with Costa Rica.
What is your favorite place in Costa Rica. Why? Tamarindo and surroundings of course (I live there…), for the beautiful bay, beach and waves, but also for the crazy multicultural community living here.
What do you love about your line of work? Almost everything, how can’t you love being on the beach or other beautiful settings, taking photographs of happy people who give you their trust… honestly…
Tell me something, anything. My daughter is the most intelligent and beautiful girl in the world… and nothing beats a real baguette sandwich with butter and cornichons…
For more information on Toh and Bidrop, go ahead and look them up at http://www.bidrop.com/.
Steve Curtis from Capullo Sportfishing & Tamarindo.com
- At October 26, 2011
- By admin
- In Wednesday Question Session
- 0
Steve Curtis has been fishing and living in Tamarindo for over 28 years. He owns Capullo Sportfishing and a website all about Tamarindo, www.Tamarindo.com. If anyone knows about Costa Rica its Steve, but lets see what he thinks about weddings.
What do you do? I run a charter sportfishing business out of Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica, as well as a website for Tamarindo.
Where are you from? I’m originally from Springfield, MO. I came to Costa Rica in 1982.
Who are you in 5 words? Content Expertise-Admiring Timeless Entrepreneur
What is your style? A bit of a nitpicker, willing to pay attention to detail, but not bound by unrealistic expectations.
What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? The actual vows part, the denouement; I’m a sucker for poignancy.
What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? I’m always impressed by how all those in attendance, in their own way, honor the sanctity of the event.
What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? Well, my wife and I got hitched here in Tamarindo over 20 years ago, back when there was no electricity, no phones, and we had to walk miles in knee-deep snow to get…..just suffice it to say that my advice is to work with a wedding planner, and let someone else handle the stress of all the endless details.
In a few sentences, as to not bore us , what brought you to Costa Rica? I came here out of curiosity, found a great deal of beauty in the land and the people, and decided it would be a great place to spend the rest of my life.
What is your favorite place in Costa Rica. Why? My favorite place in Costa Rica is ten minutes outside of practically any town. Once you get in the rural areas, you find a wonderful simplicity, and a timeless contentment in those you meet.
What do you love about your line of work? Well, my line of work involves the effort to provide an opportunity for a great experience for someone, and sweating out the details is challenging and great fun.
Tell me something, anything. I’m struck by the way in which our home, Tamarindo, is changing these days. Not so long ago there was just a collection of different types of people doing their own thing, but nowadays it’s easy to spot a developing sense of community, and that’s a wonderful thing.
Federico Pilurzu a Professional Surfer and Hotel Manager
- At October 19, 2011
- By admin
- In Wednesday Question Session
- 0
Meet Federico Pilurzu, professional surfer and manager of a local hotel, 20 meters from the beach. Here is what he had to say about weddings, Costa Rica and stuff …
What do you do? Organize, solve problems, and have fun…
Where are you from? I was born in Sardinia, Italy, and grew up in Tamarindo Costa Rica
Who are you in 5 words? positive, firm, crazy, happy, energetic
What is your style? keep on changing
What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? Of course the party!!! Is there any other fun part?? Jokin!
What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? The moment where the groom kisses the bride, in front of the sunset, on the beach… I’m kidding again… The Party!
What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? If you are definitely sure of getting marry, then enjoy it like you never did, because it is the time of your life, and you get married only once!
In a few sentences, as to not bore us , what brought you to Costa Rica? My parents when I was a Kid. I had the opportunity to travel all over the world while competing, and I would not change Costa Rica with anyplace in the globe.
What is your favorite place in Costa Rica. Why? I love it all! Beaches, mountains, rivers.. So much clean and positive energy. Every single day I watch the sunset on the beach and I couldn’t be any more thankful…
What do you love about your line of work? I don’t consider it work when it’s fun, motivating, always new things, and keeps me happy!
Tell me something, anything. If you’re going to get married, don’t waste your time looking around.. come to Costa Rica!
Jessica Hill from A Brit & A Blonde
- At October 12, 2011
- By admin
- In Wednesday Question Session
- 2
Its our first interview! And seeing as we’re a new company, why not interview another fairly new company. Meet Jessica Hill from A Brit & A Blonde.
What do you do? I am a destination wedding photographer for style savvy brides and grooms. My husband and I shoot the weddings together.
Where are you from? The great white North! Canada.
Who are you in 5 words? Design-Loving Blonde Canadian Photographer
What is your style? Photographically speaking: photojournalistic with a twist of editorial thrown in for good measure. Sartorially speaking: anything with stripes and/or bows! But I am learning to branch out.
What is your favorite part of a wedding? Why? The recessional. The couple has just become husband and wife, all their guests are clapping and up on their feet, the music swells and the emotion on both their faces is always unbelievable happiness.
What do you find to be the most memorable about a wedding? Am I allowed to say the brides shoes. LOL. I am a total lover of all shoes. And as a recent bride myself – I totally know how long we girls spend looking for the perfect pair for our big day!
What is a tip you would like to give brides and grooms about weddings? Agree on the top 3 items that are super duper important to you both. Then don’t skimp out on these. You can save your pennies on the million and other things that you will need for your wedding.
In a few sentences, as to not bore us , what brought you to Costa Rica? The sunshine! Knowing that we would no longer need to take 20 mins to get ready to brave the elements in a Canadian winter. Trading in our winter boots and gloves for shorts and swimsuits was the best thing we ever did.
What is your favorite place in Costa Rica. Why? That is a tough one. I guess I would have to say Arenal. That is where my husband and I were when we decided to change our lifestyle and officially move to Costa Rica.
What do you love about your line of work? My husband and I both use to work in advertising agencies with big corporate clients. We would work around the clock creating some great award winning campaigns but there was no real satisfaction in it. When I receive a thank you note from our brides and grooms they are so heartfelt and sincere. We have created memories for them that will last a lifetime and be past down for generations.
Tell me something, anything. I am a big lover of film. Just watched last night a British film called ‘Submarine’ – so well written, beautiful art directed and shot. According to one of the characters the ocean is 6 miles deep. I never knew that. Kinda fascinating.
For more information on Jessica, her hubby and A Brit & A Blonde, check out their website, http://abritandablonde.com/.
