Rehearsal Dinner - Morgan and Will, Villa Caletas Beach

Rehearsal dinners are one of my favourite events to plan, even though they can be a bit tricky. They require a fine balance of fun but not too much 'wow' to overshadow the wedding. They shouldn't mirror the wedding but shouldn't feel like a completely foreign event to the wedding weekend. They need to have pacing but enough relaxed time for people to mix and mingle, since this is often the first opportunity folks have to meet each other. So, in short, they are a juggling act.This rehearsal party at Villa Caletas beach, will go down in the annals as one of my all time favourites. Seriously stylish and one fabulous fiesta. We headed down to Villa Caletas' beach, which is one of the best-kept secrets in Costa Rica. Snuggled in a bay at the bottom of the rainforest, it's a breathtaking spot that is incredibly private. The road down is hair-raising (the sign at the top states 4X4 ONLY PAST THIS POINT) but totally worth the 10-minute trip down the steep dirt road. Look at that beach!Guests enjoyed cocktails seaside as they watched the sun set before moving into the thatched-roof palapa for a Costa Rican dinner.Morgan, our gorgeous bride, was inspired by the colours of The Beverly Hills Hotel and wanted to have a "Great Gatsby Meets the Jungle' feel to the wedding weekend. We went with a pink and green palette with antique gold for punch. The bamboo chairs give a grounding, natural touch, fitting in with the rainforest surroundings.We added a bit of whimsy to the table decor, painting bunches of bananas gold. Green coconuts, pink ginger and dark green Tiger Paw leaves rounded out the tropical yet elegant look. Wooden table numbers in 3-D were painted gold to match.The inspiration for the decor came from Ceci New York's bespoke invitation set she'd created for the wedding, featuring a Coat of Arms with monkeys and palm trees with touches Art Deco elements. Stunning!!Escort cards had a rustic touch, as they were tacked onto jute rope using wooden clothes pegs. Simple, fun and keeping the vibe relaxed.The highlight of the night was undoubtedly, the comparse (carnival). Now, I have no idea how or why this Brazillian tradition has embedded itself so deeply into Costa Rican culture but hey, it's bright, it's loud and it's crazier than a rainforest of monkeys. More feather headpieces than a Las Vegas review and higher energy than a case of Red Bull, these dancers and drummers had the crowd shaking their hips like hula dancers cranked up to 11. If you're having your wedding in Costa Rica, seriously consider having a comparse as they are truly a show-stopping addition.Bet you wished you were there, right? Too much fun! Stay tuned for photos of the gorgeous main event.Massive thanks to the oh-so-talented dynamic duo of A Brit & A Blonde for capturing all the festivities of this shindig.