Welcome Party

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Sunset Catamaran

God is good — and we’re getting married!Join Kat &amp; Tink for a celebration of God’s goodness and a festive Pura Vida weekend on Costa Rica’s golden coast. Look for flights to Liberia, Costa Rica.Events: Thursday, July 9th – Saturday, July 11th.Recommended travel dates: July 9–13 or July 10–12. If you cannot come to our Wedding in Costa Rica we will be having an event in Columbia June 19th for our Columbia friends and June 20th for our Charleston friends. See accommodation info, schedule, packing list, and all other details below.

Our Wedding

Thursday 9th

Arrive in Las Catalinas.Welcome Party @ Beach Club: 5:30-8Come join us for some welcome drinks and dinner!Attire: Beach Casual

Friday 10th

Day Activities of your choosing:We recommend staying around town and exploring. Let us know what you want to do so we can get some groups together!Mountain biking (rent bikes day prior at Pura Vida Ride), morning hike, pickle ball, tennis, beach chill, Beach Club (passes are $30 a day, $15 is consumable).Rehearsal (bridal party): 4:30pm @ Plaza AgaveRehearsal Dinner (bridal party and family): 5:30-8pm*those not at Rehearsal Dinner we recommend making reservations for dinner at Sentido Norte (best for sunset), Ponciana @ Santerna (best all around), Tamaki (sushi), Celeste (beach front), Papaguyo Brewery (good bar food)*Attire: Beach Cocktail

Saturday 11th- WEDDING DAY! 

Free day before the wedding!Wedding @ Plaza Agave: 5pmSunset Cocktails + Dinner + Reception @ Santerena Hotel to follow.Attire: Beach Formal (no tux needed)

Sunday, 12th

Come stop by for some pastries and coffee at Long's house: 930-1130amOptional Sunset Cruise: 1-6, $100 each, text Katherine or Thomas for details.

Monday, 13th

Fly home! Shuttles often leave 10-11am depending on flight, we recommend 3.5 to 4 hours before flight.

Schedule 

Thomas always dreamed of a spicy Colombian who knew her way around mountains, and Kat always imagined an outdoorsy Southern boy who could dance like a Latino. They each tried their different “types of pizza” over the years… only to wind up circling right back to South Carolina.Their adventurous spirits were aligned from the beginning. For years, both prayed for a partner who loved God, loved the outdoors, travel, people, family, and a little bit of salsa on the dance floor.In August 2021, those prayers quietly crossed paths when they met at Thomas’s church in Denver, Colorado. They immediately hit it off—both Clemson grads, with a heart for Young Life, and a love for traveling. But Thomas was living in Denver, Kat was about to move to Costa Rica, and neither of them was available to date. So nothing came from that day except a simple Instagram follow.Fast-forward a year. Kat (Mama Laura, don’t read this part) sent Thomas a direct message on Instagram inviting him to visit Costa Rica. As they chatted, they realized they both happened to be going to Clemson for the NC State game in October 2022. Thomas asked Kat out and took her on a Pizza Picnic at Paris Mountain—until they realized they were locked inside the state park. Their first test. They made it out, ended the night laughing, but neither was convinced long-distance was the plan.Time passed. More pizza was sampled. And in February 2023, they ran into each other in Breckenridge, Colorado—another coincidence they shrugged off as “interesting timing,” but still nothing came of it. Thomas stayed in Denver, Kat stayed in Costa Rica, and life went on.Then came October 2024. Kat was curious what Mr. T was up to and once again bravely sent him a direct message—this time to congratulate him on his sister’s wedding. And this time…the spark stuck. Thomas, the gentleman he is, asked to call her. Three and a half hours later, it was clear their lives were more aligned than back in 2022. Thomas was moving back East. Kat was open to change.They realized they’d both be home for Thanksgiving and going to the Clemson–Carolina game, so they decided to spend the whole weekend together and see what would happen. Cue the longest 48-hour second date ever.Kat drove to Charleston to meet Thomas’s family, eat leftover Thanksgiving, play pickleball, and then drive four hours to Clemson to stay at the Outdoor Lab. Nerves were high. The weekend was full of meeting friends and family and sharing Clemson memories while walking through campus.Everything felt good, but they were still trying to figure out where their hearts were. On the drive back to Charleston, over a lunch stop heart-to-heart, they shared what they wanted for their futures. Their dreams lined up. Then Thomas asked Kat what she saw for the relationship (he was setting her up), and she responded, “Well…I think we should try long distance and see what happens?” Thomas laughed, “Did you just ask me to be your boyfriend?” And Kat replied, “Well, how else did you want me to answer?” They wrapped the weekend by planning a New Year’s trip to Costa Rica.New Year’s came, and tour-guide Kat showed Thomas all around the Golden Coast. Somewhere between the sunsets, ocean swims, and mountain trails, they fell in love.Over the next year, long-distance became a joy—full of travel between the States and Costa Rica, getting to know each other’s families, and building something real. God wove this season beautifully: from Kat tearing her ACL while skiing in Steamboat (which gave her a month of recovery in South Carolina) to adventures across the East Coast, Colorado, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. It was a year of intentional prayer, refinement, and clarity—God guiding their hearts to a place of deep peace and readiness for marriage.On November 1, 2025, Thomas closed the deal at sunrise—7 a.m. on Lake Hartwell at the Clemson Outdoor Lab. A perfect morning in a place woven into their story, surrounded by their closest family and friends.God has been intricately weaving this story from the very beginning, preparing both of their hearts for such a time as this. They are in awe of how the Lord has brought them together and cannot wait to build a life rooted in faith, joy, adventure, and love.Since they fell in love in Las Catalinas, choosing to get married where it all began felt right. Their time living in Costa Rica shaped them deeply, and it means the world to share this special place with the people they love most. And for those who can’t make the trip, they’ll be celebrating again in the States so they can hug everyone.God is good, and we are so grateful for the love, support, and prayers as they step into this new season together.We love you all!

Thomas + Kat Fall in Love

Our Story

Photos

We recommend flying into Liberia, Costa Rica and taking a shuttle to Las Catalinas and a shuttle from Las Catalinas on the return, unless you wanted to rent a car a couple of dats before or after to explore Costa Rica! . The drive from the airport is bumpy and around 1 hour. When you arrive to the airport they will ask for your return ticket, place of where you are staying and your work, have this prepared.

Welcome to Costa Rica! 

I would recommend renting an apartment, home, or hotel room in Las Catalinas for ease of travel. If you were to stay outside of Las Catalinas you would have to drive for all of the events and rent a car. The most economic option would be to stay in the Santerna hotel or to find a rental with friends and family who are coming. There are many options on the three rental sites below (Las Catalinas Doorway, Blue Zone, and Tropical Homes), however you can also find rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo. Please let Katherine and Thomas know if you need help booking and let them know once you book so we can pin where everyone is staying. Really everything is pretty centric in Las Catalinas, it is about a 10 minute walk from one end of town to the top of town, however any questions text us at +1-843-343-5023.

WHERE TO STAY?

We would love to assist with your shuttle to and from Las Catalinas, please when you RSVP specify your arrival date, time and flight number as well as departure date, time and flight number. It will be $30 per person for the shuttle. Please specify If you need both arrival and departure shuttle. If you would like to rent a car I recommend renting directly through Alamo in Las Catalinas, you can contact them on your WhatsApp here +506 8634 5320. I would recommend getting a shuttle to Las Catalinas and then renting a car before or after the wedding if you are going to take a couple of days to travel around.

Transportation

Great economic option! $163 a night + taxes &amp; service for a standard room, no breakfast included. Subject to availability. If interested please reach out to Rentals@lascatalinascr.com and mentioned Katherine Long &amp; Thomas Johnston Wedding.

Santarena Hotel 

Recommended booking site. Discounted Rentals - when you click "Check Availability- Book Now-Promo Code is SMART" this promo code will give you discount your booking! Exclusive Las Catalinas Rentals. Anything from studio apartments to 6 bedroom homes. Insiders tip- if you book a unit with "Beach Club Access", you will not have to pay the $30 ($15 consumable) entry fee for The Beach Club. All units are great!

Las Catalinas Rentals 

Blue Zone has rentals not just in Las Catalinas, but are Guanacaste, however I recommend renting in Las Catalinas so that you do not have to drive in for the events. Blue Zone has many great options in Las Catalinas.

Blue Zone Rentals 

Luxury hotel on Las Catalinas property. 3 minute walk into Las Catalinas.

Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas

Tropical Homes has around 15 rentals in Las Catalians to look at ranging from studios to larger homes.

Tropical Homes Rentals

More rentals. Make sure that the rental says it is in Las Catalinas.

Krain Rentals

Travel

Explore 30 miles of trails either by foot or by mountain bike! Paddle board or kayak to the surrounding beaches or islands. Chill by the pool and have a day on the beach. Hit some tennis or pickle ball with friends. Or simply enjoy walking around town with a margarita in hand!

Las Catalinas Activities 

Places to Eat in Las Catalinas 

Favorite surfing beaches:Playa Grande, Playa Avellanas, Playa Negra, Playa Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Nosara. Best Mountain Spots:Rio Celeste, Volcano Arenal, Monteverde Day trips:Hacienda GuachaplineRio CelestePlaya Tamarindo, Grande, Avellanas, Negra

Explore More of Costa Rica 

Things to Do

Registry

Wedding Party

Q + A

For those who can't come, we will be having a small celebration in Columbia, SC the weekend of July 17th . More details to come.

Katherine & Thomas

Katherine & Thomas

Registry

Shop Our Wedding Registry at www.jeffreybannon.com/registry.cfm/58317/Long_Johnston/July-11-2026?theknot