Sri Lanka as a Wedding Location
The beautiful island of Sri Lanka, nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, offers a remarkable setting for all kinds of wedding festivities. With a diverse array of venues ranging from romantic beachfront resorts to historic locations, Sri Lanka promises an unparalleled experience for an extraordinary wedding experience.
Why choose Sri Lanka as your wedding destination?
If you are looking for a wedding experience beyond your expectations, then Sri Lanka is the perfect destination for this special day. The allure of Sri Lankan weddings is globally renowned, with its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage that accommodate any theme-based celebration.
From tropical lush beauty, beautiful traditions, luxurious hospitality, to the unique blend of historical influences, Sri Lanka offers it all when it comes to curating the perfect wedding experience.
Colombo City Center
If you’re thinking about getting married in Colombo, Shangri-La is where it’s at. The ballroom there is just massive – no annoying pillars blocking anyone’s view of you walking down the aisle. What everyone loves about this place is you get the whole city vibe but then you step out onto their terrace and boom – there’s the ocean right there. It’s pretty cool having your cocktail hour with the Colombo skyline. The staff really know their stuff too, which is huge when you’re trying to coordinate everything from another country.
Galle Coastal Area
Located on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, Bentota, is a picturesque town known for its stunning beaches and serene river. This coastal paradise is perfect for those looking to relax and indulge in water sports.
The golden sands of Bentota Beach stretch as far as the eye can see, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The calm waters are ideal for swimming, while more adventurous visitors can try windsurfing, jet skiing, and snorkeling.
The Bentota River, winding through the town, provides opportunities for river safaris, where you can spot a variety of wildlife including birds, monkeys, and crocodiles. Brief Garden, designed by Bevis Bawa, is a masterpiece of landscape architecture, offering a lush retreat filled with sculptures and exotic plants.
The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is a testament to the town’s commitment to conservation, where visitors can learn about and witness the life cycle of sea turtles. Bentota’s luxurious resorts and Ayurvedic spas offer world-class relaxation and rejuvenation, making it a perfect destination for honeymooners and those seeking a peaceful retreat.
Bentota Beach Region
Bentota is like that postcard perfect tropical wedding you see in movies. Taj Bentota has these gorgeous gardens where you could literally just throw some fairy lights up and call it done – the place is naturally that beautiful. But if you want the full beach experience, their stretch of sand is incredible for sunset ceremonies. We’ve seen couples time it so they’re saying “I do” right as the sun hits the water. The indoor spaces are great too if you want air conditioning for your reception, which trust me, your guests will appreciate.
Nuwara Eliya Hill Country
This one’s completely different from everywhere else – it’s up in the mountains where it’s actually cool and misty. It actually used to be a processing plant. It sounds really weird for some reason but it’s actually an extremely romantic experience in a way that it feels industrial chic in a way. You will be surrounded by all these rolling green tea plantations. The air is going to feel so fresh if you go up over there. It’s perfect if you want something totally unique and if your guests won’t mind a bit of a drive from Colombo.
Beira Lake, Colombo
Cinnamon Lakeside is an amazing choice if you want to stay in the city but still want to have water views. The lake is surprisingly peaceful which is rare considering you’re in the middle of Colombo. Their ballroom has these floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the water, which is pretty stunning when it’s all lit up at night. The garden area is nice for smaller ceremonies too – feels like you’re in this little oasis even though you’re downtown.
Weligama Bay South Coast
Weligama is where you go if you want those dramatic surf shots for your wedding photos. The Marriott there has this huge lawn right on the cliff, and the waves are always crashing below – it’s pretty spectacular. The sunset ceremonies there are unreal, but honestly even their indoor spaces have incredible views. It’s a bit more rugged than Bentota but in a really beautiful way.
Bentota Golden Coast
Cinnamon Bentota Beach is probably what most people picture when they think “tropical wedding.” The beach there is just pristine – soft sand, perfect palm trees, the whole thing. You can literally have your ceremony right on the sand or in their gardens if you want some shade. Their indoor halls are really nicely done too, with that tropical elegance thing going on. It’s kind of the safe choice but safe because it’s absolutely beautiful.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth getting married in Colombo if we want that tropical Sri Lankan vibe?
Colombo definitely gives you a different feel than the beach destinations, but it’s amazing. You’re getting this cool urban-meets-ocean thing, especially at places like Shangri-La or Cinnamon Lakeside. The big advantage is convenience – your guests aren’t dealing with long drives, and you’ve got way more vendor options. Plus, some of the city venues have better backup plans if weather goes sideways. If you want complete tropical vibes though, you might like Bentota or Galle more.
Is reaching Nuwara Eliya for a wedding going to be tough?
Getting to Nuwara Eliya does take a bit of time. It’s going to take atleast 5 hour drive from Colombo to reach this place. It might sound brutal but the scenery is going to make up for it. Most people break it up and stay overnight somewhere. It might turn into a little mini vacation for your guests. The thing is, if you’ve got elderly relatives or people who get car sick easily, maybe think twice. But, most guests say the journey becomes part of the experience – you’re going from tropical heat to cool mountain air, it’s pretty amazing.
Which location is best if we're on a tight budget but still want it to look expensive?
What's the deal with weather? Which locations are safest for outdoor ceremonies?
The southwest coast (Bentota, Galle) gets hit harder during monsoon season, which is roughly May to September. Colombo and the hill country are generally more predictable. If you’re planning between December and March, you’re pretty safe anywhere. But honestly, we’d always have a backup indoor plan no matter where you go – tropical weather can be unpredictable. The Tea Factory in Nuwara Eliya is actually great for this because their indoor spaces are so unique you won’t feel like you’re settling for second best.
Can we do a traditional Kandyan ceremony at these locations, or do we need to go to Kandy?
You can absolutely do traditional ceremonies at any of these places! The hotels are super used to it and can arrange the drummers, dancers, poruwa ceremony, the whole thing. Some places like the Tea Factory even look amazing with traditional Sri Lankan decorations. You don’t need to be in Kandy for it to be authentic – it’s more about having the right vendors and setup. Though if cultural authenticity is super important to you, Kandy obviously has that special historical significance.
Which location photographs the best if we want great pictures?
They all photograph beautifully but in different ways. Galle gives you that dramatic colonial architecture meets ocean thing. Bentota and Weligama are your classic tropical paradise shots. The Tea Factory is incredible for something completely different – those misty mountain shots are just unreal. Colombo locations can give you some cool urban chic photos with the skyline. If we had to pick just based on photos, we’d probably say Galle for variety – you’ve got the fort, the ocean, colonial buildings, it’s like having multiple locations in one.
