The Wedding Atlas · Sri Lanka · Colombo
Getting Married in Colombo
Sri Lanka's capital and arrival point, where colonial streets meet a new waterfront. Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the gateway for almost every international visitor. For weddings it does two jobs: it is the first or last night for groups arriving on long-haul flights from the UK, and it is a venue in its own right for couples who want a full city hotel experience with a Sri Lankan cultural backdrop. A modern hotel opened in 2017 and a grand colonial hotel established in 1864 mark the two poles of the choice.
Part of the Colombo destination guide.
- Best months
- December to April
Where to marry
Where to Get Married in Colombo
Galle Face and Kollupitiya
The main hotel and diplomatic strip along the Indian Ocean frontage. Galle Face Green, a public oceanfront lawn, is known for kite-flying, street food and sunsets.
Fort
The original commercial heart of Colombo, built through Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. It holds the Old Dutch Hospital, the General Post Office and the colonial law courts, and has the densest colonial architecture in the city.
Cinnamon Gardens
A leafy residential suburb south of Fort, with tree-lined avenues, Viharamahadevi Park, art galleries and the National Museum. It suits a walk.
Pettah
The bazaar district beside Fort, busier and less comfortable for guests unused to South Asian markets. Its colonial shophouses and spice warehouses suit documentary-style photography.
Find your area
Colombo on the map
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A Wedding in Colombo
Sri Lanka's capital and arrival point, where colonial streets meet a new waterfront
The city has changed a good deal since 2010. The Galle Face promenade has been extended, the Port City Colombo district is rising on reclaimed land, and the restaurant scene has grown. The Old Dutch Hospital in Fort, a seventeenth-century colonial building, is now a courtyard of food and drink.
Colombo suits couples who want scale and urban sophistication over colonial seclusion.
Choosing a setting
Choosing a wedding setting in Colombo
5-star urban resort with full wedding infrastructure. Large hotels with a ballroom and an outdoor terrace together give flexible ceremony and reception layouts for large events.
Grand colonial hotel
Established in 1864, a historic hotel with a sea terrace over the Indian Ocean that is at its best at sunset.
Boutique with historical significance
A small house in Cinnamon Gardens, once the residence of a Sri Lankan Prime Minister, that keeps its original furniture and artwork.
Airport-adjacent colonial manor
A colonial manor at Katunayake, close to the airport, suited to the first or last night of a wedding trip, with private grounds and personal service.
The season
When to get married
Colombo is hot all year. The southwest monsoon, from May to September, brings heavy rain, though indoor events at well-equipped five-star venues carry on regardless. Outdoor ceremonies and terrace events in the monsoon need contingency planning, and December to April is the dependable outdoor season.
Getting there
How guests arrive
Colombo is the arrival hub for all weddings in Sri Lanka. The international airport lies north of the city, a short drive outside peak traffic hours.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). SriLankan Airlines and British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow, and Gulf carriers connect through Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Internal connections from Colombo. Galle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Trincomalee are reached by road, and Kandy also by train. Domestic flights to Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Koggala leave from Ratmalana, which shortens the journey to the more remote destinations.
Where guests stay
Under one roof, or nearby
Colombo's five-star stock is varied, from a colonial hotel to a contemporary tower to a small historic boutique.
Galle Face and Kollupitiya
A large contemporary hotel and a colonial institution with a sea terrace stand on the same oceanfront strip, close to each other.
Cinnamon Gardens
A small boutique in the former residence of a Prime Minister, leafy and residential, quite different from the seafront.
Fort and city centre
Smaller business hotels, less relevant to weddings. The Old Dutch Hospital area suits dinner better than a stay.
Katunayake (airport area)
A colonial manor close to the airport, well suited to a first or last night, though not central to city activities.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Colombo
Colombo has a varied restaurant scene, combining Sinhala, Tamil, Malay, Dutch Burgher and contemporary international influences.
Crab in Colombo Fort
A crab restaurant in the Old Dutch Hospital serves crab in several preparations, including the Sri Lankan crab curry. Wedding dinner groups must reserve months ahead.
Dutch-Burgher food tradition
Colombo's Dutch Burgher community kept a food tradition distinct from both Dutch and Sri Lankan cooking: breudher, a spiced yeast bread, lomprijst, the original lamprais, and love cake, made with almond and rose water.
Contemporary Sri Lankan dining
A restaurant in contemporary Sri Lankan design draws on the island's regional cuisines.
Good to know
Before you book
Traffic in Colombo
Traffic is severe in the morning and evening peaks, especially on Galle Road and in Fort, so transfers need generous extra time. Hotel drivers are better than taxis for airport pickups or moves between venues.
Colombo as a first night
After a long direct flight, arriving in the morning or early afternoon and resting by the hotel pool before dinner is a well-tested first day.
Currency exchange in Colombo
The best exchange rates are at the commercial banks in Colombo Fort.
Safety and awareness
Colombo is a safe city for tourists, with the usual urban precautions: no valuables visible in vehicles, care in the crowded Pettah market, and hotel-arranged transport at night. The UK government's travel advice should be checked before travel.
Questions couples ask
Before you decide
What is the grand colonial hotel like as a wedding venue?
It is a historic hotel with a sea terrace over the Indian Ocean. The rooms are colonial in style, so atmosphere and history are the draw. Couples wanting narrative weight find it compelling, and those preferring contemporary polish should look at the modern hotel.
How can cultural experiences be built into a Colombo wedding itinerary?
The Old Dutch Hospital courtyard suits a pre-wedding cocktail evening. A tuk-tuk food tour of Pettah suits adventurous guests.
Can Galle Face Green be used for an outdoor ceremony?
No. It is a public park and cannot be taken for private events. The private sea terrace and garden of the colonial hotel beside it give an equivalent ocean backdrop, and the modern hotel's terrace can be hired privately.
When is the best time of year for a Colombo wedding?
Colombo is hot all year. The southwest monsoon, from May to September, brings heavy rain, though indoor events at well-equipped five-star venues carry on regardless. Outdoor ceremonies and terrace events in the monsoon need contingency planning, and December to April is the dependable outdoor season.
Which airport do guests use for a Colombo wedding?
Colombo is the arrival hub for all weddings in Sri Lanka. The international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), lies north of the city, a short drive outside peak traffic hours. SriLankan Airlines and British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow, and Gulf carriers connect through Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Meet Aura
A planner who has read every venue in Colombo
Tell Aura the setting, the season and the size of your day. She shortlists the venues and professionals that fit, and explains why.
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This guide draws on the venues' own published details, official sources and the knowledge of our editors. Entry and legal information can change, so confirm it with the authority that will marry you before you book.