The Wedding Atlas · Sri Lanka
Getting Married in Sri Lanka
From the tea estates of the central hills and the royal lake city of Kandy to the walled city of Galle and the capital, Colombo, Sri Lanka offers weddings in highlands, colonial forts and coast. Choose the landscape first, and let the venue follow.
Part of the Sri Lanka destination guide.
Where to marry
Explore Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka runs from the central hills to the south coast and the capital. Each guide has its own settings and its journey.
Hills, capital and coast
Tea Country & Nuwara Eliya
Tea estates, colonial planters' bungalows and hill station towns in the cool central hills of Sri Lanka.
Kandy & Hill Country
A hill-country royal capital in central Sri Lanka, set around a lake and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth.
Galle & South Coast
A walled Portuguese and Dutch colonial city above the Indian Ocean, with the Sri Lankan south coast beyond.
Colombo
Sri Lanka's capital and arrival point, where colonial streets meet a new waterfront.
Not sure which destination suits you? .
On the map
Where the guides are
Each marker is one guide. Tap a marker to read a line about it and open the guide.
Choosing where to marry
Which Sri Lanka suits you
For the hills
The tea country of central Sri Lanka is a landscape of rolling hills covered in the geometric green of tea bushes. Colonial bungalows built by British planters in the 19th century dot the estates and survive in near-original condition. Kandy stands in the central highlands, a few hours from Colombo by road or by the scenic central railway.
For a walled colonial city
Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a walled city begun by the Portuguese in 1589 and greatly enlarged by the Dutch in the 17th century.
For the capital
Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the gateway for almost every international visitor.
For the east coast
Trincomalee sits on a large natural deep-water harbour, shaped by centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and British control.
Planning
Planning by destination
Each guide sets out how guests reach the destination and what to do once there. The links below are grouped by the destination they describe.
Colombo
The international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), lies north of the city, a short drive outside peak traffic hours.
- Read the guideThe Colombo Wedding Atlas
Galle & South Coast
Colombo's international airport is the entry point for all south coast weddings.
- Read the guideThe Galle & South Coast Wedding Atlas
Kandy & Hill Country
Kandy is reached from the international airport at Colombo by road.
- Read the guideThe Kandy & Hill Country Wedding Atlas
Tea Country & Nuwara Eliya
The tea country is inland and high, with no domestic airport.
- Read the guideThe Tea Country & Nuwara Eliya Wedding Atlas
Trincomalee & East Coast
The small domestic airport at Trincomalee has limited service from Colombo, so most groups fly into Colombo and continue by road or internal charter.
- Read the guideThe Trincomalee & East Coast Wedding Atlas
Questions couples ask
Before you decide
What is the ceremony like at the estate bungalows?
The ceremony takes place in the tea fields around the event bungalow or on its lawn, overlooking the Castlereagh Reservoir and the valley. The air is cool and clear, with no roads, buildings or noise nearby, and the resident chef prepares a candlelit dinner.
What is it like for guests to stay inside Galle Fort?
The Fort has no through motor traffic in its residential streets, ramparts to walk at dawn and sunset, and galleries and cafes close to each hotel. The limit is size: the best properties are small, so large guest lists need careful management.
How does a Kandy wedding differ from a beach wedding in Sri Lanka?
Kandy offers cultural depth the coast lacks: the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the Botanic Gardens, Kandyan dance and music, and the old royal quarter. The highland climate is cool and the train through the tea country is a scenic railway experience. Couples wanting more than a beach ceremony often find the hill country more memorable.
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.
Why choose the east coast rather than the south coast?
Season and character. The east coast is best from May to September, when the south is in monsoon, and it is less developed and less visited, with remote resorts and the Pasikuda lagoon.
Can Kandyan dancers be included in the wedding?
Yes. Dancer and drummer troupes can be hired for a welcome, a procession or a post-dinner performance.
Meet Aura
Your wedding planning companion for Sri Lanka
Ask Aura about wedding destinations, venues and planning possibilities across Sri Lanka, drawing on the information available through 5 Star Weddings.
The directory
Ready to look at venues and people?
The guides help you choose where. The destination page lists the venues and wedding professionals themselves.