Getting Married in Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan Wedding Guide

If you want to have an outdoor wedding in Sri Lanka, draped with the tropical breeze on a sunny day, think of planning your wedding between December to mid-April. The country experiences monsoon rains at two different times each year – from May to September and October to January. The beginning of February might be great if you want to escape the scorching heat that drapes the country towards the end of the same month.

If you're looking forward to hosting a traditional Sri Lankan wedding in a rural area, the chances are that you will be offered the help of traditional women that aren't accustomed to western forms of greeting. Therefore, it is best if you would refrain from initiating a handshake and opt instead for the traditional form of greeting in Sri Lanka – saying 'Ayubowan' with your palms arranged in a praying gesture. Hugs aren't encouraged. If you'd love to get some snaps of your big day at the serene atmosphere of a temple, make sure that you leave your shoes at the entrance to show respect for the place. Make sure that you refrain from PDA in Sri Lanka, especially at these religious venues, as it would be insulting for their culture.

For your wedding in Sri Lanka, you could look forward to a banquet offering delightful cuisine. The dishes here are characterised by fragrant spices and fresh coconut milk. If you need a unique take on your wedding, go for this all Sri Lankan cuisine to treat your guests and they will be asking for more – sour fish curry, battered prawns, delicious crab curry, and green leafy vegetables are just some of the alluring dishes your guests can look forward to trying out if you have your wedding reception at one of the Aitken Spence Hotels. Just make sure to specifically request the chefs to reduce the spiciness of these dishes.

The currency used in Sri Lanka is known as the Sri Lankan Rupee and you could find various denominations of coins and notes. It would be best if you could break larger notes like Rs. 5,000 into smaller notes when you shop at smaller stores to procure your wedding requirements. ATMs can be found in the main cities. Due to the exotic nature of the country, many couples choose to have an intimate outdoor celebration. But you could also hire a trustworthy wedding planner in the country for around £2000-5000 GBP.

Make sure that you contact the Sri Lanka embassy of your home country to get updated on the latest requirements to plan your wedding in Sri Lanka. The minimum age to marry in Sri Lanka is 18 and you must have spent four or more days in Sri Lanka before letting know the marriage registrar of your intention to host your wedding in Sri Lanka, after which there is usually a fourteen-day waiting period before your marriage registration.