Getting married in Sri Lanka

dazanteney4

Hi Everyone,

I very open question now...

Me & my partner are looking at getting married in Sri Lanka (currently saving away... any tips would be great!). Does anyone recommend anywhere and is there anything to watch out for? We hoped to have 7 days "relaxing" with our family and when they fly home we hoped to go around the country to one of the national parks.

Darren

hollie.weimeraner

I visited Sri Lanka a few years ago with my wife. We had a fabulous time and did an accompanied tour with Kuoni. We stayed at a number of hotels during the tour which were 3/4 * and the tour was superb so I would definitely recommend Kuoni for a start.

As far as wedding venues are concerned it depends on your budget but any of the Jetwing hotels would be great. We stayed at the Lighthouse in Galle and were blown away by the standard of the hotel.

I would also recommend using Trip Advisor to check out the hotels but be prepared to "read in between the lines" at some of the reports. (Oh and if you visit St Andrews you will need warm clothing! We arrived there in shorts and T shirts to discover all the locals togged up in quilted coats it's that high and cold:eek:)

The Sri Lankan people are the friendliest and most genuine people we've ever encountered whilst on holiday. I would also have a check of the Monsoon season as it is likely to spoil your celebrations if you go at the wrong time of year. I have just got back from the Maldives and a couple we met had just spent a week in Sri Lanka and had rain the whole time they were there.

We visited just before Christmas and it was fine.

dazanteney4

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I visited Sri Lanka a few years ago with my wife. We had a fabulous time and did an accompanied tour with Kuoni. We stayed at a number of hotels during the tour which were 3/4 * and the tour was superb so I would definitely recommend Kuoni for a start.

As far as wedding venues are concerned it depends on your budget but any of the Jetwing hotels would be great. We stayed at the Lighthouse in Galle and were blown away by the standard of the hotel.

I would also recommend using Trip Advisor to check out the hotels but be prepared to "read in between the lines" at some of the reports. (Oh and if you visit St Andrews you will need warm clothing! We arrived there in shorts and T shirts to discover all the locals togged up in quilted coats it's that high and cold:eek:)

The Sri Lankan people are the friendliest and most genuine people we've ever encountered whilst on holiday. I would also have a check of the Monsoon season as it is likely to spoil your celebrations if you go at the wrong time of year. I have just got back from the Maldives and a couple we met had just spent a week in Sri Lanka and had rain the whole time they were there.

We visited just before Christmas and it was fine.

Thank you for the information! We planned to go around September as from what we have seen its just before the rain hits in Oct.
I've not heard of St Andrews, what is there?

DUKE

Last year I missed out on a Kuoni deal to Sri Lanka so I booked with Mercury Direct, they're both good. It took me ages to decide where I wanted to stay before finally settling on Coral Sands Hotel, Hikkaduwa, I made the right choice as & I couldn't fault the hotel. I contacted a bloke online to do the National Park ... You can email him & ask for excursion details & prices .... & pay him when you get there. I can give you his email if you like. Do look on TripAdvisor. You'll have a fantastic time!

InsideInsurance

See http://www.srilankahighcommission.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=91

There are a number of steps you have to go through both here and there pre and post marriage if you want to do the legal aspect there. Once you've dropped off the certificate of marriage in Columbo for authentication it can take a few months for you to actually get it back.

A lot of people who "marry abroad" actually do the legal bit here and then have the ceremony overseas to save the headaches. Having a quick look Sri Lanka dont seem as bad as many countries but you may not want the delay between getting married and having a certificate to prove it.

Be very sure what you are buying and in particular how separated your day is going to be to their other guests. I did see one beach wedding place once, not in Sri Lanka, where there was literally a queue of brides and families, each one got a 20 minute ceremony, a photo and then were shunted off onto an elephant and the next ones pulled in.

Have been to Sri Lanka with Kuoni too and likewise did a tour. It was fantastic and at the time good value but I wouldnt say any of the hotels were amazing but of cause these terms are relative to your experiences elsewhere and they certainly were good.