Destination Weddings

Sri Lanka

12 Venues
At a glance

Marrying in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka packs beaches, tea country and ancient temples into one small island. Couples can marry by the Indian Ocean and honeymoon in the hills, with Kandyan drummers adding real ceremony.

See the venues
Best timeDec to Apr

December to April for the south and west coasts

Flight time11 hours

Direct from Heathrow to Colombo with SriLankan

VisaETA needed

Free online ETA required before travel, valid for 30 days

Legal weddingLegal, heavy paperwork

With a local registrar, but paperwork is heavy, including legalised status certificates, a solicitor's affidavit and an ACRO police certificate

Top tipAsk for a special licence

Registrars normally wait 14 days after notice, so ask about a special licence for a shorter trip

Checked against official UK government and embassy guidance. Rules can change, so confirm paperwork with the registry before you book.

Explore Sri Lanka by area

Galle & the South Coast6 venues · Boutique, BeachfrontExplore the area →Hill Country2 venues · Nature, BohemianExplore the area →Yala2 venues · Beachfront, BoutiqueExplore the area →

12 venues in Sri Lanka

Hand-picked from 324 venues in 31 countries and 59 areas

When to book

Your Sri Lanka wedding, month by month

Marrying abroad runs to a longer clock than at home. The best venues book a year or more ahead, and the legal paperwork has its own timings. Here is the order that works.

  1. 12 to 18 months
  2. 12 months
    • Book your venue and planner
    • Check the legal route and who confirms it
    • Hold a block of rooms for guests
  3. 9 months
    • Send save the dates
    • Share flight options with guests
    • Lock in your best month and time of day
  4. 6 months
    • Book photographer, florist and music
    • Plan a menu tasting or site visit
    • Arrange travel insurance
  5. 3 months
    • Start the legal paperwork, sooner if your route asks
    • Confirm final guest numbers
    • Plan the welcome and farewell events
  6. 1 month
    • Final payments and timings
    • Pack documents in your hand luggage
    • Hand the day over to your planner