Weddings & Events

The Villa Bentota is an exceptional destination for hosting extra special events and beach weddings in Sri Lanka. Our vast tropical gardens with multi-level lawns, hidden-away courtyards and of course, beautiful Bentota Beach on our doorstep, makes this a very versatile location for a destination wedding in Sri Lanka. We can accommodate up to 230 guests, and work closely with you to create a bespoke event to suit the occasion. Minimum stays are required for large events and the hotel can sleep up to 39 guests.

guest reviews

It was a sheer pleasure to have chosen the dream venue for our daughter Shenali & son in law, Warwick. The entire wedding was absolutely beautiful and I could see the happiness in their eyes, on the day ! There were approximately 95 guests from the UK, Australia, New Zealand & USA and the rest were from Sri Lanka. Almost all of them mentioned that it was one of the most elegant & beautiful weddings that they had ever been to. They were mesmerised with the beautiful setting and architecture and luxurious rooms of the hotel. Your staff led by quite charming Nishanth was out of the ordinary and each one of them played their role most efficiently and beyond. Everyone commented about it. They were so tolerant, friendly and supportive at all times. Our master chef Nalaka arranged a superb and tasty menu on the day and it appeared that guests were queuing up to grab more and more food. We were so engrossed with guests and other activities and I only realised that I had not taken my dinner until 1.00 am when Nalaka walked to me and said " sir, I did not see you at the buffet tables ! You must be hungry and could I send you a plate into your room so that you can have it later" !!

Tilak - 2023

THE WEDDING CEREMONY

Couples can choose a non-denominational civil service conducted by a Celebrant, with or without a Registrar for the legalisation, and/or a traditional Buddhist ‘Poruwa’ ceremony. The more colourful ‘Poruwa’ ceremony can be tailored to your requirements. Services conducted by a Celebrant take approximately 25 minutes with spoken vows and readings, and traditional Buddhist ceremonies take up to 45 minutes. The choice is yours.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to have a formal Christian wedding ceremony in a garden in Sri Lanka. Only civil services or Buddhist ceremonies are permitted. You can have a Christian blessing by a clergyman; however, you will need to be in Sri Lanka months prior to meet with the minister.

Important Information
Legal Requirements

To get married in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to provide a statement to say you are unmarried and therefore able to get married in Sri Lanka, issued by the local authority where you are resident. You’ll also need a copy of your passport, along with a copy of the tourist visa issued on arrival in Sri Lanka.

If someone is making this application on your behalf, they will need a letter of authority – and the signature on the letter of Authority should be the same as on the passport.

After approval from the Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo, it is then required that your paperwork be taken to the Consular/Embassy of the country that has issued your passport, for further verification. We can organise this for you and couples will be advised as to this cost on a one-off basis (different countries charge different rates).

Weddings can be conducted from Monday to Sunday excluding bank holidays. The couple must be 18 years or over. There is a minimum residency of five days i.e., couples must be in Sri Lanka at least three days prior to the wedding day. Parental consent is required if under 21.

The following documentation is required in advance:

Birth certificate
Valid 10-year passport
If single, an affidavit confirming marital status from solicitor
If divorced, a decree absolute with court stamp of the previous marriage and an affidavit to declare marital status stamped by a notary
If widowed, death certificate of former spouse and marriage certificate
If adopted, an adoption certificate
If name changed by Deed Poll, legal proof stamped and signed by a solicitor
A document with full names and address of bride, groom and both sets of parents
A document with the details of the bride and groom’s professions and that of their fathers

wedding packages

Barefoot on the Beach

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Bespoke weddings at The Villa Bentota

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