Golden sand, calm water, and the Bawa hotels that made this coast famous.
Planning a wedding in Bentota
Bentota is the island's best known beach wedding town, where the river meets the sea. That gives you three options: the ocean, the riverside, or a garden. It suits weddings of 30 to 350 guests. The dry season is December to April. Colombo is 90 minutes away and the airport two hours.
Taj Bentota Resort & Spa (Bentota Beach). On a hillock above the ocean, with sea views from every room. The Orchid Ballroom takes 275 and opens onto the Banquet Lawn, which faces the sunset. 160 sea view rooms.
Lunuganga Country Estate (Dedduwa Lake, Bentota). Geoffrey Bawa's own country estate, 15 acres of garden built over 40 years. Garden weddings for up to 100, with the ceremony by Dedduwa Lake and the reception on the Red Terrace. Events need a three night buyout.
Cinnamon Bey Beruwala (Beruwala). A 200 room beachfront resort with three wedding spaces. Kutlama Hall takes 225 indoors, the Garden holds 500 outdoors with ocean views, and Fire suits 60. Poruwa or Western, both handled.
Jetwing Saman Villas (Aturuwella, Bentota). Sri Lanka's first boutique hotel, on a rocky headland between two beaches. Adults only, 26 suites. Ceremonies happen under a timber canopy on the sand, with the infinity pool and terrace for the reception.
Cinnamon Bentota Beach (Bentota Beach). A Bawa design between the river and the ocean, on 11 acres of garden and coconut grove. Beach and garden ceremonies, indoor banquet space, and 159 rooms. The indoor to outdoor flow is the point.
Nisala Arana (Kommala, Bentota). A boutique hotel that has specialised in destination weddings since 2002. Beach ceremonies or a full Poruwa with Kandyan dancers, and they handle the registrar, the flowers and a Morris Minor for photographs.
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa (Bentota peninsula (river-meets-sea spit, reached by boat)). On the peninsula where the river meets the sea, reached by a short boat ride. The garden beside the pool takes 300 for a beach or garden wedding, and they run a banquet cruise on the lagoon for the same number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of year for a beach wedding in Bentota?
December to April, when the southwest coast is dry and the sea is calm. January and February are busiest. The monsoon runs May to September and makes a beach ceremony impractical.
Can you have a legally binding wedding in Bentota?
Yes, for locals and foreign nationals alike. You need passports, birth certificates, and a sworn affidavit confirming you are single, and you must see the registrar four days before. Most venues here handle the paperwork.
Which Bentota venues are on the beach?
Taj Bentota and Cinnamon Bentota Beach are both beachfront, the latter a Bawa design. Jetwing Saman Villas sits on a clifftop above the sand. Inland, Lunuganga is Bawa's own garden estate and Nisala Arana is the boutique choice.
Is Bentota easy for guests flying in?
Yes. It is two hours from the airport and 90 minutes from Colombo, and the resorts are large enough to put the whole wedding party under one roof. Nisala Arana has run destination weddings for over 20 years.
How many guests can Bentota venues hold?
Taj Bentota's ballroom holds 275, or 350 with the lawn for cocktails. Cinnamon Bey takes 500 outdoors and 225 inside. Lunuganga holds 100 and Jetwing Saman Villas suits 50. Past 500, look at Colombo instead.
Is Bentota a good honeymoon base?
River safaris on the Madu Ganga, Bawa's gardens at Lunuganga and Brief, and Galle Fort an hour south. Jetwing Saman Villas and Lunuganga are both built for couples rather than families.