Sri lankan wedding

[PISCES153]

We got married in Sri Lanka. It was a co-ordinated wedding through the UK company Kuoni . I had previously been on a tour through India with them, hence there product was second to none.

We booked well in advance as we needed to save hence it was very easy. within a few days we got a full wedding pack detailing the itinery and the schedule of things we had to do etc..

You have to confirm in full id and proof of address. passports, full birth certificates and utility bills (originals) have to be sent to the wedding coordinator to confirm full details.

8 weeks prior to the ceremony, we had to go to the solicitors to have a witnesed affidavit to declare that we are not legally married to any other person. the solicitors charged us 3o pounds for this service, again documents had to be originals.

When it came to the time we were arriving in Sri lanka , we met with the registra and local wedding coordinator who showed us the wedding location. We opted for a garden wedding and the location was a really nice flowered area.

You have to be in Sri lanka for 4 clear days and this date for the wedding is pre set..

The ceremony we opted for was a full tradidional wedding with drummers, Kandyan dancers and full entourage including elephant ride .. The man goes first from the starting place then walks down to the ceremony area flanked by the dancers , drummers an elder advocating blessing and a fleet of blessing singers. All the while, usual flower petals were scattered.. The precession stops every now and then until the Groom arrives at the decorated platform. The bride then follows in the same way and again arrives at the platform.

The ceremony itself takes part in 5 steps

The pouring of Holy Water, Little fingers are bound together and the holy water is poured to annoint the union to one another.

The next stage is you are given seven beetle leaves that must be past to each other then dropped to the ground. This is to symbolise happines and joy and good luck for many generations.

This is then followed by the feeding of milk rice to one an other. it represents the vow that the man and wife will look after each other.

There is blessing and dancing in between.

The next stage is the splitting of a coconut with a sword. This is the belief that this generates new life and the birth of children.

Finally, the lighting of an oil lamp which breeds hope and success of a married life.

One the ceremony has taken place, the official registra initiates the signing of the wedding register..
A full wedding certificate in Singalese handwriting and a translated english copy is received.

As normal, the cutting of the cake and the passing of champagne and food takes place..

We then took a very nice elephant ride out of the complex then out to the beach for photos to be taken. the elephant is dressed in full decoration..

The ceremony is very sweet and its a great way to get hitched. I feel very priviliged to have taken part with these lovely local people and of course my beautiful wife. It is a day that is most memorable and cherished.

So Whether you chose to go alone or have a full family turnout, you will not be disappointed.

[George Glory]

The ceremony is very beautiful it seems. Every country has its own ceremony for wedding and all are so beautiful. Marriage is a beautiful thing first of all so of course all the ceremonies related to that should be beautiful.

[Georgiiea]

Well, Sri Lankan wedding ceremony have a nice traditional wedding ceremony. It is always nice to watch and to witness such kinds of ceremony. Well, I would say, you travel so far just to get married, I wish all the luck, prosperity and love to each other from the rest of your life.