Sri Lanka offers you the chance to have one of the most beautiful & meaningful ceremonies available anywhere in the world.

Sri Lanka offers the perfect destination wedding with spectacular scenery and very friendly and hospitable locals, you'll have a paradise wedding forever to remember.  Arranging your Sri Lanka wedding can be relatively simple. Weddings are completely legal & welcomed by local authorities. In Sri Lanka, you can have a Civil wedding, Christian wedding, Buddhist wedding, Hindu wedding, or Muslim wedding.

Traditional is the Sri Lankan Poruwa ceremony. Most couples getting married in Sri Lanka have a basis of this ceremony either after their religious ceremony as a blessing or combined into a civil ceremony. 

Traditional wedding custom 

On arrival of the bridegroom accompanied by the bestman, groomsman, his parent, and other members of his family. He walks on the parvada behind the dancers. 

The arrival of the bridegroom at the bride’s residence. Parvada is a white cloth laid on the route to the poruwa as a symbol of honor to the bridegroom. Lying off the white cloth is done by a laundry man (Dhoby) 

At the main entrance, the Bride’s younger brother (or little boy from the bride’s side) washes his feet. (Just a few drops of water are used). The bridegroom drops a gold ring into the water container as a gift to the bride’s brother. 
This is a sign to show that the bride’s brother welcomes the bridegroom with much honor and respect. A younger brother of the bride performs this.

Next, he follows the traditional dancers to the Poruwa and stands on the right side of the Poruwa. 
Poruwa is the structure that symbolized the wedding structure of Prince Siduhath (Lord Buddha before enlightenment).

Next, the dancers accompany the Bride along with her father and retinue to the Poruwa and stand on the left side. 
The Master of Ceremony (Ashtaka) starts the Poruwa ceremony. 
Ashtaka – the person who carries out the customs of the ceremony. 

When the Master of the ceremony requests the couple to get on to the Poruwa, (the bride and the bridegroom are taken to the Poruwa simultaneously by their Uncles). The couple has to put their Right foot first (Beating of wedding drums and blowing off the conch shell as this progresses). They have to get onto the poruwa from the steps on either side. 
Here the Uncles have to be the bride’s mother’s brother and the groom’s mother’s brother or an elderly person from either side. This is to show the attachment of the families. Getting on to the Poruwa is done at an auspicious time. 

The master of the ceremony will start the chanting. 

The Master of the ceremony is the Ashtaka who carries out the customs at the ceremony as mentioned earlier. 

Wrapping of white cloth around the bride’s waist by the groom. This is to symbolize the purity of the bride. 2.5 meters of white cloth to be provided by the groom’s side.

Next, the wedding rings are exchanged, and then the bridegroom ties the Necklace around the bride’s neck (This has to be done very carefully). 
This indicates their unity as husband and wife. The groom takes custody of the bride.  

The couple’s little fingers are tied together with a gold thread and blessed water is poured from a Kendiya. (Bride’s Uncle pours the blessed water). This is to show that Maha Sangha has blessed the couple and show the people around that it symbolizes that their lives are bound together forever. A younger brother of the bride’s mother performs this.   The wrapping of the going away saree around the bride’s waist by the groom. 
This is given from the bridegroom to the bride to wear for the homecoming, to show that the bridegroom has now taken over the full responsibility of the bride. 

The Couple feeds each other with Kiribath (Milk Rice) and Drink Milk. Symbolize sharing and anticipating a happy home.  

Dropping a sheaf of betel leaves by the couple onto the poruwa. Seven hands of a sheaf of betel leaves are used.

Paying tribute to seven generations of their relations.  

The bridegroom gives a white cloth (Kachi) to the bride’s mother.

Kachchi – white cloth. This is given to the Bride’s mother as a sense of gratitude for nursing the bride with milk and bringing her up.   

Singing of Jayamangala Gatha by the Girls.

This is a blessing for a happy wedded life for the couple. The girls singing the Jayamangala Gatha should be from the bride’s side.  
Presenting of gifts to the Jayamangala Gatha girls by the couple. As a token of thanks, the bridegroom has to supply the gifts.

The couple gives betel leaves to their parents and close relations and worships them. 
This is to respect them and get their blessings. 

At the request of the master of the ceremony, the couple gets down from the poruwa (Right foot first using the front step) accompanied by the beating of the drums and blowing of the conch shell. 

This is done at an auspicious time.  

As they get down, the Dohby (Pavada) breaks a coconut. The breaking of the Coconut symbolizes getting rid of all Evil spirits. This is performed by the cloth layer (Pavada) or a close relative of the bride.

The couple walks up to the Oil Lamp and lights the lamp (in the midst of the beating of the drums and blowing of the conch shell). 
This symbolizes the start of a new life pattern.