Choosing a wedding venue near Colombo

Every venue looks lovely in its own photographs. The difference shows up in the questions you ask before you pay anything. Here are the ones we would ask if it were our own wedding.

Start with the guest list, not the photos

Write down the number of guests you really expect, then add a few for the relatives who always turn up. A hall that is comfortable for 150 can feel crowded at 200, and a hall for 300 can feel empty at 150. Ask each venue the range it is happiest with, and choose a hall that fits your number in the middle, not at the edge.

At Sawingir Hills our spaces are built for different sizes: Ambrosia takes up to 150 guests, Magnolia 150 to 180, Wisteria 150 to 200, Azelia 200 to 250 and Camelia 300 to 350. For larger gatherings, halls can be joined, up to the Grand Ballroom for as many as 1,000.

Think about the journey

Your guests will travel, some of them from far away, and some of them in the evening. Ask how long the drive takes from Colombo, whether the road is easy to follow after dark, and whether there is space for the cars that will arrive. We are about an hour from Colombo, in the hills at Thalagala, Gonapola, so it is a day out, not a short stop.

Ask what is included

Packages are easy to compare when you ask for the same list from every venue. Ask whether the price covers the menu, decorations, the poruwa, music and lighting, and a room for the couple. Then ask what is not included, so there are no surprises later.

Taste the food

The meal is what guests talk about afterwards. Ask to see the menu in full, how many dishes you choose for each course, and whether there are live stations. Ask to taste it if you can.

Plan for the weather and the night

Look at where guests go when the weather changes, and where the family can rest between the ceremony and the dinner. A venue with rooms on site means grandparents and travelling relatives can stay the night instead of driving home late.

Visit before you decide

Photographs cannot show you how a place feels. Visit, walk the path your guests will walk, and stand where you will stand. If you cannot visit, ask for a call with the person who will run your day.

If you would like to see our halls, tell us your date and your guest count and we will take it from there.