By Beverly Pereira

It’s hard to believe that Sri Lanka is just a few hours away from India

Rustic luxury at Cinnamon Lodge Habarana

 A fairytale forest wedding at Cinnamon Lodge Habarana

Colossal white pillars, traditional Sri Lankan wooden carvings, charming colonial furniture and the genuine smiles of staff members greet you when you set foot in the outdoor reception area of Cinnamon Lodge Habarana. The highest level of hospitality discreetly follows you deep inside the sprawling property, dotted with beautiful chalets set amid hundreds of towering trees and a lilypad lake. Located in the small Sri Lankan town of Habarana, it has a rustic, colonial feel with all the luxuries you’d expect of a 5-star property.

Naturally, weddings here are as enchanting as can be with the forest and mystical lake for a backdrop, coupled with the pared-down colonial design of the property, and your friends and family as witnesses. Having hosted many a memorable wedding, the staff is knowledgeable about executing weddings, whether they are Indian, western or Sri Lankan.

The perfect ending to your destination wedding at Cinnamon Lodge Habarana

Private chalets and suites are beautifully decorated with traditional Sri Lankan motifs and botanical-inspired pieces of art — elements that reflect the resort’s architectural style and geographical location. If your wedding day at Cinnamon Lodge Habarana sounds likes pure magic, you can expect the following day to be just as magical. Besides hosting a candlelit dinner for two, the hotel surprises the newly wedded couple with breakfast in bed, a gift and flowers. And, the couple gets sent off on a special hot air balloon ride as the perfect ending to their destination wedding!

The retro denim room interiors add to the nautical feel at TrincoBlu by Cinnamon in Trincomalee

 A serene beach wedding at TrincoBlu by Cinnamon

Beach lovers will appreciate the pristine seaside setting of TrincoBlu by Cinnamon, where the only sounds you’ll hear are swaying coconut trees and the soulful lashing of waves. Set in the lazy coastal town of Trincomalee, this all-white property does well on the décor front thanks to subtle nautical-themed elements like the huge beachside anchor that makes for a cool prop for a beautiful sunrise photo.

You can expect the hotel to go all out to give you a proper beach wedding, complete with white canopies for your guests. And, since it is perfectly located where the sun rises, it’s the best venue if you’ve always wanted to exchange vows at sunrise. Even the garden venue, perfect for an evening wedding illuminated by the dull glow of candles and fairy lights against the backdrop of the beach is just as beautiful. At The Crab, the hotel’s hugely popular restaurant for crab dishes in a variety of spice mixes, expect only the freshest catch of the day to make it to your plate. Naturally, the spread of food at weddings is a pure delight for seafood lovers, although the staff is just as adept at vegetarian preparations.

The property has just the right number of rooms and villas for an intimate wedding. Most of the rooms have seafacing balconies and are decorated in retro denim interiors. The newly wedded couple and their guests have much to choose from on the property itself when it comes to post-wedding activities that include a day at the spa. The hotel also arranges for sunrise whale watching sessions — it’s a memorable sight you can’t afford to miss during your stay at TrincoBlu.

The all-white exteriors of Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, a luxury property set amid nature

 An enchanting riverside wedding at Cinnamon Citadel Kandy

You’ll know you’ve made the right choice as soon as you step inside the luxurious reception of Cinnamon Citadel Kandy that has richly embroidered tapestries and furnishings you’ll wish you could call your own. Looking past the well-stocked bar and swimming pool, your eyes fall upon mountaintops shrouded in mist, the seemingly endless tropical foliage and a gushing river below. Although it sounds like everyone’s dream backdrop, the venue set in a beautifully landscaped garden against the Mahaweli River can only accommodate a little over 20 people. A wedding here is as intimate and exclusive as it gets!

The Gardens by the River wedding venue makes for a stunning setup for very small weddings. Cinnamon Citadel Kandy offers wedding packages that can be tailored to your every whim and fancy. However, the only request the hotel won’t entertain is to play your wedding music at high decibels. Then again, if you’ve chosen this incredibly beautiful and serene venue, we wouldn’t imagine you’d need anything more than the good company of your family and friends. However, the hotel does offer entertainment options including traditional Sri Lankan drummers who put on quite a show.

We love the fact that the hotel arranges for a special boat for the couple to make a grand entrance at their wedding. Or, the newly weds could opt to go on a scenic boat ride the next day, complete with a picnic basket and champagne to keep the celebratory mood running high.