The Perfect Planner : WedInSriLanka
A US based company; these guys have had enough and more experience in planning out intimate weddings - especially to small groups of foreigners who want to have their destination wedding here in Sri Lanka.
We spoke to them about what it’s like to plan an intimate wedding.
Tell us a little bit about your company.
WedInSriLanka is based in the USA. Registered in the US and exclusively planning weddings in Sri Lanka. We started business in 2001 and inaugurated an online wedding planner in the same year and we consider ourselves as the pioneers in serious wedding planners for Sri Lanka. Initially we started with large scale Sri Lankan weddings but since our head office is located in the USA we found more requests coming from around the world for Destination Weddings both medium scale and smaller weddings.
What kind of packages do you offer your clients?
We entertain the clients input to a very large extent and work around their dreams to plan weddings to satisfy their desires. Most requests we receive are for outdoor weddings. We have beach weddings, garden weddings, underwater weddings and weddings with nature packages. Almost all couples love to have a very simple poruwa ceremony with Kandyan dancers and cultural shows, fireworks, and elephants.
Ideally what's the maximum number of people you can have at a small intimate wedding?
While Sri Lankan weddings could have 3 to 5 hundred guests, our intimate weddings will generally have 25, 50, 75 or up to 100 guests, mostly coming from abroad. Usually the number of guests will depend on the location they select. If the location has enough outdoor space then it's ideal to have a total of 100 or below for an intimate wedding. Smaller the wedding, the more intimacy they will have. The ideal situation is to book an entire villa or resort for smaller groups, or block a hotel wing for larger crowds.
What are the luxuries you can afford when planning a smaller wedding compared to a big wedding?
A big wedding celebration is just a flow of events when compared to a smaller wedding where everybody enjoys every moment of the celebration. We have to make it an intimate and happy occasion where all the guests get together and share their joy with the couple. For a smaller wedding, we generally provide special menu items for foreigners with a mix of Western, Chinese, Sri Lankan and BBQ, served outdoors or at banquet halls as preferred by the client. An elephant, personal firework shows, cultural shows with fire dancers are always requested for smaller outdoor weddings.
What are the most intimate locations in Sri Lanka that's perfect for a private wedding?
Sri Lanka has many locations, run by prominent hotel chains, or villas run by individual owners or foreign companies. We simply find the best and ideal fit for the client. The client has the privilege of finding their own location via search engines or we give them options and find the best fit and availability. Our goal is to satisfy the client and plan a perfect and elegant wedding for them and guests. We wish to work with every one without prejudice but the client is supreme.
What are the differences in planning a small wedding as opposed to a large wedding?
At an intimate wedding, the planning concentrates on the couple and their most beloved friends. Every guest will get personal attention and even keep the kids busy with some activities like colouring and writing, so that the parents could enjoy the event. We also have to be very careful especially with the decoration. It has to be balanced according to the number of guests. Outdoor weddings should incorporate the natural beauty of the location and simply enhance the elegance by adding the right selection of decor. Food service has to have a personal attention as there will be no long lines. Usually sit-down receptions give more elegance to the ceremony and could be easily handled with a smaller crowd. However the buffet style is the most popular. Adding live cooking stations to any wedding will definitely give more excitement and a wonderful experience.
What's the most challenging part for you as wedding planners when organizing a private wedding?
Smaller weddings are more challenging to the wedding planner because they can make sure that all the service providers do their work at their best as any small detail could be easily noticed. It’s also very important to find the right location as most of the villas; boutique hotels, etc. are owned by private owners and have their own policies. We should discuss all the arrangements and come to a written agreement before any commitment.
When it comes to small weddings how does one decide who to invite and who not to?
The couple should think of the most beloved people they should have at their wedding. They should not hesitate to drop even the close relatives if they don’t associate with them much. When all the guests are known to each other it will be a joyful event.
The most creative intimate wedding you've done?
Every wedding we have done is special, especially to the bride and groom and they are completely tailored to their needs. If they want to get married under water, we will provide them with such a wedding. If they want to get married at a waterfall, that is where we will take them. After all it is their wedding.
As experienced planners what advice would you give to a couple who wants to keep their wedding a small affair?
Most important thing we suggest is to stay with their dream and keep control of it. Sometimes, all the well-meaning advice given by friends and family can get a little out of hand. They have everyone giving them contradictory advice on how things “should” be done at THEIR wedding.
Contact Information:
Interviewed by Panchali Illankoon
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