Some invitations remind you why you started. When Platinum World Grroup (PWG) invited Ikigaii Planners to speak at the inaugural WedTalks Forum in Colombo, it felt like exactly that: a chance to sit alongside policymakers, hoteliers and fellow planners from India, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and talk honestly about where the global wedding industry is heading, and what a destination needs to win the hearts of couples and their families.
What followed was one of the most meaningful weeks we have spent as a team: a day of big conversations on stage, then a familiarisation (FAM) journey along Sri Lanka’s coastline that changed how we see the island as a wedding destination.
What is WedTalks Forum?
WedTalks Forum is a global thought-leadership platform and the intellectual property of Platinum World Grroup, the international B2B group founded by Sushill Waddhwa. Its purpose is simple but ambitious: bring together the people who shape the wedding economy (government and tourism bodies, hospitality leaders, destination experts and premier wedding professionals) so ideas turn into collaboration, and collaboration turns into real business for destinations.
The first edition was held on 19 September 2026 at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo, presented alongside Colombo Fashion Week (CFW). That pairing was no accident. Founded in 2003 by Ajai Vir Singh, CFW has grown into one of Sri Lanka’s most influential creative platforms and a driving force behind the country’s fashion design industry. Under his leadership it has become far more than a runway week, connecting fashion with design, art, food, culture and tourism, and giving Sri Lankan creative talent a genuinely international stage.
Fashion, hospitality and weddings in one room. For wedding planners like us, who spend our lives bringing those three worlds together for our couples, it felt like home.
Ikigaii Planners on the Speaker Panel
We were honoured to be invited as speakers, representing the perspective of a Dubai-based destination wedding company that plans Indian, South Asian, Arabic, Christian and multicultural celebrations around the world.
On stage, Heeital shared what more than 200 weddings for couples from over 15 countries have taught us about what families actually look for when they choose a destination:
- Confidence before beauty. A stunning beach is only the starting point. Families flying in from India, the UK, the US, Canada and the GCC want to know that permits, guest travel, vendor quality and on-ground execution are dependable.
- Hotels that understand multi-day celebrations. A South Asian wedding is rarely a single event. Mehendi, Haldi, Sangeet, Baraat, ceremony and reception each need the right space, timing flexibility and a hospitality team that is comfortable with large, joyful, music-filled gatherings.
- A local supplier ecosystem planners can trust. Décor, catering, entertainment, priests and officiants, photographers: the depth and reliability of local partners decides whether a destination can host weddings at scale.
- Ease of movement for guests. Smooth visas, airport handling and transfers turn a 300-guest wedding from a logistical worry into a holiday the whole family remembers.
The conversations that followed, with hoteliers, tourism stakeholders, fashion leaders and fellow planners, were some of the most practical and energising we have had in a long time.
From the Forum to the Field: Our Sri Lanka FAM Trip
The Forum didn’t end when the microphones went off. It continued as a curated FAM programme, designed so international planners could experience Sri Lanka’s hospitality first-hand instead of only hearing about it. Travel logistics were supported by Aitken Spence Travels, and the programme brought us into some of the island’s most impressive properties.
Colombo: The City Welcome
We began in the capital at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams and Shangri-La Colombo, both well suited to grand receptions, ballroom celebrations and welcome dinners for large guest lists, with the energy of the city right outside.
The South Coast: Where Sri Lanka Truly Shines
Heading south, the island revealed its real wedding magic.
- Shangri-La Hambantota: an expansive resort with the space and variety of venues that multi-day celebrations need, from lawns to beachfront.
- Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa: a relaxed, bay-side setting that works beautifully for intimate ceremonies and stylish pre-wedding events.
- Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort: lush, tropical and calm, with a natural backdrop that photographers dream about.
- Cinnamon Bentota Beach: one of our personal favourites for a luxury beach wedding, which we’ve covered in detail in our Cinnamon Bentota Wedding guide.
At every stop we walked the spaces the way we would for a real couple: Where does the mandap face at sunset? How do 250 guests move from the Haldi lawn to lunch? Where does the dhol start for the Baraat? Which ballroom can turn around overnight for the reception? Seeing it in person gave us answers no brochure ever could.
What We Learned About Sri Lanka as a Wedding Destination
We came home convinced that Sri Lanka is one of the most exciting destination wedding stories of the coming years, especially for couples from India and the GCC.
- Short, easy travel. For families in India and the Gulf, Sri Lanka is a quick flight away, which makes it far easier to bring grandparents, extended family and friends together.
- Natural beauty with variety. Golden beaches, tropical gardens and a lively capital mean one trip can hold very different looks for different functions.
- Warm, genuine hospitality. The care shown by every hotel team we met is exactly what guests remember long after the wedding.
- Real value. Couples can create a luxury, multi-day celebration with an experience that feels exclusive and personal.
A Five-Year Roadmap for Weddings in Sri Lanka
One of the most significant outcomes of the Forum and FAM is what came next. Drawing on the discussions and destination experiences, PWG prepared a white paper titled “Elevating Sri Lanka as a Global Destination for Weddings & Celebrations.” It sets out a proposed five-year public-private framework aiming for roughly 300 to 400 qualifying international weddings and celebrations a year, which PWG estimates could contribute USD 125 to 150 million to the Sri Lankan economy as the market matures.
The roadmap looks at international market development, recurring FAM programmes, planner mobilisation, destination readiness, activation in the India and GCC markets, easier facilitation for large celebrations, local supplier participation, and clear ways to measure wedding business, room nights and visitor spend. Sushill Waddhwa and Ajai Vir Singh are set to present it to Hon. Governor Hanif Yusoof before it is shared with government and tourism stakeholders.
For wedding planners like us, this matters. When a destination invests in readiness, couples get smoother permits, stronger suppliers and better experiences, and planners can promise more with confidence.
Thank You
Our heartfelt thanks to Sushill Waddhwa and the Platinum World Grroup team for the invitation and for creating a platform that turns conversations into opportunities; to Ajai Vir Singh and Colombo Fashion Week for a stage that brought fashion and weddings together so naturally; to Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams for hosting; to Arabia Weddings, the Forum’s trade media partner for the GCC; to Aitken Spence Travels; and to every hotel team who welcomed us along the way. Most of all, thank you to the people of Sri Lanka for a warmth we will carry into every wedding we plan there.
Planning a Wedding in Sri Lanka?
We’ve now walked the venues, met the teams and seen first-hand how Sri Lanka can host the celebration you’re dreaming of, whether it’s an intimate beach ceremony or a multi-day Indian wedding with 400 guests.
As destination wedding planners in Sri lanka for Indian, South Asian, Arabic, Christian and multicultural weddings, Ikigaii Planners manages everything end to end: venue sourcing, vendor management, guest travel and hospitality, décor and on-ground coordination, so you and your families can simply be present.
Talk to us about your Sri Lanka wedding or explore our destination wedding services.
Co-founder and wedding coordinator at Ikigaii Planners Dubai, Vaibbhav specializes in luxury wedding execution, vendor management, and logistics. With 7+ years of experience, he ensures every event is flawlessly delivered.