14th issue of BrideandGroom wedding magazine

Greetings!
If your wedding is
to be held soon,
you must be quite
busy with the
plans! Bride and
Groom magazine
too has been quite
busy lately. We have now expanded
sales to Australia, taking Sri Lankan
wedding traditions and stories – to the
land down under.
Also the magazine’s website has been
re-launched www.brideandgroom.lk.
Those in the wedding industry are
invited to advertise with us online or list
their service, making it quite convenient
for brides, grooms and their families to
find services on the site and plan their
weddings more conveniently.
The magazine has come a long way.
This is the 14th issue of Bride and
Groom. I thank those who have been
an integral part in creating this magazine
over the years, the advertisers
and the brides and grooms who have
shared their wedding photographs
with us. So here’s to many more
successful issues of the magazine and
to a fun filled and memorable
wedding for you!
LET US PLAN
YOUR WEDDING
FOR YOU
TEL: +94 718696345, +94 777791681
THE BRIDE AND GROOM MAGAZINE
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PUBLISHED BY:
Creative Media Publications
CEO/MANAGING EDITOR:
Pramith Mallawaratchie
EDITOR:
Natasha Mawella
GENERAL MANAGER:
Roshan Donesa
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER:
Hazel Donesa Wijesundera
DESIGN COORDINATOR:
Susantha Jayawardana
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Indunil Wickramasena
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PHOTOGRAPHY:
Dimitri Crusz
Dhanush De Costa
Studio 3000DF
Roshan Donesa
Natha Samarasinghe
CONTRIBUTORS:
Johann Pieris
Suwendrani Mallawaratchie
Milindu Mallawaratchie
Purnima Abeyratne
Micheal Wijesuriya
Fabric Gallery
Veena Perera
JF Tours
Renusha Gomis
Ramani Fernando
Birendra Katugampola
Nelunika Wijesinghe
ris

Bridals by Purnima, Johann and Dhanush 14
Interview with Ramani Fernando 30
Heritance Honeymoons 48
Chocolates and Cupcakes for a Wedding 64
Wedding Fair 2011 – Pictures 68
Dressing the Mothers of the Bride & Groom 136
Family Wedding Photographer’s Checklist 170
OUTFIT, HAIR & MAKEUP: MICHAEL WIJESURIYA JEWELLERY: VOGUE JEWELLERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: DIMITRI CRUSZ
LOCATION BY: JF TOURS MODEL: PRASADI

190, D. S. Senanayake Veediya, Kandy. Tel: 081 2224393
131/6, Baseline Road, Colombo 05. Tel: 0776799144

Ebony Elegance

Indigo Image

Heritance Honeymoons
Reviewed by the BrideandGroom Magazine
Heritance Ahungalla
Whether you’re getting married in Sri Lanka
or you’re in the country for your
honeymoon, there’s no way you can
miss spending some time in our
tropical beaches. And if you’re
looking for a beautiful hotel with
chic rooms, good food, lovely
beaches and absolute value for
money, Heritance Ahungalla will not
disappoint you. Awarded the best
5-star Resort at the Sri Lanka
Tourism Awards held recently, this
hotel never ceases to surprise us
with its gorgeous view, beautifully furnished
rooms, and service.
Located 75 km’s from Colombo, a 2 ½ hour
drive will bring you to this unique hotel in the
South. As you drive in through the hotel’s
gates the first glimpses of the hotel would
be through palm groves and as you walk in
to the hotel, you can’t but help be drawn
into the beautiful view from the lobby which
opens up to an infinity pool blending in to
the ocean and the vista.
The Suites
Heritance Ahungalla has 4 Luxury Suites
and 5 Suites. The hotel also has 15 Luxury
Rooms, 36 Premium Rooms and 92 Deluxe
Rooms. We enjoyed the comforts of a Suite
which had a separate living area, private
balcony, jacuzzi and rain shower, TV and
all other modern amenities. These include
AC/fan, tea/coffee making facilities, free
WiFi, pipe music, dressing area
and toiletries. All rooms timber
panelled are beautifully and
stylishly furnished in black, beige
and gold. Our bed was beautifully
decorated with flower
petals and we enjoyed the
complementary flowers, cashew
nuts and cookies. You also have
the option of choosing from smoking
or non-smoking suites when
making the reservation. Given
that it is a big hotel, check with the hotel
about the view from your room (if
you are particular about it).
The hotel also has free Wi-Fi
access.
The Food
It was an impressive fusion
of Sri Lankan, Western and
International cuisine
inclusive of soups, salads,
entrees, mains, desserts
and live action stations.
Also plenty of options are available for
vegetarians and for the health conscious. It
was definitely the best spread we had in
the trip! The hotel has theme nights so
check with them when they have your
favourite! Both air conditioned and non-airconditioned
seating is available in the
hotel’s main restaurant, ‘Jute’ which can seat
about 250 guests. And the long meal hours
don’t force you to start your day early. The
breakfast buffet is open from 7 a.m. – 10
a.m.; lunch from 12.30 p.m.- 2.30 p.m. ;
dinner from 7.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
If you however, want to try a more fine
dining option, head towards the cozy
‘Upper Room’ Fine Dining Restaurant
from which you can enjoy a romantic
dinner watching the stars and listening to
the waves. If you wish, the hotel will even
arrange a candle-lit dinner on the beach
itself. And you can grab a bite any time of
the day from the ‘Mustard’ Coffee Shop.
The Hotel also has quite a few bars including
a couple of open air bars from which
you can enjoy your favourite wine or drink.
Things to do
You can take a stroll in the beach or enjoy
the waves and come back for a leisurely
* 15% discount on availability to clients who present the Bride and Groom magazine at the Heritance reservations office and is valid from November 2011 to January 2012
(excluding the peak period which is from the 15th of Dec 2011 to the 15th of January 2012

swim in the hotel’s two pools. The Resident’s
Pool gives you more privacy and is exclusively
for the hotel’s residents. You can also
try the hot water Jacuzzi near the pool. The
hotel can also arrange for a boat ride in the
sea or a safari on the Madu Ganga if you
would like to venture outside the hotel premises.
Other local attractions include the
Kosgoda turtle hatchery, the Galle city and
the fort, and whale watching in Mirissa.
There are plenty of other sports and recreational
facilities available within the hotel
such as tennis, badminton and indoor
games. Heritance Ahungalla also has a
lounge on the top floor which houses the
hotel’s own library.
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Service
The service was exceptional. You’re
pampered but at the same time left alone to
enjoy yourselves. We thought that the bag
of water bottles that was given to us to
refresh ourselves on our journey back home,
and the quick windscreen wipe were
thoughtful gestures. If you go there once,
you’d want to go there again!

Heritance Honeymoons
Reviewed by the BrideandGroom Magazine
Heritance Tea Factory
wait long to taste a cup of tea! We were
welcomed by a refreshing and unique cup
of Spice Tea grown, plucked and brewed
by the hotel. We found out that all tea
served by the hotel is organic and comes
from an organic plantation.
Our next stop was at Heritance Tea Factory
which insists on giving honeymooners a
memorable stay. If you’re looking for a
honeymoon destination that is romantic, has
lovely, cool weather, and is quiet and relaxing,
then you’ve got to love the Tea Factory!
Lying 6800 ft. above sea level and situated
among the lush green tea plantations in
Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, the hotel as the
name suggests, is a tea factory from the
Colonial period, that has been converted to a
charming hotel. The experience of our stay -
from the moment we stepped to the foyer of
the hotel till we left the hotel - was every bit
unique as the hotel itself! Although the last
stretch of the road leading to the hotel can
get a bit windy and arduous, trust us, the drive
is well worth what awaits you.
The first glimpse of the hotel with the
surrounding green hills is definitely a wow
factor. And well, we sure didn’t have to
It is striking that no additions or alterations
have been made to the exterior of the
1936 factory which was transformed into a
hotel in 1996. The interior of the hotel too
reflects the tasteful preservation of the tea
factory with the green and red colours of
the steel beams representing the original
structure and the later additions.
The Heritance Tea Factory clearly stood
out in its efforts to make a honeymoon
couple’s stay romantic and unforgettable.
The bed and the bathroom were beautifully
decorated using flower petals and the
two platters of strawberries and
cream were a lovely surprise.
The ‘congratulations’ note on the
bedroom door was a nice touch
and there were quite a number of them,
proving that the Tea Factory is a popular
destination among honeymoon couples.
The Suites
The Flower Dew Suite offers the height of
luxury on offer at the hotel. It has wall-towall
carpeting; separate sitting and dining
rooms; a bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a
rain shower cubicle; your own wine cellar;
a small collection of books; and a laptop
for your use if you need one during your
stay. What’s more, you can enjoy the views
of the Ragala and Randenigala reservoirs
from your suite. The beautifully
furnished Semi-Suite,
located on the executive
floor is equipped with all
the modern facilities. It has

two rooms, the master bedroom and a single
room. It also has wall to wall carpeting, a
bath tub, TV and a mini bar.
The hotel also offers 10 Executive Floor
Deluxe Rooms, 3 Superior Rooms and 32
Premium Rooms. You can spend your honeymoon
in heavenly atmosphere amidst the
clouds, with the Executive Floor located
above 2 km’s above sea level. A butler
service is also available in
this floor from 7am - 9 pm.
Most rooms have beautiful
views of the surrounding
tea plantations and if
you’d like a balcony, 3 of
the Premium Rooms have
large balconies attached
to them. Like the suites all rooms have
heating, hot and cold water, TV, a mini bar,
in-room dining service, and free WiFi. The
following are other value additions offered
by the hotel for honeymoon couples:
Express check-in
Late check-out (on availability)
Candle light dinner (Half Board and
Full Board clients)
Bottle of wine in the room
The Food
At the hotel’s main restaurant, Kenmare,
you can opt for the buffet or the set-menu,
and the two options cover both Eastern and
Western food. The unique interior of the
restaurant which was
previously the sifting
room of the tea factory,
and the beautiful view
from the restaurant add
to the experience. A
smart casual dress code is
required at the dining
room.
Heritance Tea Factory also provides
interesting dining options. If you
want to try something unusual
and experience what the hotel
calls a “nostalgic simulation
of colonial train travel in
Ceylon”, you can enjoy a
dining experience at the
hotel’s refurbished railway
carriage, TCK 6685. Named
‘Dining on Wheels’ you can enjoy a
6 course meal for just Rs. 4500 with the
chef himself taking the order and staff in
railway uniforms serving you. You can also
enjoy high tea served from 3.30 p.m. to
6.00 p.m. or order a club sandwich and a
cup of tea while enjoying the view from the
hotel. Check with the hotel on discounts they
offer for other meal options.
Things to do
One of the most unique experiences the
hotel offers its guests is to pluck their own
RECEIVE A
15%
DISCOUNT
CALL: +94-11-2308112
*CONDITIONS APPLY
tea and to enjoy the whole experience of
making your own tea in its mini tea factory
(for a very nominal fee). You can also taste
the 4- 5 varieties of tea grown and made
by the Hotel at the hotel’s Tea Bar. If you’re
interested in a bit of
history, there are plenty of
things to observe in the
hotel’s ‘museum area’
which houses the engine of
the generator of the 1936
factory, tools, etc. If you
don’t mind stepping out
into the cold, the hotel can
arrange for a nature trail. About 50 types
of birds are sighted around the Tea
Factory including endemic birds such
as the Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Sri
Lankan White Eye and the Sri
Lanka Spotted Winged Thrush.
The hotel is located a bit away
from the main road, ideal to
relax, but it’s also conveniently
located to many attractions like
the Horton Plains (2.5 hours drive),
the Hakgala Botanical Gardens (1
hour drive) and many other attractions. You
can also experience spa facilities at the
internationally managed Misty Mountain
Spa.
Service
Service was great! The front desk staff
was very helpful and friendly. Approach
them for any information about the hotel.
Honeymoon couples, you’ll also get a
complimentary sketch of the lovely hotel as
a memento to take home with you.
* 15% discount on availability to clients who present the Bride and Groom magazine at the Heritance reservations office and is valid from November 2011 to January 2012 (excluding
the peak period which is from the 15th of Dec 2011 to the 15th of January 2012

HeritanceHoneymoons
Reviewed by the BrideandGroom Magazine
Located 11 km’s away from the ancient city
of Dambulla, Heritance Kandalama offers
five star luxury in a peaceful, relaxing
setting of pure bliss! Situated 160 km’s from
Colombo and 80 km’s from Kandy, the hotel
spreads over 1 kilometer, from one end to
another, providing ample space and privacy
to its visitors. Considered an architectural
masterpiece of the world renowned Geoffrey
Bawa, it is surrounded by 180 acres of
jungle and overlooks the beautiful
Kandalama lake and the Sigiriya Rock
Fortress.
at Kandalama? BrideandGroom finds
out….
The Suites
The hotel has 152 rooms in 8 categories
ranging from Superior rooms to the very
luxurious, Royal Suite. All rooms, timber
paneled and designer decorated, spell
extravagance and comfort. But if you want
to enjoy the luxury of a Suite on your
special visit, there are 4 categories to
choose from – (i) the Royal Suite , (ii)
Luxury Suites - 2, (iii) Spa Suite -1, and
(iv) Suites - 11. As the name implies the
‘Royal Suite’ boasts an atmosphere of
royalty and grandeur. Located at the
highest level of the Sigiriya Wing, it is
spacious with a large sitting and dining
area (it has a dining table with seating for
10!), and 2 independent suits, one with the
lake view, and the other with the jungle and
rock view. It has 2 separate bathrooms,
jacuzzi’s and showers, and comes with all
modern amenities.
suite features include air conditioning, fans,
two satellite TVs, piped music, mini bar, a
tea/coffee maker, rain shower with a
shower cubicle and other luxury amenities.
As in all rooms Deluxe upwards, the ‘Luxury
Suite’ has a Jacuzzi from which you get a
magnificent view of the lake. With two
private balconies in the suite you can even
opt to have a candle-lit romantic dinner in
your room. All suites assure scenic views,
but check with the hotel about the location
of your room and the view from the room.
Keep in mind that you might also have to
walk quite a distance to the main restaurant
and though monkeys frequenting the
hotel can be quite entertaining, remember
to keep the doors closed at all times.
The Food
Kandalama is known for its good food and
Honeymoon couples, expect nothing less
than a VIP welcome when you arrive at
Heritance Kandalama. A warm
welcome with a lotus flower and a
welcome drink at the scenic restaurant
was a great start to our stay
at the hotel. We were then
escorted to our suite, decorated
with lotuses, leaves and shrubs
adding to the ambiance and spelling a
perfect start to a memorable stay.
So,
what more can honeymoon couples expect?
How can they make the most of their stay
The hotel’s ‘Spa Suite’ is ideal for those
who like to indulge in the luxury of spa
facilities as a massage table is available in
the room and a Jacuzzi right outside the
rooms. But for honeymoon couples,
BrideandGroom suggests the
‘Luxury Suite’ which guarantees
comfort, luxury, ambience
and excellent value for
money. Located on the 7th
floor of the Dambulla Wing
of the hotel, the suite opens
out to a chicly furnished,
warm, lounge and dining area.
As in all areas of the suite, it is
complemented with a fantastic view of the
surroundings; ours had the lake view. The
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*CONDITIONS APPLY
award winning chefs, so the expectations
are generally high. The restaurants of the
hotel, Kanchana, Kashyapa and Kaludiya
offer ambience and entertainment in
addition to a variety of food. Housed on
the seventh floor, Kaludiya, offers guests a
fine dining experience while Kashyapa
offers an a-la-carte menu complemented
with the views of the Kandalama lake and
Sigiriya rock fortress. Kanchana, the main
restaurant of the hotel hosts different
* 15% discount on availability to clients who present the Bride and Groom magazine at the Heritance reservations office and is valid from November 2011 to January 2012 (excluding
the peak period which is from the 15th of Dec 2011 to the 15th of January 2012

theme nights such as,
Chinese, Sri Lankan &
Griddle Night, Action
Night (with live cooking),
Italian and Mongolian
Night, and Chefs
Night/Choice. With even
the staff dressed to match
the theme, the atmosphere
created is just perfect!
However, may we suggest
that you inquire from the
hotel about the theme nights the hotel hosts
they would be hosting during your stay so
you know what to expect? If you are a
vegetarian, it’s best to inform the hotel
about your preferences beforehand.
If you wish, you can also
experience the other unique
dining options the hotel
offers. You can choose to
have ‘Breakfast on the
Barge’ where you can enjoy
the picnic style breakfast
the hotel prepares for you
at the Kandalama lake.
You can even ‘Dine at the
Cave’ at the Heritance Kandalama natural
cave or ‘Dine with the Chef’. These options
can be a bit pricey so check if they suit your
budget.
Things to do
Well, be it to relax, go sightseeing or be a
bit more adventurous, Kandalama offers
plenty of options. You’ve got to take a dip
in the 3 different pools in the hotel which
cater to your different moods. The
Kanchana pool - the infinity pool- offers a
beautiful view of the lake while the
Kaludiya pool, the natural pool of the hotel
gives you the luxury of watching and
savouring nature. But if you want to do a
routine swim, head towards the Rashmi pool.
You can also enjoy the facilities the hotel
gymnasium provide or try the outdoor
badminton and tennis courts. However,
if you want to unwind after the
hectic days of organizing your
wedding, head towards the hotel
spa which is internationally
managed, and has well trained
foreign and local therapists. You
and your partner can opt for
couple massage treatments such
as the “Couple Journey “or
“Couple Celebration”! The information
directory in your room will give details
and rates of the spa treatments.
If the weather is good and it is the season
(November – April) you can try hot air
ballooning and be among the clouds,
literally, with your partner.
Check with the hotel on the
arrangements. The hotel also
arranges bird watching and
butterfly watching and as a
couple, the two of you can have
your own tracker if you prefer not
to join a group. Kandalama is
home to about 273 species of
birds including 6 indigenous birds
(like the Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka
Grey Horn Bill and Three-Toed Kingfisher)
and 5 different species of hawks.
If you want to go for a boat ride in the
beautiful Kandalama Lake prepare
yourself to get in to a paddle boat! And if
you want to explore the 2 national parks in
the area, Kaudulla and Minneriya National
Parks, which are about 45-55 minutes
away from the hotel, the hotel will arrange
it for you as well. The other attractions in
the vicinity include the Aligala caves,
Kandalama rock, Dambulla cave temple,
Ritigala, Namal uyana and ofcourse, the
not-to-be-missed 5th Century AD Sigiriya
rock fortress which is just 40 minutes away.
Service
Well what more can we say, except that
the service was excellent! With a 390-
member strong staff, everyone we met,
wore big smiles and were very professional.
Don’t hesitate to speak to the
Resident Manager or the Front Office
Manager who will readily brief you about
the area, special offers/activities at the
hotel and make any special arrangements
you require. Most importantly, make sure
you tell them you’re a honeymoon couple
when you make the reservation in order to
make the best of your stay. You can make
reservations via the hotel website
www.heritancehotels.com (look out for
discounts!) or by calling the hotel’s hotline
077-555-5557