Magical Morning

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WEDDINGDAY Autumn ISSUE No. 21

magical morning BLue Horizon



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ditorial

WD’s editor Josanne Cassar We’ve had high temperatures and torrential rain and back to more sun again as we were putting this issue together, so it was sometimes difficult to get into the right kind of ‘Autumn mood’.

of the Phoenicia hotel - you will find a bit of everything when it comes to different styles and themes.

But as November approaches and as you are reading this, the weather will probably have become much cooler, and you can look forward to leafing through the pages of this issue while cuddled cosily on your sofa.

And of course, for our photo shoot we chose none other than the Gran Cugó Macina Grand Harbour - a venue with views which people travel thousands of miles to see. For a small island, everyone always agrees that we have an incredibly wide range of venues to choose from, which is why year after year, WD is proud to have played a small part in promoting our islands and helping to increase the interest of foreign couples who want the perfect Mediterranean destination wedding.

For the bride-to-be who is eagerly planning her Big Day nothing beats a glossy wedding magazine which she can dip into at her leisure. Over the span of six years, WD has built a reputation for bringing you some of Malta and Gozo’s most beautiful and amazing weddings, and with this issue, we will certainly not disappoint. From a farmhouse in Burmarrad to a cliff-edge restaurant in Gozo; from a venue with views of Mdina, to a seaside wedding; from a field which was magically transformed into a wedding venue to the classic, understated elegance

Check out https://weddingdayblog.eu for more weddings, expert advice and inspiration!

Josanne on the cover Beverly Tonna • design by Jessica C. Moritz • printed at Bestprint, Qrendi • published by Mojo Publishing Disclaimer: MOJO Publishing cannot be held liable for any artwork which is provided by the client. The client will bear full responsibility for the accuracy of the text and for any possible breach of copyright in the photos, text, or fonts being used. Mojo Publishing • Flat 3, Il-Gardina, Constitution Street, Mosta, MST 9051 • M: +356 99 425985 • josannecassar@icloud.com


contents - Autumn Issue 2018 -

11  A magical morning

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04  The Phoenicia 07  Olive Gardens

31  Alexander & Sarah 41 Michelle & Norbert

04

30

31

41

51

59

66

74

51  Megan & Richard 59  Adriana & Damien

66  Hannah & Luke 74  Lauren & Steven


C O N TA C T U S T O M A K E A N A P P O I N T M E N T, T O C R E AT E YO U R D R E A M , F L A M A N T W E D D I N G G I F T L I S T

Pjazza Tigné, The Point, Sliema

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(+356) 2395 7630

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sales@flamant.com.mt

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www.flamant.com.mt

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½ Flamant Malta

BARCELONA | BELGIUM | CASABLANCA | DUBAI | HAMBURG | KUWAIT | LJUBLJANA | LONDON | PARIS | PRAGUE | REYKJAVIK | SÃO PAULO | SLIEMA | ZÜRICH


The Phoenicia

Seven unique venues in one location

Justine Storace, Sales & Marketing Manager, speaks to WeddingDay magazine about what the Phoenicia Hotel has to offer:

With seven unique venues to choose from, six of which are exclusive, this classic hotel situated near Malta’s capital city, Valletta is truly one of a kind. “We approach each and every wedding like it is the only wedding. We feel couples here get a full complement of reassuring differentials that help us to guarantee that their special day here is memorable for all the right reasons. The Phoenicia limits the number of bookings it accepts so as to allow plenty of time for each couple, and never operate on a hard sell. What’s more important to us is that we host the best weddings, not the most”, Ms Storace points out. All the catering is prepared fresh on the premises, with the use of some home grown ingredients from the Phoenicia’s kitchen gardens, which is definitely something you do not find at any other hotel. For this reason, and to ensure they can promise consistent quality to their clients, no

outside catering is permitted. “We have hosted a number of weddings from large reception weddings to small intimate dinner parties. At the Phoenicia, we also offer advice, co-ordination and assistance for couples who choose The Phoenicia during the build up to and on the

day of the wedding. However, should they like further assistance with ideas for decoration or inspiration in the run up to the day a third-party wedding organiser can be helpful and offer some valuable tips.”

Ms Storace says that 2018 was exceptionally busy for overseas couples who have decided to have a destination weddings and chose to get married in Malta. “I can see a slight change in trend where they would previously book up to 9 months before the date, whereas now they are booking as far in advance as two years.” One of the most unique selling points since the revamped Phoenicia opened its doors, is their outdoor area because of the way it has been designed to incorporate the beautiful, historical setting and the amazing view of the harbour. Ms Storace agrees that this part of the hotel certainly leaves an impressive impact. “The Gardens & Bastion Pool are ‘breath-taking’ as they put it and it is such a pleasure to show prospective clients around these unique venues”.

The Phoenicia Malta The Mall | Floriana FRN1478 | Malta www.phoeniciamalta.com


Contact us to make an appointment, to create your dream, Wedding Gift List.

21, Triq San Pawl Naxxar NXR 4018 (+356) 2099 9966 info@loft.com.mt www.loft.com.mt Opening Hours: Mon. to Fri. 10am – 7pm Saturday 10am – 5pm



Olive Gardens

A VENUE WITH UNIQUE, STUNNING VIEWS

Olive Gardens is exclusive to Camilleri Catering. The venue’s versatility provides for various set-ups which include standing receptions and seated dinners, both indoors and outdoors.

appreciated both during the day with its luscious greenery and olive groves surrounding the garden, as well as during the evening when the bastions are beautifully lit-up.

Olive Gardens can hold between 350 to 400 persons indoors, whilst the upper and lower gardens combined can accommodate up to 1000 standing guests. The venue’s capacity for seated events is 100 guests indoors and 250 guests outdoors. Its well-groomed gardens, charming pool area and stunning views of Mdina, offer an unparalleled uniqueness. The breathtaking backdrop can be

Olive Gardens is open for viewings by appointment. Establish further contact with our Sales’ Advisors to assist you with a viewing of the venue and rate card on info@camillericatering.com or find us on Facebook. WD | 9


NEW COLLECTION 2019/ 2020

Coliseum Arcades, Zachary Street, Valletta Tel: + 356 2122 4234 • Email: weddingbellsvalletta@gmail.com LIKE US ON www.facebook.com/weddingbells.valletta




s WD’ n m Autu oot r sh e v o c 21 No.

a magical morning in Senglea Photography by Katerina Vella-Rykabkova

The Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour hotel is a one-of-a-kind five-star boutique hotel set in the historic town of Senglea. It takes its name from the steel crane (macina) that once hoisted heavy masts and cargo that pass through the Mediterranean Sea. The iconic crane was dismantled in 1864, but the building kept its name. The investors, the IBB Hotel Collection, which is a luxury hospitality brand, have lovingly restored the abandoned building, making sure that the unique features such as the high vaulted ceilings were kept in place. The designers, however went for a sleek, minimalist design, which allows the inherent beauty of the venue to be appreciated even more. The hotel boasts 21 individual spacious suites, with the largest being 130 square metres. If you are planning to come to Malta with your guests for a destination wedding, this hotel would be ideal to have everyone staying at the same location as the actual wedding venue. There is so much history in the Cottonera area that your guests will always have something to do, and several events can be organized accordingly. And once you have explored everything this area has to offer, you can board a nearby ferry and travel to Valletta in just 10 minutes. The downstairs restaurant called Hammett’s Macina restaurant, which is run by the talented Chris Hammett, has a 1920s Paris feel. The Sheer Bastion, that takes its name from the 16th century bastion on which it rests is also run by Chris, and can cater for small to larger weddings, as required. You can even organize your pre-wedding or post-wedding events here; in fact this venue offers a wide range of opportunities and you will be ably guided by the very helpful management and staff.

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The bride gets ready The advantage of choosing a venue such as the Gran Cugó Macina, is that the bride can get ready at the hotel itself. The staff will ensure she is relaxed in her luxury towel bathrobe as she pampers herself with a glass of bubbly, while taking in the view as she contemplates the excitement of the day ahead. For those who want a Church wedding, the Senglea church is very close by on foot, so with everyone staying at the same hotel, you can keep the whole wedding celebration close by for the least amount of stress for both the couple and their guests.

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Relax

calm down your jitters by taking time to savour the moment



The VENUE The showpiece has to be the majestic staircase, which retains its sharp, angular edges, but is imposing in its grandeur. Mostly, however, the Cugรณ Gran Macina has already made a name for itself because of its breathtaking views of the rooftop venue The Sheer Bastion, guaranteed to leave your guests speechless as they take in the majestic Grand Harbour, and the spectacular boats and yachts berthed at the Birgu marina from such a vantage point.


The Model A lawyer by profession, our model Beverly Tonna enjoys modeling as a hobby, and is usually to be found on the catwalk during various fashion shows. With her tall stature and slim frame she can carry off any dress, but this particular gown was especially suited to her figure.

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THE DRESS This lovely peach toned bridal gown has a detachable train and is embellished with beautiful lace detail and sparkly tulle. This is a light dress that is perfect if you intend dancing the night away as all you need to do is to remove the train and the dress changes completely. The dramatic effect of the train on the staircase can be seen here as our photographer Katerina amply illustrates how your wedding photos can truly show off the best features of such a dress.

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The BOUQUET The bridal bouquet is in fire colours with touches of white and green based on roses, spiders, baby roses, freesias, berries, spray carnations succulents, eucalyptus, solidago and olive leaves finished with twine. Gold candle holders were used for the flower arrangements with the same flowers finished with teal candles.

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THe MAKEUP Beverly’s soft look and fair complexion called for a natural look focusing on the eyes using warm tones. Makeup artists Daniela Cassar explains: “I started by applying primer from lid to brow bone. Then applied a medium brown eyeshadow into the crease as a transition colour. Applied a darker brown shadow to the outside corner of the eye in a V shape. Lined the upper lash line with a dark brown eyeliner pencil, blended it in the dark brown shadow. Applied a shimmery bronze eyeshadow from the inner corner to the dark brown V. Covered the brown eyeliner with a black eye gel line. Applied dark brown eye shadow over bottom lash line smudging it outwards. Used finger to apply a highlighter shadow to tne brow bone and tear duct. Applied false lashes and finished off with black mascara. Shaped brows and filled them in with brow gel. For the face I used a silicone based airbrush foundation

to achieve a natural lasting finish . I finished the look with bronzer and highlighter to contour the face. A peachy bronze lip colour was chosen to compliment the eyes.”

THe Hair Hairstylist Joseph Briffa did a marvelous job in turning Beverly’s short bob into a wavy, romantic style giving her just the right, soft touch to complement her delicate features as well as the dress itself. Marquita also provided two different hair accessories from Pop In which suit this hairstyle.

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I N T R O D U C I N G M A LTA’ S S P E C TA C U L A R M A R I N A R E S I D E N C E

The Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour is truly a Hotel with a difference. Historical fortress walls contrast with modern interior design and bespoke luxury fittings. The 21 suites range from 40 square metres to an impressive 130 square metres. All have unobstructed views of the Grand Harbour and the surrounding marina, high vaulted ceilings and ample natural light. The Hotel offers a swimming pool, tucked discreetly on the rooftop of the annex building with a terrace looking out across the water to Vittoriosa and Cospicua. Other features include airy communal spaces, a fully fledged bar, a fine dining modern Mediterranean restaurant, an events rooftop with panoramic harbour views and a boardroom for small conferences.

Macina, Triq il-31 ta’Marzu, L-isla (Senglea), ISL 1040 Malta T. +356 2711 2711 www.ibbhotels.com cugogranmalta@ibbhotels.com



Colour Scheme

Be Adventurous! Teal & orange make a dramatic Combination!



The theme & decor

THE CAKE

A hotel with such exquisite decor does not need much to enhance it. Each spacious suite exudes its own character, and the one which we were generously allowed to use, like all the rooms, had a magnificent view of the harbour. Clever use is made of the high ceilings by incorporating a loft effect, with the bedroom and living on different split levels, so you really feel that you are in an apartment rather than a hotel.

When we ask our cake maker Michelle Decilis to make a cake to fit our theme, we always know she will come up with the goods! Always in tune with the colour scheme and look of the shoot, Michelle’s talented hands created this marvelous concoction, which was then decorated with fresh flowers by Magda.

Johanna from Bali stuff therefore concentrated on creating two different lovely table set-ups at the Sheer Bastion, as an example of how you can make the most of a seated wedding lunch or dinner. Using burnished gold for the plate ware and cutlery and shades of teal for the glasses, candles and tablecloth, Johanna demonstrates how elegant it can all look with just the right attention to detail - something at which she definitely excels. The other table was laid with a crisp white linen tablecloth with similar plates and pewter candle holders. Both were enhanced by the bright flower arrangements created especially for us by Magda from Seven Petals Floral Studio, who has just joined the WD photo shoot team. The effect of the orange flowers set against the impossibly blue sky is like a burst of Autumn on the Senglea bastions!


WeddingDay

CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Creative Director Jessica C. Moritz

Photographer Katerina Vella-Ryabkova photobykaterina@gmail.com • M: +356 99536694 www. katerinavellaphotography.com fb: katerinavellaryabkova

VENUE Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour W: cugogranmalta.com/en E: cugogranmalta@ibbhotels.com T: +356 2711 2711

SET StyliNG Johanna Zammit of Bali Stuff www.balistuffmalta.com • M: +356 79596209

Bouquet & Flowers Seven Petals Floral Studio by Magda Bacia-Szewczyk E: 7petalseurope@gmail.com • T:+356 9993 1143

Bridal fashion styling Marquita Kemper of WeddingBells T: +356 21224234 • E: weddingbells@gmail.com

hEADPIECES POP IN (near Wedding Bells)

MAKE-UP Daniela Cassar E: dannicassar@gmail.com • M: +356 99130575 hair Joe Briffa of Hairoscope E: joebriffa16@gmail.com T: +356 21659442 • M: +356 99224750

CAKE Michelle Decelis T: +356 77359929 • fb: MCreativeCakes




Alexander Kutzias & Sarah Vella 12 August 2017 th

photos: Katerina Vella-Ryabkova

“He went down on one knee to supposedly get a bottle of prosecco, while we were watching the fireworks at midnight at Piazza San Marco. He asked me for my glove to help with opening the prosecco bottle. And then the ring appeared and he popped the question. It was very romantic and I was very emotional. Funnily enough, after the proposal all I could think of saying was, ‘Get up, get up’ so that we do not cause a lot of attention towards us. It was a very special, Doing it the old-fashioned way, Alex had memorable evening.” asked Sarah’s parents for permission to marry her when they were visiting Berlin. He Sarah found her dress while on holiday then proposed on New Year’s Eve in Venice in with her family in Barcelona. “We thought it would be a great opportunity and just fun 2017 , after eight years together. “Even though it was important for both of us to go try on some wedding dresses once we to get married someday, we were in no rush. were all together. Coincidentally, I found a However, we both believed that marriage was dress that I really fell in love with as it was the next step and it is a very special moment simple, structured and elegant and I bein a relationship when you are ready to make lieved that though it was very simple, it still had the wow-factor. I must admit, it was not a your commitment to one another ‘official’. Alexander and Sarah describe their relationship as “an Erasmus love story” because they met during Erasmus in Antwerp, Belgium. “After three months of friendship in Antwerp, we both went our separate ways but we kept in touch and a few months after that we decided to give our relationship a try. We were in a long-distance relationship for almost 2 years until we moved to London together and later, Berlin.”

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dress I had imagined choosing as initially, I thought I would go for something more bohemian (since that is really my style), but once I tried on this dress I could not go back. The reassurance from my family helped too. I bought the dress from Rosa Clara, Barcelona. I also decided to have a cascade wedding bouquet which fit nicely with the dress and the boho-chic feel of the wedding. Though I did not end up choosing the bohemian dress, I could highlight this personality trait through the flowers, the bouquet, the cake and some other features at the wedding.” “I come from a big family so I decided to ask them to be part of my bridal team. Out of the four bridesmaids, three were my cousins and my sister (who was also a witness, together with my brother). The flower girl was my cousin’s daughter.” “After I gave them my preferences, I let them decide on their dresses, and they did a lot of work


on their own, with my Mum, making appointments to go for fittings and so on. We kept each other updated all the way through, but my involvement was a little limited from Berlin.” Alex chose his two best friends to be his best men and people that were most close to him to be his ushers. For the ushers’ suits, the couple were very pleased with their supplier, JD Formal Wear, which offers a high quality hiring service for all sorts of formal wear for men. JD Formal Wear specialises in suits, tuxedos, and other fine tailoring specifically for weddings, graduations and other special occasions. From classical and contemporary to the latest modern and stylish suits, you are sure to find whatever you are looking for. Sarah says that Alex was surprisingly quite involved in the preparations. “It was important for him to know what was going on and what was being planned. Even if I told him I would take care of a certain things, he still was interested in what the final decision was. He took


care of certain details such as creating a website for the foreign guests and he was more involved in taking care of logistics, especially with regards to all the foreigners who came over for the wedding – we had over 18 different nationalities who attended.” Since the wedding was in Malta, Sarah had more contacts and knowledge with regards to planning a wedding so it was mostly planned by her and her parents, who were of immense help as it was hard for her to plan it from abroad. However, they took the major decisions together. The wedding Mass was held at the Santa Marija Parish Church, Mgarr, followed by a reception at The Phoenicia, one of the oldest hotels in Malta. Surrounded by history and right next to the entrance to the capital city of Valletta, it is situated on a bastion so the backdrop was beautiful. “Although, it was being renovated when we first went to see it we still fell in love with it. We knew that once we had a place that is naturally beautiful, we would not have to do a lot of work decorating it and nothing beats natural beauty.”


When it came to the catering, they wanted to bring their international background to the wedding and that is why they requested a Maltese/Polish themed buffet table. As for the cake: “I insisted on having a naked cake as I am not a fan of icing on cakes. At first, many told me it’s not recommended because of the heat but since we cut the cake towards the beginning of the reception, it was fine and everyone loved the way it looked and tasted. It was definitely a highlight!” The Malta-Polish theme was in a boho-chic style. “We wanted to bring something from both our cultures to the wedding. We were surprised by a Polish tradition as we came out of the church where Alex’s family and friends dressed up and prepared a song for us. To symbolise our new start, we were offered a piece of Polish bread with salt and a shot of vodka.” “At the photo booth we had German, Maltese and Polish flags to go with the international theme. It was one of the wedding highlights. During the ceremony, we also read a bidding prayer in Polish and a reading in Maltese. The rest


of the ceremony was in English.” Another original aspect of this wedding was that the order was changed around slightly. “We started with one hour aperitivo and canapés at the Rotunda. Then we walked down the garden pathway with live musicians to the gazebo where we cut the cake at sunset. Then went down to the evening reception by the pool. In this way, we could continue the party with no interruptions. The cake was served later with the coffee. “ Sarah remembers being very busy before the wedding, also because they had planned a few events up until the day before the wedding to entertain their foreign guests so by the end of it she was very tired but also very excited! “Once I started to put on my make-up and put on the dress, butterflies started to kick in, I was not feeling tired any more and I was just very very excited to see Alex at the church. I was just nervous about the vows as I knew I would get emotional, and I did,


so much that people thought I had changed my mind.” “Unfortunately, one of the bridesmaids had a stream of bad luck at the start of the day when she came over to my house. She got a box of Bellini to start the celebrations early. As soon as she pushed the front door open, she broke the glass door. Then, as she was putting the bottles in the fridge, the shelf fell and glass shattered all over the kitchen breaking the shelf and 2 bottles of Bellini. We all started laughing (apart from her) saying that once all of this happened already, there is nothing else that could go wrong. We had our share of bad luck for the day, only upwards from then on! And in fact, no more mishaps happened.” “The highlight was having so many friends and family from literally all around the world coming to Malta to celebrate with us. Since my husband is Polish and we have lived abroad for so many years, we have a lot of international friends. My job as a


dancer also helps in meeting so many different nationalities and cultures. It was also amazing to see how many of our Erasmus friends with whom we are still in good contact with, attending the wedding.� “We had guests from Australia, US, Venezuela, Mexico to Italy, Portugal, Norway, France and the list goes on and on. Our dream was to have a traditional wedding with a sunny celebration outdoors in a beautiful setting. Apart from that we were not picky on any other details, apart from the church. This also made it easier for us to plan a wedding in such a short time (8 months). Thankfully, we found everything we were looking for and everything turned out to be amazing! Big thanks to our parents who made all the phone calls and meetings and made sure that everything was perfect. They even planned some surprises for us on the wedding day - with a Kombi bar outside the church and fireworks at the wedding reception. It was definitely a dream wedding being surrounded by all our loved ones and friends and family from all across the globe. It was a very special day.�


Love at first Sight

The Phoenicia has been planning Malta’s exclusive weddings for seven decades. The Phoenicia, a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is an exclusive establishment loved and celebrated by Maltese society through the decades. Backed by unparalleled service,

The Phoenicia can be seen in all its glory. Stunning views and garden settings as well as the majestic Grand Ballroom are what makes The Phoenicia a memorable venue for couples to celebrate their love.

You, your family & friends will fall in love with this stunning wedding venue. weddings@phoeniciamalta.com

www.phoeniciamalta.com



Michelle Curmi & Norbert Fenech 6th July 2017

photos: Tonio Lombardi

A young woman who had just moved back to Gozo from the States goes to a bar… and well, you can guess the rest. A couple of days after mutual friends introduced her to Norbert he added her as a friend on Facebook, and they started chatting. “We would message each other, and we also hung out a couple of times together with friends. Then one time he sent me a text asking if I was thinking of dating anyone at the moment and I told him that I wasn’t, and we decided to just be friends and see how things went. But a couple of weeks after that he asked me to be his ‘plus one’ for a wedding that he was invited to, and I agreed to go, and after that “date” things changed and I decided to give the relationship a try. I told him I wanted to be more than just friends and he seemed surprised and happy.” It wasn’t all straightforward however. Michelle suffers from a rare condition called Acromegaly and she knew she needed to explain to Norbert about her

condition and what she has to go through, early on in the relationship, in case it was too much for him to handle. “But he was so understanding and loving and held me while I cried and told me that it doesn’t change anything about the way he feels. I just knew right there and then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man.” As they worked on the design of the engagement ring together, the proposal was not a surprise, but what Michelle didn’t know was that Norbert was planning with the jeweler to have the ring ready on an earlier date. “We were out for dinner with our families one night and later on in the evening he somehow took out the box and put it in front of me on the table, I burst out crying, and it turns out everyone on the table was in on the whole plan, so I was the only one surprised!”

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For her wedding gown, Michelle chose something simple and elegant and came across what she wanted from the Rosa Clara collection. She made an appointment and tried the dress on, fell in love with it and bought it the same day. To obtain the input from her bridal party, Michelle created a group on Facebook with her bridesmaids and they would send each other pictures of dresses and shoes. “I had been searching for a while for the bridesmaid’s dresses, I wanted them to be comfortable since we were planning a beach wedding and at the same time look amazing. But I couldn’t find anything that I really liked. Then one day Norbert sent me a link to a dress he liked and said this would be perfect for the bridesmaids. And that was the dress we went with! I sent it to the girls to make sure they liked it and they all loved it. Then we found the dresses for the flower girls that matched perfectly with the bridesmaid’s dresses. For the page boys we weren’t sure if we should have them in shorts and a vest, I felt like that was becoming too common in weddings, so we decided to go with a suit and a T-shirt instead of a button up shirt.”


One of their original ideas was to have an online version of their invitation. “It was a bit of a challenge also because we didn’t know how people would react to having to rsvp online instead of by the traditional way but turns out a lot of our guests actually liked the idea!” On the day of the wedding Michelle felt calm and very happy. “I couldn’t believe the day was actually here, although I was nervous at the same time. I knew that there were things that still needed to be done at the reception and everyone had stayed up so late the night before preparing. They sent me home to get my rest, but there were a lot of things that needed to get done still. We really had so much help from our families and so many of our friends helped us out. It was a lot of work transforming a field into a wedding venue. I felt really bad because I knew everyone helping us would be tired the next day. Also it was a very windy day on our wedding day, so I was a bit nervous about that. Although we had known this already because we had been watching the weather forecast every day leading up to the wedding day especially Norbert’s Dad he had been watching


the weather forecast from weeks before. Thanks to this though they were able to plan for the weather and applied wind breakers so that it wouldn’t affect us as badly. The funny thing was although I knew it was windy and most likely even worse down at the reception, no one mentioned the weather to me. So I started to feel that maybe it wasn’t as bad as we had expected after all. Only days after the wedding I found out from our florist, who is a friend of ours that things were getting blown away and the caterers were getting worried about the wind. But in the end the weather was perfect because the wind started to die down later in the day and we managed to have a nice breeze and best of all no mosquitos!” The couple were married at the Gozo Cathedral Church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Norbert is from Victoria and the Cathedral is very special to him so there was no doubt they would choose to be married there. Michelle says, “While walking down the aisle it was strange and beautiful at the same time, my heart was pounding so hard, it’s not because I was nervous, I was


in disbelief that I was actually in that moment. Somehow, I couldn’t see anyone, I just remember looking at Norbert the whole time, I could only see him. I knew that most of the aisles were full of our guests which made me really happy but I couldn’t see or recognize anyone.” “We wanted the ceremony to be remembered, we didn’t want to rush through it. We had an orchestra playing the most beautiful music and our friend Annabelle sang for us. One mishap that happened during the ceremony was when I put Norbert’s wedding band on his right hand instead of the left, it was a funny moment, our guests laughed and cheered after we put the ring on the correct finger. It’s something we’ll joke about for a while for sure.” For the venue the couple chose Xatt L-Ahmar Bay. “Norbert had always wanted a beach wedding, but I wasn’t too keen about the idea, although it was a great idea and I knew it would be beautiful, but I was afraid of the weather, and of all the things we had to plan and do to make it happen. At first, we were thinking of choosing Marsalforn near the salt pans. But Norbert and I went walking there one time to check how it was


and we didn’t feel like it was the right spot, one reason being that we knew we wanted to invite our guests with children and we just felt like it wasn’t a very safe place for kids. The other option was Xatt l-Ahmar, in a field that’s not exactly near the water but right above it. We knew that there was a lot of work to be done to transform the field, but it was the perfect spot. I grew up going to Xatt l-Ahmar during summer because my parents’ house is just up the road from the beach and that’s the beach we’d go to every day in summer. It’s where I learnt how to swim and I have many beautiful childhood memories there, so it was also very special to me.” For their caterers they chose Delicia Catering, whom they describe as wonderful. “They met up with us in Gozo a couple of times, to go through the menu and on location to see how everything will be placed especially the kitchen area. The one thing we wanted was to have all the food tables opened at the same time, we didn’t want to have to stay opening the tables one by one, and they found no objection with that. In fact they did everything to make sure we were happy and satisfied with


Elegant occasions.

Memorable Events. Filling every occasion with exquisite food & impeccable service. Delicia Catering is available to cater for your Wedding at a selection of forty Wedding Venues in Malta and Gozo. info@delicia-malta.com +356 99429678 / 99747714 Castello dei Baroni Wedding Venue, Triq Madonna ta’ L-Abbandunati, Wardija Find us on Facebook: Delicia Catering

the catering. They also made our cake, we wanted something simple and plain and we liked to have some orchids, so Delicia designed the cake in four tiers and our florist decorated it with orchids, just like the ones that were used in my bouquet and the bouquets at the church. Another thing they agreed upon was the dessert as they wanted most of it to consist of ice-cream, from Norbert’s familyowned business. And they actually were very enthusiastic about the idea.” The couple asked everyone on the invitation to dress in smart casual attire and suggested that they wear comfortable shoes. “We wanted everyone to just feel relaxed and enjoy themselves.” Michelle attributes her inspiration to Norbert: “he just is so creative and always keeps his cool. He wanted a beach wedding and that’s what we did. I would panic at times especially when the day was getting closer and I felt like there was so much left to do but he’d just keep calm and not once showed me that he was nervous.” “I won’t lie it wasn’t easy preparing for the wedding, it



was exhausting and there were times when I felt like I just wanted to stop everything and just do something simple. But in the end, I don’t regret any of it. We really enjoyed ourselves, we felt so close and happy during the ceremony it just felt perfect and then seeing the end result and how beautiful everything looked at the venue. And having all our friends and family with us, we had family come from Australia, from America and from Malta, and just watching them and all the kids that were there enjoying themselves, everything was just perfect. Michelle’s advice to any future bride, is to make sure you enjoy every moment leading up to your wedding day, and especially on that day because it goes by way to fast! “I would also recommend involving your fiancé in the planning. I feel really lucky that Norbert and I did a lot of planning together.”

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Megan Saia31 &May R2017ichard Povey st

photos: Tonio Lombardi

“Rich and I met after our friends introduced us – I had recently moved to London so I was going on a night out with a friend and Rich was recently single. We got on instantly and whilst I was shy, Rich was cool, confident and kept me at ease,” Megan tells WD. “After 4 years of having a distance relationship (Rich in Reading and me in London), we moved in together. Things were so chilled and easy with each other that before we knew it, we had been together 7 and a half years, which is when Rich popped the question. We would constantly talk about travels and things we wanted to achieve in the future together including having kids and living in Australia.” She admits that Rich isn’t the most romantic person but when he is, it’s definitely special. “We were in Lisbon for my birthday and after an amazing day

seeing the sights, we went out to a lovely gin bar/ steak house. The food and gin were incredible. I kind of ruined the surprise for myself earlier on in the evening when I told Rich off for wearing a jacket when it was super hot outside. His face then made me realize he actually had something in his pocket that he couldn’t carry in his shorts. The proposal was really romantic but as we both knew what was going to happen, we both couldn’t stop giggling. He proposed on a bench under this gorgeous tree that had pink flowers, holding this gigantic box that housed my gorgeous engagement ring – again, we couldn’t stop laughing at the size of the box! All in all, it is a moment I will always remember.” For her gown, Megan was looking for something fitted, strapless, lightweight and which had lace

WD | 53


detail. She also knew she wanted to be a traditional bride and to walk down the aisle with a veil. “The train and back detail were just such stunning features of the dress, I knew nothing else would compare.” Her lovely make-up was done by Jennifer Dimech - The Makeup Artist, who made sure that Megan got the look she was striving for, especially due to the weather conditions. May can be hot month and wedding make-up always needs to be applied by someone with a great deal of experience to make sure it lasts throughout the evening. Megan’s Dad and grandparents are Maltese which was the main reason for coming here to get married. “I was really close with my grandparents and they meant a lot to me so getting married in Malta was like a toast to them. I was born and raised in Australia (with mum from Hong Kong and Dad from Malta) then moved to the UK 10 years ago, while Rich’s mum is Indian/English and his Dad is English – so different cultures have always been a big


Richard and Meg worked out the preparations between themselves. “Megan was definitely the worrier and I think I helped bring her back down to earth by trying to make some decisions easier,” Rich says. The couple decided to write their own vows but say that it was only a couple of lines and nothing out of the

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The Mediterranean for many people usually signals a beach wedding and that was their initial decision, especially as they both love the outdoors. However after they were shown the villa venue, and a seaside venue for their reception they fell in love with both. “These are venues we could not ever have imagined using if we got married in the UK.”

Jennifer Dimech ty au be

part of our lives. As such, we have family from all over the world including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK and Spain. Having it in the Mediterranean meant everyone could make a holiday out of it and learn a bit of my cultural background. In fact, Rich was the one who thought of Malta in the first place – so it was big brownie points to him!”

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ordinary: “we weren’t too keen on being cheesy!” They both agree that the natural greenery, landscaping and flowers on site were more than enough to make the ceremony special. “When we saw it, we could see how magical it was and we knew that it was the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony. We then wanted a venue where we could really have a good time and let our hair down, but also show off the beauty of Malta. Being by the sea for our reception was so unique and some of our friends even said that it felt like they were in a movie.” For the ceremony they served light canapés and drinks and this was followed by a formal sit down at the reception venue. “We started the evening by cutting our cheese cake, as it meant everyone could start with a bit of cheese and nibble at it until dinner was ready. We then had hot and cold canapés, followed by a BBQ and pasta station. They then served petit fours. Everything was absolutely delicious and everyone still says to us that there was so much food at our wedding. But we believe it is always better to serve more food than less for your guests!” The cake was literally a cheese cake: so four tiers of four different types of cheeses. “We originally wanted a naked


cake but with the heat, fresh cream wouldn’t last 5 minutes. Everyone absolutely loved our cheese cake and we were in cheese heaven!” They both agree that having a destination wedding is a theme in itself – everyone travelled and got to have a holiday in Malta together. “Given my family are in Australia and Richard’s family are in the UK, getting married abroad (and Malta being kind of in the middle) was a nice chance for them to meet and spend time together – it’s likely that we’d ever have that again. More importantly, we were able to make it a week of celebrations and gatherings. Also, neither us or our friends had been to a destination wedding so it was nice to be the first. Megan recalls being excited more than anything, on the day of the wedding, especially getting ready with her parents and the girls in the morning. “Rich was still swimming in the sea until about an hour before they were all due to leave for the ceremony, so I think he was pretty chilled! Nerves definitely kicked in when we were at the altar and you’re saying your vows and everyone’s just looking


at you. It’s an unusual feeling being the centre of attention and everyone’s waiting for you to say or do something.” “There were some tiny mishaps like the candles not lighting because it was too damp near the sea. But you put so much thought into the little details that on the day, you forget about all of them because you’re so happy you’ve just married your soul mate and you’re surrounded by your nearest and dearest – nothing could have ruined that.” Megan feels that a future bride should remember that it’s the couples day, and to do whatever you want. “Make sure you communicate and make decisions with each other throughout the whole planning stage. It can be testing at times but you’re doing it together - it’s the most exciting time of your lives, so just enjoy it!



Adriana Schembri & Damien Maye 28 May 2018 th

photos: Shane P. Watts Photography

It all started with a blind date and a runny cheesecake. “We were fixed up on a blind date, by our close and mutual friends Angele and David, who are already married. They had invited us for dinner and both Damien and I felt at ease knowing we had our friends to back us up. Damien already knew a little about me, so when he found out I was a chef he decided to impress me with his homemade cheesecake,” says Adriana Damien says, “I wanted to impress Adi with my signature home made strawberry cheesecake, but it all went wrong as I forgot to put gelatin in the mixture which resulted in a very runny cheesecake! I felt mortified once we were about to serve dessert as I really wanted to leave a good impression. But nevertheless she still complimented the taste of it. From then onwards who knew that night would be the start of our journey together.” Starting a family was one of the things this couple always wanted, so after they had their son they knew that getting married was the next big step. Damien proposed while they were on a Christmas shopping trip to London. “While I can’t say it was the most romantic proposal ever, he surely took me by surprise! He was intending to propose on Christmas day with the help of our son, but couldn’t wait. When we came across a jewellery shop, he took me in and asked me to pick a style of ring I would enjoy wearing. Next thing I know he is down on one knee, in the middle of the shop, with all eyes on us. Of course, I said yes.”

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Adriana, said she was never the type to think about a wedding or wedding dresses: “The idea of wearing a huge dress with lots of frills scared me to death and I wanted to ensure that I could really enjoy our day. We had a garden spring/summer wedding, with a vintage theme so I wanted something which would reflect my personality. Jenny Packham seemed like the ideal designer, her designs are understated yet glamorous and her shapes were just the kind of thing I was looking for. When I saw myself in the dress, my heart dropped. I don’t know if I ever felt so worthy, beautiful and just plain me in something so stunning. The dress itself was very flowing, it had delicate detailed beading throughout and a backless V-shape. It almost felt like I was back in the 1920’s. It had that glamour and vintage look I really was after. It was definitely the one.” The bridesmaids’ dresses were also by the same designer while the groom organized a trip for his four best men to go back home to Ireland to choose their outfits. Just to make sure they got it right, Adriana had already spoken to the owner of the shop beforehand, just to give him an idea of what her dress looked like. “I’m Irish and I’ve got a typical big Irish family. So we had around half of our wedding guests coming from all parts of Ireland and England. That made our day even more


special as we appreciated all the efforts our guests did to celebrate the day with us,” says Damien. The night before the wedding the groom and his best men slept at the Radisson Golden Sands and in the morning they had a good breakfast and went for a swim. “I had the best feeling ever and I couldn’t stop thinking about the day ahead. It all started kicking in once the photographer arrived and we started getting ready. From then onwards I pretty much cried all the way through till she said I Do.” Adriana also had her family and bridesmaids sleep over at the Villa the night before. “The morning of the wedding arrived and with all the preparations going on outside I was delighted I could see everything come together. After all the months of planning and preparation, the day had finally arrived. It was so exciting to see all of the pieces coming together. My bridesmaids prepared a delicious layout of pancakes, waffles and all sorts of fruits while we were getting our hair and makeup done with our matching outfits. I felt so excited but it felt so surreal at the same time. I felt blessed I could get to enjoy the build up and enjoy the whole process of seeing the place getting dressed up with a stunning marquee and beautiful décor. I tried to savour the moment as much as possible.”


The most nerve-racking part of the day was the 10 minute vintage bus ride we took to the church. I felt full of emotions. I was about to make the best life changing decision in front of all the people I love and care about the most. My brother walked me down the aisle with ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ playing in the background. I could see how emotional everyone was and how loved me and Damien were. Seeing Damien at the aisle with tears filling his eyes, waiting for me filled my heart with warmth and joy. It definitely was the best part of the day.” Finding the right church was the most difficult part, since the couple wanted to have their nuptial mass at 2pm which is not the normal practice in Malta. They did not want to get married in a big church, and it had to be near Burmarrad where the venue was. However, with the help of Fr Martin they managed to book the Bidnija Chapel. A small yet charming chapel, which proved to be the perfect chapel for them. They lit a few candles in remembrance of lost loved ones. Once they had decided on a garden vintage afternoon wedding Adriana and Damien knew that they needed a different venue to what is usually available. “I came across a stunning Tal Milqi Farmhouse in Burmarrad. It


simply ticked everything on my list. Big enough to host 160 guests, seated with plenty of room left for dancing the night away. It was overlooking the country side which made it more idyllic. The outside caterer had to go through the logistics of setting up the kitchen in the backyard of the house which wasn’t easy as transporting all equipment through a tiny side road proved to be tricky. As for the menu they wanted something easygoing yet elegant. Adriana put together a menu which had an American twist with suckling pig as the main attraction and sides such as corn on the cob and macaroni and cheese. Designing cakes is one of Adriana’s passions, so as expected, she made her own wedding cake. Nothing about this wedding was traditional and the cake was not going to be an exception: “It took me a little less then two months to prepare the flowers. I had a specific design in mind, but completely changed everything at the last minute while putting the layers together. It had 5 tiers covered with delicate frills, gold leaf and lots of sugar blossom flowers.” Because of their input, Adriana and Damien ensured that their wedding day was personal as possible, which



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represented them. It combined Adriana’s love of all the things vintage, delicate and feminine in the setting and style with a little quirkiness. Helping her to achieve this theme was Johanna and her dedicated team from Bali Stuff, who made everything possible. “She knew and understood exactly what I wanted! Vintage books, draping moss and all sorts of candles made up our centerpieces for each table. I can’t thank her enough she literally took care and helped in every way possible. From lights to marquee, blue linen and all the detailed décor, you name it she delivered. I had skeleton keys (also bottle openers) as my wedding favours which were hung up on old door shutters and the guests had to find their name with the skeleton key in order to find there table.” One piece of advice the couple give is to pick a photographer that you adore. “Our photos bring me so much joy whenever I look at them and we also loved hanging out with Shane on our big day. Be flexible with the changes that will inevitably occur, but stick true to your most heartfelt vision.”



Hannah Devlin & Luke Ashby 15th September 2017

photos: Tonio Lombardi

“We met at medical school in London in 2010. I was working behind the student union bar during fresher’s week and Luke kept coming to the bar ordering more and more drinks! After my shift finished, he plucked up some Dutch courage and asked me out on a date. (After telling me he thought I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen). Over the next couple of months, he completely swept me off my feet by treating me to amazing dates in London and then we became official a few months later”, says Hannah. Luke proposed to her in Edinburgh, Scotland. “It was the most romantic weekend and completely caught me off guard! We checked into a beautiful boutique hotel and then went for a walk. He had managed to keep the proposal a complete surprise from me. At the time, I couldn’t work out why he wouldn’t let me buy gloves on the walk despite it being absolutely freezing (he wanted my fingers free for the ring when he proposed). We walked to the top of Carlton hill in Edinburgh, which has a stunning view over the city and he asked me to marry him. Very smooth and

romantic, even though he did nearly kneel in a puddle when he got down on one knee to propose.” Hannah wanted something sleek and simple for her wedding gown, which had an elegant silhouette with a low back. She knew she wanted a light and silky material given how hot Gozo gets. “I knew it was the right decision when I came out of the fitting room and saw the look on my mother’s face! I love how the dress made me feel…when you know, you know.” While Hannah found it relatively easy to choose her bridal party, which was made up of university friends and Luke’s sister, Luke found deciding on his best man and ushers the hardest part of the wedding. He has so many close friends that he wanted to be involved that it took him a lot of sleepless nights to be able to decide. Finally, Luke chose friends that he had shared their weddings with and knew that they would be fantastic at helping plan a wonderful wed-

WD | 69



ding. Matt the best man organized an unbelievable stag do sailing around Gozo and gave a hilarious speech. The ushers were incredible at helping support Luke and execute all the plans for the big day. The decision to have a destination wedding in Gozo came about because this is a very special place for this couple. Luke’s dad lived in Gozo during the 1970’s and bought a small flat in Xaghra so Luke has been visiting the island since he was a child. “I had the pleasure of exploring and experiencing the incredible scenery, food and people for the first time when Luke took me in 2011. It felt that the only place that was right for us to marry was in Gozo as it is our special place.” When a couple is planning a wedding from overseas, a local wedding planner is essential. Luke and Hannah found just the right person in Elaine Zarb who was recommended to them when they were looking at venues. “We had a meeting with her and we knew straight away that she was not only going to make our wedding incredible but she was going to take away all the stress involved – especially when organising a wedding in Gozo from the UK. “ “There are not enough words to explain how incredible


Elaine Zarb was at organizing our wedding. From our first meeting it was clear that she wanted to organize a special day that was unique to us, she asked us lots of questions about our likes and dislikes and seemed to be able to immediately grasp what type of wedding we wanted. Elaine has a very calming nature and would set out options for us that she thought that we would like – she was always right. She was always easy to contact throughout the planning, which was essential for us. Elaine went above and beyond what we would have expected from a wedding planner and the fact that we had our dream day was due to her. We could not recommend her more to anyone who is planning a wedding in Gozo. (Plus she was unbelievably good value!)” Because they had specific requests, Hannah and Luke needed lots of guidance in designing a wedding that would uphold English wedding traditions but would also have a truly Maltese feel. “We did not want to just have an English wedding in the sun, we wanted to incorporate all the things we love about Gozo with some of the things we enjoy from weddings in the UK. Elaine was able to guide us through this very difficult brief.” Elaine was equally pleased to have been chosen to plan this wedding, particularly because she appreciated the


couple’s love for the place she was born. “Luke and Hannah were such a dream to work with. The love they have for each other is so evident from how they look at and talk to each other. Gozo holds a special place in their heart, and it was so nice they wanted to honour this island in their wedding, from using local greenery in their bouquets and olive branches with their napkins to serving local beer to the guests during the cocktail hour, and letting off fireworks after the cake cutting.” With 105 guests travelling to the island for the wedding, it was truly an international affair wth people flying in from the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland apart from the guests from Gozo. The venue was probably the most breathtaking aspect of the ceremony as the couple were married at a magical, picturesque, little restaurant on a cliff edge in the isolated Gozo countryside overlooking the stunning blue sea all the way to Malta in the distance. Luke had brought Hannah here for lunch on her birthday before he proposed. “I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever been; the atmosphere and the food was fabulous. I knew right there and then that it was where I wanted to marry Luke. I did not tell him this until the day after he proposed – when


I sent an enquiry to find out availability.” To make the ceremony special they had a cellist play Hannah’s favourite piece of music as she walked down the aisle as a surprise for Luke (“as I play the cello at home and am constantly playing that piece of music in our flat”). There were two readings by Hannah’s mother and one by Luke’s best friends. “To make them special we asked them to choose the readings themselves and read them as a surprise at the ceremony. My mother read a passage from my favorite book, The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman. It was very emotional! Finally, as we left the ceremony as husband and wife – Luke’s best friend played an acoustic cover of Feel The Love by Rudimental which is our favourite song. It was a beautiful soundtrack to the incredible background of the blue sea as all our friends clapped and cheered. It was a fantastic ending to the ceremony. This was followed by a reception at the nearby palazzo where the guests ate under the trees in a courtyard of an old fort. “We wanted to have local food for the wedding and we were not disappointed. It was a feast. Our guests do not stop telling us how incredible the food was and how full they were.”


The beautiful wedding cake was a traditional lemon cake with olive leaves for decoration. The theme for the wedding was olive leaves to ensure the traditional Mediterranean colours were present to enhance the day. “We wanted to break from the traditional colours and floral choices of an English wedding to better fit in with our vision of a unique Gozo experience.” Looking back on the day, Hannah admits that they both felt a little nervous but the overwhelming emotion was excitement. Helping to calm her nerves was make-up artist Daniela Cassar who has a great deal of experience, having done the wedding make up for countless foreign and local brides. The natural look she created for Hannah was just right to enhance her lovely brunette complexion, and to complement her flowing dress, as well as the down-to-earth look and the feel of the entire wedding. “As soon as I saw Luke waiting for me at the end of the aisle any nerves I had immediately disappeared as I knew that I was about to marry the man of my dreams. It was a little hotter than we expected and the guests drank a bit (a lot) more wine that we thought they would, but in the end it was just one perfect day.”



Lauren Galea & Steven Galea 21 October 2018 st

photos: Shane P. Watts Photography

It was the summer of 2007, and Facebook had not yet caught on. Which was why Lauren and Steven, who met while they were both working at Ta’ Marija restaurant, started chatting on MSN, since they were both too busy to talk at work. “Steven tried asking me out on a date several times, but I was so naive at that time that I didn’t even realize. Eventually he got his new car and he told me that after work he’ll take me home and I had no choice. I guess after 10 years dating, it was only natural that at any moment he might pop the question, especially given the fact that in 2014 we sealed a deal on our home.” He popped the question on Lauren’s lucky 25th birthday at a fine dining restaurant in Santorini. He had planned a beautiful sunset at his backdrop but his plan failed as thick low lying clouds came over the Caldera and covered the cliffs underneath us. However, Laurent still felt like it was heaven on earth: “I can say that after the proposal my head was literally in the clouds! He proposed before dinner and had the staff involved as they took a video of the special moment.” Lauren’s off the shoulder A-Line dress is a Susanna Rivieri design. “ It took me at least an hour to say yes to the dress as I wasn’t 100% happy with the “big” skirt! But my mum and my bridesmaids were very supportive and encouraged me to buy the dress.”

WD | 77



Surrounded by her close friends for her bridal party, she chose a burgundy colour for their dresses, which was perfect for an Autumn theme. This couple had always wanted a small church or chapel for their wedding and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, in Mtahleb was always on their mind. “For me Mtahleb reminds me of all those winter Sunday afternoons when we would go down to the valley with my cousins for a walk and afterwards enjoy a cup of tea. Steven was more convinced about holding our wedding mass at Mtahleb Church than me because I was afraid that guests will get disheartened as it is quite far away. But after failed attempts at other churches, we decided to go for it. We opted to have the wedding mass celebrated at 4:00pm because the views from the church provide a spectacular backdrop for photos. Especially in Autumn when sunset is at around 5:30pm! The results of the photos picture everything I had in mind about this church.� Their wedding venue, not too far from the Church, and with views of Mdina, also fitted in with their idea for an Autumn wedding.


The theme of Burlap and Lace with a touch of rose gold, was just right for this season, as Malta’s countryside starts changing colours after the first seasonal rains. The colour scheme was burgundy, burlap brown, cream and rose gold. “The burgundy was kept in moderation since its quite prominent, so I used it only for the bridesmaid dresses and some flowers. The rose gold was used in the accessories of the bridal team and candle holders which I made myself. The burlap brown was used in all the other decorations also made by myself and the wedding invitations,” Lauren pointed out. Because she is very environmentally conscious, Lauren decided to make most of the decorations herself using recycled materials. The guests loved them, especially the souvenirs which were bulbs of the Freesia Flower packed in a burlap sack with a lace detail. The last few weeks were quite hectic as Lauren was juggling the chores of cleaning the house before moving in and reconfirming all the details with the vendors. “Since I work on a shift roster, it was easier for me to start the vacation leave earlier and handle last minute preparations instead of Steve. But in the end we both worked together


to make sure everything runs smoothly on the day. On the eve of the wedding I was slightly nervous - or as the bridesmaids and groomsmen would tell you, in a bridezilla mode – because I was going through every detail of the events with my wedding party and my parents while ensuring that we didn’t miss anything. My parents were also slightly nervous and excited at the same time but Steven was very relaxed. He was confident that I had done a great job at handling everything, because I am super organised and love organizing events.” “For me the most special thing was that we celebrated our wedding with our dearest family and friends and everyone enjoyed the wedding from beginning to end! Steven and I had a blast and we only wish that it lasted longer.”


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