WeddingDay Back to Nature
ISSUE NO. 13
Mediterranean Summer Fresh & Zesty
LIVE THE DREAM
LIVE THE MAGIC
MAKE IT REALITY
EVERY WEDDING DESERVES PALAZZO PARISIO
29, Victory Square, Naxxar - Malta • weddings@palazzoparisio.com www.palazzoparisio.com
E
ditorial
WD’s editor Josanne Cassar Summer brings Malta out in all its glorious best. Everyone is more relaxed, the days are longer and no one ever wants to go home! As an island, we live our lives outdoors during this season, and there is absolutely nothing quite as magical as a summer wedding set against the backdrop of our beautiful, shimmering blue sea. With so many different styles of venues to choose from, and with more churches than you can count, any couple planning their wedding here is spoiled for choice. Whether it’s a laidback casual wedding party at the breathtaking Ggantija Temples, or something more regal and classic at the truly unique St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, Malta has something for everyone. We have five very different kinds of weddings for you in this issue, together with a meticulously planned proposal in London and a blast from the past as we feature a very retro cool 1970s wedding where the bride wore…a pantsuit.
What ties all our stories together in this issue is their very ‘international’ feel, with couples and their guests flying in from all over the world, confirming once again that destination weddings are a thriving industry in Malta. And once you have read the wedding stories in this issue, and taken a look at the marvelous photography which shows the beauty of Malta, you will understand why our islands continue to be so much in demand by foreign couples, as well as couples who have travelled the world but want to tie the knot in the land they still consider ‘home’. So we invite you to kick back and enjoy leafing through WD’s summer issue, and we hope to see all of you reading our magazine at the beach!
Josanne
on the cover
Tezara Eve Camilleri • design by Jessica C. Moritz • printed at Bestprint, Qrendi • published by Mojo Publishing Limited
Disclaimer: MOJO Publishing Limited 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 Limited • Flat 3, Il-Gardina, Constitution Street, Mosta, MST 9051 • M: 99 425985 • info@weddingdaymalta.com
contents - Summer Issue 2015 -
04 A Proposal in London 10 Blast from the Past
04
10
14
28
40
52
60
70
14 Back to Nature 28 Maria & Roderick
40 Andrea & Benjamin 52 Maria & Christopher
60 Jade & Laurence 70 Mathilde & Paul
B R I N G I N G Y O U R D AY T O B L O O M Romano Cassar is one of Malta’s oldest companies within the flower business. We are a team made up of full-time professional designers, and the passion, skill and enthusiasm of our florists is evident in each and every one of our creations. Bearing in mind that each wedding is totally unique, we dedicate as much time as necessary to liaise with you and take your wishes on board in order to come up with an exceptional set up for your special day. We pride ourselves on being experts in beautiful floral arrangements that will thrill you and your guests.
romanocassar.com Romano Cassar Ltd. 24,Hammieri Road,Qormi.QRM1509
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A proposal in London Here at WD we love a romantic proposal. That is why when Maria Gauci told us about how her boyfriend Brad proposed, we knew you would want to read her story!
photos by Hector
“Brad and I met at work. I had been working with Air Malta for two years, when on June, 3rd 2012, I was called in from stand by, for a flight to Hamburg. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was looking forward to wearing the new uniform for the first time but I wasn’t so pleased that I had to get ready in such a short time since the transport was already waiting outside for me. On our way to the airport, we passed through Naxxar to pick up a new cabin crew member. It was Brad and it was his very first familiarisation flight. Knowing how agitated I had been two years before on my very first flight, I tried to make this newbie feel more at ease. I started up a conversation with him, however, I have to admit it wasn’t love at first sight. We just enjoyed our little chat, went to Hamburg and back and almost never saw each other again for the next two years. It was only two years later, at a mutual friends’ birthday party that I met Brad again. We started talking and I must say he had this effect on me no one has ever had before. He was in a really good shape I must
say and I remember telling my girlfriends how hot I think Brad had become. But I brushed the thought away, as Brad is three years younger than me and I never imagined myself with someone younger. I made myself forget all about Brad, until we came across each other again at Air Malta’s 40th birthday celebration and danced the night away during an after party. After that, our attraction turned into love and just 8 months later, Brad proposed to me in London. But I didn’t say ‘yes’… let me tell you why… I later learned that Brad had been plotting to propose to me for months, while ordering the ring from Wall Street in New York. He had the ring made in the form of a tree twig which turned into a flower at the top with a diamond as its bud. The reason for the twig was because I had once told him that I wanted to design a ring from a twig which reminded me of him. So he did the twig for me, instead. For my birthday we travelled to London. He told me to leave the day of my birthday free since he was going to organise something for me. That
morning at breakfast, I was taking it easy and enjoying the lavishness of the food. Brad only took two pieces of fruit which was odd since we’re big food lovers and usually he enjoys breakfast as much as I do. The truth was he was nervous, but I had no idea of course! He started rushing me and reminding me that he had planned something for me at 10am. I was becoming a bit upset since it was my birthday and couldn’t understand the rush. At 9:45am we arrived at Borough’s market. While Brad was looking around supposedly for a sign to some place, a man approached me and asked me whether we could pose casually for him as a couple in a photo shoot. I told him that I was sorry, but we were in a hurry. He explained that this wouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes. I looked at Brad and he said that we could afford 5 minutes as there was still time. I asked what the photos would be used for and he explained that they were for the market’s monthly paper. I drilled him some more with questions and finally I said OK. So we started walking through this market, hand in hand, while this photographer took pictures of us touring the market. It’s an amazing market so
bustling with life and flavours. After a while he said, ‘this will be the last photo I will take and I want you to stand, facing each other, with your right hand in each other’s’. So we did, and at that moment Brad went down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The world stopped, and all the people gathered around us at the market (or that’s how it felt). My first answer was ‘you’re crazy’, and then he asked again and I said ‘heqq mela!’ (ok, sure) – and that was my answer to the big question! Obviously, the whole photographer thing was set up from Malta and they both were really nervous before the proposal that I would drill the photographer with questions – which I did! Later I discovered the photographer is called Hector and Brad had chosen him from the website www.flytographer.com. The reason Brad chose Borough’s market was because we’re both big foodies and we always look
for artisan markets whenever we go abroad. You can learn so much about a place through its markets. He believes it’s impersonal to propose in a restaurant, while sitting down, so he came up with this brilliant plan. Of course, in the evening we celebrated with an amazing culinary experience at London’s most exquisite 3 Michelin star restaurant Five Fields, which I highly recommend. We have decided to get married in two years’ time, on our third anniversary. We’re planning a big Easter wedding as Easter symbolises new life and happiness for us and we’re going to live in the house my parents gave us in St Paul’s Bay.” Maria’s message to Brad: “Thank you for being you, and for being the B in the ‘B&M’. I am proud of what we have and look forward to promising you my love for the rest of my life in two year’s time.” Photography by Hector from We Heart Pictures.
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last from the Past: A Cool Retro Wedding from the 70s
When we came across Arlette and David Grech’s wedding photos from 1974, all we could think was: who WAS this ultra fashionable couple who epitomized 1970s cool? Luckily for us, they agreed to share not only their photos but also their story. “My family and friends loved my outfit because it was original and I had no negative comments from them. Again, they knew what I was like so the outfit suited my character and nobody tried to talk me out of it. In fact, those who knew what I was going to wear were quite excited. My mother designed and sewed my outfit as she was an excellent seamstress. She learned her craft in the Far East where she was taught by an excellent Indian teacher named Mr Kassen. They used to have lessons weekly for them to have something to do. He realised Mum was a natural and she loved designing and making clothes. She Arlette says she was never a traditionalist, “maybe because between the ages of 9 to 15, I was brought up first in the Far East and later in South Wales in the UK. Tradition, for us, was not the norm, and I just liked being different.” It was this determination to break with tradition which made her decide not to wear the usual wedding gown, but this chic white pant suit. “My husband-to-be David was delighted when I told him what I was wearing. Maybe one of the reasons he was attracted to me was precisely because I was a little bit different. I remember my mother was horrified that I did not want to wear gloves so she asked my Aunt Dolores to come home and sweet talk me into wearing gloves and to carry a bouquet of flowers.” “When I walked down the aisle at St. Gregory’s Church the late Father Mifsud, the parish priest, was waiting for me. I remember when he saw me he looked visibly shocked but when I arrived near him he gave me a lovely smile. It was such a funny sight, but luckily he knew me well and he must have said ‘she is at it again’.”
also made her own patterns and never bought any ready-made patterns. When we came to Malta she started giving private lessons. Arlette said if she had to get married again, she would do the same all over again. “I would wear culottes I would not wear a dress or a veil. It’s not me. I am too much of an extrovert to even contemplate wearing a veil. I am still the same person inside as I was in 1974 when we got married and incidentally my romantic husband chose the wedding date 14th February, St Valentine’s day.”
Coliseum Arcades, Zachary Street, Valletta Tel: 2122 4234 • Email: weddingbells@sis.net.mt Website: WeddingBells.bridemalta.com • www.theweddingsite.com/weddingbells LIKE US ON www.facebook.com/weddingbells.valletta
MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER back to nature
T
he naturally beautiful surroundings of Il-Kantra Beach Club at Ta’ Cenc Hotel in Sannat, were chosen for this photo shoot. With its wild garigue clinging to the cliffs overlooking the breathtaking Mgarr ix-Xini, this area provided the perfect setting for our set stylist Elaine Zarb to create a Mediterranean theme. After a winter of record rainfall, we were lucky to find lush greenery and bursts of yellow flowers covering the hillside. Katerina, our photographer for this issue, came up with some amazing shots, thanks to our very obliging model, the delightful Tezara Eve Camilleri, who never once complained about trekking all over the jagged rocks! Inspired by the unspoiled charm of Il-Kantra, Elaine used pops of yellow to complement the blue of the sea with touches of green. Giving the traditional wedding cake a different twist, she also used lemons as a decorating statement. Elaine also created a tableaux of fresh herbs, so that guests could throw fresh herbs instead of the usual confetti. The different fresh herbs in different bowls, all have their meaning displayed. Authentic fishermen’s nets add to the Mediterranean theme especially as Il-Kantra is literally looking over the water’s edge. When you are decorating such an amazing spot, which is full of interesting, natural features, the ideal is to work with what you have and to enhance the ruggedness of the place with quaint touches.
WD | 17
Fresh
zesty lemons, natural herbs and green foliage set against an azure sea
THE HAIR For this issue we deliberately wanted a model with short hair to show our readers that a bride does not necessarily have to grow her hair out for her wedding. Tezara’s look is very unique and Joe Briffa from Hairoscope was able to demonstrate that short hair can still can be interesting. The hair was blow dried and flicked out and then left natural using the fewest possible products. First we opted to put a delicate headpiece on the side, then to change the look and give it a more natural feel, we used fresh flowers in the hair. Both looks show that versatility is very possible even with a short hairstyle, especially if a bride is willing to experiment with different hair accessories. THE FLOWERS Joseph Baldacchino from Flower Arts provided this gorgeous and original bridal bouquet with its mixture of wild flowers consisting of wild roses, peonies and summer fillers, which once again reflect the yellow and green colour scheme. The cake (p.16) Felicienne from Cakes by Phil kept the cake fresh, summery and fun as the shoot’s theme required. The cake was simple yet striking and the fresh flowers in between each cake layer complemented the simple design of the cake brilliantly.
WD | 22
THE DRESS
OUR MODEL
Marquita from Wedding Bells provided us with this short fun wedding gown with a retro feel that would be ideal for a more laid-back bride who wants a less formal, perhaps smaller wedding. This one shouldered dress has a tulle skirt while the bodice is covered in guipure lace.Â
Readers will probably recognize Tezara from the hit TV show Il-Klikka where she showed her talent as an actress. It turns out that Tezara is also an absolute natural in front of the camera when it comes to modelling as well, which was especially important for us on this particular shoot, since it was shot all outdoors. It was a very long, challenging day with variable weather conditions and yet to look at the photos you would not know it, as her vibrancy and charm simply leap from the page. In between acting, modelling and various part-time jobs, the indefatigable Tezera has now gone back to school where she is studying to become a midwife.
THE Make-up Spring/summer makeup is all about clean, come-as-youare skin and the best look is all about spontaneity and simplicity. Tezara was the perfect model as make up artist Daniela Cassar did not want to apply heavy makeup for this particular look. She kept the foundation to a minimum and used a mineral oil primer to give the face a natural, glowing look. The eye shadow palette chosen was based on bronzes and coppers. Bronze cream eye shadow was used on the whole eye socket, copper on the ball of the eyelid and a yellow gold powder eye shadow to the inner corner of the eye to open it up. To contour the eye, black pencil eyeliner was used, smudged with dark brown to soften the look. Peach blusher was used on the cheeks and a lighter shade above the cheek bone to enhance the cheeks. The final touch was orange lipstick which complements the bronze eye shadow and Tezara’s Mediterranean complexion.
WD | 24
CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Creative Director Jessica C. Moritz www.jessmor.com Photographer Katerina Vella-Ryabkova photobykaterina@gmail.com • M: +356 99536694 https://www.facebook.com/katerinavellaryabkova CONCEPT & SET StyliNG Elaine Zarb of Elegant Impressions www.elegantimpressions.eu • M: +356 99831213 Floral Design Joseph Baldacchino of Flower Arts www.flowerarts.net • M: +356 9926 0645 Bridal fashion styling Marquita Kemper of WeddingBells T: +356 21224234 • E: weddingbells@sis.net.mt MAKE-UP Daniela Cassar E: dan1305@go.net.mt • M: +356 99130575 hair Jo Briffa of Hairoscope E: jobriffa@gmail.com T: +356 21659442 • M: +356 99224750 WEDDING CAKE Cakes by Phil E: weddingcakesbyphil@outlook.com • M +356 7905 9355
DANIELA CASSAR
the official makeup artist for Wedding Day Magazine Tel: +356 99130575
-
dan1305@go.net.mt
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facebook.com/dcassarmakeup
Coliseum Arcades, Zachary Street, Valletta Tel: 2122 4234 • Email: weddingbells@sis.net.mt Website: WeddingBells.bridemalta.com • www.theweddingsite.com/weddingbells LIKE US ON www.facebook.com/weddingbells.valletta
9th August 2014
Maria Bugeja & Roderick Axisa photos by Tonio Lombardi
“O
ur story began when we were teenagers, 10 years ago”, says Maria. “We used to hang out with the same group of friends and attended Junior College together. We were young and never thought that our relationship would eventually lead us to getting married. When we started dating we already knew each other well so the decision to get married was quite consensual. We felt that we wanted to spend more time together and continue our love and commitment as a married couple.” The proposal was a surprise at the Hilton on the bride’s 26th birthday. The groom booked a facial for Maria at the same hotel so that he could have time to decorate the room with “Will you marry me?” balloons, sushi and champagne. For many brides, choosing just the right gown is one of the most important decisions they will make. Many think they know what they want until they start looking around and trying on different styles.
WD | 31
The style of dress she finally choice surprised even Maria herself: “I was looking for a lace fitted dress, preferably backless. The dress chose me, not vice versa. When I was looking at the catalogue, I couldn’t imagine myself wearing it. It was the third dress out of four that I chose to try on. It was completely different from what I thought I would be wearing for my wedding day.” Maria and Roderick were after an elegant, vintage inspired style for their wedding stationery: a heavy card stock invitation with letter pressed typography. The choice fell on invites4U by Polidano Press who are known for their wide variety of printing methods and finishes including die cutting, hot-foiling, blind-em-
WD | 32
bossing and thermography (raised printing). Aldo Polidano offered a fresh take on the traditional letter pressed invitation and the final product was sophisticated and exquisite. Initially, to achieve the desired board thickness that the couple requested, three layers of a Fine Ecru Ribbed board were bound together. The heavy card stock was ideal to achieve the timeless dimensional look created by the pressing of the text onto the surface of the board. The fonts were selected carefully, settling on a classic script for the names and an easier-to-read serif font for the details – simple yet elegant! The invitation was mailed in a matching textured ecru envelope and the remainder of the stationery was given the same treatment as for the main invitation. The couple were delighted with the results: “We chose Polidano Press because they were the only print shop that offered customized service in all aspects. They were very helpful and satisfied our requirements in the type of paper, calligraphy and size . We showed
WD | 34
them an invitation that we managed to get hold of from the US and they recreated it perfectly.” The maid of honour was Roderick’s sister and the bridesmaid was Maria’s best friend. The bridesmaids agreed on the colour suggested by the bride but they chose the style of their respective dresses. For the flower girl, Maria wanted a ‘ballerina’ style ivory dress. For the wedding ceremony the couple chose the Marsaxlokk parish church, known as Madonna ta’ Pompei. Entertainment was booked through Tunin Entertainment who have a wide range of musicians on their books. Eleanor Cassar sang at the wedding mass while The Residents provided the music at the reception. The reception was held at a venue by the sea as Maria is from Marsaxlokk and a seaside wedding was her dream. “We changed the pre-set menu slightly, but we were very satisfied by what we managed to put together. We chose a simple yet elegant plain cake to match the venue. We went for a traditional style wedding, with a shabby chic touch. We didn’t want to overdo it with regards to
WD | 35
decorations as we felt that the Marsamxett Harbour is an attraction in itself.” The wedding decor and organization on the day was in the hands of Elaine Zarb from Elegant Impressions (who styles WD’s photo shoots). Elaine has a great eye for detail and can turn any venue into a photographer’s dream, with just the right personal touches which she co-ordinates hand-in-hand with the couple. Elaine enjoyed working with this fun couple, who were always up for a laugh. “Their colour scheme was turquoise and pinks. We decorated the entrance to the venue with mason jars and lanterns, as well as a collage of their pre-wedding photos. As soon as guests entered the area, there was a vintage luggage where guests could put their cards, as well as a display of souvenirs, which were scented soap in the shape of cupcakes. There were also tags, displayed on a vintage silver stand, where guests could write their well-wishes and pin them on a board. With regards to the set up, they had various bistro tables scattered around the area. On the bistro tables, we put vintage-inspired bubble vases decorated with an ar-
WD | 36
rangement of pink flowers. They also had seated tables, which we decorated with many vintage-inspired votives and vases filled with candles and flowers.” On the day before the wedding, everyone involved gathered at the bride’s house in order to run through the schedule and duties one last time. As everyone was well-prepared and organized, everything ran smoothly and they were quite relaxed on the wedding day. The bridal party was also given some of the best advice WD has ever heard: “Whatever happens, the bride was not to be told.” Maria need not have worried as they had a perfect day with their families and close friends.
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12th September 2014
Andrea Gatt & Benjamin Sykes photos by Shane P. Watts
T
he workplace is one of the most common places where couples meet each other and that was the case with Ben and Andrea. However, Andrea admits that at first she didn’t like him. “He brought lots of good new energy to the team and I felt that he was showing me up! He did lots of the work I should have been doing but was too lazy to do it. We used to play tricks on him and send him pretend Valentine’s cards from a girl we knew liked him. Once when he was going on a date, he went to the gym first and left his shoes under his desk – so we hid both his shoes in different places – we went home forgetting about it, but then when I came out of the Tube I had loads of missed calls from him. He had to go to the date wearing his suit with trainers as he couldn’t
WD | 40
find where we’d hid his shoes.” Despite her initial feelings, the couple started dating and then Ben left the company and moved to Ireland. They managed to keep the relationship going and Andrea would go to see him every two or three weeks, and he would come back to London. “We did that for a year and finally moved in together back in London. After a few years, well you just know when you have something good going!” Andrea tells us that the proposal was not only very romantic but completely unexpected. “We had talked about getting married but we had just bought a flat, so a wedding was not something which was in the near future. We trekked up Machu
Piccu in Peru for a holiday that same year, and spent four days camping and trekking, no proper showers, very smelly, with no make up and wearing the same clothes for a few days. We arrived at the Sun Gate, it was so beautiful and worth every minute of tiredness and effort to get up there. Then we walked down towards the main site and we stopped by some ruins on the way – no-one else was there. We stood and admired the view, still carrying our huge backpacks and Ben turned to me and got down on one knee. He had brought the ring all the way from home, travelled with it, trekked with it in his jacket, and I think was relieved to hand over the responsibility to me! It was so romantic, unexpected and in such a beautiful setting, among the mountains and the Inca ruins, I’ll never forget it.” That wonderful proposal was soon following by shopping for the all important wedding dress, which Andrea purchased at a wedding fair in London. Originally she wanted something low key and “non-weddingy”, but as sometimes happens when brides start
trying dresses on, in the end, she went completely the opposite way. “It sounds very cheesy, but I really did feel just very good when I saw myself in the dress. It brightened me up, and it was very sparkly which I thought would go beautifully with the shimmery setting of the deep blue sea in Malta.” Her sister was the maid of honour and her old school friends were bridesmaids. “I also asked my good friend Ana whom I met when I lived in Barcelona 10 years ago. We shared some great memories and I wanted her to be a part of the day even though she lives on the other side of the world in Mexico.” Although they did not have a wedding planner, they did have a little bit of help on the day from a local professional organiser. The invitations were lovingly hand-made by Andrea with the help of her sister and mother who also made the beautiful leather luggage tags for everyone as keepsakes.
WD | 43
With her bridal party scattered all over the world, Andrea just decided to buy the dresses for them herself, opting for a design which the girls could wear in any style they wished to suit them, which was perfect. When it came to choosing the ushers they simply chose the most organised people they knew. “The best man was always going to be Ben’s brother Tom, and he is organised anyway which was a bonus.” Andrea is originally from Malta, as her surname indicates, and she has lots of family here so a destination wedding on the island was the obvious choice. “We didn’t want to get married in England and risk a rainy day. We wanted to go on holiday and take everyone with us, so we did. We had over 60 friends and family come from all over the world - England, Mexico, France, USA, Italy, and even faraway Chile. So it was a nice eclectic mix!”
What truly made this wedding stand out was that they held their ceremony at the Ggantija Temples. “They had never had a wedding of more than about four people before at the temples so ours was definitely a first! It was the perfect spot.” It was Ben who found the venue for the ceremony and it is no wonder that they agreed on it immediately because of the spectacular views. It also just happens to be the oldest standing man-made structure in the world which as Andrea point out makes it “pretty special”. “Daphne Caruana at the temples was very easy to deal with and was very happy to help us. We really loved it there. We had delicious canapés and Pimms organized for us at the temples and it all went smoothly.” The reception was held at a restaurant which had an outside terrace. Together with her bridal party, Andrea decorated the venue, with the additional help of the restaurant management. It was a magical place to
hold their reception with its lit up trees and lovely views of the valley. The typical Mediterranean menu was a mixture of seafood and barbecued meats, seasoned with fresh ingredients. The cake was made by Andrea’s mother and involved months of pain-staking practice to get the sponge perfect. She also made lots of beautiful little flowers out of icing to decorate the cake. “There was a cascade of flowers, representing the national flower of each of the countries that Ben and I have in our family – so we had the national flower of Chile, England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It was lovely!”
WD | 46
The colour scheme running throughout the day were different shades of blue to go with the beautiful hue of Andrea’s Sapphire engagement ring. When she talks about the big day, Andrea recalls it as being completely hectic. “The week had been pretty stressful anyway as we were ferrying so many of our friends and family to and from Malta, finding a florist, decorating the venue, organising a prewedding big-group dinner, hosting a pre-wedding big barbecue get together, so it was pretty full on. But we loved it and when the day of the wedding came it was more of a relief that we could finally relax a bit more.” There was one small hiccup when Ben arrived and saw there were no chairs at all for the ceremony. “The supplier was late so Ben and his ushers had to put out all 85 chairs in the hot weather, which was not ideal. However, the rest of the day went perfectly. We also had an unplanned pool party when we left the venue as everyone jumped into the pool at 4am and the last ones to bed got in at 6.30am!” “Although everyone says this, it’s really true that it was the best day of our lives and I would do it all again, exactly the same, tomorrow if I could. We absolutely loved it. The whole day was special –
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there was not one thing in particular – just having everybody there together, seeing everything come together after so many months of planning and effort. It was all so worth it and we have the most amazing memories to keep.” The couple took off in a jeep amazingly decorated by Andrea’s Dad and her cousin Cristina and they later set off for their honeymoon which they spent in Sicily and Isquia.
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3rd October 2014
Maria Zahra & Christopher Spiteri photos by Sean Azzopardi
J
ust when you think that the idea of childhood sweethearts is a thing of the past, this couple proves that the concept still exists. Chris and Maria have known each other since they were 13. “We are both musicians and used to play with the same band club. Even though we were friends I never imagined that someday I would end up going out with Chris. That’s why I did not find it awkward when on my 22nd birthday, Chris asked me out to dinner, assuming that it was just a dinner with a friend. He took me to a very posh restaurant in Valletta, and it was then that I realised that this was something more!” In 2007 they decided to take a big step and move to Milan to continue their musical studies there. “We lived together for 6 years and, as freelance musicians, we both had the opportunity to travel a lot. However, we somehow felt the need to return to our country, so in 2013 we decided to come back to Malta. Even though we both miss our Italian friends and the life that we had there, we always wanted to settle down and get married in Malta in order to stay close to our families. We bought our house in January 2014 and knew we wanted to get married that same year. As Chris is a member of the Big Band Brothers, it was pretty obvious that the entertainment at our wedding would be left in their capable hands. They only had one date available in their busy schedule and that was how we chose October, 3rd!”
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For their 8th anniversary in December 2013, Chris organised a special dinner at the same posh restaurant in Valletta where he had taken Maria on their first date. In the middle of the dinner he kneeled down on one knee, took out a ring and proposed. “Being a very emotional person, I started crying and sobbing and it took me about 5 minutes to actually say the famous “yes”, with Chris still kneeling down on one knee waiting for a reply! Maria was lucky not to have to worry too much about her wedding dress. “All my life I had a clear idea who the seamstress would be…and that was my mother, Joyce.” But what is a girl to do when she cannot make up her mind what style of dress she wants? “I like both ball gowns and mermaid dresses. Therefore, I decided to go for two dresses, one on top of each other. Together with my mother, we came up with the design of these two dresses, keeping in mind that we didn’t want anyone to notice what we had in mind. The only people who knew about these dresses were the bridesmaids as they had to help me change dresses in front of everyone in the middle of the reception. Looking back at the wedding photos I still think of how lucky I am to have such a talented mother who
managed to come up with the wedding dress of my dreams.” The couple bought their rings from 202 Jewellers. The bride says, “We made sure everything was perfect for our wedding and for our marriage, which meant we were very choosy when it came to the wedding rings. We didn’t know exactly what we wanted, however we knew we wanted a great quality piece, with a best possible finish at the best value. The Rauschmayer Wedding band Collection at 202 Jewellery offered exactly that. We were provided with an amazing selection to choose from plus the opportunity to bespoke any ring of our choosing. I finally chose a white gold ring that complements my engagement ring with a diamond in the middle. Chris chose a white gold ring with a touch of rose gold as well. We have also decided to engrave our names and wedding date to the rings.” “When it came to choosing the bridal shoes, I swore that choosing comfortable shoes was the most important thing. I imagined myself wearing ballerina shoes to be able to dance through the night without feeling pain. I went around many shops trying on different types of shoes, only to discover that ballerina shoes were comfortable but not so classy, and the classy ones had uncomfortable heels. I finally visited Bubbles where I was greeted with a very
helpful salesgirl. As soon as I tried on a peep-toe shoe with a heel high and comfortable enough to make me feel elegant, I immediately fell in love with them. I tried walking with them around the shop and they were so easy to walk in that I forgot I was even wearing them. This helped me to enjoy my wedding day without tiring myself and I never even considered taking them off. It was easy for Maria to choose her bridal party, which included the couple’s three sister in-laws as bridesmaids, her youngest cousin as the flower girl, and their nephew as the pageboy. “I tried to involve them as much as possible and they were as excited as I was during the wedding preparations, which made it even more exciting. When we finally decided on the type of dress and the colour that suited all three of them, it was again in my mother’s hands to sew them.” Maria has always been an avid reader of WeddingDay magazine, and in fact chose her hairstylist (Hairoscope), make-up artist (Daniela Cassar) and florist (Alistair Fenech) from the previous issues of WeddingDay. “I was really satisfied with the result and would recommend them to any future bride.” The hair was styled to perfection to suit Maria’s slim face, while the make up was flawless and enhanced all her best features. “Nearly every evening my family would end up at
my parents’ house discussing and making things by hand. This included making souvenirs, decorating champagne glasses for the bridal party and pegs to use for the photo booth tree, handmade confetti and also decorations for the venue.” The invitations were done at Bestprint Ltd. who are also the excellent printers of WD magazine. The magnificent and elegant St. Pauls Cathedral in Mdina was chosen for the ceremony, while the wedding reception was held at a venue in Wardija. Maria’s colour scheme was peacock blue, reflected in the bridesmaids’ dresses and in the rest of the details. Florist Alistair Fenech took good care in adding these touches to the bouquets and the flower arrangements. The couple also had a candy table with sweets matching the same colour. Looking back on her wedding, Maria recalls her emotions on the day: “There was so much going in the morning of the wedding day that there wasn’t actually time to feel nervous. The day started off with all of the bridal party getting ready for a photoshoot and everything was going as I had planned it. The team from Hairoscope, makeup artist Daniela Cassar as well as photographer Sean Azzopardi made us all feel really comfortable and we had a really good laugh. Tension started to build up as soon as I started
to put on my wedding dress and couldn’t find the lace to tie up my wedding dress. Luckily my mother had kept all the material and she quickly sewed another one! By this time we were all getting very excited and I tried my best to hold back the tears. Then, Chris phoned me just five minutes before we left the house to tell me that he had left something in a drawer and that he needed it. I was angry at first, but soon burst into tears as soon as I opened the drawer and found a necklace that he had bought for me to wear on the day.” Emotions continued to ride high, and reached their peak at the beautiful church. “The most exciting and emotional part of the day was walking down the aisle together with my parents to the Ave Maria sung by my long-time friend Dorothy Baldacchino. Seeing the tears in Chris’s eyes made it even more emotional.” The reception afterwards was one great, big party, as can always be guaranteed when the Big Band Brothers are the musicians at hand. Not even a downpour could dampen everyone’s spirits as everything was simply moved indoors. “Our wedding day was special because we were surrounded by family and friends who came to share this special day with us. Even though there was heavy rain and lightning in the middle of the wedding reception, it did not stop us from having fun and dancing throughout the whole night.”
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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. At Alistair we make sure that we create that breathtaking atmosphere you deserve!
Elegant, modern and absolutely gorgeous
257 Republic Street, Valletta Tel : +356 21221935
Get in touch with us for a free consultation meeting
Website: www.alistairfloraldesign.com Email: info@alistairfloraldesign.com Address: 1, Triq Dun Karm, B’Kara, BKR 9032 Tel: 99471817 or 27223334
20th June 2014
Jade Campbell & Laurence Greig photos by Hush Photography
“L
aurence and I met at university when we were 20,” says Jade. “We were both studying law at the time and there was an immediate attraction between us. We had been together for over 8 years when Laurence proposed to me and we both felt it was the right time for us to get married.” On the day of the proposal Laurence took Jade for a delicious breakfast in Canary Wharf and then proposed to her in a garden afterwards. They then enjoyed a wonderful spa afternoon followed by the most delicious dinner at the OXO Tower. Jade opted for a classic wedding dress with lace. “I saw the dress in a bridal magazine and immediately knew it was the dress I would get married to Laurence in.” Every year hundreds of couples choose Malta for their destination wedding, and when one (or both) of the couple has Maltese roots, the choice is an automatic one. Jade’s grandmother is Maltese and she has been travelling to Malta every year with her family since she was a little girl. “Laurence and I always knew we’d get married abroad and it made sense for us to choose Malta. I have always loved the Xara Palace
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and Mdina so it was a very easy choice when deciding on our wedding venue. Mdina is just stunning and the Xara Palace has always been my favourite hotel in Malta. It’s unique and really such a special hotel. About 90 family and friends flew over to Malta for the wedding.” In order to help them plan their wedding from abroad the couple decided to opt for wedding planner Bernice Bugeja from Love is… “We first met Bernice when she worked at the Xara Palace. She was so welcoming, accommodating and warm. When we found out that she had left the Xara Palace we were very disappointed, but once we found out that she was doing wedding planning on her own, we didn’t think twice in hiring her to help us plan our day! She was great. We would most definitely recommend her.”
Together with Bernice’s guidance, the couple worked as a team when planning the wedding. “It was such a special day for both of us so we felt it was important to make joint decisions.” The ceremony took place at one of the most magnificent churches in Malta, namely, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina. When it came to the reception the couple created the menu themselves: “the Xara Palace were again very accommodating and nothing was too much for them. Whatever we wanted they did their very best to achieve for us. The cake had a beautiful cascade of flowers, created by Joseph Baldacchino from Flower Arts.” Jade and Laurence describe their wedding theme as very classic. “We wanted to keep it simple yet pretty and I think
we achieved that easily, given the venue. We hired out all the rooms at the Xara Palace and the fact that our friends and family flew from all over the world, including Zambia and Australia, to join us, made our day incredibly special. In particular one friend surprised us both completely by flying to Malta as we weren’t expecting him to be at the wedding. He was travelling in South America and flew all the way to Malta to share our day with us.” To complete the international feel this couple spent their honeymoon on a road trip through California where they visited San Francisco, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica with the final stop being in Las Vegas.
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Because your big day should be exactly like you’ve dreamt all your life… nothing short of perfection. Our fully personalised and bespoke approach to planning your wedding celebration ensures that your vision and taste are maintained throughout, your budgets strictly respected and your guests wowed. Mobile: +356 79595145 Email: bernice@weddingplannersmalta.com www.facebook.com/Loveis.WeddingPlannersMalta
Being Italian is as much a part of our personality as our commitment to quality and reliability. We wanted to retain these values in our cuisine, and in doing so we believe that we have produced a wonderfully diverse range of traditional Italian recipes served in modern, chic and innovative ways. What we really pride ourselves in, however, is the taste of the food we prepare. Our professional kitchen team has worked hard to create every item on our menus, to deliver them to a standard that befits the Lattughi brand.
The quality of our food is one reason that Lattughi Event Caterers are often entrusted to cater the most prestigious events. This is all due to the experience and background of Andrea Lattughi whose CV includes stints in Venice, Switzerland, London, Florence as well as the world famous Ritz in Paris and Villa Madama, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. When you use Lattughi to cater your wedding, lunch or corporate event, you are calling on 46 years of experience gained in some of Europe’s finest centres of hospitality.
Fi n e r Ho s p i ta l i t y, Cate r i ng a nd Ev e nt s
Show us your dream wedding and we will show you its realization.
+356 22567567 or 21450560
weddings@xarapalace.com.mt
xarapalace.com.mt
26th July 2014
Mathilde Friggieri & Paul Fenech photos by Brian Grech
“M
athilde and Paul met at a house party which was organised by Paul at his house. “Paul proposed in Vegas in our hotel room the day after we arrived. I was not expecting it at all and said YES. After having had a good look at the beautiful ring I then said to Paul OK we need to go out because I need to get myself a manicure now!” For her wedding gown, Mathilde wanted something which would be elegant and that would flatter her figure. She definitely did not want a dress which was too big. “I was out looking at dresses with my parents and when I wore the dress I told my Mum to call my dad; my father loved it so I went for it.” When it came to the bridesmaids’ dresses, Mathilde gave them a budget, and they looked at things that they liked. “I wanted to make sure
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that all the girls would feel comfortable in their dresses, and that it would suit them all nicely. Elena lives in London and Ritianne was visiting, so it was the perfect opportunity to find a dress with the limited time we had. We send a picture to Clare and she loved it so we bought them there and then. We took a combined decision together that everybody was happy with.” Paul’s cousins Andreas and Michelangelo were the ushers. “We grew up together and have always been very close, and they also get along very well with Mathilde. I wanted them to be officially part of the wedding and they were delighted to help out. I decided to have two best men, Andrew and Daniel, because both are extremely good friends. I met them both at St Aloysius School, and we have been inseparable ever since, having matured as adults and sharing endless memories together.”
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The Mass was at San Pawl Tat Targa Chapel with a reception at a five star hotel. “We wanted a space which had sectioned areas and that had gardens because of our wedding theme. The Knight’s Tower was a feature that made it special.” Mathilde does not like almond cake and refused to have the traditional wedding cake, so they had a Red Velvet Cake. They were once walking in London and saw a beautiful white cake that they both liked so Paul took a picture and showed it to the Patissiere who said that he could definitely do something very similar in style. This couple have similar tastes and opinions so they agreed on everything pretty quickly. “We wanted our wedding celebration to have a fun and exciting element. Our idea was to have many small stalls to visit in the different sections that would reflect our
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personalities. We enjoy travelling very much, so we chose six cities that we could represent in our food booths: Valletta, Malta; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; New York, USA and Mumbai, India. We also had a cocktail bar that had a cocktail for each of these cities. A wine bar was incorporated with the French table. To continue on the fun fair theme, we had an ice cream booth by caterer and a candy floss station provided by Once Upon a Wedding. To enhance the experience, we hired a caricaturist, Isa-
bel Warrington, who drew pictures of our guests. We also asked for access to the tower so that we could have a ‘haunted room’ inside, and together with our decorator Marie Friggieri Choquet, it was decorated in style and was a great hit with our guests.” Marie, from Once Upon a Wedding, explains how she went about it: “I designed the decor for them to be according to their fun fair theme. Therefore, for each food cart they had, I did a different decoration: yellow and black small taxis for the New
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York table, a chic Paris table, an exotic Indian table, and a traditional cart for the Maltese table. Then we did a scary room in the tower as most fun fairs have one of those with skeleton and red scary lights... I added pinwheels, paper lanterns, their initials in light, and candy floss to complete the theme.� The international theme perfectly reflected the personality of this fun-loving couple, and we are sure that their marriage will continue to be one long adventure.
WeddingDay
WHERE TO GET YOUR FREE COPY
Valletta The Public Registry Evans Building, Merchants Str. Wedding Bells, Coliseum Arcades, Zachary Street Bubbles, Republic Street Floriana Hamilton Travel, Floriana Phoenicia Hotel St Julian’s Wedding specialist - Westin Dragonara Wedding specialist - Radisson Blu The Villa, Balluta Bay Wedding specialist - Le Meridien Wedding specialist - The Hilton Sarah Young – Y Plan Events, Diodorus Siculus Str. San Gwann Village Inkspot, Triq is-Santwarju Metro Stationery, Naxxar Road Biggie Best, Vjal ir-Rijan Candylicious, Triq San Frangisk Di Mare Moda, Triq il-Battaljun Sliema Monsoon, Bisazza Street Trading Post, Gorg Borg Olivier Street Ta’ Xbiex Persona, 42, Marina Court, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street Pembroke Promark, 187, Patri Indri Vella Street Tunin’ Entertainment, 46 Triq Mikiel Ang Grima IBRAGG D Salon, Qantar Road Zebbug Aesthetic Xcells, Vjal il-Helsien Niu, Central Business Centre, Triq l-Imdina Funky Shades, Triq Indipendenza Siggiewi Colours of the Rainbow, St Margaret Street Flower Design, Brija Road Xara Lodge, Triq il-Belt, L/O Rabat Qormi Romano Cassar Florists, 24, Hammieri Road The Floral Designer, Bertu Hyzler Street
HAMRUN The Look Hair & Beauty Clinic, 44 Triq Guze Pace
Birzebbugia Jo Briffa @ Hairoscope, Prof. A. Tabone Street Love is…wedding planners, 30, Church Street
Rabat Camilleriparismode, St Catherine Street Rabat Local Council
Fgura Flower Arts, 46 Mystic Rose, Censu Busuttil Street Ego stationary, Triq i-Sur 202 Jewellery, Zabbar Road
Mdina Xara Palace Hotel, Misrah il-Kunsill B’Kara Custom Lab, Ltd. Olaf Gollcher Street, Ta’ Paris Oreana Stationery & Bazaar, L. Casolani Street Alistair Fenech, No. 1 Triq Dun Karm Landau Stationery, 84 Mannarino Road Mosta Cefai Formal Wear, Independence Avenue Centre confectionary, Constitution Street Educare, Constitution Street Kudos, Vjal il-Qalbiena Mostin Lilly Lou Bridal Designer, Triq L’Ortolan Lija Garfields, 2 Triq Mikelang Borg Attard Crayons, Triq Pitkali Iklin Royal Travel, Triq Geronimo Abos Darmanin Footwear, Dun Karm Street Msida Papier Plus, 29, Esperanto Street Naxxar Villa Arrigo, San Pawl Tat-Targa Bali Stuff, Naxxar Road Wedding specialist - Palazzo Parisio Floreal, Labour Avenue Xus Malta, Apple Street Andrea Lattughi Event Caterers, Labour Avenue Gharghur D Beauty Zone, 21, Gisuppe Cali Street Santa Lucia Drago stationery/ sub-post office, 6 Centru Civiku Paola Antonio Piscopo Co. Ltd 117, Zabbar Road
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Marsa The Cake shop (near Kiabi) Qrendi Papel Stationary & Gifts, Triq Is-Salvatur Luqa Polidano Press, Luqa Industrial Estate Zurrieq Tonna Stationery, 4, St Catherine Street Christianne stationery, Misrah Mattia Preti A – Z Stationery, Vjal l-Indipendenza Marsascala Vivienne Health & Beauty Salon, Triq ilQalliet Marsaxlokk Old Trafford, Triq l-Arznell ST. PAUL’S BAY Cute Look by Tiziana, St Paul’s Street Bugibba A & D Souvenirs, Trunciera Road Qawra Boutique Claudia, Triq il-Maskli Mgarr Mateja’s, 111, Triq San Pawl Cirkewwa Paradise Bay Hotel Gozo Public Registry, Europe Street, Victoria Cefai Formal Wear, St Bert Street, Xewkija Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz Bookworm, Republic Street, Victoria Ta’ Haqqu stationery, 8th Sept. Avenue, Xaghra Ta’ Cenc Hotel, Sannat Stationery and More, Independence Avenue, Ghajnsielem Terence Stationery, 13th Dec. Avenue, Nadur
A venue that ticks all the boxes. Make it a day to remember
www.thevillamalta.com 39, Main Street, Balluta Bay, St. Julians E-mail: info@thevillamalta.com Tel: 2311 2273
WeddingDay
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