If you are looking to plan a stress free unique wedding in a stunning location, then consider having your wedding in Malta.
As a wedding abroad location, the Maltese Islands cater to all tastes and budgets. Blessed with predictably good weather, a vast range of venues and no minimum residency requirements, makes it a very attractive option.
James & Clare’s wedding in Malta
Why a Wedding in Malta
Malta is a country of incredible beauty with an extraordinary past. Located 95km south of Sicily, it has a typically Mediterranean climate, with approx. 300 days of sunshine a year. With friendly locals who all speak English, easy flight connections from the UK and the minimum of red tape for getting married abroad, Malta ticks a lot of boxes.
Villa Bologna secret garden wedding in Malta
What to Expect
A wedding in Malta offers stunning scenery, beautiful architecture, an established destination wedding industry with some fantastic local wedding planners and a wide choice of venues. The tiny island nation is easy to travel around and the climate makes alfresco dining possible for much of the year.
Your wedding celebration can take whatever form you wish, from a dinner in one of Malta’s celebrated alfresco restaurants feasting on local delicacies, to a cocktail party or a lavish reception in one of its luxury five-star hotels. Large buffet receptions are very much part of the traditional Maltese wedding. A wide selection of experienced, professional caterers can tailor-make a menu for your party, whatever the size.
How to Plan
You can use a wedding planner, a tour operator that offers wedding packages to Malta and Gozo or if you are thinking of going it alone, planning a wedding in Malta can be easy and certainly offers great value for money.
Grace & Declan’s wedding in Malta
Malta Wedding Ceremony Options
You can have either a civil or religious wedding ceremony in Malta. For couples wishing to have a civil ceremony there are some wonderful civil venues to choose from. Options for a religious ceremony include the elegant splendour of baroque parish churches or the more intimate and secluded countryside chapels.
St Paul’s Cathedral Mdina – Malta Wedding Guide 1
Good to Know
- There is no minimum residency period.
- Civil and religious ceremonies are legally binding.
- Civil ceremonies take place in the Marriage Registry, or at authorised venues which have approval from the Registry Office.
- Wedding ceremonies are conducted in English.
- Your Marriage certificate is issued in English.
- Same sex civil unions are legal in Malta.
Top Tips from Malta wedding planning experts
Mediterranean countries like Malta and Croatia are very laid back and slow. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes it takes dozen follow ups and weeks to get responses from suppliers (especially if you start planning in summer – middle of wedding season). Starting with your wedding planning with plenty time ahead will save you from stress and headache. Plus you get to negotiate better deals and save more money for fun bits…like fireworks! – which are quite affordable in Malta.
The best gift a wedding planner could give, is peace of mind. You should feel you are guests at your own wedding. It is all about you and your experience and enjoyment of your special day. Once you find the perfect venue to get married at, the rest of those wedding day details should quickly fall into place. Just like your wedding dress, you will know it’s “the one” when you feel the sense of rightness and utter perfection.
Planning Tips – Malta Wedding Guide 3
Our Hot Tips for Getting Married in Malta
- When getting married abroad, the Grooms attire for a beach wedding or hot weather can actually be quite tricky. We take a look at the options here.
- Plan ahead, some of the more popular wedding venues can be booked up 12 to 18 months in advance.
- As soon as you know your wedding date, book your photographer and videographer.
- Have a welcome dinner or cocktails in a local restaurant or bar.
- Organise a post wedding day brunch or activity.
- For those planning a DIY wedding, use our Wedding Abroad Planning Tool Kit to help you stay on track or book a 90 Minute Personalised Planning Consultation.
- Provide guests with as much information as possible. Read our Guest Information Guide, and download our Guest Information Checklist which covers everything from guests expenses, to creating a personal wedding website.
- Send out a list of potential accommodation to guests as soon as possible (if you can, go and view them first) and get flight details from all your home airports.
- To save on costs think outside the box, watch for hidden fees and consider having your wedding on a weekday.
- Don’t expect things to work the same way as they do in your home country. Ask as many questions as many times as you need to in order to make sure you get the answers you need.
Louise & Michael’s wedding at the Radisson Blu Malta
Real Experiences – Why did you choose Malta?
Although we had never visited Malta, the island ticked all the right boxes. With guaranteed hot weather and great value for money for both us and our guests, our wedding abroad at the Radisson Blu Malta met all our expectations.
We had never been to Malta before but have family members who love going there and other family members who had always wanted to go but never had the opportunity. Originally we were thinking of getting married in Las Vegas, but knew it would be too far and costly for many family members to travel and they would be upset not to see us marry. We chose Mellieha as I asked my Mum and Auntie separately which church they liked most on the island and they both said there was a lovely small chapel there that they loved.so that was it!
Rachael & Philip, United Kingdom
Malta Wedding Suppliers, Legalities, Advice & Tips
