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Exclusive-Married in Malta

Baroque Cathedrals, stunning sea vistas, flambeed seafood, luxury massages and the finest wines in the world, Bs editor Rachel Vowels experiences a destination wedding in Malta.

The idea of a wedding abroad has always scared me. It sounds glamorous, exotic and adventurous, but logistically I never understood how it could be done. How is someone supposed to plan a wedding somewhere they have never even been? How are friends and family meant to get there? And even if you were brave enough to take the destination wedding plunge, how do you know what paperwork to file, what venue to choose and most importantly… what stylist to use?

The islands of Malta have become the buzz word in the world of weddings, so with my ‘destination wedding concerns’ in tow I travelled to the Maltese islands to see just how it’s done, Maltese style.

I arrived on one of the three flights into Malta each week from Dublin. “There is no stressing in Malta,” the Maltese driver told me, which was fitting after three hours on a budget airline. I believed him. The warm Mediterranean sun and the welcoming smile of Patricia Mallia, my guide for the excursion, assured me that the horrors of security checks and endless travel queues were far behind me.

Patricia is Irish guru of destination weddings in the Mediterranean. She is Managing Director of Mediterranean Weddings, an Irish company specialising in weddings in Malta; I knew I was in good hands. She agreed to give me the full bridal experience, just like she would one of her clients. From start to finish I was able to see how a wedding in Malta happens, I had the pleasure of witnessing the preparations and ceremony of the lovely Kristene and Conor O’Regan from Co. Cork.

“We decided to get married in Malta solely because of Patricia, we had always wanted to get married abroad but after meeting Patricia she sold us with her knowledge of the island,” Kristene says.

Patricia loves Malta, and after 15 minutes in the taxi with her, I loved Malta too.

"It has the Mediterranean feel that people love about Italy, for a fraction of the cost! Add that to the warm welcome, fantastic food, history, sunshine and clear blue waters and you have everything you need for a wedding holiday in the sun," she told me.

She was as informed as a local, with the excitement and anticipation of a tourist. Even though this is her forth year planning weddings on the islands, it was obvious she loves them as much as she did when she first holidayed there. It was on this week holiday, that she met her Maltese husband Matthew, while he was working at a local bar.

“I spent the best part of an hour giving him awful stick for his lack of Guinness pouring skills.” But his subpar pint pouring was almost immediately forgiven. It was a whirlwind romance, heightened by the warm sun, dinners over fresh seafood and three days of the infatuating emotions only the beginnings of love can entail.

“I knew he was ‘it’. When he asked me to marry him, I said ‘yes,’ without hesitation and haven’t looked back, four years and one son later,” she says.

Gozo

The first stop on our full itinerary was the island of Gozo. It is just a short ferry ride away from the main island of Malta, but is far less visited. Patricia was keen to show me how different it was than the main island, it provides one of the most genuine Mediterranean experiences left in the world. Gozo has managed to remain unscathed by modern progression; it is quiet and easy, hospitable and private, convenient and traditional.

Kristene and Conor were getting married on the main island, but by Patricia’s recommendation took a day trip with their families to Gozo. It was a perfect way for them to relax and spend time together before the wedding.

The Gozitan churches are renowned around the world, and the best part is, you can actually get married in one! I almost fell over when I walked into St. George’s chapel in Victoria; it was the image of St. Peters Basilica in Rome, on a smaller (but equally as amazing) scale, complete with a replica of Bernini’s papal altar. Couples can choose almost any chapel on the islands, Patricia arranges the legal paperwork and reservations, so all the couple has to do is show up and get married. You can look at a gallery of church photos on the Mediterranean Weddings web site, www.wedinthemed.com.

My favourite venue in Gozo was the award winning Ta’Frenc Restaurant, owned by Ino Attard. Patricia works with most of the venues on the islands, but she wanted me to see Ta’Frenc because it was voted the best restaurant on the Maltese islands.

It is the type of place where every sense is awakened; it’s fresh and modern with an unmistakably traditional feel. The smell of a fresh herb garden greets you as you walk in,followed by the unique taste of flamb�ed pasta and Malta's finest wines, and finished with a home-grown fusion tea. The premise is a converted 17th century farmhouse, so the interior is Gozitan with an air of Baroque movement. The amazing views and subtle d�cor offer the perfect canvas for a wedding. Patricia is the exclusive Irish wedding planner for Ta'Frenc and can book weddings of all sizes; whether it's in the intimate, banquet wine cellar for 30, the family style Herbert's Hall, or the large patio with sea views for 300 people.

I stayed in one of Ino's townhouses and holiday apartment complexes, which can be entirely booked for wedding parties. All your guests can stay together, and since Gozo is so small, everyone will be right in the thick of the festivities. I was shocked at how affordable renting a luxury townhouse or apartment (with pool and ocean views) was, and the bride and groom get a couple nights free! Ino has created the complete package, the best facilities and warm Mediterranean hospitality, at a price you won't find anywhere else.

Malta

The rest of my stay was spent on the main island of Malta. Kristene and Conor were getting married at the Ramla Bay Resort, which is where I stayed. The resort is located on the water’s edge, with a private beach and some of the most breathtaking views on the island. With an in-house spa, unique menu and the full attention of the friendly hotel staff, weddings are intricately carried out.

Malta offers something for every taste. One of the nights we ate at the private Il Mithna Restaurant, a converted 17th century windmill where old world cuisine, d�cor and service, meets contemporary convenience and technique. Patricia can arrange for the restaurant to be reserved entirely for a wedding party. She arranges a consultation with every couple she works with, where they get to see all the venue options, from a historical Cathedral overlooking a small village, to a modern five star resort in the tourist town of St. Juliens.

"I listen to the couple and what they want for their day. It’s all about them and their party," says Patricia. "With our knowledge of the islands, and the fact that we are not tied to one venue, we have the flexibility to ensure they get what they want, where they want it."

One of the first things I learned was that there is far more that goes into planning a destination wedding than the event itself. Since guests, whether its eight people or 80 people are coming from all parts of the world (or in this case Cork), and the happiness of a couple is so tied up in how everyone at the wedding is doing, its imperative they are looked after. In preparation for Kristene and Conor’s vows, Patricia was running around ensuring every guest knew where they were supposed to be. If a guest is ill, has a disability or has special needs she makes sure that everywhere they go they have the facilities and time they need; a service which can only be provided by someone who knows the ins and outs of the island and venues.

“It was easy for family and friends to come. Patricia was brilliant, she organised dinners and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves,” Kristene says.“The benefit of having a wedding in Malta with Patricia, apart from the beauty of the island, was there was absolutely no stress and she worried about everything for me.”

I watched Patricia arrange taxis, fix tuxes, coordinate flowers, fasten cufflinks and look after Kristene’s four year-old daughter. Kristene and her bridesmaids were able to enjoy the morning of the wedding, sipping champagne having their hair and make-up done by some of the best stylists on the islands, without a single care.

Even though the background was a crystal blue sea and ancient church on the hillside, the best thing about Kristene and Conor's wedding was watching them say their vows. The ceremony was conducted by a local Maltese minister in English, with a prayer read by their daughter Kaitlynn.

“My favourite part of the day was walking towards Connor, with everyone watching me. It was just perfect and much better then I could have even dreamed,” Kristene says.

The ceremony was followed by a canap� reception, where the couple mingled with guests. The party then had a gourmet three course meal on the terrace of the Ramla Bay, where speeches were given and finished with an old fashioned sing-song.

Melvin Bugeja was the photographer and videographer, Patricia works with Melvin because of the quality and consistency of his work. Each couple gets a DVD and Melvin goes with the couple wherever they want photos, to ensure they get the shots that encompass both the beauty of Malta and the day.

“It was the best day of my life and I will never forget it. The service over all was unbelievable; Patricia went over and beyond the call of duty for my wedding and my guests,” Kristene says.

Usually a wedding goes hand-in-hand with extreme stress, especially when you don’t know the local customs, language or even where to get a pin to fix your dress.  A good wedding planner anticipates the problems that might arise for a couple. Whether it’s calming temper tantrums by younger guests or an herbal remedy emergency kit for nerves, Patricia plans for everything. She even arranges a pampering session for every bride. So in the pursuit of good research, I also got a 50 minute massage at the Ramla Bay Spa, just like a bride would.

It was just after this massage, as I sat basking in the sun, Cosmo in hand, that it dawned on me why people are deciding to wed abroad. It's the idea of bringing every good thing together; paradise, the people you love and the celebration of a lifetime.

I found by the end of the three days I was sold on the destination wedding idea; taking my new appreciation to such extremes as recommending to my completely single, happily independent, little sister that she should plan her non-existent wedding in Malta...and Patricia should plan it.

Contact Patricia Mallia

Mediterranean Weddings

Mobile : 00353 (0)86 382 1171

E-mail : [email protected]

Website : www.wedinthemed.com

B Exclusive from the autumn issue of B Magazine.

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