If you are opting for a traditional wedding in Malta (and not a civil wedding), then there are basically two different approached which you can adopt; either get wed in a large church or otherwise opt for a more discreet chapel. In Malta you cannot hold the sacrament of matrimony outside of a church or chapel.
While the chapel option maybe interesting to consider, as it gives more the idea of a private and reserved function however one must consider the size aspect of the chapel as some of the chapels in Malta are too small and guests may end up standing outside. Also it is sometimes very difficult for the photographer to move around in such cramped spaced, hindering his creativity.
On the other hand, when opting for large churches, their might be an opposite problem where the church is half filled and therefore this does not reflect nicely in the in final images. Normally, there is a higher probability that guests attend a wedding mass in the morning rather then one in the evening, however this really depends on the guests invited!
One also needs to take care of the time of the mass for your wedding. If you plan to hold your wedding in a Maltese summer then I suggest that one avoids an early mass (prior to 18:00) due to the heat. Once must always check the times of the normal masses in the parish or church if one prefers a private celebration. One would need to take in consideration that a suitable timeframe between the normal mass and the wedding mass would need to be left to ensure that the previous mass has finished and that everything is set for the wedding mass such as musicians, reading & readers, videographer, photographer, priest etc.
When booking a chapel always check that the chapel can and will open before (at least 1-2 hours before the mass) for the suppliers to settle (especially for the florist to decorate the chapel). Ask if the church/chapel have a red carpet for the church that can be used inside. Once all of this is done, find a priest to celebrate your wedding mass.
Beach wedding
Another possibility which is increasing becoming popular are beach weddings. As I explained earlier, these weddings are weddings which occur as civil weddings. The beaches of Malta can be breath taking, so if you are not into a Catholic Wedding, then they can make the perfect backdrop for your wedding celebration. In Malta there are plenty of sandy beaches and rocky coves to choose from and a number of good local companies who can help secure beach permits as well as supply the perfect set-up and catering for your beach event.
Obviously in such cases you do need to take a number of considerations into the equation including the following aspects: time of the year, backup location, permits necessary and the accessability of the beach.
Wedding Participants
When it comes to choosing your active wedding participants, usually one will require the following roles:
· Groom’s witness
· Bride’s witness
· Maid of Honour
· Best man
· Bridesmaids
· Flower girl
· Page boy/ Ring bearer
· Ushers
Choose wisely from your relatives and close friends, and try to include everyone who you think will be up to the role!
As a Malta wedding photographer, I am fully aware of the preparations which go into the day!