WEDDING STORIES

A PERFECT COUNTRY SETTING

Photography | Inigo Taylor

THE COUPLE Claire & Gareth

17 June 2021

Claire Falzon, 32years, a physiotherapist, and Gareth Galea, 33, a technician, were married in the Church of St Catherine, Zurrieq.

TOGETHER FROM THE START Claire and Gareth decided to get married after moving to the UK together. Claire was reading for herMaster‘s degree and Gareth really supported herby changing jobs and moving together UK exactly one year after they met. As they both love travelling, nature and the outdoors, they decided on a mini-eurotrip, before moving back to Malta. “During our last stop we were hiking in the Dolomites and that is where Gareth proposed”, Claire remembers.

Claire and Gareth always wanted an outdoor, nature themed wedding so their invitations reflected the outdoor theme and the adventurous aspect of their wedding. They sketched out their idea and asked a friend to finalise the design, which was printed by Papier Plus Studio.

THE BLESSING OF GOOD FRIENDS

The wedding ceremony was celebrated by Fr Antoine Farrugia SDB andthe couple chose the Church of St Catherine in Zurrieq for their service and filled it with friends anda number of Salesian and Franciscan priests with whom they had shared many voluntary work experiences. “Having them all present at such an important sacrament was a true blessing“, they said. Music was provided by old friends they had also shared many voluntary work experiences with. The amazingly talented Cheryl Camilleri, a childhood friend, was their singer. “Since we were kids, I always imagined her to be singing at my wedding. She was accompanied by two other old friends on piano and violin”, Claire explained.

Claire wore a unique wedding dress based on her ideaof a simple dress with coloured flowers. She sketched her idea and was determined to have it made if she didn’t find a dress like it. »

» Mariage were really helpful and understanding. They had something similar but the shape was not really Claire’s style of dress. However,a couple of days later she got a call from them saying a new dress had arrived which fit her description of her dream wedding dress. “Immediately I saw the dress I knew it was it. I tried it on and it fitted perfectly, and it had delicate pink flowers all over”, Claire said, adding that it was exactly the style in which she felt rightfor her. Claire had hand-made flowers put onto the belt, and the flowing bell sleeves, the dress was perfect and exactly as she had imagined it. Her ‘something borrowed’ was jewellery from her mother, and her ‘something blue’ was her pair of new glasses. And for ‘something old’ – her late grandmother’s own wedding shoes, gifted to her by her late grandfather,after her grandmother passed.“I had them restored and wore them for the church celebration”, she added.

Gareth’s outfit was a dark blue, light and comfortable summer suit, bought from Bortex, and his accessories included a bowtie and braces in the family’s tartan which were bought from Scotland, a tribute to the groom’s family heritage. »

» Claire’s bouquet wasbyaward-winning floral designer Anna Zammit. “She was very patient and managed to get the flowers and colours I had requested to tie in with our colour scheme. I wanted Gerberas in my bouquet as I find them fun, summery flowers, and together with pink wax flowers and some roses they made a unique bouquet”, Claire remembered.

The rings, by GB Jewellers, wereengraved with their initials and the dateand carried to the altaron a log slice, by their flower girl.

Transport to church and to the reception venue was with a vintage VW campervan. “These vans have so much character, we both like them and it really tied in with our theme and it was a fun experience to ride in. Maybe one day we will eventually own one ourselves”, the couple said.

A REAL COUNTRY WEDDING

“When we were living in the UK,Gareth treated me to a country wedding fair and we were inspired by the field and barn weddings that they sometimes have.

There and then we decided that we wanted a field wedding ourselves”, Claire explained.

The greatest task was to find a field which fit their dream set up. Then they remembered camping on the Zurrieq Scouts campsite and loving the place. »

» Returning to Malta they contacted the scouts and an agreement was reached that enabled them to use the place for their wedding.

“Both of us had previously organised events be it through volunteering or work, so,despite the difficulties of organising such a big event in a place where no other weddings were held before, we decided to go ahead and make our vision a reality”, they said.

Decorations were transported during the week before the wedding,and the groomsmen helped in setting up of all the decorations on the day of the wedding.

The location itself is really pretty on its own, but lighting and some simple rustic decorations transformed the field into a wonderful venue. Again Anna Zammit provided perfect flowers – a flower arch, creating an entrance, a bunch of flowers decorating a wooden tree-swing, fresh flowers for the cake and a simple arrangement on each table.

The rest of the decorations we created ourselves including a pathway with torch lights leading the guests to the main areawhich was full of tables.Special little decorative touches all around were mason jars and tissue balls on the trees, tree decorations, and the wedding cake table, which was a cable reel that we sanded down ourselves, covered by a white mosquito net hanging from the tree branches above. Our guest book was a painting of a tree, all prepared and painted by the groom himself: it was a tree with the couple’s initials carved on the bark, but without any leaves.Finger paints chosen in line with Claire and Gareth’s colour scheme were set next to so guests could fill it with finger print leaves. “We are now having it framed to hang in our living room”, the couple added.

A tree in the middle of the venue was transformed into a memory tree. It was the only tree with fairylights round the trunk, together with a message and photos of the groom’s late father, and our grandparents. It was even more special since the lighting was the centre from which the light spread out to the venue. »

“We look back at this day with fond memories of creating a memorable day to celebrate our union with our closest and dearest.” –Claire & Gareth

» “Arnold from Audio System provided the lighting. He really understood our vision and made it all come to a reality”, they concluded.

THE WEDDING FEAST

Claire and Gareth chose Neriku Catering for their catering, Anne Marie was so helpful! She came for a site visit immediately understood their vision with her suggestionof a finger food menu which complemented the wedding theme. ButCovid changed the original idea, and they had to go with a seated dinner. Neriku stayed flexible to the last few days, and when restrictions were eased the couple could have the carvery table they wanted. “Service and food on the day was impeccable. We received so many positive comments,even from those guests who had special dietary requirements”, they pointed out.

The wedding cake was a Bacio cake, very chocolatey and tasting amazing, was served with coffee at the end so no food or desserts were wasted.

Drinks were provided by Tax-Xorb and served by Neriku. And the VW Kombi Bar served cocktails named after places the couple had visited around the world.

Since most Maltese are not accustomed to a seated wedding, Claire and Gareth wanted to make it as interactive as possible.

They putpainted wooden arrows to help their guests reach the location.

Between courses during dinner they spiced things up with small activities.Log cutting saw them cut through a log together using an antique two-handed saw which the groom had bought and sharpened. On it he engraved their motto: Stronger Together. This symbolised the first obstacle the bride and groom had to overcome together. They managed to cut through, cheered on by the crowd. Guests were involved by standing up while funny statements were read about the couple. Depending on the statement, guests who agreed or disagreed had to sit down, and wereeliminated from the game. The last woman standing was asked to come to join the couple and sing a song with them and rewarded with the bouquet.That way they also found a way to still “toss” the bouquet without creating a crowd of people.

The couple’s first dance was Stand by Me, “which I had choreographed myself, and which Gareth grudgingly learned”. Claire said.

Music was provided by Ben and Jon from The Alchemists followed by Andre Portelli ft. Skarlet. We also had a little surprise from a dear friend, Dana, who joined the band on stage and accompanied them with some beatboxing.

Claire and Gareth want to thank everyone who made their day extra special, all the guests who attended, despite it being on a Thursday, and the suppliers who kept supporting them and did not ask for any extra charges.

The day did passin a blink of an eye. Theunique church celebration with close friends actively participating,the reception, where all the details came together and the guests, surprised by the venue, enjoying the atmosphere and having fun together, made Claire teary eyed. “Because after all the postponements I just couldn’t believe and was so overwhelmed that it was finally happening. Both of us truly enjoyed it”, she remembered.

RENAISSANCE ROMANCE

Photography | Rachel Muscat

THE COUPLE Francesca & Trevor

4 June 2021

Francesca Spiteri, 32 a medical doctor, and Trevor Tabone, 29 also a medical doctor, were married at the Carmelite Priory, Mdina.

A MAGICAL PROPOSAL Trevor and Francesca met in medical school in 2009,and started dating in their gruelling final year,2014. Fast forward to 2017, at a Coldplay concertin Cardiff, where Trevor randomly decided they should pop over to Florence for a couple of days. For two lovers of art, music and good food it seemed like a great idea to conclude their summer holiday there.

Unknownto Francesca, Trevorwas secretly planning to propose. And at the top of the tower in the beautiful, medieval Hotel Torre Guelfa, on the banks of the Florentine Arno,Trevor knelt down and proposed! “Obviously, I said yes.I mean not many girls can say they were proposed to on a medieval tower whilst the sun was setting!” Francesca exclaimed.

They celebrated their evening with wine and pizza. And the memories of this magical holiday were to inspire the theme for their wedding– Renaissance Florence,the city of flowers,music, and food.

Francesca sent out simple, classic invitations with a debossed border and foiled initials on a shimmer milk colouration, from Polidano Press.

A TRADITIONAL BAROQUE CHURCH

The couple always loved walking in Mdina and were struck by the Baroque beauty of theCarmelite Priory. It had been closed for restoration but luckily was available for their wedding date. »

» Francesca arrived in a comfortable, elegant Austin Princess. Inside, music from a string quartet, under the direction of Coro Bel Canto,played musical arrangements by Pachelbel, Handel and Bach, the repertoire for the Mass, which was officiated by Mons Emanuel Agius and Father AlexBezzina. Secret Wedding, from the film Braveheart soundtrack made the couple’s exchange of vows even more romantic. And they alsoexchanged simple gold bands engraved their wedding date and names, by Victor Azzopardi.

CLASSIC FLORAL STYLE

Francesca wanted her wedding gown to be a classic floral style, and began her search in WeddingBells. After trying on three dresses she was still undecided. Then Svetlana pulled a dress that had just arrived. “It was love at first sight, a white off-shoulder dress with floral embellishments”, Francesca remembers. Her sister lent her her own wedding shoes as a good luck charm and a ‘something borrowed’for the special day.

Trevor and his groomsmen opted for classic evening tails with a cravat, from Bortex.

Sandro Botticelli’s beautiful Primavera; with Flora the Goddess of Spring wearing a floral crown inspired thecrownsFrancesca and her bridesmaids wore. And their braided hairstyles to complement the crowns were by the immensely talentedMarielle at Brunettes Hair salon. »

» The entire bridal team’s stunning, soft and feminine make up was done by the wonderful Amanda Greaves.

Francesca’s bouquet of roses and peonies for love and good luck, gypsophilia for compassion and sincerity in a classic pink and white palette matchedher floral crown, while the bridesmaids and flower girls had their own, similar bouquets.

FOND FAMILY LINKS

When it came to choosing their reception venue Francesca and Trevor were lucky.

“Both our respective parents coincidentally got married at Villa Arrigo in,Naxxar,and it felt only natural that we continue this tradition and get married in the same venue that brought our parents together,and ultimately - us”, they couple explained.

Due to Covid restrictions this was a seated wedding. So the couple created a magical forest with 33 tables each having a floral arrangement.

Instead of the traditional handwritten guest book there was atransparent wooden post box where guests could post notes written on little hearts. Damian Sant Fournier,the events manager,was extremely helpful in guiding the couple’s selections for a five-course set menu.

Their wedding cake, by OsborneCaterers, was a classic three-tier cake with the traditional almond cake, and the not so traditional Baci flavour for the bottom tier. It too was decorated gyposphilia flowers continuing the beautiful floral theme. »

» And Damian’s cocktails ensuredall their guests were well refreshed throughtout the June, summer evening.

Later all the giggles and stumbles of their practice time paid off for Trevor and Francesca’s first dance. This was to the timeless song In Your Eyes, by Peter Gabriel, from the extremely popular scene with John Cusack and his boom box in the 1989movie Say Anything, which had a very special meaning for them both.

Music throughout evening was provided by The Busker. While the energetic Rachel Muscat did her best to capture the most special moments – and the end result was magical. »

“We never lost hope and it made our love for each other stronger.” –Francesca & Trevor

» Every moment was captured on video by the ever patient Steve Zammit Lupi, the couple remembered.

Trevor and Francesca’s original wedding date was cancelled and every arrangement they made for one a year later was threatened with cancellation. Here’s what they had to say about their wedding journey.

All the wedding suppliers were extremely supportive of the situation and understood the unprecedented situation we were all in.

We decided that whatever happens,even if it meant just us two, we would get married. However,all restrictions were lifted from the 1June, 2021, four days before our actual wedding date and we were overjoyed,albeit cautious due to the fluctuating situation.

The situation took a toll on us, with constant changing restrictions and protocols We both admit that this was probably one of the most stressful situations we had encountered due to all the uncertainty. However, against all odds June 4 dawned bright and clear and we finally were husband and wife.

This would have not been possible if we did not have the backing of our wonderful family and friends, the entire bridal team and groom’s team and our suppliers who went out of their way to accommodate us. This pandemic has shown us that it does not matter if a weeding is seated or standing or how lavish it is but that the couple can celebrate an event of love surrounded by happy and healthy people.