THE GREEN ISSUE

WWW. PRONOV I A S.cOM T H E WO Rld’ S lE A dI N g b R I dA l H O u S E O f f E R I Ng A VA S T S El EcT I ON Of b R EAT HTA k I Ngly bEAu TIful ANd AffORdAblE W EddINg gOW NS, Acc ESSORIES ANd cO c k TAI l dR ES S ES T HAT A R E cR EAT Ed uS I Ng THE fINEST MATERIAl ANd WITH ATTENTION TO THE TINIEST dETAIl. PRONOVI A S 201 3 cOl l EcT I ON Exclu SIVEly AVAIl AblE AT O uR STORE AT THE STRANd - g ZIRA. E: P RO NOVI A S @b I g b ON.cOM. MT · T: 2388 93 8 0 · lIkE uS ON fAcE bOOk: W WW.fAc EbOOk.cOM/PRONOVIAS

letter from the editor At WD we love the environment almost as much as we love weddings. That is why our Spring issue is dedicated to giving you ideas on how you can celebrate your special day while still remaining eco-friendly.

Those couples who want their wedding to reflect their passion for “going green” will find inspiration from our photo shoot feature and the tips provided by the WD team. You can start by using organic ingredients for your catering and wedding cake, sourcing local homegrown products to cut down on your carbon footprint and of course, you can also buy Fair Trade items. By printing your invites on recycled paper you will also be doing your bit for the environment.

Shades of green and other natural tones can be incorporated into your colour scheme, or take a hint from our cover model and tie a slim sash around your waist in a forest green hue.

In this issue, we also feature a real eco wedding which was photographed by Jessica Moritz in Australia. Reg and Katrin explain how at each stage of their preparations they kept in mind the need to make choices which were sustainable and re-usable.

From using pots with herbs as table decorations to the wedding dress which was chosen because it could be worn again, this couple shows how it is possible to have a beautiful wedding while still being kind to Mother Nature.

The other weddings we feature are all bursting with original ideas, from innovative places to hold a civil ceremony to adding fun props and splashes of bright colours for what is, after all, a celebration.

We hope you enjoy reading our real wedding stories and are inspired by what each couple has done. In fact, many of our readers tell us they have contacted wedding suppliers and discovered new vendors as a result of WeddingDay. We will be back in July with our summer issue, which we know you are simply going to love!

Josanne Mojo Publishing Limited • Flat 3, Il-Gardina, Constitution Street, Mosta, MST 9051 • M: 99 425985 • info@weddingdaymalta.com

on the cover:

contents

Kelly Briffa

design & photography by Jessica C. Moritz printed at Bestprint, Qrendi published quarterly 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.

May 2013 8 Scrumptious Works of Art

15 Welcome SPRING

24 ECO-Friendly

8

15

24

28

36

48

58

66

74

28 LOVELY Jewels

36 Going Green...

Katrin & Reg

48 When It’s Meant to Be Andrea & Sean

58 A Christmas Wedding Marion & Joseph

66 It’s a Celebration!

Francesca & Sharlon

74 A Touch of Peacock Alexia & Steven

Tailored to Fit Cefai Formal Wear is something of an institution when it comes to men’s suits and tuxedos for formal occasions. But few people know that the Gozitan owner actually obtained his expertise in design and tailoring in New York where he lived for many years. Joseph Cefai shares his story with WeddingDay “After I finished my education in Malta, I applied for a summer job sketching and designing women’s dresses with a British designer who had a factory in Gozo,” says Joseph Cefai.

His employees must have liked what they saw in the hardworking young man because he ended up working for them for three years.

“In those three years I was part of a team creating designs with yarn, leather, feathers and many other accessories. In 1981, I decided to go to New York, where I went to fashion school at the Fashion Institute of Technology during the day while working night shifts. After I graduated, the school gave me a job where I continued to expand my expertise. I started from the very basics: cutting samples, pricing garments and co-ordinating samples so that production could be done in factories all over America and overseas.”

Maltese and Gozitan emigrants never quite cut loose from the ties with their homeland, and on one of his frequent visits back home, Joseph met his future wife Sally, whom he married in 1986. They continued to live in New York and had two children. “In those 19 years I worked for three different companies: Leslie Fay, Lord and Taylor and Criscione. My main job was as a technical designer making new patterns for ladies’ and men’s suits. At Criscione I was in charge of the production room involved in the whole process. Previously at Lord and Taylor, I was involved in the Men’s tuxedos and formal wear section.”

The idea of opening Cefai Formal Wear came up while Joseph was visiting Malta for his brother’s wedding. “When I got back home to New York, we started our research and three years after, in the year 2000, we moved back to Malta where we had our third child. We had always wanted to come back here while our children were still young.”

The business took off immediately and within four months, they had already done three weddings. “In the first three years, I not only dressed men but I also designed and made wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses. At the beginning I had the time, but along the years I got busier and busier so I decided to specialise in men’s tuxedos. I also had to open a second shop in Mosta due to so many clients coming from Malta to our Gozo shop. In 2001 we catered about 32 weddings that year and today we except 30 weddings per weekend.”

After 13 years in business, Joseph’s main goal is to satisfy couples to the smallest detail. “I am always searching for new styles and fabrics to create different looks and to co-ordinate the ushers with the bridesmaids. I also try to keep in mind the need for comfort in Malta’s climate. My personal motto is that, ‘If it is not good enough for me, then it is not good for my client’.”

Even after all these years, Joseph still enjoys a challenge. “I hardly ever say ‘No’ to my clients’ requests. I always try to find another way how to get things done the right way.

Unfortunately, sometimes I depend on suppliers on whom I have no control and since our market is very small compared to other countries, some suppliers cannot satisfy our needs.

However on the whole, my team and I do our best to provide the best service with styles, fit and comfort for the couple’s wedding day!”

For more information about what Cefai Formal Wear has to offer please go to www.cefaiformalwear.com

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Busy Bee Scrumptious works of art Busy Bee, established in 1933, is a household name in Maltese confectionery and catering, synonymous with quality and excellence.

We prepare everything with loving care, using only the finest ingredients and according to our time-honoured methods.

Through the years, the wedding cake has become the focus of a variety of customs and traditions. Some of these customs have survived through time. At Busy Bee we make sure your wedding cake reflects the importance it deserves; customised or traditional, we want you to be proud of your cake in every sense.

The choice is vast, in shape and in flavour, and we can assure you that we’ll go a long way to give you the best finished product according to your tastes.

Wedding cakes take centre stage in the traditional cake cutting ceremony, symbolically the first task that bride and groom perform jointly as husband and wife. This is one tradition that most of us have witnessed many times. The first piece of cake is cut by the bride with the “help” of the groom. That is why, at Busy Bee, when choosing your Wedding Cake we will help you match it with your colour theme and wedding style, as we want the cake to be the signature of both of you together on your wedding, this time not only as individuals but also as a family.

“Celebrating life, one event at a time”

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Welcome Spring

a perfect excuse to go

GREEN

WD | 17

The Dresses This dress comes from the Halo collection, a new brand to Malta which comes all the way from Australia, and can be found at Weddingbells.

This is a stunning shift bridal gown in lace with 3D flower details and comes with an optional bolero jacket in organza.

Dress on page 13: Marquita chose a simple champagne dress with a grass green sash for our tall brunette model Kelly Briffa. This lovely Mikado bridal gown by Raul Novias of Spain is simple yet timeless.

WD | 20

The Make-up Daniela Cassar used Makeup Studio cosmetics which are not tested on animals and also made sure to work with reusable items instead of disposables. These products are very cost efficient and last longer as they are not thrown away after every use.

Daniela focused on Kelly’s beautiful eyes and picked up the gold, brown and purple hues from the eye shadow palette to accentuate her hazel green eyes. The lips and the cheeks were kept natural to complement the rest of the look.

The Hair We are pleased to welcome Jo Briffa from Hairoscope, who has now joined our photo shoot team.

The natural dark colour of the bride’s hair gives her sophistication while more hair was added to the back bun to give extra volume, and loose sections were moulded softly to give a romantic look. The hairstyle was finished with volume in the front.

The Accessories Jade crystal earrings are by Decorizeme Slim pendant necklace shown on the cover and page 21 is from 202 Jewellery

WD | 23

Going green As more people become environmentally conscious, we are seeing a trend where couples want to make their wedding more ‘eco-friendly’. We have used this ‘green’ inspiration for this issue and Elaine has created a set-up where elegance and simplicity are combined with a love of all that is natural.

This is a Spring-inspired modern shoot with shades of green, touches of turquoise and yellow with a hint of brown. Emerald Green is Pantone’s colour of the year and this is reflected here.

Paper goods by Concept Barn have been illustrated for a Spring-inspired look and can be printed on recycled paper. For the wedding favours, eco-friendly candles were used in recycled jars from Grey & Adler.

as seen here, and then afterwards move inside next to the ornate warm fireplace if the weather gets a bit a chilly in the evenings.

The catering team can come up with an organic menu which is tailor-made for the couple who really wants to ensure that every detail of their wedding retains the ‘green’ factor.

The Flowers Keeping the emphasis on natural, Joseph from Flower Arts has created this unique centrepiece using a bark of wood, moss and springtime flowers which are still buds, so that they can be re-planted after the event. The splashes of colour are then picked up again in the bridal bouquet.

CAKE Glorianne points out that the cake at a Tips from our team green wedding should include the use of loWith just a bit of thought and planning, cal or organic ingredients to eliminate the there are many ways in which a couple can amount of chemicals. One should also bear incorporate their passion for the in mind the concept of selecting Fair Trade environment into the details of their products and considering ‘food miles’ when wedding. You can also re-use and recycle choosing ingredients which are not locally items afterwards. produced. In eco-weddings, food surplus is donated to charities and Make-up artist Daniela Cassar explains, leftovers are made into compost. Eco“We all buy beauty products based on their wedding planners also suggest caution in The Venue the use of disposables and recommend the The Villa in Balluta Bay has probably one of pretty packaging, so why not give those empty containers a second life with reuse? creation of decorations from recycled or the most scenic backdrops for a wedding For example, you can turn an empty unused materials. The cake stand used here combined with some very flexible indoor foundation jar into a single-stem vase to is, in fact, a recycled stool. options should the weather change. decorate your work space.”

You can have a seated set-up on the deck We thank our sponsors Grey & Adler, The Villa, St. Julian’s and Concept Barn.

WD | 24

The Invitations Invites and menu cards on recycled paper were designed and printed by Concept Barn

Centre Piece & Flower Arrangements Bridal bouquet: Mix of roses, muscari and craspida Table centre piece: Moss, vine branches, narcissus buds, roses, craspida and roses.

Fireplace area: Two tall transparent cube stands with glass vases, twigs and tubes filled with flowers Cubes wrapped with flowers & moss and a cylinder vase candle holder from Flower Arts

Wedding Favours Hearts and little candle jars by Grey & Adler

Table Runner & Place Mats

by Grey & Adler

The Cake Table

Glorianne Gerada from Cuppy Cakes designed a very colourful and delicious display of natural food, from walnuts to cherries to peanuts, dark chocolate and dried bananas. The pops of colour are accentuated by the cheerfully painted cake stand which used to a be stool.

The three tier dark brown chocolate cake is set off by leaves which have been imprinted.

The Cutlery

Cutlery with clear handles and cake knives from Grey & Adler

WD | 26

Lovely jewels...

Choose from a wide selection of unique wedding bands and jewellery for pieces that will last a lifetime, symbolising the love you have for each other

Jewellery 202 Jewellery provided these bridal accessories which can give you different options to wear with your gown

Ring Cushion

By Flower Arts

WD | 28

Maya Baron

ART

Are you looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? You will find my paintings on www.myart-mayabaron.com

Custom made orders are possible Kindly contact me on 99077925 or via Email: mbaron03@gmail.com

Regards, Maya Baron

WD Contributors Creative Director & Photographer Jessica C. Moritz www.jessmor.com • M: +356 79947271 Concept & SET Styling Elaine Zarb of Elegant Impressions www.elegantimpressions.eu • M: +356 99831213 Bridal fashion styling & JEWELLERY Marquita Kemper of WeddingBells T: +356 21224234 • E: weddingbells@sis.net.mt Floral Design Joseph Baldacchino of Flower Arts www.flowerarts.net • M: +356 9926 0645 MAKE-UP Daniela Cassar E: dan1305@go.net.mt • M: +356 99130575 sponsored by Make up Studio hair Jo Briffa of Hairoscope E: jobriffa@gmail.com T: +356 21659442 • M: +356 99224750 Cake Glorianne Gerada cuppycakecupcakes@gmail.com • M: +356 9924 8681 PAPER GOODS & INVITES Concept Barn www.conceptbarn.com • E: info@conceptbarn.com T: +356 79883003 • T: +356 99854567

ART

Maya Baron (see above & advert left) www.myart-mayabaron.com • M: +356 99077925 T: +356 79883003 • T: +356 9985456

VINTAGE JEWELLERY Decorizeme - Miriam Cassar M: +356 7762 8833 • E: miriammin@onvol.net

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Going Green for the Big Day...

Reg Schleiger & Katrin Feyen | 24.03.2012 Reg is Australian and Katrin is German, and when they met and fell in love, they realized that their relationship would require for one of them to re-locate.

“Reg and I met in London at work. It hit us when he had booked his flight home to Australia to leave the UK for good that we wanted to be together. He soon decided to come back to the UK but after a year apart due to a lengthy visa process for Reg, I flew to Australia where we decided to stay. It was a very difficult start, having to make life changing decisions very early on.”

Katrin’s decision, however, turned out to be the right one.

In a very charming gesture, Reg called Katrin’s Dad in Germany to ask for her hand in marriage, and afterwards proposed to Katrin in Lorne at the Great Ocean Road. It was the kind of proposal every woman dreams of.

“He had booked a beautiful penthouse with a large deck overlooking the water. He offered me a glass of champagne and walked me out on the deck where a sea of candles was lit. Then he bent down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was terribly romantic; I was overwhelmed and so incredibly happy. It was such a beautiful setting and he had put so much thought into it all.

That’s when he confessed that the evenings when he had said he needed to work late were actually spent ring shopping and organizing all the different sized candles.”

As two people who both love nature and believe in being kind to the environment, the eco-friendly theme came naturally to Reg and Katrin. With some thought and forward planning, there are many touches a couple can incorporate into their wedding to reflect how important “going green” is to them.

Katrin explains, “I wanted to plant a lemon tree in our ceremony to have something lasting afterwards, which will grow with us. A tree that bears fruit which can be used in the kitchen; it is so nourishing to grow something yourself and feed your family. Every time I look at it I am reminded of our wedding day. As a table decoration for the reception we made pots with herbs and little signs saying ‘Reg and Katrin’s Herb Garden’. Quite a few of them now live on our balcony and I use them often in my cooking. Gifts for our guests were herb seed bags and a cookie. With the seed bags they could grow some herbs of their own and in turn use it in their kitchen if they’d like to. The cookie is a family recipe. My grandma, my Mom and I have always made them. My Mom baked them for the wedding and it was very special to me to be able to offer that to our guests. For me, anything that comes out of a kitchen is made to share the love.”

WD | 38

LAYERS!

for a slim silhouette which enhances your curves and WAIST!

“The little touches our mothers added made this day so special.”

Of course, weddings are also an opportunity to bring families together and there are various ways in which this can be done on the special day.

“We chose a quote from Marcel Proust: ‘Let us be grateful for the people that make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.’ It was read during the ceremony, printed on the back of the seed bags and in the evening at the reception we had put up photos in frames that I had painted green, of all my loved ones from overseas who couldn’t be there on the day. The quote was displayed in a little frame amongst them.”

The eco theme was also reflected in the choice of natural materials and colours. “My bouquet was a mix of Australian natives, mostly foliage. I loved how natural it looked and how it represented the country Reg comes from and I chose to live in.

Our button holes were foliage and herbs.

We designed all our stationary ourselves. It started with the logo, our initials surrounded by leafy vines. We made a stamp as well as a wax seal and used it throughout. We chose a natural looking off-white paper and recycled envelopes. The ceremony books were also bound with green ribbon. It was a beautiful experience to design it and see it all fit together.”

If a couple truly wishes to embody the spirit of environmental sustainability in their wedding, there are various ways this can be done. “We were keeping it simple with a focus on items that can be reused, such as my dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses. My shoes were simple and classic; I have worn them very often in our first year of marriage, and the same with the jewellery I was wearing on the day. We chose the venues for their style: the romantic chapel for the ceremony to celebrate our love and the modern winery for the reception to celebrate our life together.

We love both looks for what they stood for and we only needed to add a few personal touches.

“Naturally many of this was also driven by our budget. When you largely plan and pay for your wedding yourself there will be choices that you have to make and not everything is possible. We would all love to splash out and not hold back on the plans for the big day but the reality is that some of us have less resources.

Being able to re-use a lot of the things that we bought for the day made it feel like an investment.”

Shopping for the dress turned into a great day out for Katrin thanks to her thoughtful maid of honour Abby, “she had put together a beautiful itinerary for a day of dress shopping and arranged meetings with various shops. That made it so much fun!

What had always been important to me is that I would be able to wear the dress again. Of course I wanted something special for the day I get married, but I didn’t want to buy an expensive garment that I will only be able to wear once in my life. When I put on this dress from Peter Trends I knew that it was exactly the right one. I felt so comfortable in it and the look suited me, the only detail being the layering of the fabric. I loved the modern look, the clean lines and yet the shape was so flattering and flowing.”

WD | 43

“But I could also see the potential in it for a fabulous cocktail dress. After the wedding, together with my mother-in-law, I have cut it short, just above the knees. The remaining fabric will make a beautiful A-line skirt. This way I will have two exquisite pieces of clothing in my wardrobe which will forever remind me of my wedding day, every time I wear them.

I also decided to alter my outfit slightly in the course of the day, adding black touches for the evening reception, changing shoes, adding a ribbon with a flower around the waist and changing from the veil to a fascinator. It was a nice change from day to night festivities.”

For the same reason, Reg and Katrin decided that they would like Little Black Dresses for the bridesmaids. “It is such a staple in every girl’s wardrobe and again, I wanted to make sure that they are comfortable and will be able to wear the dresses again. Two of my bridesmaids were in Germany and Abby was with me in Melbourne. Both girls in Germany tried on various shapes and sent us pictures, and I went shopping with Abby in Melbourne. In the end we found dresses on Asos, which suited all three girls and their different body shapes. My mother-in-law made the sashes to complement the dresses which gave them a special touch for the day.

To complete the outfit and as a thank you for being at my side on this special day, I presented each of my bridesmaids with a gift bag containing earrings, lip-gloss, a pashmina to keep warm and a black clutch for the evening.”

Style Book Photography Jessica C. Moritz LOCATION Mornington Peninsula, Australia WEDDING DRESS Peter Trends BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Asos VENUE & catering Ten Minutes by Tractor

The ceremony took place in Mornington, in a beautiful garden with a little chapel.

This garden chapel was just perfect for the couple as it suited a smaller, more intimate ceremony and made a romantic contrast to the modern reception venue. ”We loved having our families and friends there, who travelled from interstate Australia, Germany, the UK and Brazil to be with us. Having my old friend Jessica as our amazing photographer, sharing this beautiful day with her and seeing it afterwards in the pictures through her eyes was wonderful and truly special.” ”We knew we wanted to celebrate at a winery from the start. We love spending weekends away in the winery areas around Melbourne, wine tasting and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Since I have moved to Australia it has always been a little get-away for us. We looked at many venues but it needed to be one that was suitable for a small wedding reception and we were searching for one with a style that suited us.

Walking into ‘Ten Minutes by Tractor’, it was immediately clear that it was the

perfect venue for us. The wine was delicious, the winery modern and stylish and the restaurant fitted exactly the amount of guests we had intended. The food was absolutely beautiful.

We took a lot of care in putting together the canapes, a la carte menu and wine list, featuring wines from wineries we knew and loved. Good food and wine is important to us and we chose to have a small wedding, treating our family and friends to a dinner that would be a very special night out for all of us. It was wonderful to thank them for being in our lives in this way.”

The cake was kept very simple, an ivory iced cake with black ribbons around the tiers, similar to Katrin’s sash around her dress later that evening. But as she points out, “For me the most important thing was that it was chocolate mud cake!”

In a break with tradition, they chose to serve the cake after the ceremony, which finished at midday. “So after we were pronounced husband and wife, everyone could join in the celebration with a glass of champagne and a piece of the wedding cake. When the bridal party went to have

photos taken, the remaining guests had time to have lunch and freshen up, before meeting again in the late afternoon for the reception and dinner. This may be unusual but we liked the idea of giving the cake a moment of its own, rather than serving it as desert in the evening.”

Since the wedding, the couple has been back for a beautiful dinner at the winery on their first date as husband and wife.

“Reg had secretly set me up: when we were the last guests of the night, he took me to the foyer which was lit by candles and our first song was playing for us to dance to again.”

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Sean Affleck & Andrea Perez

When It’s Meant to Be

WEDDINGDAY: 27 September 2011

What are the chances that two people from the same country travel to the other side of the world where they happen to meet and fall in love?

Andrea and Sean are an American couple who met in Malta in 2006 through a twist of fate and what some might call serendipity. As law students attending schools in different parts of the US, they had both applied for an overseas law program which brought them to our island.

They clicked immediately and their relationship blossomed during the months they lived here.

On returning to the US, they eventually decided to get married, so it seemed natural to have a destination wedding in the country where they first met. “This was where we fell in love. The kindness of the people and incredible scenery is something we have never experienced in any other country,” Andrea and Sean say.

Once they explained to baffled family and friends exactly where Malta is located, the guests hopped on planes and flew in from everywhere: Texas, Florida, Virginia, New York, Canada and even China.

For the wedding photos they contacted renowned British photographer Marianne Taylor, whose work is published in several magazines and blogs such as ‘Style Me Pretty’.

“This was the first time I had visited Malta, and seeing the island through Andrea & Sean’s wedding day was really the perfect introduction.”

WD | 48

PALAZZO!

a civil wedding will provide elements of grandeur if you choose the right VENUE!

Marianne continues: “I loved the rugged nature and wild sea combined with the elegance of the wedding celebration. Most of all I adored the atmosphere of the day, the warmth of the couple and their families, and the giddy atmosphere of such a small and intimate wedding.”

Andrea and her bridal party got ready at the Hilton in St. Julian’s, Malta. “I was not a nervous bride, however, I was definitely excited for the ceremony and the festivities which were about to start. My husband and I had been planning the wedding for over two years and we were so excited to see it all come together perfectly.”

For her dress, Andrea wanted something very unique and that looked like a work of art. “I first located the dress online at Vera Wang and a local bridal salon ordered a sample in for me to try on. It was the perfect dress for me and I knew it right away.

Warren Barron, in Dallas, Texas, did an amazing job at locating the dress for me and making sure it was tailored perfectly.”

When it came to her bridesmaids, Andrea decided to take a very relaxed approach. “I told my bridesmaids to pick out a grey dress of their choosing, that way they could make use of it again in the future.”

Andrea practices Art Law and is a painter in her spare time, so when she started gathering ideas for she wedding, she became really inspired by Art Nouveau. “I was drawn to the artist Alfonse Mucha and sought out a location and details that I thought would capture his romantic works.” That is how her choice fell on the classically elegant Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar “I located Palazzo Parisio online and actually had to plan the

WD | 52

entire event online given the distance. At the time, my husband and I lived in Texas and were not able to see anything until two days prior to the event. This location was perfect because it was central to some of the larger cities in Malta and offered 5 star catering. Initially, I planned the menu online and when I arrived to taste everything, the Palazzo Parisio was incredibly accommodating. I was happy with the menu as planned, however they wanted me to have something better and offered to change the entire menu at no cost and only two days before the wedding.

The food was fabulous.”

The wedding cake was also inspired by an online photo. “Again, I wanted something artistic and not traditional by any means. The cake was made fresh on the day of the wedding by a French pastry chef working at the Palazzo Parisio. Everything about the design and taste of the cake was perfect. The top layer was carrot cake and the bottom layer was hazelnut. It was the best cake I have yet to taste.”

No destination wedding is possible without an efficient wedding planner to organize all the details. With decisions which need to be taken sight unseen from thousands of miles away, the couple needs to have blind faith that they have chosen the right person.

Jayne Polidano, the wedding planner at the Palazzo, was the ideal fit for Andrea and Sean.

“Everything was perfect. We could not have found anyone better than Jayne. The venue was out of a fairytale and not a single detail was missed. The one hiccup we had was that Sean forgot to call a car for the Officiant of the ceremony. Luckily, he

WD | 53

“Friends and family all came to love Malta as much as we do.”

remembered about 20 minutes after the ceremony was supposed to start, and we were able to rush over the Officiant to perform the ceremony!”

Florist Alistair Fenech also worked on photos sent to him by email from the bride and he met her expectations perfectly. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were made up of grey berzelia as well as English roses imported from David Austin. When it came to the buttonholes, Alistair used ornithogalum, mixed with sweet William green trick. The bridal bouquet consisted of English roses, dusty miller and ornithogalum.

For the pews at the ceremony, Alistair used baby’s breath, a traditional, filler flower, which was then tied to the gold chairs with a ribbon. For the set up he used green thistles, milky white vases and hydrangeas.

Every single wedding is special and unique.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.

Whether you are getting married in a church or in a registry office, Alistair works hard to ensure that the selection of the flowers, decor & the environment created is breathtaking on your special day.

No. 1, Triq Dun Karm, Birkirkara Malta Tel: +356 2148 0397 Mob: +356 9947 1817 info@alistairfenech.com www.alistairfenech.com

“What is most special and dear to me and my husband about our wedding day is that we were able to travel with all of our guests (some of whom had never been out of the country) to Malta and share with them all of our memories. By the end of the wedding weekend, everyone had become friends and family.

We specifically rented vintage buses in Malta to pick up all our guests together and take them to and from the wedding location. Most importantly everyone had a trip to Malta in common and came to love Malta just as much as my husband and I do.”

As a final special treat, Andrea and Sean rented a yacht to take all of their guests around the islands of Malta for a day.

Style Book Photography Marianne Taylor Bridal Suite The Hilton DRESS Vera Wang FLOWERS Alistair CEREMONY & RECEPTION Palazzo Parisio

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D Beauty Zone

by Gaby Naudi

Make up for all occasions and nail extensions Packages for weddings also available.

Triq 31 Ta Marzu, Gharghur +356 27414411 +356 79442554

Marion Barry & Joseph Hoga

A Christmas Wedding

WEDDINGDAY: 20 December 2012

This Irish couple met on a night out in Dublin City.

“Joe was out with his friends celebrating his birthday and I was out with a group of my friends. Our first date was the next day when we went to the cinema.”

Joe proposed to Marion very romantically on a beach in West Kerry, but they didn’t announce it to anyone as they both knew they wanted a private destination wedding. They decided to get married before 2013, and agreed that December would be a good option as they always like to travel around Christmas time.

The question which everyone always asks foreign couples is: why did you choose Malta?

“We always knew that if we got married, it would be a private event and having being to Malta a few times previously it was always our first choice of destination. We loved the country, the history, the food and the people. Then we met Anna and Marvik from Malta Event Design who instantly made the planning process a whole lot easier and very enjoyable. The amount of time, effort, work, ideas and attention to detail that they put into everything were more then we ever expected and we highly recommend them.”

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“I got married to my best friend.”

Marion had a pretty good idea of what she wanted, and more importantly, what she didn’t want, when it came to choosing her dress. There was just one slight, tiny hiccup: she only had six weeks to find just the right dress.

“I think that by the time I entered my third bridal shop (Alexander’s Bridal in Dublin) and met Tina, luck was on my side.

It was one of the first dresses I picked out, and I fell for it straight away; with Tina’s help I also decided to complete the look with a bolero. The dress was ‘Lena’ by designer Maggie Sottero.”

As their wedding was only going to consist of the two of them, they wanted something intimate with a rustic setting.

When the wedding planner suggested a farmhouse, they were eager for a viewing. “The veranda overlooked the Mediterranean Sea and the view was breathtaking. At first sight we knew that was what we wanted. Anna’s eye for detail was supreme as, on the day, the venue was decorated with a rustic theme and a vintage twist. We were flabbergasted at the amount of personal detail that was given to every aspect of the decor. Food was mouthwatering on the night, especially some of the local

Maltese dishes, which were truly divine. The only thing that stopped us eating more was knowing that we had to get through six courses. The food cooked in the wood burner was full of wonderful flavours and definitely added to the whole theme of the night.”

They both agree that the catering service on the night was extremely attentive and pleasant, making it a more enjoyable experience, especially since it was such an intimate occasion.

The exotic experience of getting married away from home is what many couples are looking for when they decide to opt for a destination wedding. We might take the clear, blue sea which surrounds Malta as well as our great weather for granted, but for people like Marion and Joe, our island had all the magical ingredients required to turn even their modest ‘wedding for two’ into an unforgettable experience.

Blessed with amazing weather for the month of December, they could enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner on the terrace, and then retire inside the cosy, inviting farmhouse.

Little touches such as the menu lit up inside a green window frame served to make the whole atmosphere special and unique, just as they had imagined.

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CONTRASTS!

This modern Irish couple expresses amazement at this painting of a traditional Maltese WEDDING!

The special atmosphere of their wedding day was enhanced because, to their delight, they were at ease for the whole day. “The atmosphere was so laidback and enjoyable, and that made our day much more romantic and memorable. Anna and Marvik created a very relaxed atmosphere during the whole day and our photographer Katerina made us feel so at ease during the photo session, that the time simply flew by.�

A wedding for two, with the help of the right wedding planners was turned into a day that will be cherished forever, confirming to Marion and Joe just why they love the island so much.

After the ceremony, they spent their honeymoon in Malta, staying on the island for Christmas and New Year.

Style Book Photography Katerina VellaRyabkova WEDDING PLANNERS Malta Event Design bridal gown Maggie Sottero

Francesca Pullicino & Sharlon Pace

It’s a Celebration!

WEDDINGDAY: 28 July 2012

Francesca met Sharlon in the most unexpected of ways - she went to buy a car from him.

She tells us he proposed at home, with their loyal dog Alfie as the only “witness”.

When they started looking for a wedding venue, they decided to opt for a brand new place, the Xara Lodge. “In fact, ours was one of the first weddings to be held there shortly after they opened.”

The venue looked stunning, decorated with bright pink and orange flowers by well-known florist Alistair Fenech. On the bride’s request, he used a mixture of orchids, Calla and oriental lilies, roses and gerberas as well as WD | 66

ornamental fresh fruits imported from Ecuador.

At the entrance was a fun and colourful candy table, also created by Alistair, with huge orange, pink and yellow lollipops. There were over 35 varieties of candy and he took care of the whole set up from the colour scheme to the jars and labels, while keeping to the retro theme - hence the large lollipop.

The wedding ceremony took place at Mellieha Parish church which was decorated with glass vases that were filled with masses of Calla Lilies and white orchids.

Although Francesca tried on many designer dresses she finally settled on a ball gown dress which seemed to suit her and her wedding theme best.

The bridesmaids were all dressed in white chiffon with orange and pink details to match their bouquet and the colour scheme of the wedding. The flower girl too had a pretty sash in fuschia pink and orange.

“We all had our hair braided in different styles which I thought was super cute. It was all done for us by one of our witnesses and the brother of the groom – Clyde Pace and his wife Sheron.”

In a break with Maltese tradition, the bridal party all got ready at suite at the Xara Palace, which provided a great backdrop for the pre-wedding photos.

Francesca’s ring was especially designed for her: “I had looked up floral wedding bands online and found one I really liked so my husband asked his friend Clyde Thorne to get it done for me. My maid of honour, Anna Vella Bardon asked her Dad to play and sing “I’m getting married in the morning” under my balcony on the accordion. Then at 11pm, my fiance finally arrived with the ring so I could try it on and make sure it fit. It was quite a special night.”

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This wedding was one of pure celebration.

“We wanted to have fun on our wedding day and wanted everyone else to have fun with us. From having a gospel choir in the church to a 20-man band lead by Paul Borg to fantastic after-party music with Tony Tony, music and entertainment was a big part of our wedding,” the couple says. “Even the most well-organized wedding has no guarantee of being fun. Our great friends ensured that everyone enjoyed themselves starting from our best man Ivan Scicluna who made sure that everything happened when it was supposed to.”

The couple decided to add an extra touch of fun to the group photos, and instead of the usual, rather formal poses, everyone could choose a brightly coloured prop.

Francesca and Sharlon demonstrate how you can use colour in your wedding in a very tasteful way - even the traditional white wedding cake was transformed with ribbons and flowers. One’s wedding should always reflect one’s personality, and in this case, it was definitely achieved.

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COLOUR!

there are many ways to include splashes of colour such as using these bright and shiny BALLOONS!

“It’s the people that make a wedding.”

The speeches by the matron of honour and the best man, as well as the bride’s sisters Becki, Jess and Bianca made the couple realize how blessed they were to be surrounded by great friends and family.

Francesca and Sharlon opted for a stand-up reception with various finger foods and tables – there was a BBQ table, a pasta table, cheese tables and a very popular champagne and oyster table.

After the cake was cut, they served after-party food including mini burgers, hot dogs and fish and chips served in newspaper.

“We hired a photo booth where our guests could take

animated photos and also had a running video all night where people could leave messages for us which got funnier as the guests got more drunk. Time seemed to fly and it was 5am when we left the venue in our bright orange beach buggy.”

When it came to the souvenirs, the couple wanted to give people something they could use. “We gave them a paper filigree box filled with silver wine charms with orange beads for him and pink beads for her. My husband is a footballer and loves cars and boats; I love my shoes, dresses and hats so our wine charms reflected this.”

Style Book Photography George Saguna Bridal suite Xara palace CHURCH Mellieha Parish Church Flowers & Candy station Alistair bridal shoes Jimmy Choo

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A Touch of Peacock Alexia Nappa & Steven Camilleri | 10.06.2012 Although they grew up in the same neighbourhood, Alexia and Steven only met 5 years ago at their place of work when they ended up teaching at the same school.

“With the hustle and bustle of school life we didn’t have the time to get to know each other, although we had certainly noticed each other.

Then, destiny intruded, as it is wont to do, and we bumped into each other at a nightclub. The spark was lit and that was it!” says Alexia.

Getting married was a natural step for this couple which hit it off right away, and they agreed on a morning wedding at the beginning of summer before the weather became too warm.

“Being a perfectionist, creative and very fashion-conscious, I bought hundreds of bridal magazines to skim through and to personalise the ideas to my liking. Naturally, like all sensible things, it all began with shoes. While browsing the Internet with Steve. I saw a gorgeous pair of Prada shoes and my romantic boyfriend bought them for me.”

For her wedding dress, Alexia had very clear ideas, “I wanted a modern twist to my dress, something tight fitting, with a bit of cleavage, a nice low back and a very long train. When I saw the dress by Higar Novias at Camilleriparismode, it was love at first sight. The staff there was really helpful and pleasant and they truly understood what I was looking for. When I was there I really felt like a princess. The look was complemented by a very long chiffon veil. Being a morning wedding, the dress code for the guests included a headpiece. I was therefore thrilled when I found a nice designer piece from WeddingBells.”

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“The celebration was truly emotional and we both were very happy and serene.”

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The Nuptial mass was celebrated at the Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy in Selmun by Fr. Michael Bugeja, assisted by my uncle who is a Deacon and who flew from England to take part in this celebration. “We chose this chapel as its interior is very simple and unadorned and it gives an intimate and private feeling. To our surprise it was completely full with our family and friends. I cannot exactly describe how I felt when I was walking down the aisle and saw all our guests looking at me expectantly.”

Both the bride and the groom were very hands-on with the preparations, getting involved in every detail. Steve designed the invites himself, including a QR code to help the guests find their way to the chapel and reception. Alexia wove the co-ordinating colour of the bridesmaids’ attire in all the decorations which she made for the home, the chapel and the venue.

PHOTOS!

take time to capture that moment in a natural setting, giving you a chance to relax as a newly married COUPLE!

“When it came to flowers, I chose a neutral colour scheme,

with different shades of white and ivory vendela roses and baby roses for the bridal party and my bouquet. Keeping in mind the saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” I included peacock feathers in my bouquet, the groom’s buttonhole and the wedding cake.”

The rusty orange dresses for the bridesmaids were inspired by a jumpsuit which Alexia saw in a magazine, made of flowing sheer material. These were professionally made by her dressmaker Joseph, who really did an exquisite job. The children were dressed in ivory and they all had a touch of rusty orange in their outfit.

A lot of thought was given to the guest book as they wanted an idea which was different from the usual thing. “We hired a tree made of twigs from Alistair Floral Designer which was decorated with crystals. We printed a number of our personal photographs from our past years together and hung them on the tree so guests could relate to them according to when our paths crossed. Guests were asked to leave a message and attach it to the tree and the result is a wonderful keepsake full of memories.”

The old Palazzo where they held the reception has a WD | 80

beautiful garden which looked spectacular during the day and its vibrant green colour in the garden made a perfect contrast to their colour scheme. “Our guests could walk around the garden and have a rest in the shade under the gazebos which the venue provided. The whole wedding reception was held outside with the exception of the cake table. “ The father and daughter dance is always a very emotional moment at any wedding, and the photos here capture this

moment as Alexia danced with her Dad. Tunin’ Entertainment were engaged to provide singers Eric and Sue, a duo who played and sang to classical and contemporary romantic, jazz and soft music, creating a soft relaxing atmosphere for the guests.

Like many couples are doing these days, Alexia and Steven decided to do away with souvenirs and gave donations to Puttinu cares instead. “We felt that at least in this way we could share a bit of our happiness with others, especially with those who are really in need.“ Finally, Alexia had a surprise for Steve at the last minute: “Our friends kept Steve busy while I changed into an emerald green Roberto Cavalli maxi dress which he had bought me for our last anniversary. It was a great surprise for him!”

Style Book Photography Jessica C. Moritz DRESS Camilleriparismode Shoes Prada headpiece WeddingBells CHURCH Selmun Chapel flowers Alistair music Tunin’ Entertainment

TUNIN’ ENTERTAINMENT We can provide all the services you need for your special day, from exceptional entertainment to supplying you with the equipment required for your set-up.

We are a one stop shop for all that you can possibly need.

No. 46 Triq Mikiel Ang Grima Pembroke +356 21435763 www.tunin.com.mt

WHERE TO GET YOUR FREE COPY OF

WEDDINGDAY MAGAZINE Valletta The Public Registry Evans Building, Merchants Street Wedding Bells, Coliseum Arcades, Zachary Street Malta Tourism Authority, Merchant Street Floriana Hamilton Travel, Floriana

Rabat Camilleriparismode, St Catherine Street Rabat Local Council

Paola Tennis Club Kordin Victoriosa Lawn Tennis Club (VLTC)

Mdina Xara Palace Hotel, Misrah il-Kunsill

Fgura Flower Arts, 46 Mystic Rose, Censu Busuttil Street La Poupee, Zabbar Road Damian Cocktails, 323, Gardenia, Zabbar Road Ego stationary, Triq i-Sur 202 Jewellery, Zabbar Road

B’Kara St Julian’’s Custom Lab, Ltd. Olaf Gollcher Street, Ta’ Paris Wedding specialist - Westin Dragonara Oreana Stationery & Bazaar, L. Casolani Street, Ta’ Paris Wedding specialist - Intercontinental Hotel Charles & Ron, 89, Ignatio Saverio Mifsud Street Wedding specialist - Radisson Blu Conrad Briffa, Tumas Galea Street, Ta’ Paris The Villa, Balluta Bay Alistair Fenech, No. 1 Triq Dun Karm Wedding specialist - Le Meridien Wedding specialist - The Hilton Mosta Cabouxon Luxury, St Julian’s Cefai Formal Wear, Independence Avenue

Charming Diva, Constitution Street San Gwann Charming Diva, Constitution Street Village Inkspot, Triq is-Santwarju Centre confectionary, Constitution Street Metro Stationery, Naxxar Road Educare, Constitution Street Biggie Best, Vjal ir-Rijan Concept Barn, 5, Harmony Crt, 15th Aug Street Kudos, Vjal il-Qalbiena Mostin Sliema Monsoon, Bisazza Street Lija Trading Post, Gorg Borg Olivier Street Garfields, 2 Triq Mikelang Borg Markers, Dingli Street Attard Gzira Photo Booth Malta, Eternity, Insolja Street Pronovias, The Strand Crayons, Triq Pitkali Ta’ Xbiex Persona, 42, Marina Court, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street The Rug Company, Blue Harbour Business Centre Pembroke Promark, 187, Patri Indri Vella Street Tunin’ Entertainment, 46 Triq Mikiel Ang Grima Zebbug Aesthetic Xcells, Vjal il-Helsien Niu, Central Business Centre, Triq l-Imdina Siggiewi Colours of the Rainbow florist, St Margaret Street Flower Design, Brija Road Xara Lodge, Triq il-Belt, L/O Rabat Qormi Il-Gojjell, Main Street Catermax, Vassallo Group, Triq l-Iljun The Floral Designer, Bertu Hyzler Street, Qormi

Iklin Royal Travel, Triq Geronimo Abos Msida Papier Plus, 29, Esperanto Street Naxxar Villa Arrigo, San Pawl Tat-Targa Dylan’s House of Candy, 21st September Avenue Bali Stuff, Naxxar Road Wedding specialist - Palazzo Parisio Grey & Adler, 9A Toni Bajada Street Gharghur Jonathan Grech videographer Crea’ Tif Hair Salon D Beauty Zone, Triq 31 ta’ Marzu Santa Lucia Drago stationery/ sub-post office, 6 Centru Civiku

To keep updated please join our Facebook page Wedding Day Magazine (Malta). info@weddingdaymalta.com You can view our magazine online at www.issuu.com/WEDDINGDAY

Qrendi Bestmark, Triq Rokku Buhagiar Luqa Malta Event Design, 19, Wesghat Dun J. Camilleri Zurrieq Tonna Stationery, 4, St Catherine Street Christianne stationery, Misrah Mattia Preti A – Z Stationery, Vjal ix-Xarolla Marsascala Vivienne Health & Beauty Salon, Triq il-Qalliet Marsaxlokk Old Trafford, Triq l-Arznell Bugibba Charles’ Stationary, Pioneer Road A & D Souvenirs, Trunciera Road

Qawra Boutique Claudia, Triq il-Maskli Mgarr HBR Hairdressing, Triq il-Majjistral Mateja’s, 111, Triq San Pawl Mellieha Popeye Village, Anchor Bay Gozo Public Registry, Europe Street, Victoria Cefai Formal Wear, St Bert Street, Xewkija Ta’ Frenc Restaurant, l/o Marsalforn Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz Bookworm, Republic Street, Victoria Elegant Impressions, 8th September Avenue, Xaghra Ta’ Cenc Hotel, Sannat Pen & Pencil, Independence Avenue, Ghajnsielem Terence Stationery, 15/16 13th December Avenue, Nadur

Say ‘I Do’ to the Best Day Ever Your wedding day is perhaps the most significant day of your life.

You want everything to be perfect and when you book your reception at the Hilton Malta, we’ll make sure it will be all you wish it to be – and more.

You’ll have your own Wedding Planner to help you every step of the way by providing you with a detailed plan and dedicated support. Our Executive Chef, Joe Vella, and his team offer a superb choice of menus, and if there are other dishes you would like, we will cater for it. We’ll also arrange rehearsals and a menu tasting beforehand. We even have a license to hold civil ceremonies in-house, should you wish. Everything in other words, to make your big day even more special.

For more information please call us on 21 383 383 Email sarah.hartley@hilton.com or visit www.hiltonmaltahotel.com