Destination Weddings in Malta

April, May and June bring sunshine, flowering gardens and temperatures in the low to high twenties. September through early November are equally good, with warm sea, golden evenings and the light at its most flattering on the limestone.

July and August can feel very hot and humid, especially inland, so evening ceremonies and shaded venues are essential. Winter is mild but changeable, which suits indoor palazzo weddings rather than garden ones.

Foreign couples apply to the Marriage Registry in Valletta, normally between three months and six weeks before the date, with passports, full birth certificates, proof of free status and, where relevant, divorce or death certificates. Some documents must be apostilled, and non-English ones translated.

After the banns are published, the registry issues a certificate allowing the marriage to go ahead. A civil marriage officer can conduct the ceremony at the registry or travel to your venue, and two witnesses are required. Same-sex couples can marry on exactly the same terms.

Symbolic ceremonies are popular, especially for couples who have already married at home, and they can take place anywhere a venue allows, including bastion terraces and private gardens.

Catholic church weddings are deeply rooted in Maltese culture and possible in the island's beautiful parish churches, though they involve paperwork from your home parish and preparation well ahead. We can advise on the process and on the many baroque churches open to visiting couples.

Malta International Airport at Luqa has direct flights from most European capitals, including London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, and flight times are generally three hours or less.

The island is small, so transfers rarely exceed 30 minutes. Mdina is about 20 minutes from the airport, Valletta 15, and the hotels at St Julian's around 25. For Gozo, guests drive to Ċirkewwa for the 25 minute car ferry, or take the fast ferry from Valletta, which takes about 45 minutes.

Valletta has an excellent choice of boutique hotels in restored townhouses, ideal for guests who love walking to restaurants and bars. St Julian's and Sliema offer larger seafront hotels with pools and a lively evening scene.

For a quieter feel, the countryside around Mdina and Rabat has a handful of elegant stays, while Gozo farmhouses suit families who want space. We usually recommend Valletta as the main base, since everything else is within a short drive.

Private palazzi usually charge a venue hire fee on top of catering, and they often require a specific caterer, so the total depends heavily on guest numbers. Summer weekends and peak festa dates also command higher prices.

Malta is good value for food, wine and accommodation compared with much of southern Europe. Costs rise with imported flowers out of season, multiple locations requiring coaches, or Gozo logistics for suppliers who must take the ferry.

From May to October rain is unusual, but the gregale wind from the north east can bring choppy seas and gusts, particularly in spring and autumn. Most palazzi have grand salons or covered loggias that make a gorgeous plan B, so nothing is lost by moving indoors.

For bastion or seafront settings, we arrange a marquee hold or a second room and set a decision time early on the day.

Start with a grazing table of Maltese specialities: pastizzi, gbejniet sheep's cheese from Gozo, sundried tomatoes, bigilla bean dip and ftira bread. For the main course, local fish such as lampuki in autumn, or a refined version of rabbit, the national dish, shows real local pride.

Maltese wineries grow indigenous grapes such as gellewża and girgentina, and producers like Meridiana and Ta' Mena make lovely wines. Cisk lager and Kinnie, the bittersweet orange soft drink, add a playful local touch.

Mdina's narrow lanes, especially in the soft light after sunset, are unforgettable. The Upper Barrakka Gardens look straight across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, and the steep streets of Valletta with their painted balconies make a striking backdrop.

For nature, the cliffs at Dingli, the Blue Grotto viewpoint and the coastline at Dwejra on Gozo are spectacular at golden hour. Some heritage sites require permits for professional shoots, which we arrange in advance.

Amplified music outdoors usually has to stop by 11pm, though many palazzi allow the party to continue inside. Fireworks are a much-loved Maltese tradition, but they require licensed operators and police permits, so allow at least a couple of months.

Summer festa weekends bring brass bands, processions and street closures to individual villages, so we check the festa calendar before confirming your date and transport routes.

A welcome evening on a Valletta rooftop or a traditional dgħajsa boat ride across the Grand Harbour is a lovely start. Some couples host a wine tasting at a local estate or a cooking class focused on Maltese dishes.

For the day after, a chartered boat to Comino's Blue Lagoon, or a long lunch at a Gozo farmhouse with a pool, gives everyone time to relax and swim before heading home.

The best palazzi and summer Saturdays are often booked a year or more in advance, so 12 to 18 months is ideal for large weddings. For intimate ceremonies or midweek dates, six to nine months can be enough.

Remember the legal timeline: the application to the Marriage Registry has a fixed window, so collect your documents early and leave time for apostilles.