Tag: wedding traditions
1. The First Meeting Feature
Meeting Emma & Liam
This was the beginning of a fantastic journey; when Emma answered yes to Liam’s nervous question, and expectancy hung sharp in the air. The answer was as obvious as their love, no less, and so their adventure begun.
I’d be lying if I’d have said that this preparatory journey would be easy.
The solution to their questions however lied within Josette, our Wedding Planner’s answers, thankfully. And so the couple set a date for their first meeting with their chosen one, Josette.
I sat down together with Josette waiting for the couple to arrive, so that as a team we could bond with the pair, as well as to sit and discuss their expectations of their wedding. I, as the author of this blog, am not involved with the planning of weddings, but shall be over the course of the next year and a half discussing with you as future brides, grooms, and bridal party members, the ins and outs of wedding planning down to the very last detail of preparation for all those involved. This blog shall thus provide you with first-hand experience of what wedding planning is like, the step-by-step processes one must go through in planning a wedding, as well as discussing emotions, coping strategies, as well as providing you with advice, help, and tips from bridal party members who have been our clients and friends, along the way. Getting married, is not an easy task, but I assure you that I am here to help.
And so we saw our enamoured young couple waltz into the coffee shop, sit down, and happily introduce themselves. We exchanged introductions, as well as the cliché ‘kemm ghamlet shana illum! Donnu qatt m’hu se jhallina s-sajf!’, and began our discussion.
With a sparkle in her eye, Emma began saying how it’s been her childhood dream to have a luxury wedding, with a beautiful shimmering white dress, Jimmy Choo sparkling heels, and flowers everywhere. This was soon interrupted by her fiancé’s charismatic giggle, and an under-breath ‘typical’. I must admit, I giggled. Although I am currently not in a relationship myself, I found myself admiring the duo before me, as I felt myself relate to this Bride-to-be, as it seemed we had a lot in common, as well as found myself thinking that this is the kind of love I would want to find.
He cut my train of thought off by saying, ‘She’s been thinking about Victoria Swarovski’s wedding ever since it happened, with all the gems, the luxury, and riches,’ where he cut himself off by adding a Maltese comment, ‘hasra li ma nistax nifhem min fejn ha ngib il flus biex nikkuntenha! Gabitni qisni bank bla qies!’ Admittedly, all the women at table laughed, more so because we knew we could relate. Josette with reassurances softer than a cloud of cotton candy on days where a girl could crave sugar the most, added, “That’s why I’m here sweetie; to guide you into reaching common grounds for compromise,’ and cheekily stole a weighty glance at Emma, ‘without throwing your budget overboard!’
Josette took it upon herself to cut off the clamour by declaring, “Ma ninsewx lil Liam, ta!” when she added, “So, tell us about yourself.” Emma immediately cut him off short, before even giving him the chance to explain it all for himself; “From IT engineering, to the gym, to home watching football, and then, whatever extra time he has he spends it with his books!” And that is when Liam got defensive, “You aren’t that far! You go from the counting numbers and budgets for luxury travellers, to the gym, sometimes dance, or most probably shopping, unless you’re travelling; pity the way you budget for a living, yet fail to ever budget your own overspending on clothes! And when you are actually home, you’re working on that prized novel of yours.” As any woman in love would do, she used her strengths as his weaknesses, “My writing is the reason you fell in love with me,” and she silenced him by stealing a kiss, ‘right after I caught your eye wearing my Miu Miu cady dress! You thought I was the cutest girl in the world,’ to which he responded by blushing beetroot.
I must cut-off my recount of afternoon tea with the young couple here, for I fear my blog might become far too cheesy. For us as a Wedding Planner team, we must fully observe the couple’s mannerisms, characteristics, and jokes, in order for us to get to know them and understand them better, for us to provide the pair with options we think are best, as well as reassuring them of their decisions as well as fears, and tie loose ends or solving issues whenever necessary. A good planner is there to guide you through the planning process like a catalyst, and not to do the work for you. Hence they not only become your help, but your best friend throughout the journey.
The Indian Wedding Experience Feature
If there’s one thing that is for sure it’s that Malta is a country which is able to host weddings coming from different cultures and traditions, including the stunning Indian weddings.
Indian weddings tend to last for an average of three days. The first night would see the priest performing the ganesh pooja. The ceremony takes place at home where only the couple, the bridal party and also close relatives are allowed to attend. The second day is started off with the mehndi ceremony where the bride and her female friends, family members and esteemed guests will get their hands and feet covered in henna patterns. On the same evening the sangeet takes place where guests are invited to the wedding and get introduced to the couple’s families and enjoy some food as well as dance their nights away. The third and last day sees the main ceremony taking space including a cocktail hour and a reception.
If you’re not Indian or at least accustomed to the Indian culture and you are invited to such a wedding you will see a whole new way of celebrating this special day. You’ll get to experience the baraat or the grooms procession. Here the groom comes in on a decorated white horse and the guests circle him dancing to the beat of the dhal, an Indian drum. Following this the ritual continues with the greeting of the groom by the bride and her family and the exchanges of flower garlands as a symbol of each other’s acceptance.
When it comes to the wedding ceremony itself, you will get to see a whole other different approach where the priest, bride, groom, as well as their parents stay beneath the mandap, a construction similar to a canopy. The ceremony starts by the kanya daan act where the parents of the bride give her away and so the couple holds hands and goes around a small fires as part of the ritual - mangal phera. The couple will take the seven steps, similar to what we know as vows where they say how they will support each other and live a happy married life. Closing off the ceremony, the groom would apply a spot of red powder on the bride’s forehead and tie a black beaded necklace around her neck - the symbol of a married woman.
So if you have the pleasure of being invited to an Indian wedding be open to experience a whole new dimension to the start of a married life. Also wear a lot of bright and bold coloured clothing - you will most definitely fit right in!
Ta’ Mena Estate
Set on the sister island of Gozo, this beautiful venue is surrounded by lush countryside. Ta’ Mena Estate sets out to offer wedding couples and their guests something beyond a normal open venue.
Your Peak Season Wedding
Starting the weekend after Easter, the peak season for weddings is seen by many as the most ideal time period for their special day. The peak season reaches its high in May, June and the beginning of July. September is also a popular month, and October brings the peak season to a close.
But exactly why are these months so popular? Apart from guaranteeing the couple a sunny wedding, it also brings to the table a multitude of wedding themes like an outdoor wedding with a night of fireworks, beach weddings, pool and garden weddings as well as boat weddings. Moreover, the spring/summer season provides the benefit of fresh fruit and vegetables for all the health conscious couples. Last but most definitely not least, the colours of the season derived from nature with flowers for spring and lemons for summer. Additionally it’s the perfect season for a bright colour wedding.
Being the most popular season for weddings, the couple needs to be on top of all bookings and they need to be finalised with ample time in advance. Booking at least two years in advance is necessary when the wedding is on a Saturday or eve of a Public Holiday. Having a contingency plan for your wedding venue is always an important thing to reduce stress in case the weather does not cooperate, especially if the venue chosen does not offer both an indoor and outdoor area.
The same reasoning applies for suppliers. Wedding vendors and service providers are all maxed out during peak season. The couple needs to book the suppliers well in advance, especially when they have specific requests of what they want.
Expectedly, peak season offers higher prices, and its exactly the season to avoid if you’re either running a wedding on a limited budget, or you want to go against the norm.
By Nicole Borg
Something old, Something new, Something borrowed or blue
The tradition of acquiring ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ is a superficial element in the preparation of a wedding that many still follow today. The tradition goes that the finding and using of all such items before the wedding day will grant good luck for the bride on her wedding day as well as fertility in the long run. However, nowadays it has become more of a ritual people add to their attire for their special day. Yes, even in Malta!
So what can you get in order to make sure you have all 4 requirements?
Something old could be a vintage accessory, maybe something from your grand parents or a family token that has been passed from generation to generation. Some brides actually take this a step further and rather than buying or hiring a wedding dress, they wear their mother’s dress, veil or tiara.
After the old, comes the new. Generally this item tends to be a gift from the groom or also a family present for the bride. Of course this could also fit in one’s wedding budget! No need to go for the most expensive pearl or diamond necklace, a simple hankie could do the trick.
Admittedly the something borrowed part is quite fun as this can be literally anything from a hair pin to earrings to shoes - the list is never ending.
Finally comes the something blue. No matter what colour scheme your wedding will include, blue is one colour that you can bring in without impacting the colour scheme negatively. Many add blue to the lining of their wedding dress, others just use blue ribbons around their bouquets.
By Nicole Borg