Dreaming of saying “I do” beneath Mediterranean sunshine, surrounded by sparkling blue water, historic architecture and the people you love most? Malta might just deserve a place at the top of your destination wedding list.
Just a short flight from the UK, Malta combines beautiful weather, English speaking wedding professionals, incredible food and an extraordinary choice of venues. From elegant hotels and historic properties to coastal celebrations and countryside settings, couples can create a wedding that feels completely their own.
We spoke to the team at Arrigo Group, specialists in weddings, hospitality and events in Malta, to find out what UK couples need to know about planning a wedding on the island.
Can UK couples legally get married in Malta?
Yes. A marriage legally registered in Malta can be recognised in the UK, making it possible for British couples to have their official ceremony as well as their wedding celebrations on the island.
There is, however, a formal process to follow and timing is important.
Arrigo Group recommends beginning conversations around a year before your intended wedding date. This gives couples plenty of time to understand the process, explore venues and start making the bigger decisions surrounding their celebration.
Couples are also encouraged to visit Malta around a year ahead of the wedding where possible. Arrigo Group can arrange a meeting with the Marriage Registry so that couples can understand exactly which documents will be required and establish contact with an official who can guide them through the process in the months ahead.
The legal paperwork itself is time sensitive. According to Arrigo Group, the formal process begins around four months before the wedding, with documentation needing to be prepared within the required validity window. Preparing certain documents too early can mean they are no longer valid when needed.
Requirements can also vary depending on individual circumstances. Couples who were born outside the UK, or who have previously been married, divorced or widowed, may need to provide additional documentation and evidence.
Having professional guidance can therefore be particularly valuable. Rather than trying to navigate the process from overseas, couples can have a local point of contact to help them understand what is required and when.
When should you start planning a wedding in Malta?
For a legally registered wedding, Arrigo Group recommends beginning the planning process around a year in advance.
It is also worth enquiring early if you have your heart set on a particular date or venue, especially if there are elements of your wedding that are especially important to you.
Couples planning a symbolic ceremony may have more flexibility. If the venue and date are flexible, Arrigo Group advises that it can be possible to arrange a symbolic ceremony and celebration within three to six months.
Guest numbers will also influence the planning timeline. A larger destination wedding naturally requires more coordination, particularly when guests are travelling internationally and accommodation and transport need to be considered.
The first big decisions are usually the wedding date, venue, guest numbers, style of celebration and budget. From there, the wider experience can begin to take shape.
For couples travelling from the UK, this might include accommodation, airport and wedding transport, gatherings before and after the wedding, local excursions, boat trips, spa treatments and personal grooming. A destination wedding can become far more than one day, giving couples the opportunity to create an entire experience for their guests.
From Mediterranean coastlines to historic venues
One of Malta’s biggest attractions is the sheer variety of settings available.
Couples can explore coastal and waterside celebrations, historic venues filled with character, peaceful countryside locations and luxury hotels, depending on the atmosphere they want to create.
Once Arrigo Group understands a couple’s vision, preferred wedding date and priorities, the team can present a selection of suitable options.
For couples dreaming of something a little less conventional, there may also be possibilities beyond traditional wedding venues. Some locations and set ups can require specific permits or permissions, so having somebody locally who understands what is achievable can make exploring those ideas considerably easier.
Whether your vision is an intimate Mediterranean celebration or a larger, glamorous occasion, Malta offers the flexibility to create something that feels personal to you.
Why choose Malta for a destination wedding?
There is one obvious attraction: the sunshine.
Malta enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate and is particularly well suited to couples dreaming of an outdoor celebration. But the appeal goes well beyond the weather.
English is widely spoken within Malta’s wedding industry, which makes communication considerably easier for couples planning from the UK. The island also has a strong culture of celebrations, hospitality and events, meaning weddings are something local suppliers know how to do exceptionally well.
Food is another major part of the experience. Mediterranean flavours sit alongside international influences, creating plenty of possibilities when designing a wedding menu that works for you and your guests.
Then there is accessibility. With frequent flight connections from airports across the UK, Malta gives couples the excitement of a destination wedding without necessarily asking their guests to travel halfway across the world.
It is a combination that makes the island particularly interesting for couples who want their wedding to feel like an escape while still being relatively straightforward for friends and family to reach.
Planning your wedding from the UK
Organising a wedding overseas can initially feel daunting. You cannot simply pop into your venue after work or meet every supplier in person, which is where having trusted contacts on the ground becomes especially valuable.
Arrigo Group provides couples with a designated point of contact who can answer questions and support them throughout the planning process, including through WhatsApp and email.
Depending on what a couple requires, the wider team can also provide access to wedding planning services, legal registry guidance, symbolic wedding celebrants and operational support on the wedding day itself.
Arrigo Group also works with an established network of local suppliers and can assist with everything from catering and accommodation to transport, excursions and personal care.
The aim is to make planning from overseas feel less distant.
“From our first email or WhatsApp call to when the couple say ‘I do’, enjoy their celebrations and kick off their shoes to savour the moment, we are always by their side,” says the Arrigo Group team.
Meet Arrigo Group
Arrigo Group’s roots in Malta’s tourism and hospitality industry stretch back through generations, with the family business building its experience across hospitality, catering, weddings and events.
That hospitality remains central to the way the team approaches weddings today.
Rather than simply coordinating the logistics of an event, the team sees its role as walking through the experience alongside each couple, understanding their wishes and taking responsibility for bringing the different elements together.
Their network of suppliers and hospitality experience also allows couples to bring multiple parts of their destination wedding under one umbrella.
From next year, Arrigo Group will also be able to offer a collection of luxury villas with accommodation for up to 50 people, alongside access to a wide selection of hotels around Malta. For couples who want their closest friends and family together throughout their stay, this creates another way to turn the wedding into a shared Mediterranean experience.
Discover weddings in Malta at The National Wedding Show
If Malta has caught your attention, the VisitMalta stand at The National Wedding Show is the perfect place to start exploring what your wedding on the island could look like.
VisitMalta works alongside businesses across Malta’s wedding and tourism industries, bringing together experts who can answer questions on everything from venues and planning to travel, accommodation and the practicalities of getting married overseas.
Arrigo Group will be there to help couples understand the possibilities and start turning an idea into something more tangible.
Come armed with questions. Ask about the legal process. Talk through your guest numbers and budget. Explore different venues and settings. Or simply tell the team what you imagine when you picture your wedding day and discover what Malta could offer.
And even if your wedding ends up taking place a little closer to home, Malta may still find its way into your celebrations.
As the Arrigo Group team puts it, if they do not win you over for the wedding itself, there is always the hen or stag celebration, or perhaps the honeymoon.
Visit the VisitMalta stand at The National Wedding Show to meet Arrigo Group and discover what your destination wedding in Malta could look like.
Come and See us at the VisitMalta Stand D18 to get to know more about Weddings and Honeymoons in Malta!