As December starts to roll around, Malta becomes engrossed in the cosy haze of the long celebrated festive season. The streets are usually strung all along from one side to the other with gold lights. The small village bakeries engulf the cold Sunday morning breeze with smells of almond pastries and the quintessential Mediterranean citrus and cinnamon. And the locals’ warm and cheerful disposition counters the sharp wind of the islands.
As far as weather goes, there is a huge disparity between this and sunshine drenched summer period of this little archipelago. Spring weddings have, as far as we have known, been the ideal staple cliché of the big day, but it might not be the ultimate dream for all couples. A wedding in the winter season is possibly the most underrated option when it comes to planning, with most locals opting for a summer wedding themselves. However, there may be a couple of reasons continuously bypassed that make this season the true underdog for the most romantic setting.
To start with the most obvious, winter weddings are less pricey. Because it is a less common choice for couples to set a date in this time of year it is considered off-season which typically marks it’s end around March. Most vendors, particularly when it comes to venues, are likely to provide you with a better deal. What’s more, the term being generally less busy for weddings incurs more care and attention from the vendors’ side in ensuring everything is perfect on your wedding day.
The busyness of the spring and summer period also extends to your guests who can be so slammed with back to back wedding weekends that they’ll be experiencing a serious case of wedding fatigue. The organisation of your wedding day should also be considerate of the people who will be attending to celebrate it with you. A wedding during this season quite surely guarantees a complete guest attendance as they are likely not invited to another wedding or away on holiday while being most likely the first they’ll be attending in a long time and therefore an occasion they will be very excited for.
There’s no debate that the warmer spring and summer months of Malta endow the setting and the resulting photographs with the natural beauty of the delicate sunshine and blossoming foliage, but there is a subtle charm in the etherealness of a well organised event taking place in a less frequented time of year. It is different and opens up a whole new world of opportunities with the overall look and feel. The colour palettes, themes and decorations are malleable enough to create from your fantasy winter-wonderland setting adorned in crystals and soft cool hues to the more romantic and rustic atmosphere of lush emerald and velvety red of the cosy festive season and the opulent New Year glam. Many venues also take it upon themselves, and this is likely to come at no extra cost to the couple, to decorate the location for the festivities, adding on to the celebratory atmosphere of the union.
Weather is not much of a gamble in Malta. The sun shines all year with the guaranteed exception of November through to the beginning of March. The days are still bright but they are accompanied by cool breezes and sporadic rainfall. The Mediterranean heat and humidity could in turn stifle the suit wearers and frizz styled hair, and that is a fashion mishap everyone wants to avoid having recorded in their wedding photos. When you know what to expect you are better prepared. Booking an indoor venue spares the couple the stresses of booking an outdoor location in the summer, only to have to pay extra and pitch a tent in a last-minute decision. The day might be grey during winter, but the light inside will be bright and cosy, and on the off-chance that the sun does show its face, it is a welcome surprise.
Last but not least is the prospect of spending a lovely honeymoon in Malta after bringing your wedding here. Malta is the sunniest country in Europe. It may drizzle occasionally but you might find yourself exploring the many natural and heritage sights of the island without the need for a winter jacket. The crowds of tourists would have long dissipated before the final months of the year and you can enjoy the accommodations, sights and travel packages at a more affordable price. The capital and historic villages display a cosy façade for the peaceful meandering of the loving couple who can enjoy a warm mug of mulled wine and oven baked pastries from the many shop fronts of times bygone, or an adventurous cliff-side hike in the beautiful countryside of Malta.
