Planning a Wedding in Malta: Which Suppliers to Book and When
A wedding comes together in a set order. Decide the basics, secure the date, then book the suppliers who can only take one couple a day. This guide gives you that order, the Public Registry steps and what to ask each supplier.
Updated 2 November 2026 · 5 min read
Decide the basics before you call anyone
Every venue, caterer and band will ask you the same first questions. Have the answers ready and you will get useful replies, not vague ones.
Guest numbers drive almost everything else: the size of the venue, the catering and the length of the day. Summer gives you long evenings but serious heat for guests in suits. Winter is cooler but brings the chance of rain, so ask every outdoor venue about its indoor plan. In summer, check the date against local village feasts near your church or venue, since roads and parking can fill up.
The paperwork at the Public Registry
Church and civil weddings both go through the Marriage Registry, which is part of the Public Registry run by Identità. Here is what its pages say at the time of writing (November 2026). Always check the latest details with the Registry before you book anything that depends on them.
The Marriage Registry section of the Public Registry handles both religious and civil marriages. Identità asks couples to book an appointment or email the Registry at least three months before their marriage date (at the time of writing, November 2026).
SourceFor a civil marriage, couples contact the Marriage Registry at least three months before the date for the publication of banns. They notify the place, the date and the surnames after marriage, and bring ID documents, copies of their witnesses' ID and, where the birth is not registered in Malta, a birth certificate. Couples marrying in Gozo apply at the Marriage Registry in Victoria (at the time of writing, November 2026).
SourceFor a church wedding, the Registrar is told the church, the date, the priest's name and the surnames after marriage. Ten days before the wedding, the couple collect two copies of the Act of Marriage and the Certificate of Banns and give them to the parish priest, who returns the signed act to the Public Registry (at the time of writing, November 2026).
SourceIdentità's FAQ says a civil marriage may take place in the Marriage Registry's marriage room or at any other public place approved beforehand by the Marriage Registrar.
SourceCount back from your wedding date and add the Registry appointment and the ten-day collection to your calendar the day you fix the date. Then speak to your parish early too, since it may have its own preparation course and paperwork.
A booking timeline for your suppliers
There is no fixed rule for how early each supplier gets booked, and popular dates go first. Use this order rather than exact months. The rule of thumb: the fewer couples a supplier can serve on one day, the sooner you book them.
| Stage | Book or do | Why at this point |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as you agree a date | Church or civil ceremony, and the reception venue | Everything else is planned around the date and the place. |
| Straight after the venue | Photographer and videographer | Each one covers only one wedding a day. |
| Straight after the venue | Band, singer or DJ | Ask the venue about sound limits and finish times first. |
| Once the style is clear | Caterer (if the venue does not cater), florist, cake | They need guest numbers, colours and the menu style. |
| Once the style is clear | Dress, suits and fittings | Made-to-measure clothes need several fittings. |
| At least three months before | Marriage Registry appointment | Identità asks for this notice for the banns. |
| A few months before | Hair and make-up trial, invitations, transport | A trial shows the look and how long it takes. |
| Last few weeks | Final numbers, seating plan, day timeline to all suppliers | Caterers and venues need final figures. |
| Ten days before (church) | Collect the Act of Marriage and Certificate of Banns | The parish priest needs them for the ceremony. |
What to ask each supplier
Photographer and videographer
Ask to see a full wedding gallery, not a highlight reel. Agree the hours, from getting ready to the first dance or later, and what happens if the day runs over. Our guide on hiring a photographer in Malta covers contracts, copyright and backups.
Band, singer or DJ
Ask how long they play, how many breaks they take, and whether they cover the ceremony as well as the party. Check that their equipment suits the venue, and that the venue allows live music outdoors at night. You can compare musicians and singers before you ask for quotes.
Hair and make-up
Book a trial, and ask how many people they can prepare in the morning and whether they come to you. Ask if they stay for touch-ups and what the products are like in the summer heat.
Caterer, cake and flowers
Ask what is included: staff, drinks service, tableware, set-up and clearing. Ask how they handle allergies and children's meals. For flowers and the cake, ask how they keep them fresh in the heat, and when they deliver.
Transport
Ask for the route and timings between home, church and venue, including a backup if traffic is bad. If guests are coming from Gozo or going there, plan around the ferry times.
What moves your budget most
- The guest count, which multiplies catering, drinks and seating.
- The day and the season: weekends and peak dates cost more to book.
- Hours of cover from the photographer, video and music.
- Travel between Malta and Gozo for you, guests and suppliers.
- Extras that add up: albums, favours, late finishes, extra staff.
Get every quote in writing, with the deposit, the payment dates and the cancellation terms. Compare what each one includes before you compare totals.
The final weeks
Questions people ask
How far in advance should I book a wedding photographer in Malta?
Book right after you secure the date and the venue. A photographer can only cover one wedding a day, so popular dates in peak season go first. Before you pay a deposit, ask for a written package with the hours, the number of edited photos, the delivery date and what happens if the day runs late.
How early do we need to contact the Marriage Registry in Malta?
At the time of writing (November 2026), Identità asks couples to contact the Marriage Registry at least three months before the wedding date, for both church and civil marriages. Couples marrying in Gozo apply at the Registry in Victoria. Check the current requirements with the Registry when you fix your date.
Can we have a civil wedding outside the registry in Malta?
Yes, if the place is approved. Identità's FAQ says a civil marriage may take place in the Marriage Registry's marriage room or at any other public place approved beforehand by the Marriage Registrar. Ask the Registry about approval before you sign a venue contract for the ceremony.
How long should a wedding photographer stay?
It depends on what you want covered. Some couples want everything from getting ready to the last dance, others only the ceremony, portraits and the first part of the reception. Write down the moments you care about, share your day timeline, and ask the photographer how many hours that needs and what overtime costs.