A Magical Destination Wedding in Malta by I Do Knot Wedding Planners

Real Weddings

“Palazzo Parisio is a stunning venue… once you step inside you cannot help but feel that you have stepped inside a palace.”

The couple: Genevieve Conroy & Ronan Power
Length of engagement: 13 months | Wedding date: 23rd May 2016
Wedding location: Naxxar, Malta | Reception venue: Palazzo Parisio
Photographer: Shane P. Watts

Wedding planners: I Do Knot Wedding Planners Malta

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We met… Little did I realise on a night out in Dublin city in September 2008 that I would meet my future husband – an Australian no less. Ronan was enjoying a gap year in Dublin visiting family and friends when he began his search for an Irish wife! Throughout our seven years together, we have shared residences both in Sydney and Dublin, and look forward to our next big adventure together.

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Our proposal… Ronan surprised me on a return trip to Sydney, Australia. He designed the ring with our friends at Robert Cliff Jewellers and on arrival picked it up before surprising me with a kayaking trip in Manly. We kayaked to a remote beach where his elaborate plan unfolded. A romantic lunch for two was waiting for us on arrival. Before I realised what was happening, he dropped to one knee and made me the happiest girl in the world.

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My dress… was perfection. My mum and I spent hours trawling bridal stores across Dublin city, but eventually found the perfect dress in our home village of Castleknock, Dublin 15, barely five minutes walk from our house. It was such a happy coincidence to find my favourite Australian bridal designer Anna Campbell in my local bridal store, Little White Dress. I wore the ‘Coco’ dress – a traditional style, full length dress of antique white. A cathedral length veil completed the ensemble.

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Our wedding theme/colours… was an elegant, classic day with family and friends.

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What our bridal party wore… My sisters Charlotte and Judith, our bridesmaids, wore rose pink, embellished tulle and lace dresses. This was complemented by the groomsmen, Gavin and Alan, in their navy suits. Our flowergirls, Cordelia, Camilla and Rosalind, wore softly gathered tulle dresses with a satin back bow, and our page boy James was dapper in his navy linen suit.

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Our ceremony… romantic, traditional and forever memorable. The ceremony took place in a beautiful, ornate, baroque Catholic church called the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Naxxar, Malta. We absolutely fell in love with the church when we first visited with its dome structure, strong colours and beautiful details. Father Daniel Cardona and our family and friends all contributed to a wonderful ceremony.

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We chose our wedding coordinator because… we clicked straight away. After speaking to a number of wedding coordinators, we found Petra of ‘I Do Knot Wedding Planners Malta’. Immediately we knew we had found the right coordinator for us. We were extremely similar in the way we approached wedding planning, and her skills are second to none. It was such a fantastic and enjoyable experience planning our wedding together. I cannot rate Petra and her team highly enough. Their care and support on our day meant a lot to us.

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We chose our photographer because…
We chose Shane P. Watts after looking at his website and portfolio. This proved to be an excellent choice! A Dublin native, resident in Malta, Shane shared a similar style to ours which made the experience a relaxing one. He created a very calm and playful atmosphere which really achieved super shots of everyone. We were delighted with our photos.

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My favourite part of the wedding day… was sharing it with our loved ones from across the globe. As we have lived abroad from family during the past few years, spending time with them is our favourite thing to do. Combining our families and friends from Ireland and Australia and gathering them in one place for a week to celebrate our wedding was amazing. We have created such wonderful memories with all of them from our Big Day.

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We chose our venue because… it took our breath away. Palazzo Parisio is a stunning venue and once you step inside you cannot help but feel that you have stepped inside a palace. We had so much fun exploring the venue with Petra, from the beautiful gardens to the ornate ballroom. We knew the venue was perfect for us and simply needed a date. It was also fantastic that we could wed in the beautiful church just minutes across the square.

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Our menu… Guests arrived in the sunny gardens of Palazzo Parisio to sparkling wine and a variety of canapés. The service was impeccable by all the staff at the palazzo, and canapés were amazing. They provided a wonderful taste of things to come. Entering the ballroom was an unforgettable experience. Dining on beautifully prepared salmon terrine, primavera risotto and a delicious fillet of beef, surrounded by candle light, gold embossed frescoes amongst our loved ones made this a Versailles like experience. Cutting the cake on the balcony at dusk completed the ultimate dining experience.

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My piece of advice for other brides… don’t sweat the little things. It seems that we can become so consumed with every little detail of our wedding day. It is easy to forget the reasons why we are there in the first place! Love every minute of your special day together. Cherish those who wish to share your moment with you. Truly take it all in. There is no better feeling in the world!

Suppliers

Wedding planners: I Do Knot Wedding Planners Malta | Photographer: Shane P. Watts Photography | Wedding dress: Anna Campbell from Little White Dress, Castleknock | Engagement ring: Robert Cliff Jewellers