ome weddings are beautiful because of the setting. Others stay with you because of the people.
Ieva and Andrea's wedding had both.
Their September wedding brought together the historic streets of Valletta, the elegance of Palazzo Parisio and, most importantly, a group of family and friends who had travelled to Malta simply to celebrate these two wonderful people.
From the preparations in Valletta to champagne and fireworks late into the night, their day was full of emotion, colour, laughter and the kind of wonderfully unscripted moments I love to photograph.
Getting Ready at Domus Zamittello in Valletta
The day began at Domus Zamittello, right in the heart of Valletta.
Having both Ieva and Andrea preparing at the same location gave me the opportunity to move naturally between both sides of the story: the quieter moments with Andrea and his groomsmen, and the excitement building in Ieva's room as she got ready with her bridal party.
Ieva had mentioned before the wedding how much she loved black-and-white photography, so throughout the day I was particularly conscious of looking for moments where expression, light and emotion could tell the entire story without the need for colour.
One of those moments came very early.
Seeing Andrea overcome with emotion was exactly the type of honest, fleeting moment that makes documentary wedding photography so meaningful. You cannot manufacture those photographs. You simply have to be present and ready when they happen.
Ieva wore the Aurelia gown by AG Bridal, paired with jewellery from Primo Diamonds, with her bridal look completed by Elena Stagg on makeup and Paxanas on hair.
A Valletta Wedding Ceremony at St Francis
From Domus Zamittello, we made our way through Valletta for their ceremony at St Francis.
Ieva chose Can't Help Falling in Love for her walk down the aisle – a perfect soundtrack to one of the most emotional parts of the day.
The ceremony itself was intimate and heartfelt, surrounded by the people who mattered most to them.
When I had asked Ieva and Andrea beforehand what they were most looking forward to, their answer summed up their wedding beautifully:
"Just being around everyone who loves us and being as happy as humanly possible. OH and the foooooood."
That sense of simply wanting to enjoy their people rather than create a day dictated by formalities continued throughout the wedding.
From Valletta to Palazzo Parisio
After the ceremony, I travelled with Ieva and Andrea from Valletta to Palazzo Parisio.
I always enjoy these small transitions during a wedding day. For a few minutes, the couple finally has a little space after the intensity of the ceremony, and the photographs often become quieter and more personal.
Meanwhile, my second photographer was already at Palazzo Parisio documenting the reception details and guests arriving.
And there was plenty waiting for us there.
Palazzo Parisio is one of Malta's most distinctive wedding venues: ornate interiors, magnificent gardens and architecture that provides completely different photographic possibilities within just a few metres.
A Grand Entrance – With a Little More Drama
Rather than simply walking into dinner, Ieva and Andrea had something slightly more dramatic planned.
Their guests followed them through the gardens before the couple finished their entrance with a dip kiss as colourful fireworks fired behind them.
It was bold, celebratory and very much in keeping with the energy of the day.
Afterwards came speeches in the garden, followed by dinner at Palazzo Parisio.
We deliberately kept the couple's portrait session short and worked it into the natural rhythm of dinner. Instead of disappearing for an hour-long photoshoot, we stepped away briefly between courses and used the surroundings of Palazzo Parisio for relaxed portraits.
For me, this is always the balance I want to achieve.
Beautiful portraits matter, but the couple should also be able to experience their own wedding.
Dinner, Games and Music
Once dinner finished, the atmosphere shifted completely.
Klinsmann took over the music and the front of the stage quickly became the centre of the party.
There was no traditional first dance planned – and there didn't need to be one.
Songs including Jerusalema and Ti Amo formed part of a soundtrack to an evening that felt much more like a celebration among friends than a sequence of wedding traditions that had to be ticked off a list.
Those are often my favourite receptions to photograph.
Once people forget about the camera, everything changes. Movement becomes less predictable. Expressions become more honest. Friends pull each other onto the dance floor. Parents watch from the side. Someone inevitably does something ridiculous.
And that is where so many of the photographs that couples treasure years later come from.
Fireworks and Champagne Above Palazzo Parisio
Late in the evening, there was still one final surprise.
Ieva and Andrea headed to the balcony of Palazzo Parisio for their champagne tower, perfectly positioned to watch another display of fireworks.
It made for one of the visual highlights of the wedding: the two of them together above the celebrations, champagne flowing and the Maltese night sky lighting up behind them.
From there, celebrations continued into the after-party at the Vault.
A fitting ending to a day that had begun with emotional preparations in Valletta and gradually built into one huge celebration.
Wedding Suppliers
Wedding Venue: Palazzo Parisio, Malta
Getting Ready: Domus Zamittello, Valletta
Ceremony: St Francis, Valletta
Wedding Planner: Krista Portanier – My Wedding Planner
Cinematography: Mooncast Films – Tomasz
Wedding Dress: AG Bridal – Aurelia
Makeup: Elena Stagg
Hair: Paxanas
Jewellery: Primo Diamonds
Band: Klinsmann
Flowers: The Malta Florist
Transport: Borg Garages
Décor & Production: Golden Edge, Creations by H&S, Afterglow Events and Dizajner Events
Photobooth: TSM Photobooths
Photography: FBalzan Photography
