Malta – Wedding Ceremony

You can choose to have either a Civil or Religious Malta Wedding Ceremony.

Both civil and religious ceremonies are legally binding in Malta, therefore unlike many other European countries if you wish to have a religious wedding ceremony you are not required to first have a civil ceremony. Below are the facts you need to know about having a Malta wedding ceremony.

Civil Cermonies

Civil ceremonies can be conducted in the Marriage Registry in Valletta or Gozo or they can take place at any other place open to the public which the registrar accepts as appropriate.

Venues which have currently been accepted as appropriate are:

• Wedding Halls
• Conference Rooms
• Public areas within Hotel precincts

Malta wedding ceremony venues which have been deemed inappropriate are:

• Poolside areas
• Private Beaches

Religious Ceremonies

Although Malta’s religion is Roman Catholic, couples from other denominations regularly hold wedding services in churches of their own religious denomination.

With more churches than days of the year, ranging from the elegant splendour of Baroque parish churches to the more intimate and secluded countryside chapels, couples wanting a religious wedding are spoilt for choice when looking for their perfect church for their Malta wedding ceremony.

Catholic Church

If you wish to conduct your marriage within the Roman Catholic faith you are requested to contact the Curia to obtain information directly about the requirements for foreign nationals, as each case has to be made individually.

The Curia
PO Box 29
Valletta
Malta

Tel: +356 21 245350

Required Documentation:

Church documents must be prepared up to 6 months prior to your wedding date and you must contact your parish priest to prepare the required documentation listed below.

This documentation must then be forwarded by your parish priest to the Chancellory. Once the documentation has been checked by the Chancellory it should then be sent to the Curia.

• Pre-nupitial Investigation forms
• Affidavits of Freedom to Marry for both the bride and groom
• Baptism and Confirmation Certificates
• Priest’s written statement that pre-marital instructions have been given
• Permission by the Ordinary or his delegate for marriage to be celebrated outside his Diocese
• Any required dispensations from the Diocese of the Catholic party

This above listed documentation is in addition to the documentation you must submit to the Marriage Registry.

Anglican Church

If you wish to conduct your Malta Wedding Ceremony in an Anglican Church you are advised to contact the Chaplaincy well in advance and before any arrangements for your wedding have been made.

Chaplaincy Office
St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
Independence Square
Valletta VLT 12

Tel: +356 21 225714

Provided you can meet all the legal requirements to get married in Malta, marriages can be arranged in either of the Anglican Churches in Malta.

The following requirements must be met:

• Either the Bride or Groom must be a baptised Anglican
• You must agree to some marriage preparation

Symbolic Ceremony

My husband and I “secretly” got married in the United Kingdom prior to our wedding abroad and had a Humanist wedding ceremony on our wedding day. Our civil ceremony in the United Kingdom was purely to take care of the legalities and our wedding day is when we considered ourselves married. Our guests were not aware that our civil ceremony had taken place and our very personalised wedding ceremony  is when we and our guests felt that we became husband and wife.

Additional information

For information on the legal requirements for getting married in Malta click here.

Malta Destination Wedding Guide Part 1 – Legal Process and Ceremony Venues

Note: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and accurate, please check with the local authorities to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.