A Malta Wedding Inspired by Baroque Romance and Old-World Glamour

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Aishling and Colin are both from Ireland and first met at university at 19. Their relationship grew through a shared sense of adventure, a love of travel, and, above all, a deep and intimate friendship. Three years before their wedding, they moved to Dubai together, beginning another defining chapter away from home. Colin proposed during a backpacking trip through South America. After three weeks of travel through Colombia, where he secretly picked up a diamond-and-emerald ring and carried it with him, he surprised Aishling with a sweet, intimate proposal on a secluded beach in the Galápagos Islands. Surrounded by untouched nature and far from the rest of the world, the moment felt completely private, as though it belonged only to them.

Location: Naxaar, Malta
Style: Baroque Romance & Old World Glamour
Number of guests: 75
Time of planning: 16 months
Setting: Historic Palazzo, Ballroom, and Gardens
Season: Spring

For Aishling and Colin, the wedding vision blended Baroque romance, old-world glamour, and intimate Mediterranean elegance, inspired by their shared love of art, history, and classical music, all beautifully captured by Anisa Alsabri. They have always been drawn to artists such as Caravaggio and Vermeer, particularly the drama, emotion, and quiet intimacy in their work. That shaped the atmosphere they wanted at Palazzo Parisio, where the setting’s grandeur meets the feeling of a private, protected love.

They fell in love with Malta’s energy, from its dramatic cliffs and turquoise water to the warmth of its people. Aishling was immediately captivated by Palazzo Parisio‘s architecture and timeless bones, and when she first entered the ballroom, its ornate, opulent interiors felt almost Versace-inspired.

Fashion

Aishling wore a Pollardi gown that was extensively altered, with bespoke changes, to create her final bridal look. A full lace overlay brought softness and intricate texture to the grandeur of the ballroom, and a dramatic 3.5-metre cathedral-length lace veil added a sense of ceremony and movement. She wore it with Tony Bianco lace heels, simple diamond stud earrings, an elegant diamond tennis bracelet, and a timeless Jimmy Choo handbag. Her diamond and emerald Moi et Toi engagement ring symbolizes two individual souls coming together, and alongside it she wore a diamond wedding band engraved with the private words “Love of my life.”

Her bouquet was a dramatic, oversized arrangement made entirely of giant fresh peonies. It was a last-minute change and became the first detail that made her cry on the wedding morning. She described it as something that grounded and steadied her when she felt as though she were floating through the day. Her ceremony hair was a simple, perfectly executed sleek ballerina bun, chosen to complement the cathedral veil and let the lace gown stay the focus. Makeup artist Elena Stagge created a natural, softly finished look with light makeup, natural lashes, and a delicate pale pink lip, and Aishling wore Guidance by Amouage as her wedding fragrance.

Colin kept his look classic. His bespoke tuxedo, made by Hollywood Tailors, was cut to sit quietly beside Aishling’s gown, so all eyes would stay on his bride. The details were saved for the places only he would notice: his initials embroidered on the sleeve and the wedding date stitched onto the back of the collar. Hugo Boss tuxedo shoes, custom initial cufflinks, and an Omega Seamaster watch finished the look. He wore Reflection Man by Amouage, picked to sit alongside Aishling’s fragrance while still being his own.

Ceremony

The ceremony took place in the main ballroom at Palazzo Parisio. A cream aisle runner traced a soft path through the ornate room, and white lilies added a refined floral touch without overwhelming its existing beauty. Live strings set the mood from the start, with the music becoming part of the architecture of the day. Cordia String Quartet performed “Spring 1” from Max Richter’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the entrance of the groomsmen.

Aishling and Colin chose not to have a first look, wanting the first time they saw each other to be during the ceremony. Aishling then walked down the aisle alone as the quartet played Ludovico Einaudi’s “Experience,” a moment that felt both vulnerable and empowering. For her, it was one of the most powerful moments of the day. The music, the ornate ballroom, and the sight of Colin waiting for her created a feeling that was both strong and vulnerable. The strings carried on into the drinks reception, extending the emotion and grandeur of the ballroom into the next chapter of the celebration.

The ceremony blended classical grandeur with modern, deeply personal choices. Afterward, the couple felt overwhelmed with happiness and relief. It had captured exactly what they wanted: an intimate, emotionally powerful ceremony in an extraordinary historical setting.

Cocktail Hour & Moments Together

The wedding felt like a private collection of meaningful details, not a celebration built around a single theme. The historic palazzo, fine-art influences, and Baroque romance reflected a love that had been carefully nurtured and protected.

After the ceremony, Aishling and Colin stepped away to spend time alone, first in the palazzo and later in the gardens at sunset, while guests enjoyed the cocktail hour. At times, especially in the quietest and purest moments, it felt as though they were the only people there.

Reception Decor & Details

Aishling and Colin planned the whole celebration themselves over sixteen months, with Aishling’s big sister and maid of honor beside them. Their one rule was to let the palazzo speak. The limestone, the gilding, and the frescoes already said plenty, so every addition had to earn its place.

The palette came from the palazzo and the sea around it. Silver added a cool shimmer, cream and white lace softened it, and grapes, pomegranates, and artichokes in deep reds and greens gave the table warmth and life. With simple florals and candlelight, it looked like a Mediterranean banquet, or a painter’s still life. Feasting, celebration, prosperity: that was the wish for every guest sitting down to it.

For all the grandeur, dinner was meant to feel like a family supper. Seventy-five guests shared one long table beside the orangery, each with a personalized name card and a message at their seat.

Reception

The reception took place beside the orangery at Palazzo Parisio, with all seventy-five guests seated at one long table, a family dinner in a palazzo. Guests were in awe of the venue and of the Mediterranean banquet laid out in front of them. Silver caught the candlelight, and cream, red, and green came through in simple florals, grapes, pomegranates, and artichokes. It was abundant and sensory, opulent without turning formal, and it stood for celebration, prosperity, and goodwill for everyone around the table.

Some of the moments they will keep longest came after dinner: Aishling’s father’s words, read out by her sister, and Colin’s tribute to his soulmate. There was private time in the gardens at sunset, the cake cut beneath the fireworks, and the sound of guests breaking into song on their own during the jazz set.

Into The Night

Their first dance was to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli, played live by The Busker and a saxophonist. Aishling and Colin danced a choreographed routine they had learned just for the night, and they enjoyed it so much that they have kept dancing together since.

Right after, Aishling slipped away and returned in a Vivienne Westwood mini dress, her hair restyled, just in time for the toasts and the cake. The cake was a very large, round one in soft cream. As the couple cut it, fireworks lit up the grounds of Palazzo Parisio.

Advice from the couple:

• Choose a venue and details that genuinely reflect your relationship rather than feeling pressured to follow a trend. Trust emotional decisions as much as practical ones, because a last-minute detail can become one of the most meaningful parts of the day.

• Think about how you want your guests to feel, not only how you want the wedding to look. Bringing everyone together at one table and writing a personal message for each guest created the intimacy Aishling and Colin wanted. Most importantly, protect time to be alone together. The day passes quickly, and the quiet moments can become the purest memories.