While summer season is synonymous with sun and sea, the season brings with it an influx of weddings.

In Malta, the most popular period for tying the knot is between May and September, chosen for their overall reliable, pleasant weather. With the warmer weather extending into October, the country is also seeing more and more weddings organised around this time of the year too. 

Maltese weddings are known for being lavish affairs featuring new trends constantly emerging, multiple entertainment options and bar selections, all of which contribute to an increasingly hefty price tag. And, together with soaring costs, guests increasingly question how much an appropriate monetary gift should be, including for those who were invited but cannot make it for a couple's big day. 

Firstly, zooming into the increasing costs, wedding planner Claudio Diacono shares that every year, wedding prices increase by around 10 per cent.

In comments given to WhosWho.mt, she notes that while everything is becoming more expensive, the most significant price hikes are observed in food and drinks.

This aligns with the current situation across the globe, including Malta, where inflation saw prices of ordinary food products soar.

Although the cost of a wedding varies based on the couple’s choice of venue, attire, bridal party size, food, drinks, and entertainment, Ms Diacono estimates that the average wedding today costs between €35,000 and €40,000.

“Considering the food, venue, drinks and some other items, in today’s wedding the bride and groom pay an average of €120 per person. Naturally, prices might differ depending on the budget and scale of the wedding,” she shares.

Additionally, guest lists can swell to as many as 1,000 people, adding to the grand scale of Maltese celebrations.

“I’ve had weddings’ where the couple had 600 guests and others with 35. I’ve had varied weddings however I would say that the average is around 200-300 guests,” she elaborates.

The price disparity of weddings of 2024, compared to earlier ones, often leads to guests questioning the size of the cheque (as a gift), one should give to the happy couple.

According to Ms Diacono, the wedding gift solely depends on the stability of the guest and the relationship between the guest(s) and the couple.

Factoring in the price paid per wedding reception attendee, in this day and age, unless an individual simply cannot afford it or the event is more simple and less lavish than other dos, a gift of €100 per person is expected. Here we are talking about weddings with open bars, free flowing food and all the bells and whistles.

“At times, family relatives can be the worst in gift giving. There are guests that do not give any gift at all, but everyone has his or her reasons,” she notes.

She also highlights that she’s had multiple experiences were families of four people, invited at the wedding “only gave as a €50 gift.”

With all this in mind, many people are opting for small intimate wedding ceremonies with closest family and friends because of the expense of paying for a wedding.

Ms Diacono notes that while the past two years weddings increased after COVID-19, this year weddings have slowed down.

“Speaking from my perspective, the fact that I have a two-week break in the middle of July, it’s strange. Even caterers have noticed the decrease. On the other hand, next year it already seems to be different,” she remarks.

Furthermore, with property prices skyrocketing over the years, many couples prefer having a small wedding ceremony, or not getting married at all.

The drop in marriage numbers reflect this reasoning.

The downward trend in marriages was particularly significant among religious marriages compared to civil ceremonies, according to figures published by Minister Byron Camilleri, in response to a Parliamentary question.

For instance, the number of Maltese couples, married at a church in 2010 was that of 1,542. In 2023, the figure stood at 898.

Conversely, civil weddings increased from 297 in 2010 to 370 Maltese couples in 2023.