Tamara Azzopardi, a 33-year-old teacher, and Kurt Fenech, a 30-year-old manager, were together for four years before Kurt popped the question to Tamara in July 2023 on a romantic getaway in Monaco. Despite having dropped several hints about her desire to get married, Tamara said she was still so surprised when Kurt dropped to one knee in the stunning Saint-Martin gardens, that she was crying too hard to even accept!
When it came to planning their special event, however, things were fairly easy-going, as despite having a few ideas in mind, both Tamara and Kurt remained open to suggestions. The date and venue were set – 14th September 2024 – with the ceremony taking place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Valletta, followed by a reception at Villa Overhills in Birzebbuga.
Tamara oversaw most of the decision-making, with considerable help from her mother and mother-in-law. She recalls how Katia Gatt, the wedding planner, made the entire process completely stress-free, especially in the final weeks leading up to the wedding.
After having spent her youth experimenting with her own personal style, Tamara chose to stick to a simple, timeless style when it came to their wedding aesthetic – one that would stand the test of time as they looked at their wedding photos decades down the line. This was reflected in the colour scheme of the bridesmaids’ dresses, which were white, as well as the neutral floral arrangements by Alistair Floral Design, complementing the rest of the decor, taken care of by Golden Edge Event Services.
The choice of cake was also classic yet unique – made by Elia Caterers, who also provided the catering. On a first glance it appeared simple and traditional, but up close, had a beautifully intricate design. Each tier of the cake had a different flavour, with one layer of traditional almond wedding cake, another containing Baci chocolate cake, and topped with a delicious layer of strawberry sponge.
In choosing certain aspects of the wedding, however, Tamara and Kurt had some fun, making the celebration uniquely theirs. Tamara says, “For example, we made the unconventional choice to arrive in luxury sports cars, which was great fun for Kurt and his groomsmen, and made for a really enjoyable and intimate drive for us as a couple after the ceremony.”
When it came to Tamara’s dress, she was incredibly lucky – ‘the one’ was the first dress she tried! The careful selection by Josef at Ivory and Co. fit her perfectly, although she wasn’t immediately convinced herself, wanting to try other styles before deciding. After shopping around for some time, unable to stop thinking about the first dress, Tamara booked a second appointment with Josef and the moment she put it on, she got goosebumps, later reflecting “I knew instantly it was the one”. The special dress was complemented by her beautiful make-up by Justin Brincat and elegant up style by Murat from Kim & Rose and Lindsey from Cashmere. Jean Zammit created the perfect complementary make-up for the bridesmaids and mothers, completing the bridal party's look.
The design of the wedding invitations was quite important to the couple, and a lot of thought and love went into creating them. The design was inspired by the French toile de jouy fabric, which is typically seen in blue, but Tamara opted for a more neutral colour to match the rest of the wedding's palette. The pattern was custom designed by Foilplus and also featured on the inside of the envelope. They also had personalised wax seals, which Tamara’s father patiently heated and sealed by hand – a true labour of love!
The wedding favours also had a personal touch – Tamara’s love for scented candles came through in the beautifully fragrant Nemnem candles that the guests took home with them after the special night.
On being asked whether there was anything that didn’t go to plan, Tamara says “If there were any hiccups, I wasn’t aware of them—I’m sure Katia handled everything behind the scenes! To us, the entire day felt perfect, and we truly enjoyed every moment.” One moment that was quite unexpected, though, was when Kurt – usually a very quiet person – took to the stage and sang his heart out, giving a "hilarious performance"! It’s definitely not a moment either of them will be forgetting in a hurry, but just in case, they have their photos and video from the night, lovingly put together by Focus by Mr V and Ders Wedding Films.
There were, indeed, many magical moments to be captured, with the band Versatile providing the soundtrack to their wonderful night, but Tamara reflects on the first dance with particular affection. In the early days of their relationship, they’d unwittingly made their first wedding decision, jokingly choosing ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ by James Arthur as their wedding song, “as the lyrics perfectly describe the night we first met”. Although the moment in itself wasn’t planned, as they didn’t choreograph or practice the dance beforehand, Tamara reflects that “singing those lyrics to each other and realising how far we had come was an incredibly beautiful moment”.
Photos by Focus By Mr V