“I often dreamt of my wedding day – that precious moment when I would walk down the aisle and marry the one that I love,” begins Danika. The couple, who tied the knot on 18th May 2019 begin by saying that they have finally settled down, following months of preparations. “When Chris and I started planning the wedding, we decided right away to enjoy every moment. The initial stages were hectic, but as the wedding got closer I felt calmer and calmer.”
Despite being together for 10 years, Danika and Chris only decided to marry 18 months ago.“Most people thought we were crazy to leave so little time when there was so much to be done. However we had decided a while back that we didn’t fancy a long engagement.”
Chris was only 19 when he first set his eyes on Danika. “I had seen her in Paceville and thought she was pretty. Soon after that, we started chatting on Facebook. At the time we were still students and we often met with friends, but things got more serious as the years went by.”
Danika recalls how Chris had surprised her with a holiday to Ayia Napa to celebrate their third anniversary. “That was an exciting moment as I had no idea where we were going. I have always loved Chris’ surprises as he can be rather romantic. Marriage was not discussed in the early years, but I think we both took it for granted that we would marry one day.”
The couple hoped to live together before marriage, however works on their new home took “forever” and this plan never materialised. By then, Chris was living with Danika at her parents’ house, and marriage seemed like the most natural step. “Suddenly, living together was not enough.”
Keen to make his proposal as exciting as possible, Chris waited until he and Danika took a trip to Dubai. “She was looking at rings at the airport when I hastily asked her to pick one. Once again, I knew this surprise would please her.” Danika blushes at the memory. “Choosing my own engagement ring was fun, however my fairy tale wedding now stood before me.” A few weeks later at Danika’s surprise birthday party, Chris got down on one knee and asked Danika to marry him.
From that moment on, things happened in swift motion. While Danika had lots of wedding requests, Chris only had one – to marry at Our Lady of Victory Church in Valletta. Sadly, upon a visit to the sanctuary the couple learnt that it had been booked. “I was disappointed but we had to move on, even though I was in love with the church and its beautiful frescos.”
Having chosen the Phoenicia Hotel for their wedding venue, the couple looked for another church in the capital. “We finally settled on Ta’ Giezu as this made it possible for our guests to walk from the church to the reception.”
Gold and white themed floral arrangements were chosen for both the venue and the church. Danika explains how no wedding planner was involved in the process. “I had dreamt about my wedding for so long, I was adamant to do everything myself.”
Meanwhile, choosing her wedding dress came easy. “One day I was shopping with my mother and we popped into Wedding Bells, just to take a look. I tried on a slinky dress, however it didn’t feel right. Instead I opted for a full skirted Mila Nova gown. When I opened the curtain and saw my mother’s face, I knew it was the one.”
Months rolled by and soon, the pristine invitations were set to be posted. “Suddenly, the priest from Our Lady of Victory Church called, telling us the previous booking had been cancelled. We decided there and then to move our wedding mass venue and have our invitations reprinted. Chris is very fond of the church and it felt like the right thing to do.”
On the eve of the wedding, Danika and her bridal party settled into a suite at the Phoenicia Hotel, in preparation for the big day. In the morning, after a scrumptious breakfast, wedding preparations began to take shape. “I was strangely calm and took in all the experiences as though in slow motion. First we had our hair done and then the make-up artist arrived. By the time the photographer began to take our pictures, I was in heaven.”
The bride arrived at Our Lady of Victory Church in a 1960s Mustang provided by eCabs. “I sat there determined not to cry, trying to relish every moment before I walked down the aisle. However seeing my father so moved made it impossible.”
Smartly dressed in a suit provided by The Groom, Chris also experienced an extremely poignant moment. “I am not usually emotional, but seeing Danika walk down the aisle looking so beautiful was unforgettable. I cried that day.” After taking their vows in front of numerous guests, the couple made their way to the Phoenicia Hotel. “None of our friends had married inside that church or at the venue, and this made everything feel fresh and new.”
The afternoon wedding followed a rather unusual pattern. “We had prosecco first and then moved on to the cake table – we wanted to get this part out of the way so that guests could enjoy the wedding without the usual pressures that comes with cake cutting.” Danika looks back on the couple’s first dance. “We were dancing to John Legend’s All of Me when Chris asked me to look up. Suddenly, I saw beautiful fireworks burst through the sky.”
“It’s an amazing feeling when things go as planned. We feared it would rain and had plans to move the wedding indoors, but thankfully the weather was kind to us.” Looking back, they both agree that their wedding day will remain etched in their memory forever. “Months later we still look back on that day with a smile. There’s nothing better than watching your dreams come true.”
Wedding Photography by Kristian