Civil Ceremony Venues in Malta: Rules, Hours and Fees

In short: Malta has no list of approved wedding venues: the Marriage Registrar approves each location, which must be public and accessible (a beach only if it belongs to a hotel). Ceremonies run until 19:00, so a summer sunset ceremony isn't possible, and a ceremony outside the Registry costs €51.30–€102.60 in Registry fees.

If you're coming from the UK or Ireland, you might expect to choose from a list of "licensed" or "approved" wedding venues. Malta doesn't work like that. Identità doesn't publish a list of approved venues. Instead, the Marriage Registrar decides whether your chosen place is suitable for a civil marriage.

This guide covers what the Registry allows, the hours and fees that come with a ceremony outside the Registry, and venues in Malta and Gozo that host ceremonies. For the paperwork itself (forms, banns, documents), see our step-by-step guide to civil marriage in Malta. This post is only about where.

We had our own civil ceremony at the Westin Dragonara, on the hotel's private beach club right by the water. A celebrant talked through our story together, then the registrar took care of the legal part: we signed the papers, and it was done in a few minutes. On the day it's all very easy-going. The planning is where it pays to know the rules.

The Marriage Room or a Venue of Your Choice

According to Identità's Marriage Registry FAQs, a civil marriage can be held:

1. In the Marriage Room at the Registry's office in Marsa. This is the simplest and cheapest option.
2. At a venue of your choice, as long as the Marriage Registrar considers it appropriate and it is public and accessible to everyone.

Identità also lists marriages on board passenger ships registered in Malta.

"Public and accessible" is the phrase that matters. Hotel terraces, palazzo gardens and historic forts are the kind of places couples typically use. A private house or a closed-off private plot may not qualify.

Two practical rules follow from the FAQs. If you're not sure a venue qualifies, email the Registry before you pay a deposit. And contact the Registry about four months ahead, because the registrar's availability for your date and time matters as much as the venue's.

Beach Ceremonies Are Only on Hotel Beaches

Plenty of couples picture a ceremony on the sand. In Malta that's only possible on beaches that belong to hotels, and the setup needs a wooden walkway and platform so the couple and the registrar can reach it easily. A public beach isn't an option for the legal ceremony. Our own ceremony was at a hotel's beach club, which is the kind of setting that works.

If you want a beach moment anyway, you can marry at the venue and then have a symbolic ceremony, or just photos, on the beach.

Ceremony Hours and the 19:00 Cut-Off

Identità's FAQ says civil marriages take place:

• Weekdays: between 14:15 and 19:00
• Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: between 09:00 and 19:00

There are no ceremonies on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

Malta's summer sunset comes after 20:00 (around 20:23 at the end of June), so a true sunset ceremony isn't possible in high summer. A common way round it is a ceremony around 18:00, aperitifs as the light turns golden, and the sunset during dinner. In spring and autumn, sunset moves back before 19:00, so check the sunset time for your date if a golden-hour ceremony matters to you. In winter the sun sets before 17:00 in early December, so an afternoon ceremony is your only chance of daylight photos. Our guide to the best time of year to get married in Malta compares the seasons.

What a Ceremony Outside the Registry Costs

A ceremony at a venue costs more in Registry fees than one in the Marriage Room. Identità's FAQ lists these fees for a ceremony at another location:

That's only the Registry fee. Venue hire, chairs, a sound system and any celebrant are separate. The legal process guide has the full fee breakdown, and our Malta wedding costs guide covers the bigger picture.

Getting Married in Gozo

If your ceremony is in Gozo, apply for your banns at the Marriage Registry in Victoria, Gozo, not in Malta. Choosing a venue works the same way as in Malta.

Venues That Host Ceremonies

These venues in our directory mention ceremonies on their own sites or in their booking rules. Whatever a venue says, confirm with the Registry that your exact spot (garden, terrace, hall) is acceptable for your date.

Palazzos and Historic Houses

• Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar. Civil ceremonies in the walled gardens, the Ballroom or the smaller Sala Lombarda, with the reception on-site.
• Castello Zamittello, Mġarr. An 1804 castle with exclusive hire and indoor and outdoor spaces for ceremonies. Ask whether civil ceremonies have been held there.

Gardens and Countryside

• Waterfall Gardens at Limestone Heritage, Siġġiewi. The venue says it's licensed for civil ceremonies, and has an indoor marquee for winter or bad weather.
• Chateau Buskett, Buskett. Several areas for civil ceremonies, with Verdala Palace as a backdrop.
• Garden of Serenity, Santa Luċija. A Chinese-style public garden. The local council's regulations provide for wedding ceremonies, subject to its booking conditions.

Harbour and Fortifications

• The Saluting Battery, Valletta. Run by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, which says the battery is licensed for civil marriages. It overlooks the Grand Harbour.
• Lower Barrakka Gardens, Valletta. A public garden, booked through Ambjent Malta's event-booking process.

Hotels

• Ta' Ċenċ Hotel & Spa, Sannat, Gozo. Its wedding page describes civil ceremonies in the grounds.
• Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo. Indoor ceremonies or an outdoor garden setting. Ask whether civil ceremonies have been held there.

Browse every venue on our wedding venues page. Many listings note whether civil ceremonies are offered, along with indoor and outdoor options.

What "Licensed" Means Here

Some venues describe themselves as "licensed for civil ceremonies". We haven't found any public licence or register behind that, so treat it as the venue's own description. It's a good sign, but it doesn't replace checking your date and spot with the Registry.

Questions to Ask a Venue About the Ceremony

• Have you hosted civil ceremonies before, and where on the property were they held?
• Is the ceremony space open to the public, as the Registry requires?
• Is there step-free access for older guests?
• What's the indoor backup if it's windy or wet?
• Is there a table where the registrar can do the signing?
• Do chairs, a sound system and a microphone for the registrar come with the venue, or are they extra?
• How long between the ceremony and the reception, and where do guests wait?

On the Day: Witnesses and the Registrar's Taxi

Bring your witnesses. The marriage is signed in front of your witnesses (one or two each, so two to four in total), all 18 or over, and they can be family members. The Registry also needs photocopies of their ID cards beforehand, so collect those early. Our legal process guide covers the paperwork.

Sort out the registrar's transport. Nobody told us this one: you're expected to arrange the registrar's taxi to and from the venue. Usually they'll ask for the fare in cash and book it themselves. For us it was about €20, and one of our groomsmen handed it over so we didn't have to think about it on the day. You can also book the taxi yourself through an app like Bolt or Uber.

Registrar, Celebrant or Both?

The legally binding part of a civil marriage is conducted by the Marriage Registrar or an authorised Marriage Registry officer. A celebrant doesn't replace them, but can lead a personalised ceremony alongside the legal formalities. Our complete guide to civil ceremonies explains how the two fit together.

Start with our wedding venues in Malta and Gozo, or read about outdoor wedding venues if a garden or terrace ceremony is what you're after.