Outdoor Wedding Venues in Malta: Gardens and Terraces

In short: Malta's outdoor wedding venues range from palazzo and villa gardens to countryside estates and terraces over the Grand Harbour. Before you book, check the wet-weather backup, the catering rules, the music finish time and, for a civil ceremony, that the Marriage Registrar will approve the spot. Civil ceremonies take place no later than 19:00, so in summer plan the sunset for drinks or dinner, not the vows.

From May to October, many couples in Malta plan at least part of the day outdoors: a ceremony in a garden, drinks on a terrace, dinner under the stars. This guide covers the main types of outdoor venue, the ones to look at, and what to check before you pay a deposit.

Outdoor Wedding Venues at a Glance

The details come from each venue's own website. Capacities change with the space and the layout, so confirm yours with the venue. For capacities and ceremony options, see our 10 best wedding venues in Malta.

Types of Outdoor Venue in Malta

Palazzo and villa gardens

The classic garden wedding venues in Malta: a ceremony among fountains and trees, then dinner in the gardens or a grand hall.

• Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar. Civil ceremonies can be held in the walled gardens or indoors in the Ballroom or Sala Lombarda, and the venue takes weddings from 30 to 500 guests.
• Villa Bologna, Attard. Receptions are held in the gardens with the 18th-century villa as the backdrop, and a garden marquee overlooking the Dolphin Pond is the wet-weather backup.
• Villa Arrigo, San Pawl tat-Targa. Landscaped gardens for the ceremony, and a grand marquee for covered receptions.

The walled gardens at Palazzo Parisio.

Best for: traditional elegance, larger guest lists and a built-in indoor backup.

Countryside estates and gardens

Around Rabat and the west of the island, the venues are greener and more relaxed.

• Giardini Lambrosa, Rabat. Elia's venue, with multi-level gardens, a pool and a retractable canopy, and a climate-controlled hall. Elia gives indicative capacities of 280 seated (160 of them outdoors) or 1,275 standing.
• The Xara Lodge, Rabat. A purpose-built venue below Mdina, spread over 5,780 m², with indoor and outdoor spaces, including the pool area, that can be used separately or together.
• Castello Zamittello, Mġarr. A family-run castle built in 1804, with indoor and outdoor spaces for the ceremony and reception. It takes up to 1,000 guests outdoors.
• Waterfall Gardens, Siġġiewi. Landscaped grounds built around a thirty-foot waterfall, with an indoor marquee for bad weather.

Best for: relaxed countryside weddings, long-table dinners and something guests haven't seen before.

Harbour and hotel gardens

• Villa Bighi, Kalkara. The former Royal Naval Hospital, facing Valletta across the Grand Harbour, with gardens, terraces and reception halls. You choose your own caterer.
• The Phoenicia, Floriana. Seven acres of gardens just outside Valletta, with a garden Gazebo for ceremonies of up to 100 and the Bastion Pool for receptions of up to 800, from 20:30.

Drinks on a terrace above the Grand Harbour at Villa Bighi.

Best for: evening receptions with a view, when Valletta's fortifications light up.

Browse every wedding venue in our directory.

What to Check Before You Book an Outdoor Venue

The heat

July and August average over 31°C by day. For an outdoor summer wedding, keep the ceremony late in the afternoon, ask what shade there is for guests, and have water ready. Our guide to the best time to get married in Malta has the temperatures, rain and sunset times month by month.

Wind and a wet-weather plan

Rain is rare in high summer but returns from September, and wind can play havoc with veils, candles and tall arrangements. Ask every venue:

• What's the backup: an indoor room, a covered terrace or a marquee?
• When do we have to decide, and who makes the call?
• Does moving inside cost extra, or change the capacity?

If the venue doesn't have its own cover, equipment hire companies supply marquees, shade, lighting and power.

Music and finish times

Outdoor music in Malta is generally restricted after 11pm, outside a few exempted areas, according to MaltaToday; the exact limit depends on the venue's licence and its own rules. Ask every outdoor venue for its music finish time and volume limits in writing before you book entertainment. Our guide to choosing a wedding band or DJ explains how those rules shape the choice.

Civil ceremonies outdoors

Malta has no list of approved wedding venues: the Marriage Registrar approves each location. According to Identità's Marriage Registry FAQs, the location must be public and accessible, and beach ceremonies are only possible on beaches that belong to a hotel, with a wooden walkway and platform for the couple and the Registrar. Civil ceremonies take place no later than 19:00, so in summer the sunset will fall during your drinks or dinner, not the vows. Our civil ceremony venues guide explains the rules, and the legal process guide covers the paperwork.

Catering

Many Malta venues have an in-house or exclusive caterer, as the table above shows, and that shapes both your menu and your budget. On this list, Villa Bighi is the only one that lets you choose your own. Our catering guide explains how it works.

Fireworks and flowers

If a fireworks finale matters to you, ask before you book: whether a display is possible depends on the venue and needs a police permit. See our wedding fireworks guide. Outdoor flowers face sun and wind, so choose hardier blooms and set up as close to the ceremony as possible; our flowers and décor guide has tips.

Questions to Ask on a Site Visit

• Can we see the space at the same time of day as our ceremony?
• Where's the shade, and where does the sun set?
• What's the wet-weather and wind plan, and when do we decide?
• What are the music rules and the finish time outdoors?
• Is the space exclusive, or are there other events that day?
• Is catering in-house or exclusive? Are there preferred suppliers?
• Where do guests park, and is there step-free access?
• What lighting and power is there once it gets dark?
• Has the Marriage Registrar approved civil ceremonies here before?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get married outdoors in Malta?

Yes. A civil ceremony can be held outdoors, in a garden or on a terrace, at a location the Marriage Registrar approves. Catholic church weddings take place in a church or chapel.

Can a civil ceremony take place on a beach in Malta?

Only on a beach that belongs to a hotel, with a wooden walkway and platform for the couple and the Registrar, according to Identità. Public beaches don't qualify, so many couples choose a hotel, a sea-view terrace or a garden instead.

Can we have a sunset ceremony?

Not a civil one between April and mid-September: civil ceremonies take place no later than 19:00, and the sun sets after 19:00 then. Plan the sunset for your drinks or dinner, or choose a date from late September to the end of March, when the sun sets before 19:00.

What time does music have to stop at outdoor weddings?

It depends on the venue and its licence. Outdoor music in Malta is generally restricted after 11pm outside a few exempted areas. Get the venue's finish time in writing before you book entertainment.

What happens if it rains or gets windy?

Most outdoor venues have a backup: a hall, a covered area or a marquee, as the table above shows. Ask when the decision is made and whether it changes the capacity or the cost.

Can we bring our own caterer to an outdoor venue?

At some. Villa Bighi lets you choose your own caterer, while venues like Villa Bologna, Villa Arrigo and Palazzo Parisio use an exclusive or in-house caterer.

Start Your Search

Browse every wedding venue in Malta and Gozo, shortlist a few, and book site visits at the same time of day as your ceremony. For the bigger picture, our wedding planning timeline shows what to book next.