Leading UK wedding portal Brides: Confidential! has featured the wedding of Hayley and Darren Sykes from Manchester,who tied the knot at the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana.

The ceremony took place in the hotel’s lush gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour.

The couple shared their special day with 62 guests who travelled to Malta especially for the occasion. On the choice of Malta as the location for their wedding, Mrs Sykes said: “One of the reasons was because there was such good access and low-cost airlines, so guests could easily come and make it a long weekend trip. It turned out that most of them decided to change it into a holiday and stayed at least a week.”

The couple said they chose Malta because they wanted something different. “We didn’t want a beach wedding since that could take place anywhere. Malta offers something unique, with an opportunity for incredibly scenic pictures.

“When we saw the Phoenicia, we knew it was exactly what we wanted – the gardens, the harbour and the bastions behind us. It was just so romantic and so different.”

The Sykes remained in Malta after the ceremony: “We stayed on for a week on our honeymoon and enjoyed some memorable trips to different places.

“I highly recommend Malta. The country is really different and offers a special and romantic stay. For us it will always hold magical memories.”

Weddings executive Chrystelle Doublesin said: “We are so pleased that Malta is getting positive coverage in the UK. It’s lovely to see such joy and for Malta to be a platform for a couple spending their life together.”