What are those simple acts that make all the difference in a marriage? To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Weddings and Events Exhibition, six couples of different ages share their relationship secrets. As a reward for their participation the couples will receive a weekend break on half board basis at the Radisson, courtesy of Island Caterers.

Romina and Glenn Agius

Married for five months
Dated for seven years
First met by the sea

According to Romina and Glenn the secret to a happy relationship is to trust each other and be there in both good and bad times.

The best day of their lives together was their wedding day, and to date, they can’t say that they’ve had any really bad days to speak of. They hope they will not have any.

They describe their wedding day as perfect. They had everything that they wished for but their favourite part was the church ceremony because that is where they became one. The next best thing about their wedding day was a dance they shared with their friends.

Anthea and Simon Haber

Married for 10 years
Dated for four years
First met at Anthea’s workplace

Simon went to Anthea’s workplace where she worked as a receptionist at a club. He won her over with one of his typical jokes and after a while they started seeing each other.

They consider the secrets to their happy relationship to be honesty and communication, as well as balancing what each of them likes or dislikes.

Their wedding day was the best day of their life together, especially for Anthea who describes walking down the aisle of the Mosta Church, like a dream. To date the couple cannot think of a particularly bad day.

Marita and Stephen Chetcuti

Married for 20 years
Dated for seven years and six months
First met at work

For Marita it was love at first sight so she confided in a girlfriend who somehow managed to hook her up with Stephen. For their first date Stephen left Marita waiting for an hour. When he finally turned up, he explained that he had overslept.

Marita and Stephen consider communication as the most important aspect of a successful relationship.

The best days they shared were when their two children were born. The worst day was when they lost their parents. The best thing about their wedding was seeing their families and friends enjoying themselves with joy and peace between all.

Rita and Charles Maniscalco

Married for 30 years
Dated for six years
First met at a discotheque

When Charles first saw Rita he asked her to dance with him and they spent the whole evening dancing and chatting. Before leaving Charles asked Rita out.

They consider keeping the promises made as the secret to a happy marriage. They believe in not giving up, dealing wisely with the problems and always putting family first. Respect is also vital, as is showing love and care. Most importantly they believe in keeping God in the relationship.

The best days of their lives were their wedding day and their children’s births. The worst day was when Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily she’s a survivor.

The greatest thing about their wedding day was feeling like a prince and princess with all the attention on them.

Victoria and Guido Debono

Married for 40 years
Dated for five years
First met in Mellieħa

Victoria and Guido do not recall exactly how they ended up romantically involved. They had known each other for a long time, as they were both from Mellieħa and somehow, over the years they found themselves in a relationship and then got married.

They consider the secret to a successful relationship to be a matter of give and take, and patience.

The best days of their life together was when they had their three boys and the worst days were when the children were sometimes sick.

Their wedding was a simple one, but that’s what they wanted and that’s what made them happy. Dancing with friends and sharing the joy was all they needed.

Pauline and Michael Zammit

Married for 50 years
Dated for six years
First met at a cousin’s wedding

A relative arranged for Pauline and Michael to meet up during a wedding and after that someone arranged a date for them. The first date consisted of a short walk at 10am.

After dating for two years, Michael joined the RAF and left the island to start his studies. For six months they wrote to each other, once or twice a week.

For Pauline and Michael the secret to every good relationship is love and tolerance.

The best days of their life were when they had their three children and the worst days were the days when they lost their parents.

Their wedding was special because they had an evening church ceremony, which was something new at the time.