A Valletta Wander and Cliffside Ceremony in Malta
Skye (she/her) and Jess (she/her) chose Malta for their elopement not just for the cliffs and golden streets, but because it felt safe, affirming, and entirely their own. After meeting on Bumble and untangling years of heteronormative expectations, they wanted a day free from family conflict and full of intention.
With Barbara O Photography documenting every moment, their celebration unfolded quietly and beautifully: breakfast with a view of the water, a first look outside their Airbnb, vows on a hidden cliffside, and a nightcap at Café Society, Malta’s beloved queer bar. A day built for two, exactly the way they needed it to be.
Tell us about your love story so far.
We met on Bumble, about six months before the start of COVID. Jess had put her Bumble settings on men and women for the first time after only dating men, and Skye was married to a man, in an open relationship. It wasn’t long before both of us realized we had been following the path of heteronormativity without much thought… other than a lot of thoughts that something was wrong with us for a lack of interest and romantic feelings towards our partners.
What made you decide to elope?
We were navigating some really difficult family dynamics on Jess’s side of the family. Jess had always been open to the idea of eloping, but once we started planning a destination wedding and inviting family, things got tense. There was a lot of conflict, Jess’s mom even said she wouldn’t come to our wedding. So… Skye jumped on board real quick!
How did your loved ones react when you decided to elope?
Skye’s family was excited for us and super supportive. Jess’s parents were pretty upset, and there was a lot of conflict.
Walk us through your elopement day. What moments stand out most?
We started the morning with breakfast at our favorite gluten-free bakery in Malta, sitting by the water and soaking it all in. It was the perfect, calm start to the day. We got ready separately because it felt like a fun, “typical” thing to do when so much about our elopement was anything but typical. Skye got pampered at AMIS City Spa, Beauty & Hair Salon with Mandy Buhagiar, and Jess spent the morning on FaceTime with her best friend while getting ready.
We did a first look with our photographer, Barbara O Photography, before finding a secret cliffside spot next to the water for our ceremony. Afterward, we had lunch at an incredible restaurant by the sea, then wandered around Valletta. So many people cheered for us as we walked by. We ended the night at Café Society, a queer bar in Malta, and when everything finally closed, we realized we were starving. So our nightcap ended up being a bowl of cereal!
How did you find your vendors, and what was it like working with them?
Because we were getting married in Malta, we had to take some pretty big leaps of faith for things like hair, makeup, and flowers. There wasn’t any opportunity for trials, so we just trusted the process. The Malta Florist handled our blooms beautifully, and AMIS City Spa, Beauty & Hair Salon took care of both hair and makeup.
We brought our absolute most trusted photographer with us, Barbara O Photography. It was worth every penny to cover her travel and lodging, knowing every moment would be perfectly captured. Since it was just us, we really wanted incredible photos to share with our friends and family. There would’ve been no way to explain what we experienced without them.
Skye wore a gown from David’s Bridal, and Jess wore a white suit from MANGO. Their rings came from Grown Brilliance and Chrysella.
Did you share vows during your ceremony?
We did, and it was a central part of our ceremony. It felt really romantic and intimate to share them. Because it was just us, we could write whatever we wanted, no one else would hear them.
How did you handle the legal side of getting married?
We got married on January 19, 2025, the day before inauguration. Getting married in D.C. was incredibly quick and easy, and it helped ease our anxiety about waiting until June. With the Supreme Court now being asked to review Obergefell, we’re really glad we did.
Do you have any advice for couples thinking about eloping?
We would recommend it one hundred times over. Our money went so much further, and we got to do absolutely everything we wanted. No worrying about what others would want, disappointing anyone, or managing other people’s emotions. It was incredibly romantic and intimate, and we’ll remember the entire day forever.
Skye has been married before and remembers how quickly a wedding day can fly by. Eloping felt so indulgent, she says she’ll remember every moment.
Photography by Barbara O Photography
Bar Café Society
Dress Designer David’s Bridal
Engagement Rings Grown Brilliance
Florist The Malta Florist
Hair & Makeup AMIS City Spa, Beauty & Hair Salon
Rings Grown Brilliance & Chrysella
Suit Designer MANGO
