Dancing in the Moonlight: Tamara & Kenneth
It was twinkling lights and a one-of-a-kind upside down cake that set the scene for Tamara Webb's wedding to Kenneth Cauchi on 11th June 2016 – and the results were absolutely stunning.
Some things are just meant to be and, when it comes to the way fashion photographer and company director Tamara Webb and IT Engineer and company director Kenneth Cauchi met, well, their story was definitely written in the stars… or perhaps in cyber space!
"I was 14 when I first laid eyes on Ken, when he came over to repair our family computer. When I wandered into the kitchen, my mum pointed out his beautiful blue eyes… but they didn't sway me! I guess I was too young to really care," says fashion photographer and company director Tamara Webb.
It was a couple of years later that Kenneth, an IT Engineer and company director, actually got in touch with Tamara, over the social networking site Hi5. "He asked if I remembered him, which I didn't – until I saw a profile picture featuring his eyes! I recognised him and we started chatting. I knew immediately I had met my soulmate and we've barely ever been apart. They say that 'when you know, you know', and I knew," Tamara says.
The couple were together for a blissful six years before Kenneth proposed while they were on a skiing holiday in Torino. They set the date for two years later in June 2016, and planning it became a family effort, especially as Tamara's dad, Richard, who is operations manager for the Hilton Hotel, had long dreamt of organising his little girl's big day.
While Tamara's dad worked hard on the logistics and venue, her mum, Ingrid, was focused on the dresses. "I was sure of what I wanted when it came to my dress – a blend of haute couture and something more classic," says the bride. "I opted for an all-white look, inspired by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. The base of the dress and the extra material we needed came from Alamango, where the team was so helpful, and I then had it altered by seamstresses so it was completely original, with an embellished floral headband that really brought the look together."
The family's hands-on approach continued in the run-up to the wedding. Tamara herself designed the wedding logo, while Ken designed the lighting for the venue and all the technical requirements. Tamara's sister Nevise, who is a foodie, was responsible for the menu with Hilton executive chef Joe Vella, while Ingrid was also involved in the dress designs for the bridal party.
Tamara and her bridesmaids had a sleepover the night before the wedding, which relaxed her and put her in a brilliant mood, although she woke up bright and early… to check the weather! "Believe it or not, it was June but it had been raining for two consecutive years on that date, so I was eager to see if we'd broken the curse," she grins. "Thankfully we had – as we didn't have a backup, indoor venue!"
Her morning was spent getting ready with her maid of honour, Jeanique Testa, and bridesmaid Salomé Catania, as well as her flower girl Nina, and her mum and sister. "It was absolutely lovely. Justin Brincat did our make-up and we enjoyed getting dressed and having our photos taken. It was emotional too, especially when my dad saw me in my dress and started crying; that was a beautiful moment I will always treasure."
Later in the day, the whole bridal party headed to Nazzarenu Church for the ceremony. "The ceremony was wonderful and very emotional; Ken and I both cried as we made our vows," Tamara says.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds made their way to the venue – the Gazebo in the Hilton grounds. The rest of the day went off without a hitch and there were many memorable moments for the couple. "The whole evening was full of love, and I think everyone could feel that. One of my favourite moments was dancing with my nannu, as he's such an important part of my life.
"Another was when the boys (including my dad and Ken's dad) burst into dance and surrounded me! It was hilarious, but also so sweet because Ken's actually a terrible dancer and I could see what an effort he'd made. It was amazing to think how much time had gone into that, and I truly appreciated every second."
There were lots of personalised elements too, from the bespoke cocktails made by Damian's Cocktails to the incredible cake. "I guess the cake would have to be one of the most original parts of the wedding too," Tamara reminisces. "It was upside down and covered in beautiful flowers from Qronfla! It was certainly a talking point for the whole event."
As the night went on, fireworks filled the sky and all the guests took to the dancefloor. The couple's first dance – Xemx by Domenic Grech – was also very well received. "It was unplanned and we didn't even practice it, but it was a moment full of love and one we will treasure. We then closed the wedding with music by Pousse, before moving into an after-party where we danced until 3.30am – and some guests even left after we did!"
Looking back, Tamara recalls so many perfect moments and successful details but, she says, none of that really mattered. "Yes you can make thousands of preparations for your perfect day, but there's no way you can actually prepare for the love you will feel – for your husband, your family or your guests. When the moment came I didn't notice anything anymore – I just cherished the moment and had the most amazing time with Ken. I'd like to think that it's that special feeling that marked the perfect start to our marriage."
Kris Micallef