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OUR STORY AND WEDDING DAY


     Our story goes back to the 8th July 1992, when I received a pen friend reply letter from a certain Malin Hagglund from Finland. I remember that it was in the middle of the European Football Cup. At that time, Internet was not developed yet, and subscribing to a pen-friend service was a common means of knowing other friends from different parts of the world. After few letters we exchanged photos of ourselves and both liked each other. I was very delighted to see the photo of Malin (17 years) in football clothes. We kept writing to each other for more than 10yrs until we met for the first time. I took the initiative and went to visit Malin on June 2002 during the World Cup month which Brazil won. During this 10 day visit in Finland we gave our first kiss!

     Malin then came to Malta the following September to see how Malta looks like. I was quite skeptical that she will like it due to the very hot weather, over population, lack of greenery and traffic chaos. Against to my thoughts, she liked it quite a lot, especially the beaches and eventually we became officially lovers. Malin came to visit Malta for a whole month the following February to see how life is in Malta and she found it to be quite good. The day after she arrived in Malta, she had a job interview with an on-line gambling company which later resulted positive and have been offered the job. It was a rainy month but we still went to several places and adventures. This trip helped Malin to decide to leave her work, family, friends and country and move to Malta to live with me. I went to visit her and her parent again in June 2003 and we came together at the end of the month. After a week she started working in Malta and got a work permit.

     I and Malin lived together for one and a half years until I finally decided to marry her. I decided to tell her my intention on Christmas eve 2004, where both of us were visiting her parents and relatives in Finland. I wrote a Christmas card in which I asked her that if she wants me to belong to her for all her life, all she had to do is to find a small gift attached to the Christmas tree. She took a while to notice it, but this time just added some more excitement in the scene. With a hint from her brother Nicki, she found the gift which was a small box! On opening it there was my engagement ring for her and I asked her to marry me and she replied YES.

     We quickly decided the wedding date, which had to be a couple of days after my final examinations of the course I was reading in Agriculture at the University of Malta (which I got a distinction!!). After checking the calendar, it was decided to marry on Saturday, 25th of June 2005 at her small town of Bennas in the district of Pedersore. The witnesses were her brother Niclas and one of my best work mates, Raymond Grech Marguerat accompanied by his wife, Antonella.

     The wedding day was perfect. According to the weather forecast, we were in big risk of having rain, but I being the what so called - "sun bringer (c)" it was fine weather. It rained for few minutes at the reception for good luck.

     We exchanged the rings in the church of Pedersore in Jakobstad during the mass which started at 4pm. I was not nervous except those 15mins waiting my bride to come at the church. Raymond helped me to keep cool. Malin did not make me wait much - she entered the church accompanied by her father sharply at 4pm. She was so beautiful especially in that wedding dress. (PS: I have not seen the dress before!) We left the church in full sunshine, flowers and lots of birds singing joyfully on the countless trees found in this country. We were transported by her father in the wedding car - a Rambler 1966 model - owned by Malin's grandfather - Manfrid (or just "Muffa").

     The reception meal was held at a place called Faboda, where there is situated a restaurant by the beach. Everything went fine during the meal and time flied quickly. After the meal there was a programme organized by Malin's best friends Katarina and Pamela which involved a couple of speaches, songs, music and amusing games. Special thanks go to Gorel, who played so well the accordion, Julia, who played the violin skillfully , Maria who sang during the program, and to Brigitta, Solveig, Gretel and Gun-Lis who each gave an emotional speach.

     After the program we had the dessert and then arrived the moment of the cake cutting outside the restaurant. It was now that it rained slightly, but enough to move the cake inside! The cream and strawberry cake was very delicious and was baked by Malin's neighbour Harry. It was time to leave now but there was still some space for more photos outside, by the beach. Thanks to those who have taken and send us photos namely Ray Grech Marguerat (who also filmed most of the reception), Christian (Malin's cousin), Heikki Jarvensivu and his wife Signhild (greetings also to their sons Anders and Johan), Nicki and Elisabet - congratulations for you new daughter 'Ronja' (5/Jul/05) and all others. Also a big thanks goes to Malin's father who have paid all the reception meal, Manfrid for letting us use his old but functional Rambler car, Margareta, for her delicious meal in Uusikaarlepyy, Veka and Kim, for ther accommodation in Stockholm (and also their delicious meals!), Gun-Lis for charming us with her delicious (again!) cakes, and all those who had travelled to attend our wedding. Thanks for all your generous wedding gifts especially those who sent us money and did not attend; you are always invited to the reception in Malta!



Important dates
8 July 1992     Malin's first reply letter
17 June 2002     Our first personal meeting at Arlanda Airport, Stockholm
22 June 2002     First "I love you" of Stephen to Malin
26 June 2002     Our First kiss
15 September 2002     Our 'unofficial' engagement (Malin's "I love you" to Stephen)
24 June 2003     Malin moves to Malta   
24 December 2004     Our 'official' Engagement day
4pm, 25 June 2005     Our Wedding at Pedersore church, Jakobstad, Finland
5 July 2005     Our Honeymoon in Estonia and Latvia


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GUESTS

Guests for the wedding reception in Malta will receive an invitation card 2 to 3 weeks in anticipation of the event. Guests who received an invitation card for the wedding in Finland are also automatically invited to the reception in Malta.

If possible we would prefer that the guests would not bring children to avoid 'running around' which can be of discomfort to some other guests, and also to avoid accidents due the fact that the reception hall have a high balcony with a low wall.

Despite the reception is going to be in the morning, we would like to inform the ladies that there is no obligation to wear a hat. (we are not fussy on these stylish insignificant things). The reception place is also equipped with a large parking place just beside.


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RECEPTION in MALTA

Since we have married in Finland in a Christian Lutheran church, there will be no mass in Malta but only a reception. Guests that wish to attend the Sunday mass should do this in their own time. Our wedding reception is going to take place as follows:

VILLA ORIANA (Dingli/Buskett),
Sunday 9th of October,
12:00 am.


The wedding reception is planned to be an outdoor event on the large balcony with a fantastic view over Buskett, Girgenti, Siggiewi etc. In the unlikely case that is too hot or rainy, there is enough room to accommodate our guests inside which is equipped with air conditioners. Smoking is not allowed inside (security guard will politely ask you to put it off) and whereas there is no restrictions of smoking outside, it would be greatly appreciated by us and most of the non-smoking guests if you moderate on smoking. Remember that smoking increase the incidence of lung cancer!!!

We hope to see all the invited guests and that you enjoy this event.

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GIFTS

We will receive all guests who would prefer to give us gifts by hand at our house between Monday 3rd and Friday 7th October between 6:30pm to late night and also during the whole day of Saturday 8th October.


We would greatly appreciate if you give us money gifts as a wedding present. Be generous OK! :-)

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PHOTO GALLERY

Here are several photos taken during our wedding in Finland. Click on small image to view a larger one. Later on there will be about 200 photos taken from our honeymoon in Estonia and Latvia in the photogallery section of my website. Click here to check the photo gallery section

Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image)
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Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Click here to watch a small video clip from church 1 (8.8 Mbytes) Click here to watch a small video clip from church 2 (6.9 Mbytes)
Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image)
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Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image)
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Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image) Stephen and Malin Wedding (Click here for a larger image)
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INTERSTING LINKS

   Wild Plants of Malta
   Photos from Finland (Summer)
   Photos from Finland (Winter)
   Photos from Malta
   Photos from Gozo
   Page dedicate to my mother
   198x Italian Cartoons music
   My Songs (long time ago)
   List of my friends

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