Malta has its fair share of Facebook groups – there’s no doubt about it. From RUBS in every category imaginable to smaller set-ups for events and locations – perhaps a diamond in the rough of it all is the awesome Facebook group targeting soon-to-be newlyweds, Wedding Talk. Run by the awesome and self-proclaimed ‘scatterbrained mum’, Irene Cassar.
We sat down with the woman behind one of the biggest Maltese wedding groups to discuss how the page came to be and why it has grown into such the phenomenon it is over the past few years. Here’s what Irene had to say, over a hot mug of coffee and fresh slice of cake:
What was the main driver of inspiration behind the group?
- I had just gotten married myself and wanted to create a group for others to discuss and share ideas, positive ones, and provide information for couples. I’m a fun and positive person and I think the group is a reflection of that in my character.
How does the group differ, then, from other local pages like the RUBS communities?
- It’s not a negative group, like RUBS tends to be most of the time, and people seemed to like that – I channeled my positivity into it and I guess that started to rub off on the members.
So, how did the community of Wedding Talk evolve in the beginning?
- The main focus of the group in the very beginning was that of smaller businesses lacking exposure. Another, more personal focus, was to beat the post-wedding blues. Everything at my own wedding was DIYed and afterwards I was left with a void and needed something to do – Wedding Talk was my coping mechanism. The idea came to me overnight, many months ago and my first impulse was to get the group up and running.
Is it just you behind the scenes, pulling all the strings?
- No, I have some friends helping out here and there – including my best friend.
You mentioned the impulse of opening the group as soon as the idea came to you. Was there any particular reason behind choosing Facebook as a platform – as opposed to setting up a blog or forum?
- I’d tried blogs before, but could never maintain them. Facebook groups are much more easier to set up, much more interactive. It’s where the people are – it just made sense.
What do you feel has been the biggest success within the group so far?
- The biggest success of the group would definitely have to be the sheer numbers it has garnered, as well as the positive feedback I receive from members telling me how much the group has helped their wedding plans or their business.
What do you feel has been the biggest influence on the group in that regard?
- Ground rules. There have been many failed attempts to copy the group’s success, but they never worked as well. There was always too much advertising and not enough focusing on promoting healthy discussion, and the rules are there just for that.
So, before opening the group then, what were the main issues you saw couples – including yourself – facing while planning their wedding in Malta?
- There are all sorts of problems that occur in the run up to a wedding, but the biggest issue would have to be keeping within the initial budget. (The average cost of a wedding in Malta is around €30k.) But where Wedding Talk helps inform couples of budget-friendly ideas, it is also there to provide a safe-space for stressed out couples to get away from any familial interference.
Moving on, in your opinion, do you think that sites like Get Hitched and Weddingo provide a necessary helping hand to couples marrying in Malta?
- If they’re done well, yes. Wedding sites are static content, so being able to update regularly is good for people who are just after information without wanting to adhere to the social aspect.
You mentioned the social aspect, obviously Wedding Talk is a Facebook group with a large amount of users – does the group ever get out of hand?
- I’m very appreciative of the members of the group and they’re very respectful towards each other. Positive reinforcement is key – sometimes things do get out of hand, but it’s very rarely. Sometimes complaints about vendors result in minor threats when posts aren’t removed but I will never take a post down as long as it adheres to the rules. The group is about healthy discussion and everyone has the right to respond to any allegation in a healthy, professional manner.
Were you surprised by how big the group has grown to be? Did you ever imagine it might fail?
- I’m a person who starts something and then it fizzles out. With Wedding Talk that didn’t happen. I had no idea it would grow so much. There are times when it slows down a bit but then there are also times like Christmas and summer with the wedding season when it just picks up again on its own. In a sense, Wedding Talk has become its own living and breathing self-sufficient organism. Local businesses love keeping the page alive because they feel it really does help them and couples looking to get married love the page because it keeps them up to date on everything.
Would you say that Wedding Talk has been one of the big successes in your life?
- Definitely not. It is indeed a success, it’s something I enjoy doing but the most successful part of my life is being a wife and mother. I would say it’s more fulfilling as an outlet for my creativity. As well as that, my job as a social worker rides high along the rest of my proudest achievements. Social work is all about linking people with resources, and I believe that Wedding Talk does exactly that. I guess it’s an extension of my full-time work, but in a more fun and creative way.
We could have stayed for hours chatting with Irene about the ins and outs of making newlywed’s lives much easier, but duty called for the both of us. Irene set off about the rest of her busy day, and we returned to the office to continue to work hard on Get Hitched.
The big importance of Wedding Talk is the promotion of local talent and enterprise – many up and coming talented vendors are out there and thanks to groups like Wedding Talk they are able to get the exposure they deserve.
Unfortunately, in Malta, people tend to stick to the large brands because they can afford the advertising. Wedding Talk, along with many other groups and sites help create a level playing field for the smaller vendors.
You can follow Irene on her blog here or check out her other Facebook page Paper Queen where she takes on all sorts of DIY stationery projects as if she wasn’t already stupidly busy enough.
