Surrounded by family and friends footballing hero Steve Bull and Kirsty Powell said I do with the azure blue Mediterranean sea as a backdrop to their beautiful rose-inspired ceremony. It was their perfect day.
The couple, who started dating almost three and a half years ago, had hoped for this day almost since they met.
It was in July 2002 when Steve gave Kirsty the surprise of her life when he proposed to her in the back garden of their home with the platinum and diamond engagement ring placed gently amongst a bowl of strawberries and a bottle of pink champagne.
Kirsty, 31, had just returned from work on a Monday evening but she said it was simply the start of a wonderful and exciting journey with the former England star.
The couple who moved into their new stylish Shropshire home last June eventually decided to set a date last Autumn and agreed they wanted an exotic location and some privacy for their big day.
After several happy trips to Malta and the luxurious SS Radison Hotel Bay Point in St Julian's it was simply the obvious choice for a celebration to remember.
They jetted off two weeks ago to be followed by 50 of their closest friends and family, including 11 children, just three days later.
The party included Kirsty's mum and step-dad and her father David Powell who proudly gave his daughter away.
It also included her bridesmaids - her best friend Beverly Bird, sister Lucy Miles and her niece Mollie Mae Powell who was the flower girl.
Former Wolves player and one of Steve's oldest friends Andy Thompson was the best man.
After the guests arrived last Saturday the couple enjoyed a weekend of fun in the sun before the wedding ceremony on Monday which took place at 3 in the afternoon.
The morning was a mix of laughter and tears as the bridal party prepared for their special moment.
Kirsty, who wore a stunning white strapless gown with a flamenco-inspired trim which she had designed herself and was made by Margaret Hughes, was presented with her grandmother's locket just before the ceremony.
The gift from her mother had a picture of her beloved grandmother, who passed away last March, inside and she carried it throughout the day in her handbag.
She also wore a gorgeous diamond and ruby necklace which was a wedding gift from Steve.
The wedding rings were platinum bands both with a circle of diamonds.
The groom again surprised his wife by claiming in the run-up to the wedding that he didn't want a ring only for the best man to reveal it on the day.
The bride also wore red roses in her hair and carried a bouquet of red roses in keeping with the theme with the bridesmaids dressed in striking red bodices with white skirts also made by Margaret Hughes.
Another of Steve's friends Steve Cooper (affectionately called Ginge by the couple) from Chesters hair salon in Tettenhall travelled out with them as both a guest and to help with the arrangements.
He styled Kirsty's hair on the morning and had also helped Steve chose his pale cream Giorgio Armani suit on a recent trip to London.
Both outfits were a surprise to the guests and to the bride and groom who greeted each other at the top of a flight of stairs before walking down to the edge of a balcony overlooking the sea to exchange their vows.
But both were delighted when they first set eyes on each other that day just minutes before saying I do and Kirsty admitted it was one of the many times she had shed a tear.
The couple then had a blend of Maltese and English traditions for the festivities with a touch of the Black Country thrown in to celebrate their family roots in the Midlands.
They posed for pictures in the sunny setting of the hotel and St George's Bay and then directly after the ceremony they cut the cake while a violinist played some local music.
The wedding breakfast was hosted in one of the hotel function rooms with the seating arranged in a square shape so everyone was looking in towards each other.
In a personal touch they dispensed with names for the table settings and instead had a photograph in a frame for each guest with novelty favours for the children.
The menu included Steve's favourite vegetable soup followed by fillet steak and a trio of puddings. In the evening they served chips butties with brown sauce and still smile now at the thought of the homely touch which was so popular they had to ask for second portions.
And it was not the only flavour of back home - Steve also demanded the hotel bring in some supplies of John Smith's for his father who only drinks bitter or mild. But the couple toasted their newly-married status with rose pink champagne.
Speeches were given by Kirsty's father, Steve and Andy while Kirsty also read a poem she had found recently on a card which had summed up all her hopes and dreams for their marriage.
Then they partied the night away with a disco with some of the classics of the seventies including getting guests up on the dance floor.
"It was just the best day of our lives," said Kirsty who said she helped to plan the whole day with the help of emails winging their way between her and the resort.
"The hotel made sure everything ran like clock-work and no request was too much for us. My flowers were provided locally when I got there and I did my own make-up. It was just simply the wedding of my dreams and lived up to every expectation because it was just so romantic and Steve looked so wonderful."
And Steve's best man ensured they also a lasting memory to make them laugh in years to come. When the couple retired for the evening they discovered he had led a midnight raid to steal their bed from their room leaving the sheet and a magazine Kirsty had left on the bed placed perfectly on the floor. But the bed was soon returned by helpful staff.
"It was very funny," admits Steve who said a prank was all part of their day.
"Kirsty looked stunning and we are still on cloud nine."
