I think out of all the planning with a wedding I think the say Yes I do to the dress is one of the most exciting parts of the whole planning. When you are in that bridal shop and trying on dresses it really becomes real at that moment, this is it. It is soon happening and all you can do is smile.

I am very excited to be sharing a very special bridal designer with you, Katya Katya designer. They are two strong women Katya and Marina who met at school and became close friends. As the years went on and life took them in different directions, their friendship never faded. Built on love, loyalty and happy memories shared, their passion was to create something truly beautiful which reflected them as individuals.

KATYA KATYA became their creation together that they founded, specialising in divinely modern feminine made to order French & Italian laced gowns. One important part of it is to Only us the finest materials Katya’s gowns ooze romance, versatility and comfort, with interchangeable elements to suit every woman.

Katy Shehurina is originally from Latvia, she graduated from the prestigious top ESMOD fashion design school studying the craft of couture. She then went into a period with renowned French designers Nicolas Fafiotte and David Purves, I am sure it gave her a good knowledge and confidence to go ahead and decided to launch her own business in 2007. Katy is focusing on her unique design style which reflects modern vintage inspired aesthetic, impeccable craftsmanship and a lightweight ethereal finish, to melt for. It’s perfect and timeless.

Since then, her distinctive style has gained international recognition. As Katya’s first flagship boutique opened in London in 2011, the brand has continuously attracted the attention of the UK press as well as international buyers.

Our gowns are made to order to your size and take about 7 months to make. However due to the unprcedented circumstances our time frames are flexible and we do cater to all brides with all time frames. We also offer off-the-rack dresses for brides who decided to celebrate sooner or have weddings coming up very soon. For further information please do get in touch with us on +44 2073514359 or on info@katyakatya.co.uk or click here

I think this one is one of the more trickier things to plan, timing how long everything will take to make sure everything will go smooth for your wedding day.

Part one

What time you start your bridal prep and amount of time you allow for this will for sure depend on several things:

• The size of your bridal party.

• The complexity of your hair and makeup.

• How much you prepare in advance.

• The time of your ceremony.

• The distance between where you are getting ready and your ceremony location.

• Whether you plan on having any photos with your bridal party prior to your ceremony.

Where do we start the best starting point when it comes to working out how much time to allow is to ask the expert! If you are having your hair and makeup done professionally then ask your hair and make-up artist how long they think they will take (as a general rule, I would allow a couple of hours for bridal hair and make-up and an additional 45 to 60 minutes for each member of your wedding party).

Work back from the start of your ceremony and factor in travel, putting on your dress (this takes longer than you think so give yourself at least 30 mins!) and timings from your hair and make-up artist. This will give you a rough idea of your starting time!

Expert Tip!

Don’t forget to count in the breakfast and lunch (and of course a glass of bubbles!) into your bridal prep!

If your bridal party are doing their own hair and make-up then ask them how long they think it will take them to get ready and then double it! Overexcited bridesmaids will always take longer to get ready than they think!

Last but not least leave a margin of error of around 1 hour. This will ensure that you’re ready in plenty of time and can enjoy the morning.

Part Two Ceremony!

There are two elements to consider:
Firstly, what time should everyone arrive at the ceremony?

As a basic guide I advise the following:

• Groom, Best Man / Men and Ushers – 45 minutes before the ceremony.

• Guests – 30 minutes before the ceremony.

• Groom’s parents – 15 minutes before the ceremony.

• Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids – 10 minutes before the ceremony.

• Bride and Father of the Bride – 5 minutes before the ceremony.

Secondly, how long should you allow for your ceremony?

This will ultimately depend on whether you are having a Religious Ceremony, a Non-Religious Ceremony, or a Civil Wedding / Partnership…

• Non-Religious Ceremony – 20 to 45 minutes.

• Civil Wedding / Partnership – 30 to 45 minutes.

• Religious Ceremony – 60 to 90 minutes.

Expert Tip!

If you want to use your ceremony location for some group pictures and the confetti shot, if you do then remember to count this into your timings.

Part Three

The drink reception I recommend to allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for your drinks reception as this will give your photographer and videographer plenty of time for your group and personal portrait shots. It will also give you enough time to mingle with your guests and enjoy your canapés and bubbles.

Expert Tip!

If you want a longer drinks reception then it is essential to your keep your guests entertained, with games or shows of any kind and provide plenty of drinks and canapés!

GROUP AND PORTRAIT PHOTOS

The number of group photos you want will ultimately determine how long your photographer will need. However, as a general rule of thumb allow 5 minutes per group photo and at least 30 minutes for your personal portrait shots.

Expert Tips!

Make sure everything runs like clockwork by asking your photographer to scope out some potential backgrounds in advance.

Make a list of different photos and combinations of your family and wedding party that you don’t want the photographer to miss. Then arrange for the relevant people to gather at a designated spot right after your ceremony so that nobody goes AWOL when they’re needed for group shots!

Give somebody trustworthy (and someone who knows the difference between your dad and your distant uncle) the job of rounding everyone up for group photos and chasing any stragglers!

Part Four

For your guests to move from the drinks reception I recommend to allow up to 30 minutes for your guests to move to the location of your Wedding Breakfast and for them to then find their seats. If you are planning on having a receiving line then allow an additional 40 minutes on top of this.

Expert Tip!

Designate at least a couple of your Bridesmaids or Ushers to direct guests, assist with the receiving line and speed up any loitering guests!

This is a perfect opportunity for you and your beau to steel some time together, whether that’s using the time for a little one-on-one time or indeed to capture those couple’s shots.

Part Five

This one is important allow no more than 30 to 40 minutes for your speeches. With each speaker allocated up to 10 minutes. It is important to try and stick to these timings as speeches that take any longer normally result in fidgety guests and your evening may lose momentum.

Expert Tips!

Don’t forget to ask your speakers how long they think they’ll take always double it. From experience I have never known a speech to run to time, it just doesn’t happen.

Part Six

How much time of you need for your wedding breakfast you may ask? The best starting point is to once again ask the expert for advice.
Your caterers will be able to give you a guide on how long they think their service will take depending on the number of guests, choice of food, number of courses, number of catering staff and type of venue. General guide allow up to 2 hours for a 3 course meal.

Part Seven

When the evening reception has begun timings can often go out the window. There are some key elements that need to be factored into your schedule as otherwise they can easily be forgotten in the excitement of the evenings festivities, you don’t want that to happen, right.

That’s why I advise my couples to plan in their first dance, cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet no later than 45 minutes after the end of their wedding breakfast (this will also ensure that their photographer manages to capture everything before they leave).

Expert Tip!

If you have invited evening guests ask them to turn up at least 30 minutes after your wedding breakfast. If your wedding breakfast overruns the last thing you want is to have evening guests turning up whilst people are still eating.

Don’t forget that each wedding is unique and different and timings will vary between different weddings. Use the above as a loose guide, but no need to feel like you’re doing it wrong if you want to skip it or do only some parts of it, remember it’s your day after all! Last thing this covers lot’s of the traditional elements of a wedding and you may want to skip parts of these to suit you the best.

If you are stuck with the wedding planning during the lock down I would recommend you to start writing your own wedding vows? It's a tremendous undertaking, as attempt to sum up all your love, dreams, and promises to your partner in a few short minutes. Overwhelming as it can be, it's well worth it and please take your time with it, It's a chance to tell your own story, give guests a look into what makes your relationship tick and to share meaningful, wonderful words with the person you love.

It's also intimate—you're really baring your heart to the love of your life, and you're about to be doing it in front of your loved family and closest friends. If you're up for the challenge, I am here to help you out. From examples and advice to sources of inspiration, here is I believe everything you need to know to write your own wonderful wedding vows.

1. Make sure to say "I love you." This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s so often forgotten or left out.

2. Share your personal stories. It's definitely so much more interesting for your family and friends to hear about your odd quirks and personal little moments and don't be afraid to talk about both the highs and the lows. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that vows are only about the highs in your relationship, remember that your guests want to hear vows that are truly real. If you've been through bumpy spots, don’t be afraid to express that.

3. Please don't wait until the last minute. Make sure to plan in to have your vows written at least three weeks before your big day. You'll be very much thankful for having it done in time and be able to have time to rehearsal so you are prepared.

4. Make a list of all your thoughts. There is no need to put everything into sentences right away. Take a peace of paper and write down all the things you can come up with that you love about your soon-to-be spouse, ask yourself what you're looking forward to most in your marriage? and what promises you want to make to your future husband or wife? and now answer them. Take a day or two and look through these notes and highlight your favourites. The once you highlighted use them for your starting point for your vows.

5. Don't try to include everything, it will be to much. I understand that you would want to fit everything you're feeling into your vows, but in reality, you can't include everything.

During my years as a wedding photographer I’ve seen loads of things go wrong at the last minute. And it’s usually the smallest little details which can turn a bride into a bridezilla. That’s why I advise to prepare a Wedding Emergency Kit in advance. It’s so easy to forget about the little things on a wedding day. So preparing a kit in advance for all those small happenings could save you a lot of headache (literally!). I make sure to carry one with me with the basic necessities but I always advise a bride (and groom) to prepare a personal one for their big day. Here are some items I recommend keeping in your kit - but remember it’s YOUR day so keep whatever YOU need. Here we go: 

• Sewing kit with safety pins and scissors. ( in case any dress or garment needs a little tailoring or emergency fix.)

• Clear nail polish (if you are wearing tights and to be able to stop ladders getting bigger.)

• Lint roller

• Chewing gum/Breath mints

• Plasters (Normal and for blisters.)

• Painkillers (in case that headache kicks in you can tackle it.)

• Toothpaste and toothbrush

• Hand sanitiser/Hand lotion

• Deodorant/Perfume (There will be sweaty moments either walking up the aisle or on the dance floor, make sure to be ready for it.)

• Nail file/Nail clipper/ Nail polish remover

• Hair spray/Hair brush

• Baby wipes

• Makeup remover

• Tissues

• Cotton pads

• Tampons/pads

• Phone charger

• White chalk, if the dress or anything else white gets stained it can be covered with chalk.

• Super glue

• A snack (It can be a long time in between and having a snack to keep your mood and energy up is the way to go.)

• Straw (This is the trick to keep the lipstick glowing just after it has been done, it’s perfect until the ceremony.)

You should feel like a princess from head to toe on your wedding day, that is so important, how you feel. But it’s so easy to be picking the wrong shoe for your day could turn any princess into an evil queen. It’s actually amazing how difficult it can be to find that perfect pair of wedding shoes to carry you down the aisle. There are so many shoes of white and ivory-satin heels and flats to go through that it comes to a point when it might seem like a good idea to just pick a pair without giving it a lot of thought and just get it over and done with. You might think, after all, no one will see the shoes under the long dress, will they?!

The process of picking your shoes should go beyond just matching them to your wedding dress. When you are looking for that perfect cinderella glass shoe, you want to really think about what you are going to be doing on your wedding day and don’t forget how long you may or may not be standing on your feet. To help you with the process, I have written a few mistakes to avoid when picking your perfect wedding shoe.

You’re likely going to spend most of the day up on your feet, so the importance that your footwear is up for the challenge is the one. One mistake to avoid when picking your wedding shoe is picking a pair that is uncomfortable. Make sure to find a pair that can do a long day of standing, walking, greeting relatives, and dancing with your new life partner. If you’re the person who is not used to be wearing high heels, then try a pair of flats, nothing wrong with a pair of flats or low heels.

This advice is brutally important, like any other shoe in your closet, your wedding shoe should absolutely be worn before the Big Day. Skip the thought of getting a spot on the white satin might seem like a nightmare, I promise you’ll regret keeping them in their box until the actual moment before standing at the altar. Of course you don’t have to wear them on every night out before the wedding, but it won’t hurt to put them a few times and walk at home with them to make them softer. Walking in your wedding shoes for these short times will make them bearable when it’s time to show them off.

I reccoment to have a extra pair of more comfortable shoes for the later evening and the dance floor, a pair of flats it the one I would recommend. Because be honest wearing high heels for the entire evening isn’t going to work out for anyone and walking around barefoot might not be an option.

To empower the woman who wears Titi Adesa,every sole is distinctive of a specifically designed ‘Tilted Diamond’ logo, embodying a philosophy Titi learnt from her mother growing up ~ ‘Within every woman, lies a diamond – unique, resilient and imperfectly perfect.’

If you have a floor length dress, you might be thinking that matching your shoes to your dress isn’t such a big deal. Honestly on your wedding day I think you should strive for the perfect shoes, especially if you want your photographer to capture some epic shots of them. It might even be in your best interest to be picking your shoes before you make the decision on your dress. Don’t forget your wedding shoes are what will determine your height on the day and for your dress. So, if you’re planning to rock a pair of six-inch heels, then you need to ensure the dress is still going to reach the floor. And if you’re going barefoot, then you want to make sure your feet will be covered, so they don’t end up the focus of your outfit.

Forgetting to put your shoes in the budget is a huge mistake to avoid when buying your wedding shoes. Wedding shoes can get very expensive, and it could be a huge blow to buy them without considering how the cost could affect other parts of the wedding. 

Picking the right shoes for your wedding is one of the most vital parts of bridal preparation. Your wedding shoes should showcase your style while staying comfy enough to enjoy every moment, from stepping out and taking that first step down the aisle, to dancing with your friends and now-hubby at the reception!

Always remember that comfort is the key to picking the perfect wedding shoes and do your research, so you know what mistakes to avoid when picking out your wedding shoes.

And don’t forget that penny for good luck!

Because it’s so tempting to skip a pro shooter or to ask a friend to take photos—but trust us, not hiring a professional photographer is one of the biggest, most common wedding regrets for couples who didn’t. If you're on a budget, missing out on gorgeous images isn’t the answer.

Unlike your wedding dress or flowers, your wedding photos will last forever, so you obviously want them to be amazing. Hiring a professional wedding photographer is truly the one and only way to get those crisp, high-quality images that capture every moment from your special day. Realistically, you should plan to allot 10–12 percent of your overall wedding budget to photography.

Before hiring a photographer make a list of the style you want and what you want in your package. Is it digital photo files or prints or wall frames and albums. That way, you'll go into the hiring process knowing what your package should look like. This allows you to pay only for exactly what you need, whether that’s a certain number of hours of coverage, extra sessions, multiple shooters or access to digital photo files, prints, wall frames and so on. Some photographers have some fantastic packages that will meet your needs and have good amount of variations but if not ask for to build your own package.

To know what to prioritize, don't underestimate the value of your recently married friends, but also potential pros you interview. Ask them to walk you through the ins and outs of the services they offer, like whether you can realistically fit all your must-have shots in the minimum amount of coverage they offer or how many assistants make the most sense for the size of your guest list.