These childhood sweethearts married at a chic Bulgarian wedding venue decorated in luxurious pinks and golds…

Kristiana and Ivan have been together since they were children. “Our families have known each other since before we were born,” says Kristiana. “We went to pre-school together, where our love journey began. Then we had a long-distance relationship while I lived in the UK and he lived in Bulgaria. Later, we lived between both countries and we recently purchased our first home in Bulgaria.”

Ivan proposed when the couple were in Romania for a spa weekend and the Christmas markets in December 2023. “My husband took me to a castle where we took a tour inside and then a walk outside in the beautiful winter wonderland,” says Kristiana. “The was a lake with white swans, trees with snow and a beautiful garden. While I was taking photos of the picturesque scene, my husband was waiting down on one knee. It was one of the most special and magical moments in our lives.”

Shopping for two dream dresses

“My mother told me about wed2b, as a friend of hers recommended it after buying her dress there,” says Kristiana. “I enjoyed the rich volume of choice and all the sizes available at wed2b Camberley, as well as the accessories. I would recommend going during the week, as the weekends are busier.”

Kristiana chose two dresses for her big day. Adelaide, a luxurious Mikado ballgown, and Pascale, a glittering beaded sheath. “I already had in mind my two wedding looks,” she says. “I wanted the first look to be a classic princess gown and the second a mermaid dress. The materials on both dresses made them look and feel expensive and classy. Pascale’s mix of lace with the low-cut back and dainty belt across the waist was the perfect classy yet sexy gown for the second half of the wedding. While Adelaide's long train, finished with buttons down the back, and the off-the-shoulder neckline was perfect for the church.”

Plus a few stylish extras…

“I also bought two pink robes for my bridesmaids and a white robe for me, plus the mermaid underskirt, the large box to transport and store my dresses and the Solstice belt to go with my Adelaide dress.”

A multi-venue Bulgarian wedding

The couple had several different venues for their Bulgarian wedding on 6th Sep. “We started in our hometown Kazanlak in our homes, followed by our favourite church after which we travelled to Calista Spa Hotel for our second half,” says Kristiana. “Our welcome drinks and legal ceremony were in the garden, then we entered the events room.”

The big day

“I got ready with my mother and wedding party,” says Kristiana. “We had our hair done at a salon and then our makeup at home, before getting dressed and having photos and finishing touches. Meanwhile, our guests had pre-drinks and bites to eat. My father walked me down the aisle to 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perry while my husband walked down the aisle to the theme song to The Godfather.”

Afterwards, there were welcome drinks, nibbles and photos with all of the guests, followed by a photoshoot. “We then changed our outfits and had more photos,” says Kristiana. “Later, our guests took their seats and we entered for the party. We picked our first dance song, ‘Perfect Symphony' by Ed Sheeran ft. Andrea Bocelli, as it felt romantic, sweet and the lyrics were personal to us.”

A stylish pink and gold colour scheme 

“We personalised and designed absolutely every detail, starting with our names and wedding dates on our dance floor and seating plan,” says Kristiana. “We also designed our physical wedding invitations and I designed our online invitations and wedding website, as well as our alcohol bottle labels and menus. My mother and I created our guest gifts along with over 400 wax stamps with our initials, which were used on several of our wedding decorations. I also handmade my bouquet, which I threw.”

“There were two wedding cakes, one real one for our guests and one faux one for the cake cutting ceremony,” says Kristiana. “It was a four-tier cake with sugar flowers and plexiglass boxes. There were also plexiglass gift boxes for cards. We worked with a wedding decorations agency to ensure our decorations matched our colour theme of pastel pinks, roses and greenery with touches of gold.”

The best bits…

“Every single moment was absolutely magical and memorable,” says Kristiana. “Our favourite moments were our first look, the legal ceremony and our party.”

My top tips…

“I would recommend screenshotting inspiration to ensure you don't forget any details or the vendors don't misunderstand,” says Kristiana. “DIY anything you can, too. Ensure there’s plenty of food and drinks all day for everyone, especially you. Lastly, don’t feel selfish, this is your day!"

Kristiana and Ivan’s Dream Team 

Photographer: Max Bukovski Photography 

Bulgarian wedding venue: Calista Spa Hotel 

Wedding dresses Camberley: wed2b

Videography: Hope Vision 

DJ: Niki Kolev 

Decor: Temira Wedding Agency

If you would like us to feature your big day, like this Bulgarian wedding, then please click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch. Your nearest wed2bis closer than you think, click here for your nearest store and here for what to expect when you visit.