Just because of the dress alone, many little girls imagine themselves getting married one day. A train at least five meters long, a veil, ruffles, a corset and a sugar doll for the cake is ready. What's it really like? The bridal catalogues often make us lose our eyes and suddenly we don't quite know. So we asked Zuzana Kedronova from Studio Yoora for the most important tips. Borrow or sew, white or champagne? Let's be clear, girls!
Beauty does not exclude comfort
Every bride is a different, original personality, but they all have one thing in common - they don't just want to look beautiful on their big day, they want to feel comfortable at the same time. There's nothing worse than being scratched by lace or pricked by the underwire peeking out of your corset. The emphasis on comfort is definitely something that I personally take immense care in my work. Don't compromise and choose a comfortable option. You may be able to last those few minutes at rehearsal in a dress that's too tight or has a giant neckline, but imagine how much time you have until midnight before you change, and you definitely want to remember all those hours beforehand in a way other than the eternal hemming and fabric tugging. And speaking of necklines - the equation of the bigger the neckline, the prettier the bride definitely doesn't apply, you can be desirable in a long-sleeved, stand-up model too.
Find the right one - actually the right ones!
Above all, listen to yourself when choosing the right dress. I have had many times in the salon where the bride-to-be has come to the first meeting and with her eight other friends and her mother. Each has her own taste, which she thinks is the best. And she's right, but what do you think is best for you or for her? It hurts my heart to see a confused bride who, after a few minutes of being battered by a lot of different opinions, is considering getting married in a pantsuit.
It's important to take advice, but only take your loved ones whose opinion you value and know will give you constructive advice. A mother, a sister, a best friend, a stylish friend who you go clothes shopping with and can tell you straight up "not this". But above all, listen to your intuition. If you feel better in your everyday life in a tight dress, reach for it. If you like business style, try a casual minimalist flowy dress. If you're a fan of extravagance, feel free to try colours. It's a good idea to clarify these basic parameters before visiting a salon or bridal studio.
To sew or to rent?
I personally vote for sewing. A wedding is a very emotional moment, and if you sit down with a seamstress or designer to create a bespoke gown, the sewing process itself can be an unforgettable experience that enhances the whole wedding experience. I'm a big romantic myself, and it's not often that brides and I find ourselves both crying in front of the mirror as we hand in our finished dresses. These are beautiful moments that can't always be lived in the impersonal spaces of a rental shop. As a bonus, you get to keep the dress and can do with it as you wish. At our studio, we can alter the dress for casual wear so it doesn't have to hang sadly in your closet. Of course, there are also rental shops that have beautiful dresses and a personal touch. Just think about whether you want a dress that someone else has had before you and then pass it on, or buy a new one from the salon.
A fist for the eye
When choosing a dress, it's a good idea to think about where your wedding will take place. A different type of dress will suit a wedding in a stylish barn and another for a wedding in a castle. If you're planning a more intimate, relaxed wedding with a ceremony in a meadow, a soft, light and flowy dress that you can dance the night away barefoot like a fairy will stand out beautifully in the open air. If your wedding is a grand affair for two hundred wedding guests and you're being driven to the ceremony in a double carriage, I'd opt for an elegant gown with a train and veil and pumps or heeled sandals.
Pledge yourself to the accessories
It's long gone that white dresses don't come with white pumps. Awaken your creative spirit, anything goes with white as well as black. Plus, you don't have to choose high heels at all costs. I've seen brides walk down the aisle in emerald green ankle boots or leopard print sandals, metallic pumps and leather crystals.
The same goes for hair ornaments. There is a huge variety of headbands, wreaths or combs on the market. It depends on the hairstyle and the type of dress. A boho hairstyle with curls directly begs for a flower, a tight knot on the top of the head will stand out with a metallic ornament that will emphasize the shine of the hair.
Be sure to think about the weather fluctuations too. To give you something to cover your shoulders (unless you want to strip the groom of his jacket), a wool sweater or crocheted scarf or poncho will do. It's handy for the car ride from the church or ceremony hall, and you'll appreciate it if it gets chilly in the evening.
Are you a little clearer in your choice of dress? If you're considering a model made just for you, you can get some more details of how things work in the bridal salon through our interview with Zuzana Kedroňová. Over the last two years, when she has been creating under the official Yoora brand, dozens of brides-to-be have come through her salon.
Who's a late-comer...
Custom-made dresses take longer to make. The ideal time to begin preparations is eight to ten months before the wedding. In my experience, brides come to me about six months before the wedding. Of course, there are also women who leave the choice of wedding dress to the last minute, then the seamstress needs to be helped for the sake of rehearsals at least with time flexibility, so that the whole process can be squeezed into a few weeks.
A thousand here, a thousand there
It is definitely advisable to discuss the price of the dress at the first meeting. At least tentatively. I give a range of what it costs to create a wedding model, right on the website. And brides are usually informed of the price before the first meeting. At the in-person meeting, we just confirm the price and the idea.
A quid pro quo
Only two or three times in my time have I had to defend the price of a dress in detail. It's probably understandable that not everyone is aware of the price ranges that bespoke wedding dresses can range in. A wedding is a special event, often experienced once in a lifetime. And our handmade dresses are not created on a treadmill. Their price includes not only natural certified material and time spent with preparation and design, but also individual attention, customized designs and a minimum of three to four fittings. 
In detail
Brides usually contact me via the form on the website or via social media. Most of them already know at that point which model they are interested in and will ask for an indication of price or available size. In my studio I have all the models from my collections available to try on in sizes 36-40. Soon the plus size collection will be added. At the first meeting we will have a fragrant coffee and discuss the concept of the wedding, the date, the bride's ideas and her financial limit. We tell each other how it's going to work, and we go to rehearsal. I always try to get brides to try on more than one type of dress, because it happens that a completely different dress than the one they dreamed of turns out. In fact, that's almost a rule. When we choose together either an existing model or one of the designs created based on a request, I take the bride's measurements, according to which I sew a test model from cotton canvas. This step serves the purpose of picking out the exact fit and also gives the bride an idea of how the dress will look and fit. When everything fits as it should, the final material is created, whether it's a peaceful silk, organic cotton, bamboo satin or certified wool. In total, a minimum of three to four trials are required. Details such as lace, embellishments or length are fine-tuned at the last fitting.
Fair price
Brides don't have to worry that the original price will somehow increase dramatically. Minor adjustments such as sleeve length, neckline depth or changes in the embellishment of the dress are already included in the initial price. If there are major alterations, such as fabric changes, adding a long train, skirt, etc., I always consult the price with the bride in advance.
Dresses for future generations
Roughly half of brides keep their dress as a keepsake, the other half choose to have it altered to a formal model. I'm delighted when the dress gets a new lease of life after the wedding, but I completely understand the sentimental reasons for keeping it, for example for a daughter. 
She looks good in this and she looks good in that.
Frosted georgette suits all body types. I'd be more careful with shiny satin if I had any doubts about the figure. Satin is shiny, and if the dress is extra tight and fitted, it can highlight a poorly fastened bra or over-fitted underwear.
Don't be afraid to speak up
Get a good night's sleep for every rehearsal. When you put on your work-in-progress model, it's extremely important to be honest about how you feel. Share ideas for alterations while you can. Long can be made short, wide can be made narrower. Once the fabric is cut, it's no longer a chore to readjust it. If you don't like anything or would rather have a sleeve with a cuff than without, don't keep it to yourself. This will avoid any misunderstandings. Tests are just the thing to correct these minor beauty defects in time. It is very difficult to sew a train on a finished dress, and it is also tricky to make a short sleeve into a long one.
Czech vs. Slovak
I am very grateful that my studio is frequented by amazing women. We keep in touch with many of them even after we get married and become friends. I only opened my Prague showroom at the beginning of this year, whereas I am in contact with Slovak brides on a daily basis, so I can't generalize too much yet. But all my brides are stylish ladies who pay attention to details. Perhaps the only difference is the size of the weddings. I have the feeling that Czech brides are more concerned with space and decoration and prefer to have their wedding in a smaller circle of family and friends, while in Slovakia they have big weddings for more than a hundred guests with entertainment until dawn. But when it comes to the dress, both Czech and Slovak brides will finish their final styling to one hundred percent.
Text: Zuzana Kedroňová and Helena Stiessová | Photo: Yoora studio
