A & A

FAQ

* Frequently Asked Questions

✈️ Travel, arrival & accomModation

Before you arrive to the UK

Both the ceremony and reception will be held at Gosfield Hall in Essex. Everything happens in one place – no travel between venues needed. Directions and other details are on the Before the Big Day page. The venue is close to London and is easy to get to, so we advise all out-of-towners to stay in London before and after the wedding, rather than trying to stay near the venue.

  • Heathrow (LHR) – 40-60 min to Central London via Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express
  • Gatwick (LGW) – 1 hour by train or Gatwick Express
  • Stanstead (LTN) / Luton (LTN) – budget options, 60-90 min by train (to Liverpool Street or St Pancras)
  • City Airport (LCY) – closest to the city for short European flights

Guests from Kazakhstan usually need a UK Standard Visitor Visa – please see the Kazakhstan visitor section in our FAQ below. 

We recommend arriving by Wednesday 15 July to recover from travel and have ample time to rest. For our friends and family travelling from Kazakhstan, Anel’s family is planning to arrive on Sunday 12 July, in case you want to travel together.

We recommend staying in Central London for the duration of your trip. We live in Canary Wharf so please feel free to stay nearby – but don’t feel like you have to. London has thousands of hotels and Airbnbs for every budget and location. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us directly! 

🇬🇧 For our guests from kazakhstan

A brief tourist guide for those of you who plan to make a trip out of our wedding!

Kazakhstan nationals need a UK Standard Visitor Visa to travel to London.

  • Cost: £127 ~ 90,000 Tenge (as of Nov 2025; prices may go up)
  • Validity: 6 month; you can apply up to 3 months before your travel date
  • Processing time: ~3+ weeks. We recommend applying as we have personally experienced significant delays
  • Apply online and read more here

Information needed for the application (all in English; documents in Russian/Kazakh need to be translated and notarised ahead of time):

*Please visit https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa  for the most up to date requirements

  • Dates of visit & flight details
  • Accommodation confirmation letter and address in the UK
  • Bank statements showing sufficient funds for the trip (recommended ~£100 per day per person)
  • Personal information: parents names and DoB, Job/University details, Salary information (e.g. payslips)
  • Travel history (dates and destinations you travelled to over the last 10 years)
  • Sponsor information and financial proof if someone else is funding your trip (e.g. your parents’)

After you submit your application online, you will receive a GWF number – you need this to book an appointment with VFS Global Kazakstan.

Please note that it has been many years since we applied for a UK visa from Kazakhstan, so we may not be fully up to date. Kindly double-check all information yourself. Sadly, we’re not able to assist with individual applications due to the number of guests requiring a visa.

Here are the most common routes from Kazakhstan to London:

💡 TIP: Always allow at least 3 hours for your transit between flights, just in case of delays or terminal changes

Air Astana

  • Direct Flight: There is a direct 9.5-hour flight from Almaty to London Heathrow every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday (subject to change), which is the most optimal option travelling from Kazakhstan.
  • Connecting flights: You can also find other options with connecting flights in Frankfurt. Please check the website for more details and any additional stops.
  • Estimated round-trip: 1 week between 12-19th July direct flight ‘Classic’ ticket (1x 23 kg luggage, change / refund refund for a fee) in economy is ~ £670 / $880 (subject to change). We do not recommend the ‘Basic’ ticket option as it doesn’t have a refund option in case your visa application is unsuccessful or your plans change.

Connecting flights through major hubs:

  • 📍Istanbul: Turkish Airlines, Pegasus 
    • Turkish Airlines: A popular and convenient route via Istanbul Airport, with regular flights from Almaty and Astana to London’s main airports.
    • Pegasus Airlines: This is a low-coster with  One layover in Istanbul (total travel time ~13–15 hours). Note that seats do not recline and meals are not included. Arrives at London Stansted Airport, which might be more challenging to travel from if you haven’t been in the UK before.
  • 📍Frankfurt: Lufthansa
    • Lufthansa offers flights from Almaty or Astana to London Heathrow, typically with a transfer in Frankfurt. Please note: Flight availability may vary, as some services have been temporarily limited from Kazakhstan. Please check the Lufthansa website for the most up-to-date schedule before booking. 

  • 📍Dubai: Emirates, FlyDubai 
    • Typical route: Almaty → Dubai → London, flight times: Almaty–Dubai ~4–5 hrs; Dubai–London ~7 hrs
    • Directly from Dubai: Emirates, FlyDubai, British Airways 

  • 📍Baku: Azerbaijan Airlines
    • Azerbaijan Airlines azal.az One layover in Baku (total travel time ~13–15 hours). This route is usually more affordable compared to other European airlines. Please note that we haven’t personally explored this option, so we recommend doing your own research before booking.

We live in Canary Wharf – and our family will be staying in this area too. However, you’re welcome to stay wherever you want! London has thousands of hotels and Airbnbs for every budget and location preference – please check Booking.com and Airbnb for all available options. 

Accommodation in Central London tends to be quite expensive, but London is extremely well-connected. Prices come down significantly once you look at locations within ~30 min tube ride (“tube” = London Underground) of central attractions.

The wedding venue is close to London, but the area is rather boring for tourists – we recommend not trying to stay close to the venue for the duration of your trip.

This really varies depending on what kind of trip you want to have. But see some general cost guidance below:

  • Return economy flights Almaty-London are ~£700
  • Accommodation is generally the most expensive line item – ~£200 per night for an average hotel room, but this can vary from £100 to thousands depending on location and brand. Airbnbs for a large group are generally cheaper
  • Food – a quick sandwich and drink would run you £10-15 per person, a sit down meal at a chain would reach £20-30 per person. A meal at a more upscale place would land at around £60 per person, while fine-dining goes into the hundreds
  • Travel – Tube is roughly £3.50 one way in Central London. Taxis are pricey – £20-30+ for a 30 min trip, and more expensive during peak times and evenings.
  • Sightseeing – most attractions are actually free (museums, “external” attractions such as the Big Ben and the bridges and parks) and you can have a great time in London without spending much on sightseeing

There is a helpful cost-comparison website that you can browse to get a more granular idea of costs – Numbeo.

  • Heathrow (LHR): 40-60 min to Central London via Elizabeth Line, Heathrow Express or a taxi 
    • Take the Elizabeth Line to Central London. Elizabeth Line can take you directly to a large number of major hubs – Paddington, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. The entrance can sometimes be tricky to find in Heathrow – please ask someone at the Terminal and they will be able to help you. 
    • You can of course take a taxi as well, but please note that these are very expensive in London (~70,000 Tenge from Heathrow to Central London)
  • Gatwick (LGW): 1 hour by train or Gatwick Express
  • Stanstead (LTN):  60-90 min by train (to Liverpool Street or St Pancras)  there are a few options: 
    • Stanstead Express: ~36 min to Liverpool Street (stop at Tottenham Hale for Victoria Line). Trains run every 15 minutes (05:30-00:30)
    • Buses: National Express

July is usually very pleasant in London (+20-25C during the day). However, it can still be extremely unpredictable – sometimes there are prolonged periods of rain, sometimes there are prolonged periods of extreme heat. 

Rain is usually come-and-go and quite light, but please pack an umbrella. Regarding the heat – please note that e.g. +35C might look mild to you, but it’s very hard to deal with in London as there is limited air conditioning in public and air is quite humid. Please stay hydrated and try to avoid afternoon walks if there is indeed a heatwave. 

Laundry list of helpful things to know about visiting London:

  • Common confusing terms:
    • “Tube” – London Underground / Metro system. Best and most convenient way to get around the city
    • “The Overground” – a system of trains separate from the tube, usually goes above ground – hence the name
    • “Oyster card” – a travel card for public transport. You won’t need one, just use your debit / credit card instead – you can tap-in and tap-out at tube stations and buses (via contactless payment)
    • “Cab” – Taxi
    • “Queue” – a line of people
  • Money and payments – UK is increasingly cashless – there is no need to bring cash with you. Cards are accepted everywhere, and some restaurants / shops don’t accept cash at all as a policy. However, please have a backup card as Kazakhstan cards sometimes fail.
  • Phones & Internet – We recommend buying an e-sim (e.g. Airalo) or picking up a local sim card in the airport. Wi-Fi is generally available in cafes / restaurants but not on the street. 
  • Navigating London – This city is very very very large and can be confusing to navigate for a first-time visitor. We recommend downloading Citymapper which generally works better than Google Maps in London. Please also save the map of the London Tube locally on your phone just in case and bring a powerbank! If you are completely lost in an emergency, flag down a black cab and they will take you home – drivers know the city very well so you just need to give them the name of the hotel / address of your airbnb.
  • Safety – London is generally very safe, as long as you are sensible. Please try to stay away from busy areas late at night as drinking is commonplace. Most common crime in London is phone-theft and purse-snatching – please just be mindful of where you put your valuables and invest in a phone lanyard.
  • Road direction – please remember that cars drive on the left-hand-size here

Londoners are very used to tourists and, despite popular belief, tend to be quite polite, so don’t stress about upsetting anyone. However, we thought you’d appreciate some info about small local customs:

  • Please stand on the right while on escalators – the left side is for people in a rush and everyone gets very annoyed when tourists block the left side
  • Londoners take traffic lights as a suggestions rather than a rule, so don’t be surprised if everyone crosses the street on a red light
  • Tipping is not customary in the UK – no one will get offended if you do leave a tip, but you might as well save your money. Most restaurants charge a 12.5% service charge by default anyway.
  • Please respect the queues – this is a national sport
  • British humour is dry – don’t worry if people sound understated / sarcastic

We urge you to come up with your own itinerary of things to do / see – London has a lot to offer! Below are some popular attractions that tourists generally find interesting

Most popular / iconic attractions:

  • Big Ben (Tower of London)
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Buckingham Palace – changing of the guards happens around 11am every morning
  • Museums: British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A, Tate Modern – entrance is free!
  • Tower Bridge
  • The Tower of London
  • London Eye – recommend booking tickets in advance if you want to visit
  • Parks: Hyde Park, Green Park, Regent Park etc.

Nice areas to visit

  • Soho / Chinatown
  • Notting Hill / Kensington
  • Marylebone
  • Camden Town
  • King’s Cross (some fun Harry Potter stuff inside the station)

Half-day / Day trips

  • Windsor Castle
  • Harry Potter Studios
  • Legoland
  • Thorpe Park

Shopping

  • General shopping – Oxford Street / Regent Street
  • Luxury shopping at Harrods / Selfridges
  • Large shopping malls – Westfield London. We recommend staying away from Westfield Stratford
  • Niche shopping – there are plenty of shops spread across London. Generally shopping is not as concentrated here and not limited to malls

London has a vibrant food scene, ranging from street-food to hundreds of Michelin Star restaurants. There is an option for every budget

Popular chain restaurants:

  • Sandwiches / quick bites: Pret-A-Manger, Yolk, The Salad Project, Costa, Greggs, Subway
  • Sit-down meals: Nando’s, Zizzi, Wagamama, Pizza Express

Good stand-alone restaurants / smaller chains

  • Indian: Dishoom, The Tamil Prince, The Tamil Crown, Darjeeling Express
  • Japanese: Shoyu Ramen, Kanada-Ya, Coco Ichibanya, Tanakatsu, Uoichi
  • Chinese: Gold Mine Queensway, Imperial Treasure, Fatt Pundit, Dim Sum Duck
  • Italian: Manteca, Nina, Flour & Grape, Bocca di Lupo, Padella, Noci
  • Spanish: Pizzaro, Bravas Tapas, Mountain

Special occasions:

  • Gymkhana
  • Sollip
  • BRAT
  • Ibai
  • City Social
  • CORE by Claire Smith
  • HIDE
  • Evelyn’s Table
  • OMA
  • …and way more…

🏨 Logistics

Before the Big Day

The dress-code is semi-formal (i.e. blazers for the gentlemen and dresses for the ladies). Please see the Before the Big Day page for further detail and inspiration.

The venue address is: Gosfield Hall, Hall Dr, Gosfield, CO9 1SF, Halstead, United Kingdom. We are organising a bus that will depart from Central London – we highly recommend you join the rest of the guests! If you’d rather make your own way, you can take a train or arrive by car. Please see the Before the Big Day page for more detail.

Yes, there is plenty of parking available at the venue!

💍 Wedding Day details

On 17th July 2025…

Friday 17 July 2026 – please take this entire day off at work as the wedding will be a full-day event! Our ceremony is scheduled for 14:00, but please aim to arrive earlier. Please see the Wedding Day section for more detail.

Although the venue grounds are beautiful and you’re more than welcome to explore, the ceremony, dinner and the party will be fully indoors to hedge against the treacherous British weather.

We adore your little ones, but kindly note that this will be an adults-only event. We hope you can relax and enjoy the day!

Most guests speak English, so the ceremony will be largely in English. Parents’ toasts will be in Russian and there will be plenty of bridesmaids/groomsmen who can speak Russian in case you have any questions on the day!

Please enjoy an unplugged ceremony – no phones during vows. Snap freely afterwards!

Yes, there will be a seating plan displayed at dinner.

Of course! There is a dance floor and a DJ – and we’re the ones picking the music.. Prepare for a mix of modern and retro bangers.
Also please feel free to bring a change of shoes for the evening portion of the wedding – comfortable trainers over heels and oxfords!

There is a strict 1AM deadline for off-site guests departure – but if you’re staying with us at the venue overnight, there will be an after party in the library room with drinks and music!

Yes – please share all you want! We will also share professional photographs in a few months after the wedding. If you post something on Instagram, please tag either or both of us! We’d love to see your posts.

🍽️ Food & Drink

The important bit!

We’re still finalising the menu, but expect a Pan-European three-course meal with a wine pairing. 

The menu will have vegan and halal options. We will be sharing an updated survey closer to the time so you will get a chance to let us know of any allergies and dietary requirements in advance.

Yes! There will be a generous tab during the evening celebration, so just order whatever you want at the bar. There will also be prosecco / other tipples provided during the welcome drinks & canapes. If you don’t drink, no worries, we’re organising alcohol-free options too!

Of course – save room!

🎁 Gifts & Registry

If you want to bring a little something

Your presence is the greatest gift to us. We don’t expect anything, but we understand gifts are customary in many cultures. For those who wish, we’ll share a small registry and an option to contribute to our honeymoon / future home.

We kindly ask that gifts not be brought to the venue, just to avoid any complications with transporting them to and from the venue. We’ll provide a home address on the registry for anyone who wishes to send something, and you’re also welcome to drop it off anytime before or after the wedding.

💌 RSVP & Communication

Pesky admin – but very important

Please RSVP here as soon as you can. The email from us should specify the deadline.

Due to limited venue capacity, we’re only able to accommodate the guests listed on the invitation. Unsure? Just ask one of us!

Let us know promptly so we can adjust seating and meals. The space is limited so early notice is greatly appreciated!

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