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Jamie
Dedicated October 2022 Argyll

Bridal Boutiques in the uk - Do They Charge Import Tax/customs Fees?

Jamie, 4 March, 2022 at 11:49 Posted on Wedding Attire 0 4
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As I said in the title really - if I go to a bridal boutique in the UK, and they order from a designer in the US, will I be charged customs fees/tax etc. when it arrives?

The designer I want to buy from is stocked at a boutique about two hours drive from me, and I have an appointment to go try the styles I like on next Saturday, with 30% off during a trunk sale. But the prices to order directly from the boutique are already marked up quite a bit from the designer's website.

The designer is also having a 30% off sale THIS weekend (4th-7th March), and I can order directly from her and adjust my order once I've tried stuff on next week - but there's probably going to be £350-£500 import and customs tax if I do that.

The difference between ordering at the boutique and online is about £200, but I was wondering if the boutique marks their prices up AND adds shipping and customs etc.

I've tried calling the boutique multiple times this morning to see if they can answer my question, but they're not picking up...


Has anyone had any experience with this or anything similar?

4 replies

Latest activity by Stephen, 1 October, 2025 at 18:07
  • N
    Dedicated May 2022 Somerset
    Nathalie ·
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    When I was looking I looked at some European designers and was told by the boutique that the price they quote includes customs/import duties. So it’s possible that’s the same for the US designer, but definitely worth double checking if you can - that’s not a surprise you want sprung on you when the dress arrives!
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  • Jamie
    Dedicated October 2022 Argyll
    Jamie ·
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    I'm thinking it'll be the same in my case - there's a blog post on the boutiques website that mentions import fees as part of why wedding dresses are so expensive... But it's from 2018 🤷‍♀️


    I tried calling the boutique repeatedly on Friday and over the weekend, and no one picked up. I also messaged on their IG as they seem quite active on there, but still no response. So it looks like I'm going to have to take the risk...
    On the bright side, when I spoke directly to the US designer over email, she also mentioned customs and import fees (quite out of the blue, which is what got me thinking about it in the first place). This was a line or two after saying there are lots of reasons shops mark up their prices, and it seems she thought that was included.
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  • Jamie
    Dedicated October 2022 Argyll
    Jamie ·
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    Update:
    Literally within minutes of my last reply, they got back to me on IG and told me that they don't charge any kind of shippin, import tax or customes fees 😁


    Woohoo!
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  • Stephen
    Savvy March 2020 Wiltshire
    Stephen ·
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    When shopping from bridal boutiques in the UK, brides may face added costs like import tax or customs fees when the dresses are shipped internationally. These charges can vary depending on the destination country’s tax policies. It’s quite similar to how businesses must carefully plan around Corporate Tax in UAE, where compliance and strategic tax management play a key role in avoiding unexpected costs. For expert guidance on navigating tax matters, Simply Solved provides tailored support to ensure smooth financial planning without hidden surprises.

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