If your dress is being made in one country and worn in another, there are three things to plan for: production time, shipping time, and customs. None of them are complicated, but all three are easier to handle when you know about them in advance.
The two timelines, kept separate
Brides often ask "how long will my dress take?" and receive one number, which then turns out to mean only production. Always ask for both:
- Production time — how long the gown takes to make after you order. For a made-to-order dress this is typically the larger number.
- Shipping time — how long the courier takes once the dress leaves the atelier. Express services are usually a matter of days rather than weeks.
Then add a third, which is entirely yours: a buffer for any final local adjustment once you have the dress and your shoes. Our ordering timeline builds all three into a plan.
Customs duties and import taxes
When a dress crosses a border, the destination country may apply import duty and sales tax. This is normal for any international purchase and is set by the destination country, not by the seller.
How this is handled varies:
- Charges collected at checkout. Some sellers calculate and collect import taxes when you order, so nothing further is due on delivery. This is the smoothest experience.
- Charges collected on delivery. The courier contacts you for payment before releasing the parcel. Perfectly normal, but you need to be reachable and available to pay.
Ask which applies before ordering. If charges are collected on delivery, ask for an estimate so you can budget for it.
A note for EU customers
Dioma is based in the EU and registered for EU VAT, so orders shipping within the EU have VAT applied at your country's rate at checkout. There is nothing further to pay when the parcel arrives.
A note for US and other non-EU customers
Rules differ by country and change from time to time. Message us before you order and we will tell you exactly how your destination is handled.
How a wedding dress is packed
A gown is not simply folded into a box. Well-packed bridal shipments use tissue through the folds to prevent hard creases, a garment bag inside the outer carton, and separate protection for any beading or lace that could catch. Detachable pieces — trains, overskirts, boleros — are usually packed separately.
Some creasing on arrival is normal and expected, even with careful packing. It is not damage. Our guide to steaming, hanging and storing your dress explains how to release creases safely.
What to do the moment it arrives
- Open it carefully and photograph it before unpacking fully, so you have a record of how it arrived.
- Hang it immediately on a broad, padded hanger, in a room with space around it.
- Let it hang for at least 24 hours. Many travel creases fall out on their own.
- Try it on with your shoes and underwear and check the length, then arrange any final adjustment.
- Store it properly until the day.
Planning your dates
Two practical points that save a lot of anxiety. First, avoid scheduling delivery for the week of the wedding — leave several weeks so there is room for a final adjustment. Second, be aware that couriers slow down around major holidays, so build extra margin if your dress is travelling in December or over local holiday periods.
Frequently asked questions
Will I have to pay customs duty on a wedding dress?
It depends on your country and how the seller handles taxes. Some collect import charges at checkout so nothing is due on delivery; others leave the courier to collect on arrival. Ask before you order.
How long does international wedding dress shipping take?
Express courier delivery is typically a matter of days once the dress ships. The longer part of the timeline is production, which is separate — always ask for both numbers.
Will my dress be creased when it arrives?
Some creasing is normal even with careful packing. Hang the gown for 24 hours and most of it falls out; anything remaining can be steamed gently.
Can I have a wedding dress delivered to a different country than I ordered from?
Yes, but tell the maker your delivery destination when you order so the shipping and any import charges are calculated correctly.
Should I ship my dress to my wedding destination or take it with me?
Take it with you if you can. Our guide to travelling with a wedding dress covers how to do that on a plane.
Keep reading
- How to travel with a wedding dress
- How to steam, hang and store your dress
- When should you order your wedding dress?
- Buying a wedding dress online
Every gown ships worldwide from our atelier — browse the collection.