Most of our brides do not live in Lahore. They are planning a wedding in Houston, Birmingham, Mississauga, Sydney, Dubai or Oslo, and they want an outfit made by hand in Pakistan without flying over for fittings. This page is the starting point for them: how ordering from abroad works, how to plan around your wedding date, and which country guide answers the customs and sizing questions for where you live.
Find the guide for your country
Each guide covers that country's import duty and tax rules, how your card is charged, size conversions and the time difference with Lahore.
| Where you live | What to know first |
|---|---|
| United States | The duty-free allowance for small parcels ended in August 2025, so every order now goes through customs. |
| United Kingdom | Import VAT at 20% applies to every order; customs duty is added above £135. |
| Canada | The CAD $150 allowance does not apply to parcels from Pakistan; tax depends on your province. |
| Australia | Parcels under AUD 1,000 generally arrive without duty or GST. |
| United Arab Emirates | Expect 5% duty and 5% VAT; Lahore is only one hour ahead. |
| Europe and Norway | Import VAT at your own country's rate from the first euro; Norway has its own rules. |
Living somewhere else, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, New Zealand or South Africa? We ship there too, on the same terms: free tracked DHL delivery, with any import charges paid on arrival. Message us your city before ordering and we will tell you what we know about delivery there.
Ordering a bridal outfit from abroad, in five steps
- Talk to us. Send your wedding date, the function and a rough budget on WhatsApp. A video call lets you see fabrics and finished pieces live.
- Settle the design. Choose one of our pieces and adjust it, or have one designed for you. For custom designs we share a sketch before any work begins.
- Send your measurements. We guide you through them on WhatsApp or video. Inches or centimetres both work, and most designs are made to measure at no extra cost.
- We make it in Lahore. Ask, and we send photos or short videos while your outfit is being worked, plus a video of the finished piece before dispatch.
- DHL brings it to your door. Delivery is free and tracked. Where import charges apply, DHL contacts you before delivery and you pay them directly.
Each of these steps is explained in more detail, with photos from the atelier, in The Waqas Shah Experience.
Planning backwards from your wedding date
Brides abroad have one extra thing to plan for: the outfit has to be made, shipped and cleared through customs before the function. Making times depend on what you order:
| What you order | Making time | Order at least |
|---|---|---|
| Bridal couture | 10 to 12 weeks, delivery included | 3 months before the wedding |
| Luxury formals | 5 to 6 weeks, then 7 to 14 days by DHL | 8 to 9 weeks before the function |
| Luxury pret | About 4 weeks, then 7 to 14 days by DHL | 6 to 7 weeks before the function |
| Ready to Ship | Leaves Lahore in 24 to 48 hours | 3 weeks before, to leave room for customs |
If you are dressing for several functions, order the heaviest outfit first: the baraat or main bridal look takes longest, while mehndi and walima outfits can follow a few weeks later. If your date is closer than this, tell us before you pay. We would rather say honestly that a piece cannot be ready than have it arrive after the wedding.
Dressing the whole family from one order
Many overseas orders are not for the bride alone. Sisters, bridesmaids and mothers often order together so that colours work side by side in photos. If you are coordinating several outfits, send us the list of people, functions and colours in one message and we will plan them together. Keep in mind that a larger parcel has a higher customs value, which can change the import charges in some countries, as the Australia guide explains.
Pakistani or Indian wedding, the same outfits work
Our customers abroad dress for Pakistani, Punjabi and Indian weddings alike. A lehenga choli suits a baraat, a nikkah, an Anand Karaj or the pheras; a gharara or sharara is at home at a mehndi or mehendi; and our pishwas is the same silhouette many people call an anarkali. For red, the colour shared by brides of every faith in South Asia, see our red bridal lehenga edit.
Where brides abroad start
Pakistani Bridal Dresses
Bridal Lehenga Choli
Mehndi Dresses
Nikkah Dresses
Reception and Walima Dresses
Ready to Ship
Questions brides abroad ask us
Can I really order a bridal outfit without a fitting?
Yes. Most of our overseas brides never visit the studio. We cut the outfit to the measurements you send, guided step by step on WhatsApp or a video call, and you can ask for progress photos before it is finished.
Who pays customs duty and import tax?
You do, on arrival. Orders are shipped delivered duty unpaid: DHL clears the parcel, contacts you before delivery and collects any charges directly. The amount depends on your country, the garment and its value, so your country guide above is the best place to check.
What currency will I be charged in?
Prices on the site show in your local currency as a guide, but cards are charged in Pakistani rupees and your bank converts the amount. We can confirm the figure in your currency on WhatsApp before you pay.
Can I return an outfit if it does not fit?
Each piece is made for you, so change-of-mind returns are not offered. If something arrives defective or incorrect, we put it right. The details are in our Refund Policy.
Can I see the outfit in person before ordering?
If you or a relative are in Lahore, you are welcome at our studio at 39-A MM Alam Road, Block B1, Gulberg III. From abroad, a video call shows the fabric and the work up close.
Talk to us before you order
WhatsApp or call +92 310 0001250, or email waqasshahofficial@gmail.com. Full delivery terms are in our Shipping Policy. To learn more about the atelier behind your outfit, read about Waqas Shah Official.