How to keep wedding costs down with tax-free shopping in France？

After the last few years of postponements, limits on numbers and covid restrictions, it's fair to say that getting married has not been the easiest start to marital bliss for most couples-logistically or financially! According to a 2021 Hitched.co.uk survey, the average wedding takes two years to plan at a cost of around £17,300, up 90% on those restricted 2020 weddings.

To ensure you get the wedding of your dreams, its best to start planning your budget and find out in advance who is going to pay for what. In 2021, 61% of wedding costs were covered by the couple's parents according to the Hitched National Wedding Survey, however, we would advise checking with them first before booking any extravagant venues and expensive wedding attire!

But it's not just the happy couple who need to consider their costs – their guests do too. Anything from wedding gifts to clothing can soon add up. Even stag and hen parties can become costly for guests, especially if there are plans to head abroad.

But this is where Wevat can come to the rescue for wedding guests and the happy couple – by helping you take advantage of tax-free shopping in France and saving VAT on your purchases. Prices in France are on average 5-10% lower than in the UK which when combined with tax-free savings, can bring costs down further to 20%.

Here are our top tips on how using the Wevat app in France can help reduce those wedding costs for you and your guests ahead of the special day.

(If you don’t know much about tax reclaim check out some of our other blogs and review of our app on YouTube).

Wedding jewellery

Engagement and wedding rings forever encapsulate those memories of your love and special day. Where better to treat yourselves to a touch of luxury than Galeries Lafayette in France where you will find high-end jewellery brands such as Cartier, Tiffany and Chaumet. Take advantage of the VAT savings on your jewellery when using the Wevat app (just ask for a ‘facture’ when purchasing). Check out our recent blog on how to save tax when shopping at Galeries Lafayette.

Aside from department stores, you can also head to Place Vendôme and Rue de la Paix for jewellery. This area is an oasis in the very centre which is home to many incredible designers and here you'll find the jewellery designer that claims to be the oldest in the world. Don’t forget to ask for a facture(“invoice” in French) addressed to Wevat, then you can enjoy the tax refund with up to 13% off.

Wedding wardrobe

Another major expense is often the wedding dress. Buying your dress in France could potentially save you hundreds, allowing you to get the designer dress of your dreams at a fraction of the cost. Not only that, but saying ‘yes to the dress’ is a rite of passage in itself, often accompanied by your mother, bridesmaids and other important people in your life for this unique shopping experience. Where better than Paris, the romance capital of the world, to find your Parisian wedding dress. You’ll be spoilt for choice from chic gowns adorned with delicate French lace to edgy haute couture from up-and-coming designers.

Top Tip - when bringing a wedding dress back to the UK from France on a plane, consider purchasing an extra seat. We’d advise you also call ahead to the airline to enquire about options when travelling with a wedding dress such as a cabin locker. You certainly don’t want it to go in the hold to get lost or damaged.

But it’s not just the bride who can be catered for. Why not consider some of Paris’ famous boutiques to find the perfect suit for your groom or even Mother of the Bride outfits. There are plenty of options available from searching the designer outlets for end of season sales and overstocks as well as trying the department stores in France where you can claim up to 20% on the VAT paid when using Wevat. Places to consider are the Channel Outlet and Cité Europe in Calais, or the department stores of Galeries Lafeyette and Printemps across Paris.

For wedding guests wanting to look the part, perhaps a new designer outfit or unique French find in one of their many boutiques is more your thing – there are many bargains to be had when shopping in France. Take for instance those smaller boutiques - traditional tax refund companies are not often found in smaller shops as they are not financially viable to operate in. Wevat eliminates this issue as VAT refunds can be claimed across multiple stores on your trip rather than €100 per store. Just make sure the store can give you an invoice known as a “facture” addressed to Wevat and the product is eligible for tax refunds.

The all-important “I do crew” parties

To save costs further, why not consider going abroad to France for the pre-wedding party, especially after 18 months of lockdowns and travel restrictions. Whether it’s the latest trend to have a week-long combined ‘I do Crew’ party in a chateau, or a day trip to Paris for food, culture and wedding outfit shopping, France really can offer something for everyone. Guests can even shop for exclusive and often cheaper gifts in France for the happy couple. With the VAT savings on outfits and jewelry purchased tax-free in France, you can afford to put them towards your send-off party in style.

Wine and Champagne for the reception

No wedding would be complete without champagne to toast the happy couple and wine on the table for guests at the reception dinner. Those lucky enough to have a venue which allows own brought alcohol for a corkage fee can really save big when heading to France to stock up. Why not check out the latest allowance changes following Brexit on our how to buy tax-free wine in France blog proving you can still purchase plenty for a large or small wedding.

Calais remains the favourite destination for Brits looking to stock up on alcohol and take advantage of VAT savings along with the discounts many of the wine hypermarkets offer. Take for instance one of our customers who used Wevat to save nearly €500 on buying bottles of their favourite Champagne.

Alcohol-free options are also a huge trend this year so be sure to consider those guests looking to cut out alcohol – there are now many more alcohol-free and low alcohol options available so everyone can enjoy the taste without the headache!

Wevat is a match made in heaven

We hope we have inspired you to consider many ways to save money on your wedding when using Wevat in France. Be sure to check out our other blogs for more hints and tips to maximise those wedding savings or reach out to us for any further queries. We’re always happy to hear how much Wevatters have saved with us.

About Wevat App:

Wevat - a new digital tax refund app that makes it easy for travellers to save money on their shopping in France! We are a community of people who love travelling, shopping and saving money. Since our launch in 2019, we've helped refund travellers from 88 countries more than €18 million on their shopping!

Compared with in-store VAT refund providers, Wevat gives you up to 23% more VAT back and with no minimum spending requirements on each purchase. With Wevat, you can simply snap a picture of your purchase invoices then generate and scan your barcode when you leave France. There are no paper forms, repeated scanning or dropping off forms required with us. Our super-friendly, multilingual customer support team will be always on hand to support you throughout your trip via our app.

We are fully regulated by both French and UK customs.

Download our app now to start saving money on your shopping in France!

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