Bringing cedar from US
 

Asl your airline and for ultimate source contact the respective embassies or consulates - no one here will probably know for sure. Chances of getting bags checked at London nil as bags are automatically transferred if same airline.

>>Does anyone know whether we might run into problems at customs (UK or Bulgaria) with these? Either because they are cedar or because of the quantity?<<

Doubtful anyone here has done something similar -- but a few Fodorites are UK-based business owners who 'might' have a clue?? I wouldn't imagine the pieces being wood would be a problem. But I'd think the sheer volume you are talking about would be very suspicious. You could say they are wedding gifts but they would look like you are selling something.

Asking the airline would be next to useless IME since they are not Customs agents.

Re the sand - a handful could easily fit in a ziplok baggie in the bottom of a suitcase. Re the seeds -- Look on the websites of both the UK and Bulgarian Customs to see which plant based products are prohibited.

I'm just guessing, but cotton seeds sounds like a terrible idea. Those kind of agricultural products are often what is banned from import by casual travelers as they can spread plant diseases, not to mention bug infestation.

I have never heard of any of these things, to be honest, and have no idea what a sand ceremony is and don't understand the concept of adding cotton seeds to sand for texture and what then is going to happen with it. I presume people aren't throwing sand at the bride and groom like the people throw rice or confetti or whatever they come up at them leaving the church. I can't imagine transporting sand from Memphis to Bulgaria for a wedding. From googling sand ceremony, you just pour colored sand into a glass vase, you don't need to be adding tgexture to it, and in fact, adding cottonseeds to sand sounds kind of disgusting to me in terms of what you'll end up with. I presume you've seen cottonseeds. And I'd think it could attract pests.

Your cedar products aren’t banned so it depends on their value whether you need to declare them.

Most travellers can bring other goods into the UK worth up to £390 (e.g. perfume and electrical goods) without paying duty and / or tax in the UK. (p12)

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ling-to-the-uk

For Bulgaria the value appears to be €430

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/bg-...ns-details.htm

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...egissum:l31045

Your posts likely crossed, but sofarsogood has posted some useful info -- (and if they all have the happy couple's face --I'd think it would be easier to explain that they are wedding trinkets)

Make sure there is no bark on the cedar or you could hit a problem.
You can check online what the rules are for the EU with regard to importing wood products and seeds.
The UK is still EU so the same rules apply for both countries.