Trump Tariffs Drive Up Wedding Costs Nationwide/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Wedding planning is becoming costlier as U.S. tariffs on imports raise prices across the bridal industry. From dresses to flowers and tableware, vendors and couples alike are navigating rising expenses. The uncertainty tied to Trump’s trade policies is driving delays, cancellations, and widespread frustration.
Trump Tariffs and Wedding Planning Costs: Quick Looks
- U.S. tariffs under President Trump have drastically impacted imported wedding goods.
- Bridal gowns, flowers, decor, and catering supplies are seeing double-digit cost increases.
- Vendors are struggling to honor contracts as prices for materials spike unexpectedly.
- Couples face hard choices: delay purchases, cut elements, or exceed budgets.
- New trade policies threaten to derail small businesses across the wedding sector.
- Industry leaders warn of vendor closures and increased cancellations through 2026.
Deep Look: How Tariffs Are Reshaping the Wedding Industry
For engaged couples across America, wedding planning has always come with a hefty dose of stress. But thanks to President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy, that stress is being multiplied — and so are the costs.
From Gowns to Glassware: Price Hikes Hit Everything
Krista Vasquez, a 33-year-old paramedic from Atlanta, had her heart set on a halter-style wedding gown from Spain. She was shocked when the price jumped nearly $300 due to new tariffs targeting European imports. With her wedding looming, Vasquez decided to absorb the extra cost rather than risk shipping delays or higher fees.
Wedding dresses aren’t the only items affected. Flowers, menus, Champagne, favors, photo gear, tableware — almost every wedding category now faces uncertainty, thanks to a wave of import taxes rolled out by the Trump administration. Some vendors are eating the added costs, others are passing them along. Either way, couples are caught in the middle.
Weddings Meet Washington: A Clash of Economics and Emotion
The Trump administration’s trade agenda includes increasing tariffs on a broad range of goods — including wedding-related imports — from 10% to as much as 50%. Industry professionals say these moves are making it harder to keep costs under control, especially as many items like lace, buttons, chocolate, and Champagne are difficult or impossible to source domestically.
Olivia Sever, a 28-year-old bride-to-be in San Diego, has already seen price hikes on her paper goods. Her planner warned that menus, place cards, and signage would now cost 10% more. And switching to U.S.-based alternatives isn’t always a cheaper option. Domestic flowers, for example, are now in higher demand — and priced accordingly.
Bridal Industry Vendors Under Pressure
Vendors are also feeling the pain. Armana Christianson, a cake artist in Phoenix, has watched the cost of imported chocolate soar — nearly doubling for some varieties essential to her recipes. For now, she’s shouldering the expense, but said she’ll have to rewrite future contracts to protect herself from similar price volatility.
Christine Greenberg, co-owner of Urban Set Bride in Virginia, says she may pay up to $100,000 extra in import taxes if the tariffs on Chinese goods are reinstated at their highest levels. Most wedding dresses and their components — zippers, corsetry, beadwork — are made in Asia, where labor and materials remain more cost-efficient.
Flowers, Rentals, and Everything In Between
Flowers, which are central to wedding aesthetics, are also largely imported. Around 80% of the cut flowers sold in the U.S. come from countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and the Netherlands. Tariffs on these goods are pushing prices up, while domestic growers struggle to keep up with demand. Faux flowers, often sourced from China, aren’t immune either.
Rental companies face challenges too. Morgan Montgomery of Paisley and Jade says her Richmond-based firm is already feeling the heat. Most rentals — chairs, linens, plates — are bought in bulk from overseas. Rising costs are making custom orders riskier and less appealing. Her solution? Stick to what’s in stock and revise quotes frequently.
What the Future Holds for Engaged Couples
Jacqueline Vizcaino, president of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association, says couples are taking twice as long to make decisions due to tariff-related uncertainty. Vendors, in turn, are struggling to keep pricing consistent. “We’re going to see a lot of unpleasant interactions in the next 8 to 12 months,” she warns.
Some planners report cancellation rates on pace to double from last year, with inflationary concerns cited as the leading cause. Booking windows are getting longer, and the inquiry-to-booking timeline has stretched from 40 to 73 days on average.
How to Navigate Wedding Planning Amid Tariffs
Experts suggest booking early and locking in prices wherever possible. Others recommend working with vendors who offer flexibility and have domestic inventory. Some are pivoting to American-made products, though options may be limited. And a few are simply cutting back — on everything from luxury flowers to custom paper goods — to stay within budget.
What’s clear is that wedding planning in the Trump-era economy now requires a strategy as detailed as the event itself. For an industry built on dreams, tariffs are turning too many into financial nightmares.
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