How Will Tariffs Impact the Wedding Industry for Vendors & Couples?

Will tariffs make weddings more expensive? Unfortunately, yes. But there might be a few ways to stay ahead of higher costs

 

You’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard the word ‘tariff’ in the past couple months. A very expensive rock, on another planet, that even Blue Origin can’t reach. 

 

And since we’d bet a bucket of meme coins that you have heard the word tariff by now, a few dozen times at least, along with some lengthy explanations of what they are and why some people are passionately for or against them, we’ll skip that part. 

 

We’re going to jump right into what higher tariffs could mean for the wedding industry in the coming months – especially for wedding officiants and other vendors. 

 

• Still not sure what’s going on with tariffs? It’s ok, this article from the Harvard Kennedy School covers most questions: Explainer: How do tariffs work and how will they impact the American and global economy?

 

• For a deeper look, check out: Key takeaways on Trump’s reciprocal tariffs from recent Brookings event

 

 

(Photo by Markus Winkler / Pexels)

 

 

How Tariffs Might Make Weddings More Expensive for Vendors & Couples

 

1. A lot of wedding products come from countries with new or increased tariffs

 

A lot of common wedding products – from simple stationary to bridal makeup, wedding dresses to designer shoes, food to flower arrangements  – are produced in countries with new or increased tariffs. 

 

Some examples?

 

• Nearly 90% of all wedding dresses and 62% of men's formal shoes are imported from China, for example, which could face 145% tariffs or higher (via National Bridal Retailers Association, Good Morning America).
• Most lab-grown diamonds are imported from China (56% of the global supply) and polished in India (15% of supply), so businesses and customers will likely see high prices for engagement rings and wedding bands (via GIA Gemologist Bonnie Cheung Sarkissian of Bonnie Jewelry; and Statista).
• And most big-name photography equipment is made in countries with higher tariffs, including Vietnam (where Olympus is produced) and Thailand (where Nikon is produced), which means higher costs for wedding photographers, videographers, wedding albums, and more (via FStoppers).

 

As you can see, costs can add up fast.

 

This means that many (or most) wedding products and services will become more expensive, as business owners raise their prices to afford the increased costs of importing these items.

 

The types of items available to customers might be impacted too. Businesses might choose to carry fewer products because the upfront costs of inventory are higher, combined with higher risk that more-expensive items won’t sell. This could mean fewer options for customers, at higher prices. 

 

Related: How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost?

 

 

At the time of writing, the US has placed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, which means that businesses must pay the federal goverment $145 for every $100 worth of goods they purchase from China. In addition, a universal 10% minimum tariff was placed on all goods imported from all countries, with some countries seeing higher rates, in the 20-40% range. Many business owners won't be able to afford these increases on their own, and some or all of this extra cost will likely be passed on consumers. (Photo by Los Muertos Crew / Pexels)
 

 

2. Tangible goods aren’t the only things that might get more expensive – wedding services and experiences could, too

 

Couples getting married might be surprised to learn that tariffs could also impact the cost of services and experiences, like booking a wedding venue, an adventure elopement, or a honeymoon rental. 

 

Since wedding venues must regularly replace and restock everything from linens to light bulbs to keep their spaces running smoothly, their overhead costs will probably go up. The cost of food and alcohol might also be impacted. Depending on the venue or experience offered, operating costs could go up a lot.  

 

Larger and more established venues might be able to absorb these higher operating costs – footing the bill from their own profits so that prices aren’t passed on to customers. But most businesses, especially smaller venues, new venues, sole-proprietors, and businesses in competitive rental markets, will have to pass on some or all of their higher costs to couples.

 

This means that booking a wedding venue will probably cost more across the country. With the average cost of a wedding venue already hovering around $12,800, we expect to see a lot of couples trying to save money with backyard weddings and creative elopements.

 

And unfortunately, some venues might have to close down before the economy stabilizes. We recommend businesses and couples alike check those contracts and cancellation clauses now – and plan ahead for possible closures in the coming months (similar to those we saw during COVID). 

 

• What to Include in a Wedding Officiant Contract, According to the Pros
• Sample Wedding Officiant Contract: Defining Your ‘Terms of Service’ for Professional Officiants

 

 

The average cost of wedding services and experiences will likely go up too, as businesses raise their prices to cover higher operating costs. (Photo by rosario fernandes / Pexels)

 

 

3.  Wedding officiants may have fewer bookings and more expensive admin costs

 

Wedding officiants will likely be impacted by new and increased tariffs too. This might show up as more frequent cancellations by couples – who are feeling the money crunch and choose a friend officiant instead – or an increase in couples asking about a simple license signing ceremony or elopement.

 

Officiants might see higher costs for gas and car repairs when traveling to and from ceremonies; higher wardrobe costs; higher costs for office supplies, and higher costs for administrative services, such as the cost of hiring a tax accountant or insuring your business. 

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What Can Wedding Vendors & Couples Do if Tariffs Stay High, or New Tariffs Are Introduced? 

 

So, what should wedding vendors and couples do with this info? Can wedding businesses avoid tariffs legally? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every couple, and vendors in different sectors of the wedding industry will also need different strategies.

 

Buy Local to Avoid Tariffs

 

Buying products made in the US is one strategy to avoid tariffs. Wedding jewelers could choose to feature local artisan jewelry, made with locally-sourced gemstones and metals; dressmakers might buy local fabrics; and flower shops could choose locally-grown flowers and greenery, for example. 

 

Florist Mistine Boren, of Studio Mistine Floral Design in Austin, Texas, told 13NewsNow that’s exactly what she plans to do: “I’m actually sourcing more wild local flowers so I don’t have to deal with these tariffs,” she says. 

 

This ‘buy local’ approach is one of the best defenses against high tariffs, but it won’t necessarily reduce consumer prices -- many locally-produced items already cost more than imported goods, in part because of fair labor laws. There's not enough domestic production to meet demand either, so this strategy will only go so far.

 

 

Shop Secondhand & Consignment to Avoid Tariffs

 

Buying previously-used items could help both businesses and couples. Wedding consignment shops might see a boost in business because used clothing isn’t subject to import fees – it’s already here! Secondhand wedding shops will probably benefit from promoting themselves as a smarter, less expensive alternative.

 

 

Offer Packages at a Variety of Prices

 

Wedding officiants and other vendors might also benefit from offering low-cost packages for couples who suddenly have less to spend. Providing license-signing services and elopement packages at a lower price point than a full-service custom ceremony could attract more couples, for example, without sacrificing your overall brand image. 

 

• How to Officiate a Sign & Go Marriage Ceremony
• Sign & Go Marriage License Signing Ceremony Script

 

 

To Sum it Up

 

As you can see, it might take time to find the best solution – and a lot could change in the future as international trade deals shift and stabilize. 

 

At the end of the day, weddings are about love, and that’s never in short supply! As long as couples continue to get married, the wedding industry will continue to innovate, inspire, adapt, and find new footing.

 

 

The wedding industry will adapt, and there is still plenty of love to go around. (Photo: Allison / Adobe Stock)

 

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Low Cost Wedding Ideas for Creative Couples

 

• 5 Alternatives to a Traditional Wedding Ceremony
   
• Fun Alternatives to a Courthouse Wedding (No Hassle Marriage Ceremony)
   
• Free Places to Get Married (Don’t Go Into Wedding Debt!)
   

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