How Tariffs Might Affect Wedding Costs

Summer Ross and Anndreia Bond recently broke some bad news to the 16 bridesmaids for their Sept. 25 wedding in Frederick, Md. The Azazie dresses they picked for them no longer cost $84. The price had jumped to $128.

“And that’s before shipping,” said Ms. Ross, 25, a benefits specialist from Ruther Glen, Va.

Asking their closest friends to shell out an extra $50 or so was difficult. But the couple wanted to be transparent about the way tariffs may affect many of the accouterments of weddings. In addition to sharing the bumped-up price of the dresses, which are made overseas, they composed a group text that included other higher expenses their bridesmaids might encounter.

“The cost of your shoes might go up,” wrote Ms. Ross and Ms. Bond, a 32-year-old administrative program coordinator. “There’s even a possibility the cost of getting your hair and makeup done will go up. If this is not something that works for you, we completely understand.”

When the Trump administration announced widespread tariffs in early April, the effect on weddings may not have been top of mind. But for brides, grooms and the people who support them, the fallout has been confusing and at times stressful.

“Dresses, flowers, décor — all of that wedding stuff — we import all of it,” said Marc McIntosh, a founder of Team Wedding, a global wedding marketing company. Couples marrying in the next few months may not have to worry about blowing their budgets “because they’ve already signed contracts, and most of those vendors will adhere to those contracts,” Mr. McIntosh said. But by year’s end, he said, “what you’re going to see is that vendors have worked through their inventory, and they need to replenish their supplies.”

Venues will most likely see a rise in prices for the table linens they’ve gotten used to buying cheaply from overseas, for example. Caterers will probably have to pay more for already pricey French Champagne.