RISING wedding costs are a key concern for brides and grooms across the country due to a key reason.
As tariffs and other economic factors weigh heavily on Americans’ minds before they tie the knot, there are a few simple strategies that spouses-to-be can implement to help stay on track with their budget.
GettyThe price of certain wedding day essentials is on the rise thanks to tariffs[/caption] GettyBrides and grooms can use a few key strategies to help keep their wedding on budget[/caption]While the average wedding cost has slightly decreased, tariffs on imported goods are putting pressure on specific areas of the wedding budget, causing concern for many couples.
These levies are bumping up the prices of wedding necessities, making an already costly life event even more expensive.
From alcohol and flower arrangements to the wedding dress and centerpiece decorations, a number of wedding day essentials will be impacted by tariffs if they are imported, per wedding website The Knot.
Up to 80% of cut flowers and 90% of wedding dresses sold in the US are imported, which could spike the price of American weddings.
Many vendors are already feeling the impact of the tariffs.
For example, florist Allison Krivachek from Iowa is seeing the price of imported flowers increase due to the tariffs.
“When they first came out, it was like, oh my gosh, this is going to be really devastating,” she told USA Today.
“We were seeing anywhere from 10% to 25%, and when you’re talking about a wedding in flowers, when it’s $5,000 plus, that 10% to 25%… really adds up quickly.”
Wedding gowns are also becoming more expensive due to tariffs because many of the components to design and make a dress come from various countries, Nayri Kalayjian, owner of Lovella Bridal in Los Angeles, told USA Today.
“Price increases are everywhere, so the wedding industry is no different, no matter where the gown is being manufactured,” she said.
Some designers are simply raising the price while others are tacking on a tariff surcharge, anywhere from 10% to 35%, according to Kalayjian.
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES
Although over half of engaged couples have not seen tariffs impact their weddings yet, roughly 36% were making changes to their plans due to economic stress, per a survey from The Knot.
The majority of brides and grooms were concerned about keeping their wedding costs within their budget as inflation and tariffs pressure the industry.
However, instead of cutting back on their budget, couples can use a few strategies to remain on budget and have the wedding of their dreams.
By the numbers
A survey of 741 engaged brides and grooms revealed the following wedding stats:
73% of couples said keeping costs within their budget was their top concern 46% said economic factors like inflation were a major concern 34% were concerned about the rising costs of goods that could impact weddings 15% were concerned about price changes due to tariffs 58% had not seen tariffs impact their weddings yet 36% said they were making changes to their plans due to economic stressSource: USA Today / The Knot
Many wedding couples have addressed their concerns regarding the tariffs by taking proactive steps to reduce their costs.
For example, roughly one in every three couples is buying wedding essentials ahead of future price hikes to secure the lower costs.
Many marital pairs are also buying local products and those made in the US to avoid the extra costs associated with import fees.
Another way to help stay on budget is by slightly dropping your wedding guest count.
Nearly 30% of couples plan to reduce their guest list by roughly 25 people or 12 couples, so the overall guest experience is not sacrificed.
Spouses-to-be can also consult wedding professionals to help them manage their budget.
For example, vendors are a great resource to help couples assess where to make changes to fit their budget or plan for increases, Lauren Kay, executive editor of The Knot, told USA Today.
“They want to help you have the best wedding ever and they want to help you pull that off, whether that’s avoiding a tariff or making a trade off so your budget isn’t terribly impacted,” she said.
Many couples, however, are not necessarily panicking in the face of looming tariffs.
“It’s not so much of a concern about the tariffs, itself, but just thinking about how we are going to plan our weddings and stay within budget with all of the economic factors that we’re facing today,” she said.
The average cost of a wedding in the US has actually dropped in recent years, from $35,000 in 2023 to $33,000 in 2024, per The Knot’s Real Weddings 2025 Study.
However, tariffs are still making their mark in the wedding industry and other sectors alike, such as retail.
For example, Walmart and Target are “hiding cost hikes” as employees admit they’ve been “tearing off tags.”
A Target employee admitted that a popular item got an $8 markup overnight just hours after Walmart confirmed costs will skyrocket.
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