HARTFORD, Conn. — Couples planning their weddings may find themselves adjusting their budgets as tariffs threaten to raise prices on everything from wedding dresses to flowers and food. While many couples sign contracts with vendors well in advance of their wedding day, the uncertainty surrounding tariffs means vendors are struggling to predict what the final costs will be.
Lisa Antonecchia, who runs Creative Concepts by Lisa in Hamden, has been helping couples plan their weddings since 2008. She explains that after navigating the pandemic’s impact on pricing, the new tariffs are throwing another curveball for planners and vendors.
“We just got out of COVID, right? We seemed to think we had an idea of what the new costs were going to be for events post-COVID, and now here comes the tariffs,” said Antonecchia.
Many of the products needed for weddings—such as candles, vases, and food and drink supplies—come from overseas. As tariffs are applied to goods imported from other countries, prices are expected to rise. Antonecchia predicts the first areas to feel the impact will be catering and floral services.
“The market value on flowers can fluctuate, so you want to talk to your florist or check out your contract and see if they already notate that the cost of the flowers could change based on the current market value,” she said. “If your wedding is coming up soon, you could definitely see a hit there.”
At Special Occasions Bridal in North Haven, the effects of tariffs are already being felt. Owner Brian Testa notes that 90% of bridal gowns come from Chinese factories, primarily due to lower labor and material costs. As a result, the tariffs have driven up the price of these gowns, with additional charges ranging from $300 to $2,000, depending on the designer.
The longer the wait for custom-made dresses, the greater the uncertainty about tariffs. Bridal gowns that are made overseas typically take between 12 to 24 weeks to arrive, and Testa can’t place new orders until he knows what the tariffs will be when the dresses arrive.
“You can’t run a business if you don’t know what your cost is going to be, so you can’t tell the consumer,” Testa said.
For brides in a rush to get their dresses, Testa is working with designers to locate available stock already in the United States to avoid the added tariff costs. “It’s making me work 3x harder now,” Testa admits, but he’s focused on helping brides find a dress in time without facing unexpected tariff charges.
Testa also offers some advice: “Being in this business long enough, we know not to panic. Let things ride out, and hopefully the two countries will get together quickly. But if this tariff situation is not resolved in the next 45 to 60 days, then it’s going to lead to issues with everybody.”
Antonecchia is advising couples to prepare for the possibility of rising costs due to tariffs. “I think couples know that a hard number on a wedding is usually not a hard number because trends change, wants change, so sit down, get your general budget, and then give yourself a cushion for anything that’s in addition to what might be coming ahead,” she said.
To help brides save on costs, Antonecchia is also opening a consignment shop for brides to sell their dresses and other wedding items after the big day, offering another option for couples to stretch their wedding budgets.
As tariffs continue to impact various sectors, it’s clear that couples should expect more price fluctuations as they plan their weddings. While some may need to adjust their expectations or budgets, vendors like Testa and Antonecchia are doing their best to find solutions for their clients.
