Wedding season is here, and for brides-to-be, there’s one more thing to worry about beyond guest lists and seating charts: rising costs of wedding dresses — driven largely by tariffs on imports.
According to wedding planning site The Knot, the average price for a wedding gown this year is expected to reach around $2,000, up from about $1,600 in 2018. The majority of bridal gowns sold in the U.S.—approximately 90%—are imported from China, making them vulnerable to import tariffs that have increased costs for retailers and consumers alike.
Tariffs Drive Price Pressure
The National Bridal Retailers Association (NBRA), which represents thousands of bridal shops, estimates the U.S. bridalwear market was worth $28 billion in 2023. Currently, import tariffs on Chinese bridal products are set at about 30%, down from the sharply higher rates imposed in 2019 and early 2020 under the Trump administration.
Although recent tariff reductions came as part of a trade truce between the U.S. and China, the lingering tariffs still translate to higher prices. “It’s a no-win situation for small businesses,” said Sandra Gonzalez, NBRA’s Vice President. Bridal shops are adapting but face challenges managing costs and inventory amid ongoing uncertainty.
Retailers Seek Alternatives and Adapt
Nancy Elster, owner of Nancy’s Bridal Shop in Cortland, New York, is handling pricing on a case-by-case basis — passing on costs when tariffs are significant but absorbing smaller increases to avoid burdening brides. She’s also exploring holding inventory in China for later shipment if tariffs decline further.
David’s Bridal, the largest bridal retailer in the U.S., is actively shifting sourcing away from China to countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, and Vietnam. CEO Kelly Cook aims for the company to be free of Chinese imports by midyear, reflecting an industry-wide push to diversify supply chains.
Domestic Production Unlikely to Offset Imports
Moving wedding dress manufacturing to the U.S. is not seen as a viable solution due to a lack of domestic infrastructure for fabric, lace, beading, and other key components. “The infrastructure is non-existent,” Gonzalez explained, emphasizing that most raw materials are still imported.
After Covid, Another Challenge for the Industry
Having just started to recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the wedding industry now faces new pressure from tariffs. Brides should expect some price increases not only on dresses but on many wedding-related items due to these ongoing trade tensions.
