Our team of expert bridal stylists at Lovella Bridal is dedicated to guiding our brides through one of the most meaningful purchases of their lives and finding the perfect wedding dress. Today, we're addressing an important topic that’s currently impacting the bridal fashion world: tariffs and price increases on wedding dresses and bridal accessories. We pride ourselves on sharing advice about what to expect when wedding dress shopping to the latest bridal fashion trends and it's important to us to educate brides on current events that will greatly impact the bridal fashion world.
As you've heard and already know, tariffs are impacting the cost of pricing in every single category of goods you could possibly imagine. From importing cars to daily necessities that we have in our households, and bridal fashion is not excluded. Whether you’re just starting your bridal gown search or are returning to finalize your decision, it’s crucial to understand how tariffs may affect pricing and how to plan accordingly.
Video: The Shocking Truth About Tariffs and Wedding Fashion
If you are a bride who is beginning to shop for your wedding dress or perhaps has already begun your search for your dream wedding dress, you might be wondering how tariffs may impact the bridal fashion world. From wedding gowns to veils and bridal accessories, we are sharing the shocking truth about tariffs and wedding fashion in our latest bridal fashion advice video. Tune in to learn how tariffs can impact pricing for wedding dresses and bridal accessories and what you should expect as a bride shopping in 2025 for your wedding day look.
Wedding Dress Cost Increases
If you have already begun wedding dress shopping at the end of last year or the beginning of this year and are now trying to finalize your bridal fashion, you are most likely to see the impact of tariffs. If you have not starting shopping for your wedding dress yet or researched the cost of specific bridal gowns, then you likely won't be aware of the price increases that have been applied to wedding gowns. Many bridal designers create their wedding dresses overseas or source materials from overseas and so they are not exempt from the recent tariffs that are affecting all different industries.
The cost increases we are seeing with bridal accessories and wedding dresses are being handled by bridal fashion designers in a couple of different ways. Some designers have just increased the overall cost of their products, whether that be a gown or a veil or earrings, so you really won't know what the exact tariff fee is. Other designers have decided to apply a tariff percentage to their products so you will see the cost broken down as the dress cost plus the tariff fee. Either way, brides should expect the cost of their wedding day look to increase due to these tariffs.
Be Ready to Buy
One of our top tips for brides who are wedding dress shopping has always been "be ready to buy". What does this mean? If you are going out to try on wedding dresses, be in the headspace and have the finances ready to buy your gown. You never know when you are going to find the wedding dress you fall in love with and this mindset is even more important in the ever-changing world of tariffs. If you fall in love with a wedding dress but decide to sleep on your decision or shop around, you always risk the chance that your dream dress will no longer be available when you go back to buy. A particular wedding gown can be discontinued at any time by a designer and there is no guarantee that you will be able to buy sample version that dress you fell in love with.
The current tariffs being imposed are constantly changing and no one can predict if the percentages will continue to rise or fall. Our best advice for brides shopping for their wedding dress and bridal accessories during this time is to buy early. We always advise brides to purchase their wedding dress about a year in advance of their wedding date to guarantee everything runs smoothly from the time of order placement through production and delivery. This is especially important in current times with such uncertainty surrounding pricing and tariffs.
A good rule of thumb is if you want it, buy it now. In general, the cost of bridal fashion is almost always increasing. The cost of materials, the cost of running a business, import costs, are all always rising. The cost of a wedding gown might change from day to day or week to week as the tariffs fluctuate so if you find a dress you love, place your order. Don't wait and risk the dress being more expensive or priced out of your budget with the tariffs added if you wait and come back to but the gown in a few weeks or months.
Trickle Down Costs
Some brides might hope or even expect the bridal designers or bridal stores to absorb the tariff fees but unfortunately that is just not realistic to running a business. If a bridal store is picking up the tab on the tariff fees, they are not going to be able to sustain staying in business. There isn't enough piece of the pie to go around to be able to sustain what it costs to manage a business, navigate a business, and have additional new fees that have to be paid for.
A bridal store has to pay for all of the wedding dresses in their inventory. In order for a bridal store to have dresses available for brides to shop and try on, they have to place an order with the designer, just like when a bride decides to order her wedding gown. So when we are talking about the cost to operate a bridal store, that includes buying sample dresses and the increased pricing also impacts bridal stores being able to buy their inventory. This is why if we were to not pass down these fees that our designers are passing to us, there's no way for us to sustain and to be able to stay in business, to be able to cover all of our expenses and to be healthy and profitable. Every business has to be healthy and profitable to stay in business. Know that when you are shopping bridal stores, you're supporting local shops and small businesses, and you're supporting those employees that are working in these businesses that are feeding their families. When you get married, you have no idea how many small businesses weddings impact and how much you are supporting your immediate community.
Shop Smart
As always, open communication is crucial when working with your bridal stylist during your wedding dress shopping appointment. Let them know what your budget for bridal fashion is and if you are willing to go over that with the tariff increases. For instance, if your all in budget is $3,000 for a dress, we may pull gowns under that price point, knowing that there will be additional tariff fees added on.
If you are truly on a budget or just want to act quickly on a wedding dress and not have to worry about tariff increases, you can explore purchasing a sample gown. This would be the model dress you are trying on and that other brides have tried on during their bridal appointments, but the dresses are not used and have not been worn on a wedding day. They may be a little loved from other brides trying them on, but bridal stores want to keep their inventory in good condition because it is an investment on their end. Sample gowns are often discounted based on their condition and you get to take that dress home with you, as you do shopping for items off the rack. So if you are on a tighter budget or just want to avoid extra tariff fees, a sample sale wedding dress might be a good option for you.
Just like we navigated the unknowns of wedding dress shopping during the pandemic, we understand that navigating fluctuating prices can feel overwhelming. But remember: this is not like any other shopping experience. Wedding dresses are custom-made, deeply personal, and require trust between you and your bridal team. We're here to guide you, protect your investment, and help you say "yes" with confidence.
More Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to knowing what to expect when wedding dress shopping and navigating tariffs. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress, be sure to check out our past posts:
- Newly Engaged Brides: Top Must-Know Things Before You Begin Wedding Dress Shopping
- The Real Difference Between Buying and Renting a Wedding Dress
- Why Every Bride Needs a Bridal Stylist While Wedding Dress Shopping
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
