When tariffs increase on imported goods, some companies pass the extra cost onto customers.
No matter your political thoughts, the reality is the increase in tariffs on imported goods from different countries – including Canada, Mexico and China – are impacting the price of everything.
What is a tariff exactly? A tariff is a tax on imported goods, used by governments to regulate trade and protect domestic industries. The idea is to encourage customers to buy from local businesses.
Everything from food, clothing, cars, and even wedding gowns are being affected. Importing companies like dress designers or bridal salons are responsible for paying the tariffs, not the foreign manufacturers. We get it – as if planning your wedding wasn’t stressful enough, add on extra costs that could put you over budget! It can be very frustrating.
Brides of Long Island reached out to several of our preferred bridal salons to gather more information about the tariff increases. Some bridal salons are absorbing the added costs, while others have no choice but to adjust their pricing. However, they’re clearly communicating these new policies to their brides.
MORE: How to stick to your wedding budget
All the salons we spoke to are trying to keep the costs down as much as possible. To do this, some are adding a flat tariff rate on all dresses. Some are adding a separate line item for the tariff price, which could be up to 40%. The price would depend on the designer and country of origin. Some designers have chosen to absorb the added costs, while others have incorporated the extra fees into their production costs without increasing the retail price for brides.
Some bridal salons say off-the-rack gowns aren’t affected by the tariff increases, as they have already been imported and are in the store. In fact, they suggest searching for the perfect off-the-rack gown if you’ve got a strict budget. They also add that buying off-the-rack is a great option for those shopping with less than a year before their wedding.
MORE: 15 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Gown
Since tariff policies change from day-to-day, all bridal salons are hoping they can either remove or lower fees by the time dresses are delivered. But that is not a guarantee. We recommend contacting the bridal salon you’re working with to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Ultimately (and unfortunately) these tariffs are a “wait and see” situation. They continue to fluctuate, and this could mean that a gown you order today may or may not be subject to the same conditions when it arrives at the salon. All of our preferred bridal salons want brides of Long Island to know that they are closely monitoring the situation, and remain committed to supporting and remaining transparent with their clients.
If you have any questions regarding pricing on gowns – or any other services – BOLI recommends reaching out to your vendors and getting the information straight from them.