POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH CHINA. WELL, YOU MAY THINK WEDDINGS ARE ALREADY EXPENSIVE ENOUGH, BUT THEY COULD GET EVEN PRICIER. TARIFFS ARE LEAVING THEIR MARK ON WEDDING GOWNS. THAT’S RIGHT. MOST DRESSES BRIDES WEAR AT THE ALTAR ARE FROM OVERSEAS AND WLWT NEWS 5 RACHEL WHELAN SPENT THE DAY IN THE BRIDAL DISTRICT TALKING TO BUSINESSES ABOUT THE IMPACT HERE. RACHEL. YEAH, DEFINITELY NOT THE KIND OF THING YOU WANT TO HEAR IF YOU ARE PLANNING A WEDDING RIGHT NOW. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I’VE BEEN TALKING TO BUSINESSES HERE AND THEY TELL ME MOST OF THEIR PRICES HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED YET. BUT OF COURSE, THE FUTURE IS UNKNOWN. FINDING THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY CAN BE A STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE. I AM TRYING TO FIND A DRESS. MY WEDDING IS IN SIX MONTHS, SO I’M KIND OF DOWN TO THE WIRE AND A PRICEY ONE. PRICE RANGES ARE EXPENSIVE. I AM ABLE TO FIND THINGS IN MY PRICE RANGE, ALTHOUGH I DID HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT MY PRICE RANGE IS REALLY HIGH. WE MET ANGELA KING WHILE SHOPPING IN THE READING BRIDAL DISTRICT. YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FROM A WEDDING RIGHT HERE LOCAL TO CINCINNATI, AND IT’S REAL CONVENIENT. BUT FOR ALL ITS LOCAL CHARM, BLUSH BRIDAL OWNER COLLEEN KEMP SAYS MOST OF THESE DRESSES COME FROM OVERSEAS. ACCORDING TO ANALYSTS, ABOUT 80% OF WEDDING GOWNS IN THE U.S. ARE MADE IN CHINA. SOMETIMES, HAND SEWN BEADS TAKE HOURS, IF NOT DAYS, TO COMPLETE. AND THAT KIND OF TALENT AND FORTUNATELY ON THE ON THE SCALE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR A U.S. BRIDAL BRANDS ISN’T AVAILABLE HERE. THAT MEANS TARIFFS COULD DRIVE THESE PRICES EVEN HIGHER. BY SOME ESTIMATES, AS MUCH AS 10%. SO MOST DESIGNERS, AT THIS POINT IN TIME ARE KIND OF WAITING TO SEE IF IT GOES THROUGH. I HAVE ONE DESIGNER THAT IS PUT A TARIFF IN PLACE THAT’S PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT $50. COLLEEN’S ADVICE SHOP SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN EVEN SAFER OPTION. SO THIS IS ALL OFF THE RACK. HER DISCOUNT STORE, BLUE BRIDAL, IS JUST A FEW DOORS DOWN. THEY’RE ALREADY PURCHASED, SO THE PRICE HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID, SO THERE WOULDN’T BE ANY NEED TO INCREASE PRICES ON SOMETHING. COST OF GOODS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED. SO MAYBE DON’T RUSH TO SAY I DO, BUT IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A RING, HIT THESE STORES NOW BEFORE THESE DESIGNERS DECIDE WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO. I’M REPORTING IN REDDING, RACHEL WHELAN WLWT NEWS FIVE. RACHEL 80% OF THE DRESSES COMING FROM CHINA. THAT’S A HUGE NUMBER. IS THERE ANY PUSHBACK ON THIS FROM THE WEDDING INDUSTRY? YES. COLLEEN SAYS THAT THE U.S. JUST DOESN’T HAVE THE INDUSTRY OR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THOSE DRESSES RIGHT NOW. THAT’S WHY SOME ARE FIGHTING FOR A WAIVER ON THESE TARIFFS FOR THE WEDDING AND SPECIAL OCCASION INDUSTRY. RACH
Tariffs on China could raise the price of wedding dresses
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Updated: 2:47 PM CDT Mar 24, 2025
Brides are starting to feel the effects of the trade war. Analysts say about 80% of wedding dresses come from China. Some estimates suggest tariffs could raise the price of gowns by 10%.Colleen Kemp, the owner of Blush Bridal in Cincinnati's Reading Bridal District says almost all of her store's dresses come from overseas."The artisanship that goes into creating a gown takes a lot of time. Sometimes, hand-sewn beads take hours, if not days, to complete. And that kind of talent, unfortunately, on the scale that would be necessary for U.S. bridal brands, isn't available here." said Kemp.Kemp says, so far, most of her prices have stayed the same, but the future is unknown."Most designers at this point in time are kind of waiting to see if it goes through," she said. "I have one designer that has put a tariff in place. That's probably going to make a difference of about $50."Kemp advises brides to shop for dresses sooner rather than later. If you're looking for an even safer option, she also owns an "off-the-rack" boutique in the bridal district. Blue Bridal's ready-to-purchase gowns are unaffected by tariffs."They're already purchased. So, the price has already been paid. So there wouldn't be any need to increase prices on something, cost of goods that have already occurred," said Kemp.
READING, Ohio — Brides are starting to feel the effects of the trade war. Analysts say about 80% of wedding dresses come from China. Some estimates suggest tariffs could raise the price of gowns by 10%.
Colleen Kemp, the owner of Blush Bridal in Cincinnati's Reading Bridal District says almost all of her store's dresses come from overseas.
"The artisanship that goes into creating a gown takes a lot of time. Sometimes, hand-sewn beads take hours, if not days, to complete. And that kind of talent, unfortunately, on the scale that would be necessary for U.S. bridal brands, isn't available here." said Kemp.
Kemp says, so far, most of her prices have stayed the same, but the future is unknown.
"Most designers at this point in time are kind of waiting to see if it goes through," she said. "I have one designer that has put a tariff in place. That's probably going to make a difference of about $50."
Kemp advises brides to shop for dresses sooner rather than later. If you're looking for an even safer option, she also owns an "off-the-rack" boutique in the bridal district. Blue Bridal's ready-to-purchase gowns are unaffected by tariffs.
"They're already purchased. So, the price has already been paid. So there wouldn't be any need to increase prices on something, cost of goods that have already occurred," said Kemp.
