Maybe you thought tariffs were someone else’s problem…
Folks in the U.S. have been talking about tariffs since 2016—when they first became a political flashpoint. They made headlines again in 2018, when tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) imports from multiple countries, including Canada, Mexico, and the EU.
While many Trump-era tariffs were held in place by Biden, the repercussions of such policies felt distant for many wedding industry pros. It seemed like something that might affect big box retailers or the auto industry—not your floral order or rental contract.
That changed this year, in April 2025.
Will tariffs raise wedding costs?
As of April 2025, the U.S. imposed a sweeping 10% import tariff on goods from more than 20 countries—including China, the EU, Japan, India, Canada, and Mexico. Depending on the product, that rate can climb to 30–60%.
This isn’t just about “macro trends,” many wedding event professionals will be directly affected.It might be your next floral shipment. Your favorite candle vendor. Your bridal designer’s next drop. And it’s going to reshape how you price, source, and communicate.
What every vendor needs to know
If you want a grounded explanation—without the noise—watch wedding strategist Candice Coppola’s recent YouTube video, “Will Tariffs Raise Wedding Costs? What Every Vendor Needs to Know.” She’s joined by her husband Jason, a freight logistics expert with 20+ years of experience in global shipping and importing to help you understand what’s going on and what to do about it.
Key takeaways from Candice & Jason
If you don’t have time to watch the full episode, here’s the distilled version of the real-world shifts Candice and Jason are already seeing play out across wedding businesses.
Let’s start with the basics:
What is a tariff—and why does it matter?
A tariff is a tax on imported goods. At its core, it’s meant to generate government revenue or incentivize domestic production. But in practice, it increases the cost of goods coming into the country—and those costs rarely stay contained.
If a product used to cost $1, it might now cost $1.30 or more before it even reaches your supplier. And that’s just the starting point. Depending on the product’s country of origin, tariffs can compound—layering reciprocal duties on top of existing import taxes. Jason explained that this new round of tariffs includes a blanket 10%, plus additional reciprocal tariffs (up to 34% for goods from China), and whatever was already in place.
This isn’t a single surcharge—it’s a cascade.
But it’s not just about price tags. Tariffs impact systems. They create bottlenecks, slow down shipments, and force businesses into a holding pattern of guesswork and reaction. And in an industry like weddings—where timelines are tight and delays ripple through the entire production—that uncertainty is the real threat.
Where it can show up in your wedding business
Supply chains affect more aspects of the wedding industry than you may expect. Sure, we may know about florals and fashion, but what about decor and business essentials. You can expect prices to climb across the board, including:
- Flowers: Especially imported varieties from South America, the Netherlands, and other floral-producing regions
- Bridalwear: Most gowns are either produced overseas or made with imported fabrics
- Decor & Rentals: Linens, signage, candles, lighting, and furniture often include components sourced or manufactured abroad
- Printed goods: Even if you buy paper domestically, mills may be importing pulp, ink, or production materials
- Behind the scenes: CRM software, business cards, branded boxes, staff uniforms—anything with overseas dependencies
If you’ve felt price increases creeping in or noticed shipping taking longer than it used to, this is likely why.
It’s not just pricing. It’s delays.
Jason broke down exactly how tariffs are disrupting logistics:
- Port congestion: More inspections + new classifications = longer waits
- Customs slowdowns: Changes in duties require new documentation and validation
- Delivery unpredictability: Suppliers can’t guarantee delivery dates like they used to
- Price buffers: Importers are adding 10–15% “just in case” to cover unexpected changes
If you’re operating on a 10-day shipping cushion, you’re now on borrowed time. Two-week delays are already happening—and that’s before you factor in inventory shortages, port backlogs, or global negotiations.
This isn’t a short-term inconvenience—it could be an operational risk.
This might be a permanent shift.
Here’s what most people miss: Tariffs aren’t a temporary bump. They’re a structural reset.
Just like COVID forced businesses to rethink contracts, safety plans, and rescheduling policies, these tariffs are forcing a rethink of:
- Where you source
- How you price
- What you promise
- How much margin you really have
There’s no “waiting it out.” As Candice put it, “There’s no going back to the way things were before April 2nd.” This is a new era for global trade—and that includes the wedding industry.
Things aren’t going back to normal. Remember 2-day Amazon Prime shipping? ‘Nuff said.
Five moves wedding pros can make now
You can’t control trade policy. But you can control how you respond to it.
The vendors who weather this well won’t be the ones with the flashiest contingency plans or the lowest prices. They’ll be the ones who stay steady—who adjust early, communicate clearly, and protect their margin and reputation at the same time.
Here are five things you can do right now to stay ahead of the chaos instead of reacting to it later:
1. Audit your supply chain
This isn’t just about what you order. It’s about what your vendors are ordering—and where those materials originate.
Start simple: make a list. What do you bring into your business that could be affected by tariffs?
- Imported flowers
- Specialty linens and signage
- Packaging and printed goods
- Tech subscriptions or software with international hosting
- Even uniforms or back-of-house materials
Once you’ve mapped it out, you can identify the weak spots—the places where costs could spike or timelines could break down without warning. Clarity now prevents scrambling later.
2. Call your vendors
Don’t wait for the price hike email to land in your inbox. Proactive vendors aren’t just managing their own business—they’re building real-time visibility into their ecosystem.
Pick up the phone. Send the message. Ask:
- Are your prices changing—and if so, when?
- Are you already seeing delays in shipping or sourcing?
- How far out do I need to place orders to guarantee fulfillment?
These aren’t uncomfortable questions. They’re leadership questions. And asking them now gives you time to adjust messaging and expectations before it becomes a problem.
3. Build in buffers
We’re not in a “rush and react” moment—we’re in a “slow down and safeguard” one.
Right now, time is just as risky as cost.
Here’s how to buffer both:
- Add contingency language to proposals and quotes that clarifies timelines and prices are subject to change based on sourcing or supply chain volatility.
- Pad your production timelines—especially for anything imported or custom.
- Stop relying on JIT (just-in-time) ordering for mission-critical items. If it has to arrive by a certain date, place the order sooner than you think.
In other words: build margin into your planning—not just your pricing.
4. Update your contracts
If you’ve been skating by with the same template since 2019, now’s the time to tighten it up.
Start by reviewing your clauses around:
- Market price or availability shifts
- Force majeure or supply chain delays
- What happens if substitutions are necessary
If you offer consumables (like food or florals), you need language that allows you to adjust final invoices based on actual costs at the time of fulfillment.
And if you’re not sure your contract covers you? Talk to your attorney now—not when you’re in the middle of a client dispute.
5. Lead your clients—don’t absorb their panic
This one’s hard—especially for service providers who lead with empathy.
But here’s the line to hold: You are responsible for delivering clarity, not cushioning every consequence.
You didn’t cause this. You can’t fix it. But you can guide your clients through it with calm, transparent communication and thoughtful options.
That might mean adjusting a floral plan. It might mean explaining a last-minute swap. It might mean saying, “Here’s what changed. Here are your choices. I’ll walk you through it.”
And it definitely means not quietly eating a 20% cost increase to “keep the peace.”
As Candice put it:
“You are your client’s guide—not their savior.”
The most trustworthy vendors right now aren’t the ones pretending nothing’s changed. They’re the ones naming the truth—and helping their clients move forward with confidence.
Holding the Line with Care
That last point is one I appreciated most in Candice’s video. She clearly she names something many of us need to hear: you are not here to absorb the impact of tariffs for your clients.
In a service-based business—especially one rooted in care—it can feel uncomfortable, even guilt-inducing, to bring up rising costs or sourcing changes. You may worry about how your clients will react. You may feel the urge to soften the blow, shoulder the burden, or “make it work” at your own expense.
But here’s the truth: you are not responsible for someone else’s reaction to the facts.
Your job is to communicate clearly, guide with integrity, and offer options—not to take the hit for global supply chain volatility.
That doesn’t mean these conversations are easy. If you’ve ever had a client respond to budget changes with frustration, disappointment, or outright anger, you know how emotionally loaded it can be.
So let’s make it a little easier.
Below is a structure you can use to write a message—whether it’s an email, a proposal note, or something you say on a call. It’s not crisis language. It’s calm, clear, and respectful of everyone’s role in the process.
A Prompt Template for Difficult Conversations
Here’s how to talk to clients about cost increases or substitutions—without spiraling into over-explaining, apologizing, or absorbing blame.
Copy + Paste This Prompt Template into ChatGPT
I'm a wedding industry professional who offers [name of service].I need help writing a [content type or message] to a client about [current situation] that is affecting their event.
This situation is creating [possible impact] for their wedding, and I want to communicate this with care,clarity, and empathy.
Please help me draft a message that does the following:
- Explains the situation simply but accurately
- Reassures the client that I’m here to guide them
- Offers two thoughtful options or decisions they can make
- Emphasizes transparency and collaboration
- Maintains trust and professionalism
Here are more specific details about the situation:
- Client's name: [Client's Name]
- Wedding Date: [Wedding Date]
- The item/service affected: [e.g. imported garden roses, custom linens, specialty lighting, etc.]
- The impact: [e.g. increased cost, limited availability, timeline delays]
- My preferred solution: [Option 1, e.g. substitute with comparable product]
- Alternative solution: [Option 2, e.g. keep original but with added cost]
- My business values: [e.g. honesty, partnership, beauty, adaptability]
Please use the following tone and style:
- TONE: [list a few adjectives to guide the tone, i.e. warm, friendly, supportive.]
- Style: [list a few adjectives to guide the, i.e. Clear, conversational, and emotionally intelligent — not overly formal, but not too casual either]Example of a prompt filled In by a florist
I’m a wedding florist. I need help writing an email to a client about new import tariffs that are affecting flower prices and availability. This situation is creating a cost increase and possible delays in receiving specific flower varieties we planned for their July wedding.
Please help me draft a message that does the following:
- Explains the situation simply but accurately
- Reassures the client that I’m here to guide them
- Offers two thoughtful options or decisions they can make
- Emphasizes transparency and collaboration
- Maintains trust and professionalism
Here are more specific details about the situation:
- Client’s name: Jenna
- Wedding Date: July 12, 2025
- The item/service affected: peach garden roses
- The impact: significant price increase and possible delay in sourcing
- My preferred solution: replace with locally sourced ranunculus in similar color
- Alternative solution: keep original flowers with an added $215 to the floral budget
- My business values: beauty, integrity, calmness in chaos
Please use the following tone and style:
- TONE: Warm, friendly, empathetic, honest, and supportive
- Style: Clear, conversational, and emotionally intelligent — not overly formal, but not too casual either. Do not use emojis. Use full clear sentence structure and bullet points to aid in scanning
Example output (for a florist):
Subject: Quick Update on Your Wedding Flowers 🌸
Subject: Update on Your Wedding Flowers — A Note from [Your Business Name]
Hi Jenna,
I hope this note finds you well and that the excitement is building as we get closer to your big day!I’m reaching out with a quick update regarding your floral design. Due to some recent and unexpected changes in global trade (specifically import tariffs), we’ve seen a significant price increase and availability issue with one of the key floral elements we selected — the peach garden roses.
I know how important it is that your wedding feels just right , and I want to be fully transparent with you as we navigate this together. Here’s what we’re looking at:
Current situation: New import tariffs have been applied to flowers like the garden roses we planned to use, which has not only increased the cost but may also delay their arrival.
Potential impact: The peach garden roses may now exceed our floral budget by approximately $215 and there’s also a slight risk they may not arrive on time.
That said, I’ve already looked into some beautiful alternatives that will still give us that soft, romantic vibe you’re going for — without compromising your vision or timeline.
Here are two options I’d love for you to consider:
- Option 1 : Swap the peach garden roses for locally sourced ranunculus in a similar shade. These are equally stunning, more cost-effective, and guaranteed to arrive on time. This option allows us to stay within your original budget.
- Option 2: Stick with the garden roses, and I’ll secure them through an alternate supplier at the adjusted rate. This would require a floral budget increase of $215 to cover the new costs and logistics.
Whichever direction you choose, please know I’m here to support you and make this process as stress- free as possible. Let me know your preference, and we’ll move forward with confidence.
Your wedding means the world to me, and I’m committed to making it magical — no matter what the supply chain throws at us!
Warmly,
[Your Name]
Final Thought: This Isn’t About Panic. It’s About Readiness.
If this feels like a lot—it is. But this is what strategic business looks like.
Not just adapting to change—but seeing it coming and retooling early.
The vendors who stay steady through this aren’t the ones with the best connections. They’re the ones with the clearest systems.
You don’t need to move faster.
You need to move smarter.
And that starts now.
