The article discusses how tariffs imposed by President Trump significantly increased the cost of weddings, affecting various aspects from flowers and linens to catering and, most prominently, wedding dresses.
David's Bridal, a major wedding dress retailer heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturers, is responding by shifting its production to Southeast Asia. This move aims to mitigate the impact of tariffs on its business and the prices of its dresses, which typically range from $700 to $800. The company aims to eliminate reliance on China-based manufacturing entirely.
The article highlights the broader financial challenges faced by David's Bridal. The company has undergone two bankruptcies within a five-year period, and tariffs represent another hurdle in its efforts for financial stability. Despite the production shift, the company may still face challenges due to the global reach of the tariffs.
The combination of tariffs and the resulting price increases are impacting the wedding industry and wedding planning. The article alludes to brides sharing budgeting advice and strategies on platforms like TikTok to navigate the increased costs.
Brides have a lot to juggle when planning their weddings. Now, add tariffs to the list.
When President Trump imposed steep tariffs on China and other countries, couples quickly realized that geopolitics could blow up their budgets for the big day. Everything from flowers to linens to catering might get more expensive.
And that includes the wedding gown. About 90 percent of wedding dresses sold in the United States are made in China, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association.
Distressed brides are on TikTok, sharing budgeting advice. As one of the millions of Americans currently planning a wedding — an estimated two million ceremonies are expected to take place this year — I watch at least a dozen of these videos a day.
Kelly Cook is watching, too. In April, she became the chief executive of David’s Bridal, the largest wedding dress retailer in the United States. The company, which says it sells one in three wedding dresses in America, relies heavily on workers in China to produce its gowns, which typically sell for $700 to $800.
Ms. Cook, who was previously president of brand, technology and finance at the company, has recently shifted dress production to countries throughout Southeast Asia. By this summer, none of its dresses will be made in China, down from two-thirds at the end of last year.
But that won’t necessarily spare the company from tariffs, given the global scope of Mr. Trump’s levies. It’s just the latest challenge for David’s Bridal, which tipped into bankruptcy twice in five years, most recently in 2023. The company has nearly 200 stores across the United States and Canada and about 5,000 employees.
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