The 145% tariffs imposed by President Trump on Chinese imports affect 90% of wedding dresses that originate from small U.S. bridal shops according to the National Bridal Retailers Association (NBRA). The Persnickety Bride owner Denise Buzy-Pucheu posted an Instagram video from Connecticut to explain that U.S. seamstress shortages make domestic production impossible which results in devastating effects from tariffs. The NBRA which represents 6,000 shops started a letter-writing initiative to obtain exemptions because they still pay duties that were established during Trump’s first presidential term.
The tariffs imposed by Trump threaten to shut down Mon Cheri and its 120-employee firm and boutique partners because customers are already choosing cheaper online alternatives. The NBRA vice president Sandra Gonzalez from Sacramento faces rising costs between 5-25% but remains uncertain about price increases. The average bride who spends $2,100 on a wedding dress and $33,000 on her entire wedding celebration according to The Knot faces potential price increases.
The tariffs create a threat to bridal shopping traditions because the White House has not provided any response regarding exemptions. The industry faces potential business closures and wedding tradition threats because shops have stopped taking orders while dealing with supply chain restrictions.
