\n
A bouquet in hand, a photographer clicking away and glasses raised in celebration: for some Canadian couples, these wedding day hallmarks may come with rising costs.<\/p>\n
And with wedding season in full swing, couples tying the knot this summer might need to brace for a steeper bill, thanks to tariffs.<\/p>\n
But of course, it depends on where you\u2019re buying your wedding essentials.<\/p>\n
While the United States has slapped tariffs on Canada, the ones most likely to affect Canadian couples are those targeting goods from U.S. manufacturers, whether it\u2019s your dress, photography, flowers or decor, explained Shir Buslovich,\u00a0<\/em>owner and lead planner for WGM Weddings Co., a Toronto-based wedding and events company.<\/p>\nThe threat of tariffs has loomed since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, and while it can be hard to keep track of who\u2019s taxing whom, one thing wedding experts like Buslovich agree on is this: their clients are worried.<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Whether they\u2019re getting married this summer or two years from now, there\u2019s growing concern that wedding costs could skyrocket.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6:06<\/time>Canadian alternatives to popular US bachelor and bachelorette destinations<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
Many goods imported by U.S. companies from Canada and Mexico are now subject to a 25 per cent tariff, unless they meet specific rules under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade (CUSMA).<\/p>\n
Most imports to the U.S. from China face a 30 per cent tariff as of May 12, a significant drop from a previous high of 145 per cent. Meanwhile, a universal 10 per cent tariff \u2014 at least \u2014 applies to most goods coming into the U.S. from other global trade partners.<\/p>\n
These tariffs mean U.S. companies are now paying more for products made in China and many places around the world, and those added costs are starting to trickle down to Canadian consumers.<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cWe all thought that this was going to be just a U.S. problem, but really, it does affect us here in Canada,\u201d Buslovich said. \u201cIt\u2019s with the items coming from the U.S. (that vendors use).\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the tariffs took effect in April, Buslovich said she\u2019s seen prices for some wedding products \u2014 especially d\u00e9cor and flowers \u2014 spike by nearly 50 per cent.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
Get weekly money news<\/h2>\n Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThe price of goods is definitely increasing, especially because the supply chain in the wedding industry here, a lot of our stuff comes from the U.S. and Colombia and Ecuador \u2026 like florals, for example. And so florals, d\u00e9cor, things like that, it\u2019s just getting a lot pricier,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom my perspective as a planner, it means that things we usually take for granted, like centrepieces or floral varieties of some sort, are pretty expensive and they\u2019re really hard to get now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Florals are one of the major wedding expenses she sees impacted by tariffs, since many kinds, like roses, carnations and tropical blooms, aren\u2019t grown year-round in Canada.<\/p>\n
Some come from the U.S., while others are shipped internationally, often arriving in Miami before being distributed as refrigerated goods to wholesalers and retailers.<\/p>\n
However, Valary Chrisman, principal planner, co-ordinator and designer at the Toronto-based wedding company Vivid and Vogue, said she hasn\u2019t seen a major impact from tariffs on florals just yet.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6:18<\/time>Top wedding trends of the season<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\u201cIn Ontario, we\u2019re lucky to have a lot of local flower farms, along with a year-round greenhouse system,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose sources aren\u2019t directly or indirectly affected by tariffs. Plus, many wholesalers in the Toronto area use a mix of flowers from Europe, which aren\u2019t subject to tariffs and are flown directly into Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
That said, she noted that some flowers, like eucalyptus, do come from the U.S. and could be affected by price increases. If that\u2019s a concern, she recommends talking to your florist about removing them or finding a suitable substitute.<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s not just flowers feeling the pinch.<\/p>\n
D\u00e9cor items like linens, plates and cutlery are also getting hit, Buslovich said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that\u2019s not locally sourced is pretty expensive right now,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest items that may be indirectly affected by the trade war, Chrisman said, is American alcohol.<\/p>\n
\u201cBourbon is a popular item that is exclusively produced in Kentucky and therefore not available. But I have seen some Canadian clients responding in some really fun ways where they\u2019ve had Manhattans made with Canadian Club and it\u2019s an old-fashioned, the Canadian old-fashioned,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\tTrending Now<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tMcDonald\u2019s manager fatally stabbed by co-worker at Detroit-area restaurant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tColdplay\u2019s Chris Martin says he \u2018never criticized\u2019 Toronto\u2019s Rogers Stadium<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\nThe wedding dress is often one of the biggest statement pieces of the entire day (that also comes with one of the biggest price tags). For Canadian brides, it might come with an extra cost thanks to tariffs.<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
While local designers aren\u2019t affected, those eyeing a gown from a U.S. label might want to take a second look, Chrisman said.<\/p>\n
Many of those dresses are made with materials sourced from overseas \u2014 places like China, which are currently subject to tariffs from the U.S., spurring many across-the-board price increases from companies.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5:32<\/time>Gorgeous bridal looks that won\u2019t break the bank<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\u201cFor people who are planning for the next couple of years, I think it\u2019s a good idea to budget additionally in case,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf these trade war conversations continue and if tariffs do become more impactful than they already are, that\u2019s where I think dresses kind of fall into more of a future planning situation as opposed to an immediacy one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tPhotography costs could rise\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For couples opting for film photography or vintage-style videography, tariffs could quietly drive up prices, though the impact isn\u2019t immediate.<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThe cost of film photography and film videography, like Super 8 as a medium, is going up in cost in general,\u201d Chrisman said. \u201cThere used to be a really large number of facilities producing the medium of film that has shrunk as digital cameras became more prevalent.\u201d<\/p>\n
While some Super 8 film is purchased from the U.S. and could be affected by tariffs, Chrisman said most photographers aren\u2019t raising prices just yet: \u201cIt may be something where if tariffs continue to impact those specific instances, costs could go up in the future \u2014 but not necessarily photography as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her advice? \u201cAsk your vendors as you\u2019re booking them if tariffs could affect film costs, and see if there\u2019s anything in the contract about how that would be handled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of the rising costs, Buslovich noticed many of her clients starting to simplify their weddings, opting for less \u201cva va voom\u201d and more minimalist celebrations.<\/p>\n
\n
Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Still, she emphasized that weddings can be beautiful no matter the budget.<\/p>\n
While tariffs are impacting venues, photographers and florists, she said there\u2019s a silver lining: more couples are now turning to local businesses for their big day.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if we support local and we continue to focus on our local talent and local products, showing their own creativity. That is the best way that we can continue feeling personal and authentic with local vendors and local d\u00e9cor, flowers, things like that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\t\t\tMore on Canada<\/button>More videos<\/button>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d21y75miwcfqoq.cloudfront.net\/70c8fc80\")
![\"Click](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/l3tsrpastd-xdj4huj8u1\/TMS_CLAIRE_NEWELL_DOMENTIC_sTILL.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all\")