As with any shift in politics, comes change.  And with change, we, as both a country and individuals,  learn to adapt.  Recently, under our new administration,  we have seen a new wave of policies which threaten to increase tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China; these three countries account for about 40% of all goods imported.  

Tariffs are often perceived as a double edged sword; they provide effective protection for domestic production in certain economic sectors, possibly even pushing some companies to use American made products while manufacturing.  However, the other side of this is that American households are the ones feeling the pinch.  Families will bear most of the burden of the higher tariffs, which will mostly come through higher prices for imported goods, as well as, higher prices for domestic goods that will ultimately compete with imports.

So, while we are all going to feel the “burn” of the new tariff plans, let’s focus on how they are going to affect the couples who are getting married this year.  Floral designers are well aware of their busy seasonal upticks and plan their buying season around this, but the potential impact of tariffs on imported cut flowers is leaving many of them guessing.

So What Exactly Does This Mean?

Let’s start with the hard facts…80% of all cut flowers sold in the US are imported, as well as some of the hard goods such as vases and candlesticks. Early indicators of the new tariff policies suggest that our key exporters of flowers and floral materials, such as Columbia, Mexico and Ecuador will be heavily taxed.  So what does this mean for us?  Higher costs across the board for florists and, subsequently, engaged couples.

How Will These New Tariffs Impact Wedding Flowers?

As many engaged couples may already know, sometimes the flowers we covet the most are not particularly native to our country and our climate. Even some of the most popular blooms such as roses, lilies, orchids and tulips are cultivated in other countries, with ideal growing seasons and lower labor costs, making them more affordable…until now.

These new tariffs will definitely bring increased import costs for flowers, specifically, higher wholesale costs that will be passed down the supply chain.   It could also lead to limited supply options.  Here at Anyvent, we love locally grown flowers and we suggest it to our clients often.  However, with heavily taxed imports, these small farms will not be able to handle the influx of floral design orders.  While they may be able to prepare growing seasons for 2026, this came as a surprise to many, and locally grown florists are not able to adjust or plan accordingly for the immediate future.  We may also start to notice that the hard goods; containers, wires and tools used in floral designs, will increase in price as well if they are imported.

What Does This Mean For Costs?

Wedding flower prices could rise by 10% to 25% or more depending on the type and volume of flowers.  If a couple is seeking something a little extraordinary or elaborate and specifically out of season, these couples may feel the pinch more acutely.

What Do We Do Now?

A wedding is just not a wedding without flowers.  So what happens now? We cannot stress how important it is to hire an experienced florist.  A florist that can understand how to adapt to market changes without compromising your vision. They will know where to source the best blooms and have the “know how” when it comes to making strategic substitutions that will still deliver stunning designs.

Transparency is also important, make sure you discuss this potential issue with your florist and read through your contract to determine if there is any clause that may affect your floral costs and ultimately your budget.  You and your florist need to understand right off the bat how these tariffs could affect the cost and availability of your selection. Couples on a budget certainly do not need any surprises when it comes to costs, and furthermore no one wants to hear that the flowers they want are not available.  Having something put in writing that protects both you and the floral designer is very important.

A professional can help you maximize your budget by prioritizing your elements, offer creative solutions and innovative designs that will balance cost and beauty.  Having an open mind will be important as we move through this policy change.  Understanding what’s at hand and trusting your florist’s expertise will be detrimental to your wedding design.

The prospect of these new import hikes should not leave you feeling like you cannot have the lovely floral design of your dreams. An experienced florist can help you navigate these challenges with confidence and competence.  A wedding planning journey can be stressful but do not let new policies hinder your vision.  Be smart with the choices you make, do your research and surround yourself with expertise and we promise this will be just a small hiccup in the process.

Like we stated earlier, we love keeping our carbon footprint small, so suggesting locally sourced, farm to table and farm to alter vendors is important to us and our company.  With the talk of new tariffs on agricultural goods, there is no better time to spotlight one of our favorite floral designers, Growing Wild.  Take a look at our blog to read all about this sustainable, carbon neutral company.