Wedding costs in Canada 💰
This piece was originally written in 2007, long before Pinterest weddings, Instagram wedding flex culture, or the modern $40K “average Canadian wedding.” Costs have exploded, trends have gone nuts, and the pressure to host a movie-quality event has never been worse. This cautionary message from 2007 is even more relevant today: overspending on a wedding can cripple you financially before you even start your life together. Wedding Lifestyle Creep for Wedding costs in Canada is a real thing! Get off Pinterest!!!
After spending a delightful evening at my brother-in-law’s reception many years ago, I looked back on my wedding and where we had the right idea, and where we might have gone wrong (financially speaking, I’ll leave the critique on relationships to Mrs. C8j):
- We had our reception as a brunch, which was much cheaper, and because we only needed the reception room until 3:00 PM, we actually got it for free, as we had booked lots of rooms and we were paying for the meal.
- Because this was brunch, very little liquor was served.
- The real reception was at my wife’s parents’ house, so her parents and I bought most of the booze “retail” from the OLC, which was cheaper. In hindsight, we should have gone to Quebec to save even more.
- We didn’t spend too much on a honeymoon (which I regret, but we couldn’t afford it).
- Both sets of parents also gave generously to the blessed event (in case they are reading and thinking I am trying to portray this as something I solely paid for). We tried not to ask for too much either. Parents, don’t get sucked into the spending orgy that can transpire here.
Weddings are emotional powder kegs, which is why they’re such a financial minefield. Vendors know you’ll overpay to “make it perfect,” and they lean hard into that vulnerability. The smartest couples are the ones who set a budget before the venue tour, before the dress try-on, and before Mom starts crying over floral arrangements. They also need to follow that budget, FYI.
The only part that really matters is the legal and emotional commitment. Remember that one, you forget it sometimes. The rest is completely optional glitter. Half the things people go bankrupt over are forgotten within a week, or worse, never overlooked for the wrong reasons. Do your future selves a favour: keep your marriage strong by starting it on a financially sound footing.
I am not a believer in blowing massive amounts of cash for a wedding (as you can tell).
Remember my advice in Parenting Tip #327: Large Expenditures if you are a parent, getting caught up in this situation. Hopefully, the Marriage Preparation course helped out too! 💰
Helpful Hints Redux
The best idea I have seen online would be the following scenario:
- Announce it is a DRY wedding, no alcohol at all. Make up some religious argument so folks can’t argue.
- Get someone to set up a “bar in the parking lot” or similar, and then buy the booze for it. Give the “bar tender” his cut and take the rest of the income and pay for the wedding. Sounds sensible to me.
FAQ Weddings and Bankruptcies that Follow 👰
Absolutely not. Most financial strain comes from overspending on a single day instead of planning for the marriage itself.
Completely. A brunch reception or backyard party can save thousands and still be memorable. Sometimes for the wrong reasons, but the day is the critical part.
Venues, booze, outfits, photography, and honeymoons. All are optional to overspend on.
If they can and want to, great. But couples shouldn’t rely on it.
Starting their marriage in debt from a one-day party.
Useful Links on Weddings? 💒
Wedding costs in Canada: from MoneySense
Hidden wedding fees: 24 Hidden Wedding Costs You Probably Haven't Thought Of
Don't let these fees sneak up on you.
Vendor red flags: 7 Red Flags That Indicate a Wedding Vendor Isn’t Right for You
