Is it possible to have your wedding cake and a front door, too? For many, a wedding is the ultimate milestone, the happiest and most significant celebration a couple will ever host. However, as the cost of living climbs, that walk down the aisle is becoming more expensive. For those navigating the choice between a grand celebration and a long-term investment, the financial trade-off is becoming more pronounced.
To analyze the trade-off between wedding costs and homeownership, Zoocasa compared vendor pricing data from WeddingConnect with national real estate averages from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The study calculated the required down payment and mortgage costs based on a 3.89% five-year fixed rate over a 25-year amortization period. Zoocasa found that in seven out of the 11 markets analyzed, the cost of a single wedding is equal to, or exceeds, the minimum down payment for a home in those cities.
Celebrations Are Still Costly in Canada’s Affordable Housing Hubs
Weddings are now significantly more expensive than a minimum down payment on the average-priced home in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada. In Regina, an average wedding costs $28,000, which is $11,455 more than the $16,545 required for a down payment. Meanwhile, a typical St. John wedding costs nearly 34% more than the average down payment for a home.
Where Down Payments and Wedding Days Cost Nearly the Same
In three Canadian markets, the financial gap between a wedding and a down payment is less than $4,000. In Montreal and Calgary, costs have reached near-parity, with price differences of only $670 and $1,610, respectively. While national home prices dropped in 2025, Halifax’s new construction market led the country in growth. Despite the high demand, the average Halifax wedding now costs $3,500 more than a minimum down payment on a home.
The Alberta Advantage for Engaged Couples
Similarly, couples wanting the average wedding in Edmonton would need to spend $8,000 more on their big day than they actually need for a minimum down payment in the average-priced home. This price difference might help explain why so many young adults moved from Ontario and British Columbia to Alberta in the past five years. In Edmonton, a couple with $69,000 saved could afford the average wedding cost ($29,000) as well as a down payment for a home ($20,415), and still have approximately $20,000 left for savings. In contrast, an Ontario couple with the same savings would be underwater trying to pay for both a wedding and a home.
“Will You Move in With Me?”
The cost of living continues to be a major consideration when it comes to planning life’s events. A spring 2025 Zoocasa survey found that nearly 21% of respondents earning under $100,000 are putting off marriage and other significant milestones because the cost of housing has become so prohibitive.
This is also seen in how Canadians approach marriage. The Vanier Institute reports that marriage rates in Canada fell from 54.1% in 1991 to 44.3% in 2021. One reason why marriage rates might be dropping among young people is that people are cohabitating instead. According to The Knot, 48% of Gen Z think living together before marriage is important and want to cohabitate before walking down the aisle. After all, doing so is a great way to significantly reduce expenses.
Renting has become the norm for a growing number of Canadians. As reported by Stats Canada, over 5 million households (33.1%) now rent, a sector growing twice as fast as homeownership. Although Canadian rent prices hit a two-and-a-half-year low in December according to Rentals.ca, the cost of housing remains a major financial hurdle for many.
Falling in Love in Canada’s Priciest Cities
In Canada’s priciest markets, couples have a compelling reason to save aggressively as the gap between celebration and investment widens. In Vancouver, the minimum down payment for an average home is roughly $86,480, more than double the $38,000 cost of an average wedding. This disparity becomes even more pronounced for detached homes; in Vancouver, where average prices hover around $1,887,800, a 20% down payment requires a staggering $377,560, nearly ten times the cost of a wedding.
Even more accessible entry points, such as condo apartments, require down payments of approximately $46,000 in Vancouver and $41,323 in Toronto, both of which still exceed the average wedding budget. However, with condo inventory currently high in both cities, 2026 presents a unique opportunity. For couples willing to leverage their combined savings, this buyer’s market offers a rare chance to secure a property and transition from renting to building lifelong equity.
- Related: Canada’s Hottest Condo Market of the Last Decade Might Surprise You (It’s Not Toronto or Vancouver)
Swiping Right on Financial Transparency
Whether you choose to buy a home or get married, being open about money is essential to the longevity and success of a romantic relationship. A 2025 TD Survey found that 71% of Canadians would consider ending a relationship if they found out their partner was dishonest about finances.
“If you can’t trust your partner on money matters, you may want to reassess whether that relationship is the right fit for you,” says Nicole Ewing, Principal at TD Wealth. Still, only six out of ten couples have a serious discussion about finances before moving in together or tying the knot. Navigating these conversations early not only strengthens a relationship but also ensures both partners are aligned on their long-term goals.
Once you have that financial roadmap in place, the next step is finding the right space to build your future. Whether you’re looking for your first rental as a couple in 2026 or moving into your forever home with a white picket fence and a big backyard, Zoocasa is here to help. Start your search today.
