Mortgage before marriage? Canadians are prioritizing home ownership over wedding day celebrations

82% of respondents say they would scale back or forgo a wedding to put money toward a down payment on a home

With the rising cost of living continuing to reshape financial priorities, more Canadians are rethinking the traditional “dream wedding” in favour of a different long-term goal: home ownership. From smaller guest lists and backyard ceremonies, to courthouse weddings and delayed honeymoons, couples are making bigger sacrifices to help get a foot on the property ladder.

According to a recent Royal LePage survey, conducted by Burson,¹ 79% of respondents who are planning a wedding, or who have someone in their life who is, say they would consider requesting money for a down payment on a home instead of a traditional wedding gift (37% say definitely, and 42% say maybe). Of those respondents who are already married, 57% say they would have liked to request money for a down payment on a home instead of a wedding gift; 10% say they did in fact request money for their wedding.

“Few milestones carry more weight than buying a home or getting married. As the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets across the country, more Canadians are finding themselves having to make difficult trade-offs between the two – and in many cases, it’s the wedding that gets scaled back,” said Anne-Elise Cugliari Allegritti, vice president of research and communications, Royal LePage. 

“There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question ‘rings or real estate?’. Every couple is different, and so are the circumstances under which they navigate these important life events. However, rising living costs – extending well beyond housing alone – are causing many Canadians to reassess how they prioritize major celebrations and long-term financial goals,” she noted. “In the past, tradition may have dictated first marriage, then mortgage. Today, many couples are having to balance their desire for a once-in-a-lifetime wedding celebration with the reality of building equity and securing their financial future. For some, that means prioritizing getting into the housing market before walking down the aisle. Many people are recognizing that while a wedding is a beautiful one- or two-day event, a home is a lifetime investment.”

Saying “I do” to home ownership first

When asked if they would forgo or significantly scale back a wedding to put money towards a down payment on a home, 46% of respondents across Canada say definitely; 36% say maybe. When thinking back to their own wedding, over half (55%) of married respondents say they would have forgone or significantly scaled back a wedding to put money towards a down payment on a home.

According to The Knot’s 2025 Global Wedding Report, the average wedding costs approximately $33,000 USD, before a honeymoon or wedding rings (more than $45,000 CAD).² 

“With weddings, couples have more options when it comes to lowering costs – trimming the guest list, choosing a more modest venue, or cutting back on extravagant extras. Housing offers less flexibility, without compromising on size or location. As a result, some couples are choosing to trade the champagne toasts for a sizable down payment because they know that while you can always throw a party later, you may not always be able to find your forever home at today’s prices.”

Other interesting highlights from the survey:

• Respondents in British Columbia are the most likely to request financial contributions toward a down payment in place of other wedding gifts.
• Those in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec are less likely than the average Canadian to request money towards a home as a wedding gift.
• When asked to identify the biggest or most important purchase in a person’s life, 83% of respondents said a home.

Source:

Michelle McNally

Senior Manager, Research & Communications, Royal LePage