A recent Royal LePage survey, conducted by Burson,¹ suggests a majority of Canadian couples are willing to skip an expensive wedding celebration to afford the purchase of a home… or wish they had.

Nationally, of those planning a wedding or who have someone in their life who is, 79 per cent of respondents 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 per cent say they would have liked to request money for a down payment on a home instead of a wedding gift; 10 per cent 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.”

When asked if they would forgo or significantly scale back a wedding to put money towards a down payment on a home, 46 per cent of respondents across Canada say definitely; 36 per cent 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).

“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.”

According to the survey, when asked an open-ended question about the biggest or most important purchase a person will make in their lifetime, an overwhelming majority of Canadians (83%) identified buying a home.

“The fear of being priced out of the housing market, especially in the most expensive markets across southern Ontario and British Columbia’s lower mainland, has become a more powerful motivator than the pressure to have a perfect wedding,” Cugliari Allegritti added.

“Both decisions are deeply personal, and it’s completely understandable if scaling back a wedding, or choosing to marry before you’re mortgage-ready, brings up complicated feelings. And, every couple navigates a unique set of circumstances, from cultural traditions and family support, to individual financial goals. But, there’s no universal rulebook for how life is supposed to unfold. Doing things in the order that makes the most financial sense for your individual circumstances is always the right call – because however you get there, the happily ever after is yours to define.”

Royal LePage 2026 Survey: Rings vs Real Estate – Data Chart: rlp.ca/table-2026-rings-vs-real-estate

ONTARIO

In Ontario, of those planning a wedding or who have someone in their life who is, 40 per cent of respondents say they would definitely request money for a down payment on a home instead of a traditional wedding gift; 44 per cent say maybe.

Of those respondents who are already married, 57 per cent say they would have liked to request money for a down payment on a home instead of a wedding gift; 13 per cent say they did in fact request money for their wedding.

“In Toronto, many couples are choosing to purchase a home before getting married. With the cost of entering the housing market among the highest in Canada, many buyers are prioritizing saving for a down payment over spending heavily on a large or luxury wedding. At the same time, moderating home prices have created more accessible opportunities for renters who have been waiting for the right moment to enter the market,” said Tom Storey, sales representative and head of The Storey Team, Royal LePage Signature Realty in Toronto.

Storey added that condos act as an important first step into home ownership for many first-time buyers, with plans to eventually move into a larger property as their needs evolve and they build equity over time.

“Whether or not couples are requesting money specifically towards a down payment, we’re certainly seeing wedding gifts increasingly take the form of cash contributions. This can provide meaningful support for furnishing, renovating or settling into a first home,” he said. “For couples balancing both a wedding and a home purchase, tools like the First Home Savings Account can be an effective way to build savings toward a future down payment while benefiting from tax advantages.”

When asked if they would forgo or significantly scale back a wedding to put money towards a down payment on a home, 46 per cent of respondents in Ontario say definitely; 40 per cent say maybe. When thinking back to their own wedding, 58 per cent of married respondents say they would have forgone or significantly scaled back a wedding to put money towards a down payment on a home.

“In 2026, homes are out of reach for many people, so putting them somewhat back in reach is a great idea.”

– Gen X survey respondent, Ontario

Royal LePage 2026 Survey: Rings vs Real Estate – Data Chart: rlp.ca/table-2026-rings-vs-real-estate

The post Rings Versus Real Estate: Canadians Are Downsizing Wedding Dreams To Get On The Property Ladder appeared first on Muskoka411.

After being slowed down for years by cancer and COVID, Rideout and her husband moved up to Muskoka permanently after her final round of chemotherapy in 2021. Not long after, the two of them got married at their home in Bracebridge. Her business, Richi Muskoka, revolved around creating live edge and driftwood home decor, but given her upcoming nuptials, she pivoted to making wedding decorations at the time. She got positive responses immediately, with people asking to rent the various decor pieces, so she shifted into running a wedding decor rental business. Things only grew from there.

“Last year, when I went to go put myself on the map, literally on Google Maps, they didn’t have a category for wedding decor rentals, so I had to list myself as a wedding planner because that was the closest category,” Rideout said. “I was getting calls left, right and centre to be planning people’s weddings… I had a wedding booked every weekend of the summer.”

She continued to receive inquiries from brides, and many of them were hoping to visit a showroom to see all of her decor. Without a permanent place to showcase her work, Rideout decided the next best thing would be to stage it all for photos. Since it would take some space to accommodate all the decorations, she immediately thought of expanding the event.

Rideout was already working with the team at the fairgrounds on several weddings, so it was an obvious choice to host a bridal showcase. She started to break down weddings into categories, eventually landing on over 30 different groupings. 

There are currently between 90 and 100 vendors for the show on May 13 and 14, and virtually all of the categories will be represented by at least two vendors, she said. She chose a weekend in early May so that brides can book services for both this year and next year before the busy season starts at the end of the month.

“Inside the actual fairgrounds building, it’s being set up as a wedding reception,” Rideout said. “When you open the doors, the first one-third of the building will be set up like you’ve walked into an actual reception… There’s going to be over a dozen different tables, so each one will have its own theme and feel.”

In addition to displaying different wedding themes, the walk-around will also present options for events like graduations and children’s parties. For the kids, there will be bouncy castles, laser tag, wax hands and more, as well as three themed tents to showcase possible party ideas. One of those themes will be jungles, and a reptile specialist will be on-site to show off some exotic animals.

For the adults, there will be a beer garden courtesy of several local breweries as well as a range of food trucks, caterers, DJs and other vendors. The back two-thirds of the fairgrounds building will be set up like a trade show with rows of booths for visitors to peruse.

“Bring your whole family because it’s not just for brides,” she said. “It’s going to be for any kind of event, for graduations and family reunions and stag and does and bar mitzvahs, you name it. We really want everybody to come.”

While there are bridal and event shows down in Toronto, they don’t offer the same chance to see local vendors, Rideout said, so all of the businesses at the wedding walk-around will be vendors from Muskoka that serve Muskoka. She’s also planning a vendor meet-and-greet the night before the event so that they can network among themselves and help each other by giving out referrals.

Tickets cost $4.75 when purchased in advance and $5.50 at the door, but brides and grooms get a $1 discount and there are group discounts available as well. Parking costs $1.50 in advance and $2.50 at the door. Rideout will donate the proceeds to a local charity, but it’s up to the community to decide which one. 

She started an online vote on April 23, asking for charity suggestions, and the poll will be open until 8 p.m. on May 7. She’s received at least half a dozen suggestions so far, including charities like Gravenhurst Against Poverty and Carter’s Rescue, and she’s hoping to host some of them at the event, even if they don’t win the contest.

“All the ticket sales proceeds are going to be going to a local charity, and the community is currently deciding where that’s going to be,” Rideout said. “I think that’s wonderful for people to know as well that their money to come and spend the day there is going to help somebody.”

Rideout has been handling the bulk of the planning for the event with over 1,400 hours logged so far. She hopes that simplifying the planning process for brides and other locals will make the many late nights worth it, and based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback so far, she seems to be on the right track.

“We’ve already got it booked for next year,” Rideout said. “We’ve got the 11th and 12th booked again, so we’re hoping it can be a Mother’s Day weekend tradition up here in Muskoka.”

Contact Kimberly Rideout at richimuskokaweddings@gmail.com to purchase tickets in advance, and visit the event page on Facebook for updates.

The post Walk-Around Wedding Event Comes To Bracebridge Fairgrounds On Mother’s Day Weekend appeared first on Muskoka411.