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Cost of Living Pressures Are Reshaping Canada's Wedding Season
New surveys find nearly half of guests are skipping celebrations over cost, while most couples say they would rather shrink the big day to save for a home
Published: July 19, 2026
Rising grocery bills, gas prices and housing costs are forcing many Canadians to rethink whether attending a friend's or relative's wedding this summer is worth the price tag, according to new survey data released this year.
A TD-commissioned survey conducted by the Leger Opinion panel found that 48 per cent of Canadians who received a summer wedding invitation said cost had affected their decision to attend. Cost was cited as the main reason 18 per cent of respondents declined at least one invitation, while 30 per cent said they had become choosier about which weddings they attend this year.
The trend is especially pronounced among younger Canadians. Almost two-thirds of Gen Z respondents who received wedding invitations said they had decided to skip weddings entirely or had become far more selective about which nuptials they would attend this summer, reflecting a broader generational shift in how younger guests weigh social obligations against tight budgets.
The rising cost of living is also affecting the couples themselves. A separate Royal LePage poll found that 82 per cent of respondents would give up having a wedding altogether or hold a much smaller celebration so they could put the money toward a down payment on a home instead. Nearly four in five said they would consider asking guests to help fund a down payment rather than give traditional gifts.
Together, the two surveys paint a picture of a wedding season shaped as much by budgets as by love, with guests and couples alike making trade-offs. For many Canadians, that means smaller guest lists, more modest venues, or simply sending regrets instead of an RSVP, as families weigh the cost of celebrating against other financial priorities.
