The Royal LePage 2026 Survey: Rings vs Real Estate includes insights into how housing affordability is influencing wedding and home-buying decisions for couples across Canada.

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.

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.

Key highlights:

• 79% of respondents say they would consider requesting money for a down payment on a home instead of a traditional wedding gift.
• 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.
• A majority of respondents (82%) would forgo or significantly scale back a wedding in order to put money towards a down payment on a home.
• When asked to identify the biggest or most important purchase in a person’s life, 83% of respondents said a home.