Wedding Trends in Canada
Weddingbells’ Annual Reader Survey reveals the most recent wedding-day facts and trends from Canadian brides prepping to walk down the aisle.
More than 2,000 brides-to-be dished about their impending nuptials on everything from engagements and relationships to style, traditions and the final bill.
Highlights from this year’s survey include:
- There will be an estimated 156,920 weddings in Canada during 2011
- Average age of engaged woman in 29.5
- 74% of engaged couples are currently living together
- 39% of proposals happen in the months of December to February
- When it comes to rings, 59% of brides confessed size matters, and 65% were involved in the selection of the engagement ring and 25% of brides made the final decision
- 25% admitted to putting pressure to pop the question on their future grooms.
- Average length of engagement is 18.5 months
- 19% of brides say they are having more disagreements with their fiancé since becoming engaged – but 50% say they have more passion in their relationship since becoming engaged.
- Almost one-third (32%) of brides agree that prenuptial agreements are a good idea (up from 26% in 2010).
- 26% of brides say they follow celebrity weddings to get ideas for their own wedding.
- According to brides, grooms are more likely to delay the wedding due to cold feet (82%) than brides (18%).
- 30% of brides said they’re not sure they’re completely over a past relationship (an increase from 22% in 2010).
- 51% of weddings will occur between July and September
- 49% think it is acceptable to return a wedding gift for cash
Weddings are also costing more. The average expected cost of a wedding in 2011 was $23,330 (up from $20,129 in 2010). The average cost of a wedding gown is also up, at $1,798 in 2011 compared to $1,093 in 2010. Once married, 72% of brides will completely share finances (another 10% are unsure).
Budget breakdown based on anticipated costs:
- Reception Venue = $9,572
- Bridal Gown = $1,798
- Bridesmaid Dress = $426
- Bridal/Bridesmaid Shoes = $180
- Wedding Bands = $2,718
- Photographer = $2,414
- Videographer = $1,461
- Stationery = $390
- Wedding Cake = $524
- Florist/Decor = $1,334
- Transportation/Limo = $792
- DJ/Musicians = $1,264
- Guest Favours/Gifts = $457
- Honeymoon = $5,287
The survey was conducted online from February 15 to March 9, 2011. A national sample of 2,309 engaged or recently married readers participated in the survey. Confidence interval: +/-2.0%, 19 times out of 20.
