What’s the Average Cost of a Wedding in Toronto in 2025?
Want to know how to set a practical budget that aligns with your wedding vision without compromising on your key priorities? Creating a wedding budget can be daunting, but it’s crucial to ensure you don’t overspend. This guide on the average cost of a wedding in Toronto will help you establish a realistic budget that reflects your wedding priorities and financial situation.
Now, if you’re ready to create your wedding budget, here’s a list of how you can prioritize your must-haves without overspending:
1. Identify Your Priorities
- List Your Must-Haves: Identify the top three elements of your wedding that are non-negotiable (e.g., venue, catering, photography).
- Tip: Focus on what matters most to you and your partner.
2. Research Costs
- Gather Estimates: Research the average costs for your must-have items in your desired location.
- Tip: Use online resources, contact vendors for quotes, and ask recently married friends for insights.
3. Set Your Budget
- Allocate Funds: Based on your research, allocate a specific portion of your budget to each major category (e.g., venue, food, attire).
- Tip: Include a buffer for unexpected expenses (typically 5-10% of your total budget).
Example Wedding Budget: $45,000
Creating a detailed wedding budget helps you stay on track and ensures that you allocate funds to the most important aspects of your wedding. Below is an example budget for a wedding in Toronto, Canada with a total budget of $45,000, including a buffer for unexpected expenses.
1. Venue and Catering: $19,000
This is often the biggest expense in a wedding. Be aware of additional service charges and add-ons, like gratuity and HST, which can add up quickly. All-inclusive venues, like Bellamy Loft, can be more cost-effective and simpler to manage. Bellamy Loft offers a beautiful, intimate space perfect for micro weddings and small ceremonies.
- Site Fee: $7,000
- Catering: $12,000 or $120 per person (includes food, beverages, and service for 100 guests)
Quick Saving Tip: Ask about package deals and off-peak discounts to save. You can also opt for non-traditional venues. We’ll cover more cost-saving strategies in the next lesson.
2. Photography and Videography: $5,500
Many couples opt for both photography and videography to preserve their memories.
- Photographer: $2,500
- Videographer: $3,000
Quick Saving Tip: Look for photographers and videographers, who offer combined packages. By Kyla Studio is a great choice for budget-conscious couples and will capture all the emotions and details of your big day beautifully. Also, you might want to consider hiring a content creator instead of a traditional videographer, which typically uses high-quality smartphones (iPhone specifically). Check out Glam Love Social or Dear Diary Social for some aesthetic wedding content inspiration.
In addition to photography, some personalized souvenirs can also help the bride and groom preserve their memories, such as Custom Coins.
Couples can incorporate the wedding date, the names of both parties, or patterns and words with beautiful meanings into the design of the commemorative coins. Such personalized wedding commemorative coins are not only a celebration of important moments, but also a permanent seal of emotions and memories. It symbolizes the journey that the newlyweds have walked together and the years to be spent together in the future, and is a symbolic expression of love and commitment.
Whether it is for weddings or other anniversaries, the Custom Coins provided by customcoins.ca can meet your needs.
3. Attire: $5,000
- Bride’s Dress: $2,200
- Groom’s Attire: $600
- Accessories (Veil, Shoes, Jewelry): $600
- Alterations: $800
- Hair and Makeup: $800
Quick Saving Tip: Shop for sales or consider renting attire to save costs.
4. Flowers and Decorations: $4,500
Flowers and decor can transform your venue, but they can be labor-intensive and delicate. Pricing usually depends on the number of guests, wedding party and complexity of venue’s location and allowed setup/teardown time. To ensure a smooth and stress-free experience, consider partnering with professionals like VintageBASH. Decor and floral studios like this often offer a variety of packages to suit different styles and budgets, and will work closely with you to create a look that reflects your unique vision.
- Bouquets and Boutonnieres
- Ceremony Decor
- Reception Centerpieces and Decor
- DIY Decorations
Quick Saving Tip: Opt for seasonal flowers. Opt for non-floral centrepieces. Rent instead of buying. Ask for suggestions from your stylist or florist on where to save (e.g. essential decor versus non-essentials, impactful decor for the head table then simple decor on guest tables).
5. Music and Entertainment: $3,000
DJs are popular, but live bands and other entertainment options are also great choices.
- DJ/Band: $2,000
- Ceremony Musicians: $500
- Miscellaneous (Lighting, Sound Equipment): $500
Quick Tip: Book early and look for package deals that include lighting and sound equipment.
6. Invitations and Stationery: $1,200
Invitations and stationery set the stage for your wedding theme and inform your guests. Plan In Love offers a beautiful selection of pre-designed invitations and stationery, or they can create custom designs to perfectly match your wedding vision.
Quick Saving Tip: Use online invitations or printable templates to save on costs.
7. Cake: $800
Your wedding cake is a centerpiece and a sweet treat for your guests. Quick Saving Tip: Opt for a smaller display cake and supplement with sheet cakes.
8. Transportation: $1,500
Ensure everyone arrives on time and in style.
- Limo or Car Rental: $1,200
- Guest Shuttles: $300
Quick Tip: Consider carpooling or renting a shuttle bus for guests to save on transportation costs.
9. Favors and Gifts: $1,500
Show appreciation to your guests and bridal party with thoughtful gifts.
- Guest Favors: $800
- Gifts for Bridal Party: $700
Quick Tip: DIY favors and personalized gifts can be more meaningful and budget-friendly.
10. Miscellaneous: $3,000
Cover all the small but essential details.
- Officiant Fee: $400
- Marriage License: $150
- Wedding Coordinator: $1,500
- Rehearsal Dinner: $700
- Emergency Fund: $250
Quick Tip: Hiring a wedding coordinator, like Too Perfect Events, can help you manage all the little details (e.g., securing vendors and creating a detailed timeline) and ensure your wedding day runs smoothly.
11. Buffer: $2,000
- Contingency Fund: $2,000 (5% of total budget for unexpected expenses)
Quick Tip: Think about things you might forget to include initially, like additional rentals or delivery costs.
Notes:
- Buffer: A buffer of $2,000 (5% of the total budget) is included to cover unexpected expenses.
- DIY Options: Consider DIY options for some decorations, invitations, and favors to save costs.
- Off-Peak Discounts: Look for off-peak season discounts or weekday wedding deals to reduce venue and vendor costs.
Be Mindful of Hidden Costs
Hidden fees can add up quickly, so you must account for all potential expenses when setting your budget.
- Service Fees: Vendors may charge for delivery, setup, and breakdown. Ask about all potential fees upfront.
- Gratuities: Tips for vendors like reception staff and caterers can add 15–20% to your costs. Budget for gratuities in advance.
- Transportation: If your ceremony, photos, and reception are in different locations, you may need shuttles or limousines. Combine locations when possible to reduce transportation needs.
- Overtime Charges: Vendors like photographers, DJs, and venues may charge extra if your event runs longer than planned. Clarify overtime rates and include them in your budget.
Make sure to ask about these potential costs upfront to avoid surprises later on.
Now, ask these questions…
- Does your budget align with your wedding vision and priorities?
- Example: Ensure your must-have elements are adequately funded without compromising other areas.
- Have you accounted for all potential expenses?
- Example: Remember to include costs for smaller items like service fees, tips, invitations, favors, and transportation.
References:
- https://www.bycalin.com/articles/planning-wedding/average-price-wedding-photography-toronto
- https://www.norrisfilms.com/how-much-toronto-wedding-cost
- https://bushelandbloom.com/blogs/wedding-blog/how-much-does-a-wedding-cost-toronto-ontario-2024
