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Wedding etiquette & FAQs

Canadian wedding etiquette: invitations, plus-ones, gifts, tipping, dress codes and the questions couples ask most.

Weddings

Weddings

Canadian wedding etiquette is quieter than American and looser than British. Here are the answers people search for most.

Narrated walkthrough · 1-minute video
Read the transcript

Wedding etiquette and FAQs.

Canadian wedding etiquette is quieter than American and looser than British.

Here are the answers people search for most.

Invitations.

Send at 8 to 10 weeks; 12 for destination. Name every invited person on the envelope.

RSVP cut-off three weeks before; final numbers are due to the venue at 10 to 14 days.

Gifts and money.

Cash gifts are normal across most GTA communities; registries are optional. Never print gift requests on the invitation; put them on the website.

Tipping (not required where gratuity is already on the bill).

Catering and bar: usually 18 percent included; check. Hair and makeup 15 to 20 percent.

The full guide, with tables and checklists, continues below this video.

Invitations

  • Send at 8–10 weeks; 12 for destination. Name every invited person on the envelope. “And guest” only if you mean it.
  • RSVP cut-off three weeks before; final numbers are due to the venue at 10–14 days.

Gifts and money

Guest slipping a red envelope into a wedding card box
  • Cash gifts are normal across most GTA communities; registries are optional. Never print gift requests on the invitation; put them on the website.

Tipping (not required where gratuity is already on the bill)

  • Catering and bar: usually 18% included; check. Hair and makeup 15–20%. Transportation 15%. Musicians and entertainers $50–$100 each. Planner: a gift or 10%.

Frequently asked questions

When should wedding invitations go out in Canada?

Eight to ten weeks before the wedding, twelve for destination weddings, with an RSVP deadline three weeks out.

Is it rude to have a cash bar at a Canadian wedding?

A fully cash bar is unusual in the GTA; a toonie bar or a limited open bar with wine and beer is the common middle ground.

What does black tie optional mean?

Tuxedos and floor-length gowns are welcome but a dark suit and a cocktail dress are equally correct.

Do we tip wedding vendors in Ontario?

Tip where gratuity is not already on the invoice: hair and makeup, drivers, and performers; planners and photographers appreciate a review more than cash.

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