How Much Does Wedding Decor Cost in Canada?

How Much Does Wedding Decor Cost in Canada?

Guest Post by Timeless Party Rentals

If you're planning a wedding, decor is one of those things that feels simple at first.

Then you start listing everything out and realize how quickly it adds up.

We've worked with weddings all across Vancouver Island and BC, and the biggest thing couples want is a clear, honest answer to this:

What should we actually expect to spend on decor?

Here's a real breakdown based on what we see every season.

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What Most Couples Spend on Wedding Decor

For a typical wedding in Canada, decor usually falls somewhere in this range:

• $1,500 to $4,000 for smaller or more minimal setups
• $4,000 to $8,000 for mid-range weddings
• $8,000+ for larger or more styled weddings

The biggest mistake couples make is budgeting for "decor" as one number without realizing how many separate pieces are involved.

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Where the Money Actually Goes

Here's how decor costs usually break down.

Tables, Chairs, and Linens

• Chairs: $2.25 to $9.00 each (basic metal folding on the low end, crossback or chiavari on the high end)
• Tables: $11 to $30 each (standard folding tables start around $11, specialty pieces like signing tables or whiskey barrel tops run higher)
• Linens: $25 to $40 per table

This is your base layer. It doesn't feel exciting, but it's a big chunk of the budget. For a 100-guest wedding you're looking at 10 to 12 tables and 100+ chairs, so this adds up fast.

If your venue doesn't include these, this is often your first major expense.

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Centerpieces and Table Decor

• Simple centerpieces: $20 to $50 per table
• Full floral centerpieces: $80 to $200+ per table

This is where your style really shows, and where costs can climb quickly.

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Arches, Backdrops, and Ceremony Pieces

• Arches and backdrops: $85 to $285 each
• Flower walls: $150 to $400+

Some couples go with just a ceremony arch. Others add a flower wall or a separate photo-op backdrop for guests. It's common to have a dedicated photo area in addition to the ceremony setup.

A lot of couples reuse ceremony pieces at the reception to save money. It's one of the easiest wins.

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Lighting

Lighting really depends on the space. A small indoor venue might only need a few strands of string lights, while a barn or tent wedding could require full uplighting and draping.

Budget anywhere from $100 for a simple string light setup to $800+ for a larger space with uplighting.

Lighting changes everything. It's one of the most underrated parts of decor.

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Drapery

Drapery adds up quickly if you're covering a large area like a ceiling, walls, or entrance. It's beautiful but it's one of those things where cost scales directly with square footage. If your venue already has a nice look, you might not need it at all.

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Table Accessories and Add-Ons

• Napkins: $1.50 to $3.00 each
• Candles, runners, cheesecloth: varies by table count
• Vases, chargers, cake stands: $5 to $20+ each
• Water pitchers, juice dispensers: $8 to $15 each
• Signage: $50 to $300

These are the things that pull everything together visually. Individually they're small, but across 10+ tables they add up quickly. The good news is these are the easiest items to manage on a budget.

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What Affects Your Decor Cost the Most

After doing this for years, a few things always have the biggest impact on price.

Guest Count

More guests means more tables, more chairs, more everything.

Venue

Some venues include a lot. Others are basically empty spaces.

If you're still looking, you can browse options here: Browse wedding venues

Style

Minimal and clean costs less. Full floral and layered decor costs more. Some venues don't need any "covering up", while others need a lot to mask the not so pretty bits lol.

Delivery and Setup

This gets overlooked a lot. Delivery costs can add up, but it's not excessive. It does however become an issue when you stack fees, such as a late-night pickup fee, if you're going well into the evening and need the rentals picked up before morning, or if you pay for setup from a rental company or coordinator that can tack on quite a bit. Just be mindful and you're good to go.

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How to Save on Wedding Decor (Without It Looking Cheap)

You don't need to cut everything. Just be intentional.

• Focus on high-impact areas like the head table or ceremony space
• Reuse ceremony decor at the reception
• Mix rentals with a few DIY elements
• Skip things guests won't notice

Most guests won't remember every detail. They remember how the space felt.

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Renting vs Buying Decor

A lot of couples ask this.

Buying sounds cheaper, but it usually means:

• More time sourcing items
• More stress setting everything up
• Figuring out what to do with it after

Renting keeps things simple and consistent. There are however some exceptions for things like candles, table runners, plastic champagne glasses, or heck even a popcorn machine can be the same cost as renting one in some situations. Recommended Buy over Rent items: or Check out some recommended buy over rent items here:.

If you're exploring rentals, you can check options here: Timeless Party Rentals or browse all rental vendors on WeddingHelp.

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Planning the Rest of Your Wedding

Decor is just one piece of the puzzle.

If you're still organizing everything, these can help:

• Find local wedding vendors
• Read our budgeting guide
• DIY wedding decor ideas

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