My wife and I did not want a big wedding, we would have been happy just going to a courthouse to get it done. However we had a regular church wedding just to make the family happy. My wife's gown only cost about $99 dollars (and it was beautiful), with the decorations, catering, tuxedoes, etc. the whole thing cost us maybe around $1500. It was a very nice wedding and reception with which we have no complaints considering it turned out bigger than we wanted. All in all it was still a fairly small wedding and we were still happy with it. I agree that it doesn't have to be extravagant and outlandishly expensive...many people put more time, money, effort, and energy into the wedding (especially the reception party) than they do into the marriage itself. It's all about show and making an impression on guests...the ceremony and the couple themselves aren't as much the main focus which is what should be. Just as funerals aren't for the dead but the living, so weddings aren't for the couple but for the guests.
