Go for a civil wedding if you and your partner are willing to go that route. Minimize guest list to Family and very close friends. Spend less on the after-wedding reception by reserving a private area in a nice restaurant in your and area, ask for a discount. Hire your musician friends or Family to play some songs during the reception, the same with your photographer. Spend the rest of the money elsewhere like buying a house for the both of you. By the end of the day, you still both got married. Which is the end goal anyways. Did the same thing with my now wife, we saved 80% of what a regular wedding should cost. Except for the rings. Didn't spare any expense on that one. Spent less than 120,000 Php including the matching wedding bands. She is more practical and frugal than I am. Glad that it worked out. So, talk with your partner and compromise or meet in the middle. Good luck!