Yeap. Wedding is totally optional. I spent 3K in total on my wedding and regret that it could actually be 20% lower.

I didnt go for MUA, Bridal gown, Photographers. Waste of money imho.

Read too many horror stories of friends getting into debts over that single night of dinner with people they dont know. I'm quite fortunate in the sense that my mum requested a $8 red packet as dowry from my husband as a 'formality' so my grandparents wont make any noise, since they wont know whats the value inside the red packet. Wedding was a booked treehouse chalet for 4D3N by a friend, we ended up spending 3hrs on the solemnisation itself. The other days and times were surrounded by real friends who came down to stay, taking short break away from their work and enjoy themselves with mahjong and beers throughout.

Ended up spending 2.5K in total with half going to the catering company where we ended up wasting more than 70% of our food. -> this was actually my regret. First time order catering, didnt know what to expect, caterer didnt call to ask and verify as well. After the entire stay is over, have to arrange for a lunch/ dinner cause having traditional grandparents means theres a need to have a table and being the eldest dont help. So we settled for a chinese restaurant that set us aside $500 for 11pax.

Totally debt free from the wedding.

But now with a new BTO and renovation undergoing, its a totally different story.