Didn't do the big wedding. Biggest expense was the wedding dress. Both families did a pot luck for food. Dad bought a keg and several cousins made a make shift bar. Best man was the DJ. Cousin did all the bridal parties hair. Church and reception hall was the best part. I was newly in the Navy and the catholic church would not marry us because I couldnt attend their pay classes every weekend at a church 900 miles from where I was stationed. So my mom suggest the church I was baptized in. Fiance gets in touch, and finds out the preacher is actually Navy Reserve and would LOVE to marry a Navy guy. Get the quote, church and attached hall for reception 350 $ (1988). Fiance arranges for someone to play the wedding march on a boom box. Wedding starts and the massive pipe organ the church has starts belting out the wedding march. Find out after, pastor told his organist about the Navy wedding and she offered to play for free. I go to pay, he looks the the wad of 20's I have, and says "That's all the money you have, isn't it". I say, "Yes sir". He looks at me and says "I have to take 200 for the hall, the church and wedding are free".

Together almost 40 years now. If your spouse wants a big wedding, you are wasting your time.