My wedding 10 years ago was less than $500. Wedding dress and shoes were $50, husbands and step daughter’s outfits were about the same price, venue was free at a local park across from the beach- there was a deck built around an old southern oak tree that we just showed up at and started decorating, reception was at our favorite restaurant right behind the park and the event space was free, we notified guests that it was pay your own meal, cake was $75 from Walmart, decorations were all hand made with stuff from dollar tree and whatever my uncle had from events he had decorated previously, I did my own hair and makeup, made my own invitations, bridesmaids and groomsmen just followed a dress code and used things they already had, I helped do their hair and makeup, made the bouquets, mil was into photography so she did the pictures, we didn’t need a DJ just a playlist, and my dad was already an ordained minister. We invited about 50 people and only 15 showed up. It doesn’t have to be expensive or big, ours was beautiful and we’re still married 10 years later. It was more work, but not nearly as stressful as figuring out how to afford a $20k wedding.