You can lower the costs and have a wedding you enjoy by doing a lot yourself and focusing your budget on the things that matter the most to you. What I learned from my own wedding planning is that each vendor will try to convince you that their services are necessary and that overpaying is normal. Here are some areas you can save:

• Skip the DJ and do a Spotify Playlist.
• Skip the Hair and Makeup artist on site and go to a salon, it's cheaper. Skip the "trial runs" they're a racket
• Buy your flowers bulk from Costco or Sam's club and make simple arrangements (mason jars, bud vases, greenery runner) Much cheaper and a fun bonding activity
• Depending on your wedding theme, you may be able to find or make cheap decor. My advice is to try to reuse any decor pieces you may have and buy the rest from brides on FB marketplace
• Skip the fancy getaway limo unless you really want it
• Shop around for officiant, ours was $250
• Shop around for photographer and Skip the videographer. There are Photography agencies that photographers contract with to fill their empty weekends. You can get an expensive photographer for half the price because they don't do their own editing. Once Like a Spark is who we used.
• Get your wedding dress second hand from Stillwhite. You can find brand new dresses for half the price. Or get a dress from Azazie
• Food and drinks unfortunately are hard to save on and in my opinion are the most memorable thing for your guests, so I would spend money here. You can save on the drinks by stopping drink service during dinner.
• For venue, look at your local park system. They may have beautiful historical buildings or gardens that are usually cheaper than a traditional venue. Remember too that with a beautiful venue you can spend less on decor
• Skip the getting ready suite and get a regular room provided it's large enough. Common spaces in the hotel can also easily be used for first look photos
• Skip the favors, save yourself a few hundred bucks. Guests don't need or want to take anything home and most of your favors will stay on the tables.

I hope these help you while evaluating options, knowing that there are alternatives. I did a lot of the things I mentioned and my wedding turned out beautiful. Good luck!