Ha. You're not cheap. You're looking at venues which cost $5,000. My venue cost $15 for the permit in a beautiful park. It was in September on the Sunday before Labor Day and perfect. We rented chairs for maybe $100. Our minister was the same guy that my parents used and cost around $100. There were flowers for maybe $250 total. My wife's dress was a prom dress that she got on sale for $90. My suit was my Air Force dress uniform which I got for 8 years of my life. The photographer was not certified for his union yet so he only cost $600 including a lot of prints but we had to agree that he could use our photographs for his portfolio and advertisements for his work. Now he charges $1,500 for a wedding.

We had a chocolate fountain and fruits and pot-luck food and it was a really good time. Our cake was the most expensive thing that I wouldn't have spent money on but it was a gift from my parents and cost around $500.

All told our wedding cost $3,000 maybe. Everyone was fed and happy. Couldn't have been much more perfect for me. Had an awesome time, and I've been married 10 years in September. Weddings can cost a lot, and finances are a huge strain on a new marriage. Why add a huge strain to a fledgling relationship? Or even a strong one? Unless you both want a huge wedding of course, then do what you want.