I agree with almost everything written here, but I venture that almost none of you commenters have actually paid for a child’s wedding.
Let me inform you that you are low man on the totem pole. You have hopefully a wife, a chosson and kallah, a mechutan and the dreaded machateinister . The sum you do not want to spend is of no consequence, you are not the boss. Get that into your head. The decisions have been made long before the couple has met, and you did not make them. Wedding in the living room, no band, no fancy shtreimel or sheitel or gold watch, well, good luck. I am rooting for you, believe me.
A few of you (be in the appropriate chassidus) may even be successful in changing society and human nature. But most of you will bite the bullet and wonder where you went wrong. You didn’t go wrong, you were in the right. But life is a bit stronger than your pure intentions. As the saying goes, “Father of chosson or kallah? Keep your mouth shut and your checkbook open”.
This Rav who managed to pull it all off for a paltry sum needs to be regarded as no less than a hero. Spread his message far and wide. Then try it on your son-in-law tachshit who just spent two years in Brisk tilting his hat “just right” while polishing off his astronomical market value. I’d love to see you, I know how to treat a black eye.