I agree with flyer, lets take the blame off the “kids”. Kids don’t ask for a huge wedding, only that their friends are there. They don’t have 250 couples, they usually have 10 to 15 couples. The rest are the parents’ guests. The kids want a dance floor so the wedding is lebedig. Other than that they don’t get involved in the hall. Again that is the parents’ business. So lets address the adults here. Whom are you trying to impress, seriously.
Why do you have to make the wedding of YOUR dreams? Why do YOU have to invite everyone you know and then some? Why do YOU have to top your sister, neighbor and friend in shul? Or even try to do the same thing? Look at your own finances and how close your own next simcha is and stay within your own budget. Go to a gmach for gowns if you can’t afford to buy them. Use less expensive flowers if you want real ones or go to a gmach that arranges to get flowers from a simcha the night before. Invite only the have to’s and leave the want to’s for the chupa or dessert. Although the music is very important the pictures are the only thing that lasts forever (along with the marriage) so invest where it is important to invest. And NO it is not necessary or even important to keep the liquor flowing. You don’t need an open bar. Wine is enough you don’t have to serve alcohol which is again a huge expense. You don’t have to have 10 hot dishes at the smorg but do keep in mind that people are coming hungry from work, and you should feed them.
You don’t have to serve a 5 course meal, and chicken will do. You also don’t have to give out fancy benchers. You can use standard tablecloths and dishes. And guess what, no one will remember. They will only remember how amazing the Choson and Kallah were.