Just because of the pandemic, you don't need to cancel everything.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

Here's a link to a video of a recent wedding. It is WONDERFUL. And to all who are postponing getting married in this pandemic, I say, WFT? Get married! Just do it in a way that suits the times.

https://www.facebook.com/TheDailyHeartbeat/videos/343647743451623/

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. One of my grand-nieces got married recently...

... and just took extra precautions too.

The reception was cancelled except for immediate family (so not me), strict social distancing was demanded during the ceremony, etc.

She's a pharmacist and worries enough about catching it at work despite her PPE.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. A young friend of mine got married recently.

It was a very reduced wedding, and I teased her that because of the pandemic she didn't have to invite me.

More to the point, she had a lovely wedding and is starting her new life, which is what matters. Not how many people were there, not how many presents she might have gotten. But her -- their -- new life. That is what weddings are all about.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Good Call!

In retrospect, it would have been nice to have had a much smaller reception for our wedding.
I wouldn't have had to hire that crappy band & we wouldn't have gone $400 over budget (in 1980) on the liquor tab. LOL!
Of course, the gift total would have been smaller, but then expenses would have been hugely reduced.
Oh well! Certainly can't change it now.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I was married in 1980.

I can't recall my exact budget, but it wasn't all that much than yours. We did get married in the back yard of the home my husband grew up in. The dress I wore was one my sister had made for me several years earlier, not at all a traditional wedding dress. It was a small wedding with about 30 people and was just right for us.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. We Had Over 400...

...at the reception, and around 200 at the church. (Yeah, we got married in church, and no I didn't burst into flames.)
Her uncle was a big wig at a ethnic club that had a 2 room banquet hall. We used both rooms!
Her other uncle was a caterer. So, we got deals on both the hall & the food. Good thing!
After honeymoon money, we ended up with around $1,200 so it wasn't all bad.
But boy, was the band crappy. (Husband and sons of my mom's friend.). As a musician, it was hard to take.
We threw our own 25 year re-reception. About 120 people. My band played, then after 3 hours, we turned it into a jam night so the late leaving folks had entertainment for 5-8 hours. Cost us nothing! Was way more fun than the 1st time around.