Why do people spend thousands on their wedding day when it is possible to get married for much less?

[bambiboo78]

You can get married in a registry office for under £200

so why do people say they can't afford to have a wedding?

I have a cousin who postponed her wedding this year as they couldn't afford the money for her big day, but why didn't she just get married in a small ceremony? Is this kind of ceremony seen by people as not a proper wedding?
I don't understand as surely the end the result is the same?

[chaptazbru]

^ groom

[Greedyfly]

We spent the last year planning our wedding and it began to spiral out of control. I was so miserable from it all. We decided a couple of months ago to registry office if with limited guests. Then go for a meal. The money we were going to spend we are spending on our 3 week honeymoon as we have never had a holiday and I think we will get sonics from us spending three weeks together having fun over a day of stress.

[Greedyfly]

So much more* stupid auto complete