My SO and I have been together for 7 years and have planned on getting married for the last few years (we wanted to buy a house first, which we did). I have always pictured myself having a traditional wedding in a church with the big reception afterword, but also can't see myself spending the kind of money it would cost to have that kind of affair. He knows about what I've wanted and wants me to just deal with it and spend the money. He thinks a few extra house payments aren't worth me not having a big wedding.
Here's my dilemma.
While I always imagined having a big wedding, when I picture marrying my SO it's always somewhere just the 2 of us, like eloping but were still in formal wear.
Another reason I think I'm hesitant about a big wedding is that I don't have any close enough friends to be bridesmaids. (Think 'I love you man' but the reverse) I have actually suggested not having bridesmaids or groomsmen but my SO has at least 4-5 people he wants as groomsmen, and has said that it is something that makes a wedding a wedding for him.
We've also discussed eloping and having a reception later but he doesn't like the idea because he knows we'd come back and I'd find other things to put that money towards instead of a reception, like car payments or other bills.
He keeps telling me if we don't have it like I pictured I'll regret it later, and I feel like I should be psyched he wants me to have the wedding I've always talked about, but I can't help but feel like even a $3000-$4000 wedding is just too much to spend on 1 day.
Any advise or suggestions would be helpful.