When we got married, we'd been together for 10 years, so the wedding wasn't about the 'wedding' it was more just a celebration of our relationship. We just wanted a BIG PARTY.
(The only reason we actaully got married was beause I was terribly clucky, and DH didn't want to have children out of wedlock How terribly traditional of him after living with me for 7 years!!!!!)

We made sure that our wedding was a huge party, but it was a bloody expensive party too. Is was casual, but quite elegant still, and not a traditional 'princess' wedding. We had a FANTASTIC day, and I wouldn't change a thing!Our guests still tell us what a good time they had all these years later.

I'm pretty sure that it came to about $20-22K in total.

Just for the record, I would have been happy with me and him and a couple of witnesses in the park, but this was an awesome day! I'm glad that we did it.

Just to make this post longer (sorry) friends recently decided to forego the whole wedding and just take their honeymoon in Europe as a romantic holiday, and got married while they were over there with a couple of locals witnessing it. I LOVE THAT IDEA. And it's what worked for them. Their families respected thier decision.

I think what it comes down to is that we all have ideas as to what the 'perfect' wedding consists of. Your sister will do whatever she wants. It's her day, and her money, and she's the one who has to live with the decision. Do you really want her to take your advice and not have the day that she wants, and then regret it for the rest of her life?

You may not agree with her decision, but try to respect it.