Is a big hotel wedding banquet worth it or should we do something smaller?

Did the big banquet and honestly it mostly broke even after ang bao, so let me demystify the money first. For a hotel banquet in SG, guest ang bao typically covers a large chunk of the per-table cost, sometimes you come close to breaking even or a small loss, so it's rarely "50k gone", more like a manageable net cost. The trap is the extras: gown packages, videography, favours, that's where budgets balloon. My advice: separate the "who's paying" conversation from the "what we want" one. Sit both families down and ask directly, are they expecting it because they'll help fund and invite their guests, or is it just assumed? If it's their guest list driving 30 tables, it's fair they contribute. If you truly prefer a smaller solemnisation plus intimate lunch, that's increasingly common and totally valid, frame it as "we're prioritising our home". Your marriage, your call, but do the actual ang bao math before you decide it's unaffordable.