@Freestyle @Kllick
In Japan, you don't bring gifts, instead you bring
goshugi, pristine new bills in a beautiful envelope, starting at around ¥30.000 if you aren't close to the couple. The wedding ceremony itself is closed, only the family can attend, and the guests arrive at the reception. Non-religious youngsters usually bundle both things in one single event, signing the papers and holding the reception in a hotel hall or such place. It's not so expensive, and the money you get can alleviate a lot of the expenses. There is also a lot of "cutting corners" to tighten the budget: ask a friend with a good smartphone or semi-professional camera to take your photographs, print postcards online, use the local community center to hold the reception... also, those kind of receptions are very simple, just food, drinks and lots and lots of speeches. You don't dance in a Japanese wedding, so there is no cost with DJ's, sound system, party lights and so on. Also, there is no "plus one", if your name isn't in the invitation, you aren't invited. One can do ok with a moderate wedding just for friends and family.
Also, like in the US, it's traditionally the groom's parents who foot most of the bill. That's how many of the fights between the bride and her mother-in-law begin... So it's possible to get some money out of it. As many rented apartments in Japan come with furniture and appliances included, there is not so many things to buy to live a good newlywed life.