I disagree. I don’t think it’s sad that we can’t continue to do something that is seemingly mandatory and necessary only because we’ve been foolishly doing it for a long time. There is r”l no dearth of objectively sad events occurring now.
I was commenting on the size of weddings; OP mentioned that it was sad because it was small. Your point that at least family should be attending is fair. It is certainly sad when a grandparent cannot attend the wedding of their own grandchild.
Still, point taken.
This wedding would have had 400-500 people just with family and close friends only. It would have had a one man band, no open bar, no extravagances. Why shouldn't weddings be celebrated like that?
There was barely a minyan at the chupah. 2600 people tuned in to live stream.
Big doesn't always mean lavish. And even lavish isn't always wasteful.