I had two relatively low-budget weddings. In both cases many friends helped make it special. In neither case did the bride's parents moan about what they'd hoped for their little girl's big day; they just took it and went with it. Both were fine weddings. One was even a fine marriage.

I believe that frugal weddings give a lot of your friends a more concrete way to participate than simply buying a gift, and maybe having a short thing to read or sing. Embrace it.