Suggest you to consider drag the wedding plan to 2 yrs and discuss with your gf to both start working together to save for the event. You are just 27yrs old, right? Not too late to save for few more years to gain financial stability to build a family.

Work out a monthly expense budget plan. And strictly following it. Avoid using credit card if you cannot monitor your bills properly. Reduce going out, if possible eat in during weekend. Bring her home to eat with your family. Save, save, save.

As for the wedding, be as simple as possible.
- no fancy ring, go for simple gold that carries value. Since $ is tight, gold can be recycle when your finger size "grow" after become aunty/uncle.
- no need wedding photo. Just take some memorable nice pictures during the event itself. Studio photos is too fake. I had mine because my mil wanted it (but on our own expense).. now the album hide deep inside my drawer, untouch.
- normal chinese wedding dinner usually can be balance by angpao. During my time, I didn't hold the reception putting upfront that we don't want to have the dinner and told both parents they can do the reception themselves, if they insist. So, both side parents did organise the wedding dinner, and they took the angpao and pay for the restaurant. The bride & groom only be the puppet and be there to let them hold the wedding dinner. The only unfortunate thing is that my hubby parents have a lost over the wedding dinner due to they invite the whole kampung and asking us to pay for the balance.

- talk to your gf to discuss the $ hantaran.. ask her reduce as much as possible.. if cannot.. you can only drag the wedding even further.