Did you get legally married before your wedding? Did it take away from the magic of your wedding?

My SO and I are planning on doing that as I want to drink on my wedding and it'd be easier for us financially but I still want to be on his orders/able to get housing & the benefits, etc. The wedding is very important as we'd be the first in our families to have a formal wedding, but I'm scared we'll just keep putting off the wedding (I hear about that all the time.)

Thank you!