It IS a wedding whatever form it's taking and your idea of "its just an hour or two" which is what I suspect is making you think they're "too expensive" is all wrong.
You're not just paying for time on the day (which takes real skill by the way, not just photographically but people management), it's all their learning and experience prior to the day that enables them to be a good photographer, the equipment, travel, travel costs, (Sounds like a fairly remote location) the work they have to put in afterwards to curate and edit the photographs, probably creating an album for you (this takes far longer than a couple hours!)
So if you want a professional of good quality you have to pay them for their time, skill and expertise.
I used to work in the wedding industry, not in this role but connected.
Soooo many couples/brides SAY "it's only a couple hours" "we only want a few photos" "it's not a proper wedding" etc I've yet to come across a wedding where that's genuinely true and I'm talking over 200 weddings where in the vast majority of cases SOMETHING happens that means things overrun, people aren't where they're supposed to be at particular times etc even with supposedly small weddings and I've managed weddings as small as only the bride and grooms parents being present!
Photographers in the industry have to deal with a LOT! Unreasonable expectations is the least of it! Sudden weather changes, traffic issues, last min venue changes they aren't notified of, venues being inaccessible for their equipment, venues not permitting photography/certain equipment, not being fed/watered but being expected to be present for several hours up to a whole day! Not having bathroom facilities made available to them...
And that's all BEFORE the bridal couple see the photos at which point they can be accused of making the couple look fat/short/tall/bald/too much fake tan etc also accused of taking too many/not enough pictures, of neglecting to take one the couple THOUGHT they had requested or taking one they had vetoed, I've even heard of one complaint that the photos looked "too sunny" - I shit you not!
I've also been on the other side where the couple have hired photographers without checking their portfolio, references and credentials and have then ended up with grumpy rude photographers who boss the guests about, flounce when things aren't done exactly to their liking, demand things that are out of order, and then provided photos that were poor quality, guests cut out, heads cut out, poorly lit etc
I am all for budgeting and not overspending on a wedding but this is one of the aspects that is permanent, that you have to live with (like the rings) and if you get it wrong you will regret it!
By all means hire someone starting out IF you meet them first, get a feel for if they're personable, check their portfolio
etc but if they're newer to the industry they may be more flexible and a bit cheaper but you need to be prepared to pay according to their worth.
It's very much "you get what you pay for" which isn't necessarily the case with all things wedding related.
My own wedding (prior to my experience working in the industry but good rehearsal nonetheless) was certainly done on a budget and was still a great day and it was a "big white wedding" job (I'm from a large catholic family weddings are a big deal I wouldn't have got away with a small registry office type deal as the eldest grandchild both sides and the eldest daughter), we were able to find a photographer through a friend who was just starting out who did an excellent job. The one of us with my family (parents and siblings) still hangs in my parents living room and I'm divorced! (Don't even get me started!) and it was taken over 25 years ago! 
Hope you have a wonderful day but don't mar it by skimping on this.