Lots of people get married with a simple ceremony in their parents' yard or a good ol' trip down to the courthouse, then have a big shindig when they "renew their vows." That could be the next year or 5-10 years down the line. I think that's perfectly fine. A wedding should not put you in debt or make you flat broke. I used to want a big wedding but, now that I'm older, I think it's silly to take money that could be used for a down payment on a house or a nest egg for your kids' college fund. It's one thing if you have enough money to do both, but if it's a choice between one or the other.....
Personally, I want a low-key, inexpensive wedding (well, as "inexpensive" as a wedding gets--those things are pricey no matter how you spin it). It fits my personality better to have a smaller crowd and I'd rather our first huge financial commitment together be toward a house--or anything else that will last more than 6 hours.
