Who says you have to have a big or elaborate wedding? Many couples are choosing to elope or get married at the local courthouse. It's a popular choice, especially during the pandemic.

"I think this year has shown a lot of couples that they don't need 150 people to adequately celebrate their love, only those who are closest to them," says wedding photographer Lucy Struve of Lucille Photo in Austin, Texas.

She expects more couples to get married in microweddings. One of her clients switched from a big wedding to a weekday microwedding with only six guests.

"It was absolutely stunning," Struve says. "They got to do things they wouldn't have been able to do for everyone at a big wedding, like treating their family to a delicious six-course luncheon. Quality over quantity."

*Pros

Many couples will be getting hitched at home, predicts Marie Kubin, CEO of Rent My Wedding, a nationwide event rental company.

"Couples are tired of waiting for the pandemic to be over," she says. "Plus, having a home wedding offers huge cost savings during these uncertain economic times."

At-home weddings can happen in the living room, backyard and even the garage. Kubin says with the right decorations, such as a wedding arch, for example, "any space can look and feel just as special as a traditional wedding venue."

There's a lot of appeal to these low-fuss affairs. They are intimate, a great fit for introverts who don't crave lots of fanfare, and less logistical stress and prep work. Couples are able to host their weddings the way they want, without worrying what guests will think.

"By far the biggest benefit of having a scaled down wedding is that it allows you to concentrate on what is really important: getting married to the person you love most in this world," says Anji Martin, a wedding and engagement photographer at Potok's World Photography LLC in Washington, D.C. "With fewer guests, you don't have to worry so much about making other people happy on your special day. You can just relax and enjoy every moment of your wedding."

Low-key nuptials can save you money, too, since you won't be spending a lot on a venue, food and drinks (typically big wedding expenses), and entertainment. All you need is a license, an officiant and witnesses.

Small "I do's" are good for the earth, too.

"Since the activities you want to do during your wedding are the bare necessities, you will not be wasting any resources," says design expert John Linden, who works on a lot of weddings. "On the environmental side, you will have the most minimum carbon footprint possible."

*Cons

Still, there are downsides to having a small wedding or eloping. For example, a modest or small event would mean you won't have as much of a party as a typical wedding. Instead of a traditional reception, you may have a family dinner or just cake and a champagne toast. You probably won't receive many gifts compared to a traditional wedding.

"The most obvious downside to smaller marriage celebrations is that many of the guests you might want to have there won't be present at your wedding," says Martin, noting you might have to make some tough choices when figuring out your guest list.

Family or friends may feel left out or offended. Linden says you can host a small dinner after the elopement and invite more guests than were invited to your wedding.

He urges couples to prepare themselves to receive awkward questions about why they chose to elope or get married at a courthouse. While you don't necessarily have to answer the questions, you likely won't be able to shield yourself from the unwanted opinions of family and friends.

While there are pros and cons of a fuss-free wedding, focus on the joy that comes from the marriage, not just the wedding.