Surprise Wedding

[momai]

Myself and my partner would like to get married, however he really does not want a big wedding, whereas I do.
When I say a big wedding what I mean is I want all my friends and family there as they have supported me through 12 years of being a single parent and university before I met him.
I suggested a secret wedding and he was kind up for it, so plan a party but its actually our wedding if that makes sense.
How on earth could I make it happen without loosing elements I would love, like a frock, bridesmaid etc?
Has anyone organised one before?

I think you need to ask which bits of the "big wedding" he especially doesn't want.

I particularly didn't want a wedding breakfast or speeches so we didn't do those. Still had the dress and friends there, just a very relaxed garden party with the people we loved.

I went to a suprise wedding. It was a friends "40th", everyone arrived and was mingling, bride and groom in normal party clothes. At some point they disappeared and we were ushered into another room, assuming for food, but it was chairs laid out in rows with an aisle down the middle. Then one of her friends/bridesmaid appeared handing out order or service to everyone and down the bride came in her beautfiul dress. Was amazing and hairs still tingle on back of my neck now when I think about it!

That sounds lovely @2manycushions 

Have you decided anything yet @momai?

I went to an 'engagement' which turned out to be a wedding. It was in their large garden and felt very casual in terms of invite and informal. Once we realised they were getting married there and then, most guests I spoke to felt incredibly awkward.

They felt under dressed for a wedding, embarrassed by pics and had only given an engagement type gift- assuming that there would also be a wedding gift to provide soon too.