My SIL only invited immediate family and their spouses, including her children and his children (second marriage) I think we were about 12 people. Took place at a hotel on the beach. Quick ceremony outside, cocktail hour in the bar area, and then dinner in one of their restaurants. The table was decorated with some flowers that were brought in.
The son of a friend of mine got married in Ashville, NC, I think at the Biltmore. Just parents, siblings, and a couple best friends. Nice ceremony and dinner afterwards.
Another friend of mine rented a big beach house for the week. Relatives and friends were free to come and go all week long. The ceremony was one of the days, but people who did not even make it, still came on a different day to spend time with them.
The daughter of my neighbor went to Jamaica with just close family and a couple of friends. Beach wedding and a dinner after.
I know people who have gotten married in Vegas. Most were long weekends with a 6–20 friends and family in attendance.
One friend of mine did not have a small wedding, but you could do it small. We went to the church for the ceremony and then drove to her parent’s farm for the reception. She had a big tent for people to sit under and the driveway was the dance floor. They did have a DJ, but now you can just set up an ipod. Oh, and we knew ahead of time to bring clothes to change into after the wedding. I literally changed from a skirt, blouse, and high heels, into shorts, shirt, and flat shoes. Many people had on jeans. The caterer bbq’d right there and we all ate chicken, and some sides. One of my favorite weddings. One really cool thing they did was from the church to the farm along the main highway a billboard said congratulations to John and Jane. They had no idea a relative had bought the space.