My husband and I also did the judge ceremony. We only had a wedding because his mother flipped that her only child didn't have a wedding. Weddings are a good indicator of what the marriage will be like in my opinion. The more lavish, the more unrealistic, the harder the marriage is going to be. Unless the in law is the one pushing for things, but even then it's a good indicator of how much of a problem they will be in your relationship. Luckily, my husband keeps her at a long distance and we no longer interact with her much anymore.