Married before...needing advice

Im looking for a little advice, I've been married before but my partner hasn't, he lost his family a few years ago and mine is rather small, so we were thinking of a small wedding intimate, even considered gretna green, hes asked if I want the dress etc with being married before and I feel like I do want it plus he hasn't been married before and I want him feel what its like and I want to make him proud when he sees me etc its going be small but I still want to experience it all with him , looking at other venues for small weddings, obviously its a small wedding so not sure a party after would work but dont want get in my dress and then a few hours later take it off if we have nothing planned, sorry if this doesn't make sense im struggling how to explain it all