Small wedding advice

You wouldn't get worried about awkward silences or cutlery banging together if you were just going out with friends for a birthday meal or get together, so there's no reason to worry just because the meal is to celebrate a wedding instead! Have some music on in the background if you think people won't talk much, but if these are all close friends and family, I'm sure they'll have lots to say to each other anyway.

Our reception got cancelled as they weren't allowed under the restrictions when we married, but we'd originally planned to have 30 in total (including us) in a private room at a local pub, with no speeches, no top table, no formal entrance, no formal cake cutting - just a bunch of family & friends spread over a few tables having a nice meal together. If that had happened, I can't see any reason why it wouldn't have worked well.

For the ceremony, we walked in together (so no big all-eyes-on-you walking up the aisle moment) and limited formal photos to just a couple of shots. My OH also wore a kilt (he's half Scots) and I wore a very simple dress so neither of us looked more 'dressed up' than the other.

All I would suggest is that if you have a short & simple wedding, you make it clear beforehand what this will be - when so many weddings go on into the small hours these days, you don't want people preparing for a late night event (e.g. taxis, overnight accommodation) if it's going to be finishing at 6pm!

"my fiancé comes from a very big Irish family who love to drink and party. xx"

In that case, I really don't think you need to be worrying about long silences!