It's fortunate we live in a time where people have the option to experience the kind of union they want without much societal blowback.
People can choose to have their traditional lavish weddings and celebrate a new stage of commitment, unity and love with all their friends and family, or two (or more, whatever) people can just take up cohabitation without being thought indecent or what have you. Relationships can really exist at whatever level is most meaningful to those involved, and as long as there is some degree of parity between where the couple stands, no one gets bent out of shape.
Of course that's a very simplified view of something idealized and complex, but it's more than can be said for how things used to work. Ultimately the important part is communicating to make sure everybody involved is on the same page (or at the very least empathetic) regarding stances of marriage and the like.
Personally I think the idea of a large wedding is lovely and romantic (excluding the costs, yikes :x), and I almost always enjoy going to weddings, but it's not something I'm even close to being ready for haha.
I'm a senior in high school. Love's been around for a year or two. It interests me greatly, partially because I've almost all my life been anti-social and paranoid. Though that also means I become the try-hard guy who asks a girl out without knowing she's started dating his best friend (I say this because it's actually happening).
Nothing more to say about it really.
Well you're already doing the most important part, which is getting out there and making the effort. I'm sure things will work out for you!