Experience with courthouse marriages, Please Read !

So me and my fiance have been together for 4 1/2 years. We have a three year old daughter and we've been wanting to get married forever ! I have this big dream wedding planned in my mind but in reality we really don't have the money..i was thinking that maybe we could do a courthouse wedding &on our one year anniversary maybe have a actual wedding..could someone please tell me how a courthouse wedding works? Can I still wear a dress &have a few family members there ? Was it still as special as an actual ceremony ? Pros &cons ? Please ANY input is welcome !