Elope and have a small reception to follow?

Either one can work. It’s all up to you and your FH. I think small ceremonies and weddings are really nice. It just depends on if you want to share the actual ceremony part with others or make it special with just the two of you. Good luck.

There are upsides and downsides to both options. Consider hurt feelings amongst family and friends. Don't make it the make or break factor but sometimes to keep the peace it's easier to include more at the ceremony. However if a more casual reception is what you're after, you can do it with both.
Because this is supposed to be a once in a lifetime affair besides a potential vow renewal in the future, will you feel regret having one over the other?

Is the elopement the same day? In the same general area meaning not a dw?

I personally think that the tiny wedding, larger reception is a little rude and would not want to attend a celebration for an event that I wasn't invited to. I would try to compromise somewhere in the middle and have one small ceremony and reception or just elope and be done.

Hey Lenae! Welcome to the WeddingWire community! Congratulations on your engagement!!

Either of these ideas would be great options for keeping your wedding small.

If you decided to elope, have you thought about where you would like to go? Plenty of couples go down this route and then plan a celebration for their return.

It totally depends on whether you would like to have some close family and friends attend your ceremony, This is something that you can only decide yourselves.

Have you written a pros and cons list for both?

Both work. My parents went to reno to tie the knot. Invited us kids, their parents, and couple of their siblings. Then the weekend after they got home had a big reception with the family/friends who were not invited. It made the wedding for them a little more meaningful/personal just having a select few there and the reception a lot more fun.