AceShowbiz -

Courteney Cox and her fiance Johnny McDaid are planning an elopement. Planning for a big wedding ceremony for Courteney and Johnny "was so stressful" that they briefly split last year, according to a source close to the couple.

"Making wedding plans was so stressful and it was part of why they split for a while," the source tells Radar Online, adding that Courteney and Johnny have since realized that elopement is the best way to tie the knot.

"They just want to do this with a minimum of fuss in an LA registry office, then they'll have a wedding dinner party at her place with friends and family," explains the source. The couple wants their nuptials to "be just the two of them with Coco [Courteney's daughter with David Arquette]."

Courteney and Johnny will reportedly get married this fall. The source adds, "They've told people to keep a weekend free in October." The couple is planning a honeymoon trip to Northern Ireland, according to the source.

However, not everyone will be happy with the elopement. "Johnny's family won't be happy about this, but it's what they both want right now. They're finally in a place where they're having loads of fun," says the source.

Courteney and Johnny called off their engagement back in December 2015. The pair were later back together and were spotted kissing at Heathrow Airport in London in mid-April.