Groom Doesn't want Bride's Father to Pay for Wedding
My Fiancé and I are starting to plan our wedding, and now that I've found a great place to hold the wedding that offers an all-inclusive wedding package, now my Fiancé says that he doesn't want for our wedding to be an event, and that he doesn't care if anyone is there but us two. And he is insisting that it would hurt his pride to have another man "provide" a wedding for him, and that he doesn't want the day to be about my father or anyone else but us. And that by paying for the wedding himself, he will maintain more control. He doesn't want to feel like he owes anyone anything.
I have explained to him that every girl dreams of her wedding day, and that I do want it to be an event, and that I do want my family and friends there. (I'm figuring about 30 guests total at the wedding, so not a big deal). Furthermore, I don't want for the wedding costs to take away from the money he neeeds to be spending on getting his home in better shape for me to move in to.
I have also explained that it is customary for the brides father to pay, and that for much of my life, my father has short-changed me and that this is an opportunity for my father to do something nice for me. This angle didn't work, because my fiancé says my father has done too little too late, and he doesn't want someone else providing our special day.
I am at a loss here. Any suggestions?
Thank you.