My DH & I 'do' weddings, he has presided over ceremonies with just the 2ppl, weddings with 400ppl, black tie affairs, barefoot affairs, theme weddings, traditional weddings, they ALL have been meaningful, beautiful ceremonies, in each instance the bride was gorgeous, the groom was beaming & when it was over they happily started their new lives together...
My DH & I had a ceremony in front of a justice of the peace in the courthouse with 2 employees of the county as witnesses, we have been married 24yrs in March...we renewed our vows @ 15yrs with a big blowout, I wore a gown & veil & carried a huge bouquet, we had champagne & a seafood buffet, we had family come from all over, it was WONDERFUL...
In both instances we did what we could afford @ the time, no one helped us, in fact for our renewal we bought my mom's plane ticket (which was the most expensive item)...
What I am saying is simply this, rely on yourself & your fiancee to pay for what you can afford & be happy & blessed that you have found your DH whom you choose to spend the rest of your life with! The $1,000 that your DF is kicking in is a bonus, a 'thank you' is all you should talk to him about other than how you want him to walk you down the aisle.
Be Happy! Be Blessed! Be Married!