Definitely sounds like there are more issues under the surface but speaking from a guys perspective: Yes, its kind of messed up as most guys don't really care about the "lavishness" of the wedding, but girls seem to make a bigger deal out of it.
I mean if the white guys became sincere Muslims (not just for marriage) then the parents should have been more understanding, so on the surface they were not justified.
Maybe because religion actually matters for some of us. If you want to marry for marry for love without regard to religion, then go do civil marriage and don't complain about Islamic weddings/parents not supporting you etc.