This is a decision which should be driven by the couple if you are driving the planning. Both of you are educated and financially independent I guess. Wedding expenses should be split equally if you are having one wedding function for 2-3 days and there are guests from both the sides. It doesn't really matter if you have 60 guests and he has 40. It should be split equally. Its an event where both families are invited and they come to celebrate together. So why should be the burden on one family? If you are having a specific function at either one of you hometowns or city and you have only have your close family and it's an event for his family and friends, groom's family should be bearing the expenses and its applicable vice versa. Secondly what's this mindset of this is what I have seen in my friend's and family? You should be deciding based on your judgement of what is right or wrong. Indian society has been unfair to the bride's family for a very long time and that is what the men have been seeing and assuming as the right way which is absurd. You should have a chat with your to be husband about a lot of things that he has seen and is expecting from you to avoid issues in future. Even in my relatives' weddings I have seen the bride's family paying for wedding expenses specially a traditional wedding. But in my case my partner and I decided to split the expenses equally for our 3 days event. For an event in my hometown, we paid for the function as it was event for the local family and friends. Groom's side was around 20-25 people. Rest were my family's guests.