With the popularity of extravagant Indian weddings, major U.S. hotels, including the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, are actively wooing Indian couples with attractions, such as a designated path for grooms to arrive by horse. (IANS photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Indian Americans splurging on big weddings, U.S. hotels are actively wooing couples with all sorts of attractions, from a designated path for grooms to arrive by horse to a crash course in South Asian traditions for hospitality staff.
Venues that have the capacity to host Indian weddings are starting to do some big business with the Indian-origin population, now one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the U.S., CBS News reported.
From brides on rickshaws to Vegas-style floor shows, Indian weddings are part-celebration, part-spectacle and June has long been the most popular month of the year for weddings, the report said.
“For us, an average Indian wedding is around $300,000 to $400,000,” said Ani Sandhu, whose company planned a recent event at the Ritz Carlton, Tyson’s Corner in Washington, D.C.
“With both sets of parents paying and a minimum of 250 guests attending, the money adds up fast,” Sandhu was quoted as saying by the daily.
“Any business wants to get a piece of that, especially hotels,” he added.
Major D.C. hotels, including the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, are actively trying to woo Indian couples. The Willard Intercontinental even has a designated path for grooms to arrive by horse.
“As we see the rise in that population and the spending power, it’s something you can’t ignore,” Apoorva Ghandi, vice president of multicultural affairs for Marriott International, was quoted as saying.
In the past three years, his D.C. area hotels have hosted 415 Indian weddings, bringing in $12 million of revenue, the report said.
Marriott has gone so far as to institute an Indian Culture Day, a crash course on South Asian traditions, food and fashion for hospitality staff.
Neel Patel and Nisha Kumar, two Indian Americans, said one of the reasons they chose a Marriott property for their upcoming wedding was because of the hotel staff’s knowledgeable experience with Indian weddings.
“I was surprised there were places here that knew exactly what they were doing,” Patel said.
“For an Indian wedding, the groom has a procession outside,” Kumar explained. “Is that allowed? Not allowed? Open flame? You need that permit.”
In addition to having space for hundreds of guests, hotels need to know what animals are allowed in their jurisdiction. Elephants have been banned in some places but are still allowed in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia.
Thanks Judith!
This Is the Business of Indian Weddings in America~
TalesAlongTheWay 
Reblogged this on ' Ace Friends News ' and commented:
Also as promised Anne added your wonderful post here as well all l can say is WOW Ian http://flip.it/cPmKa ❤️
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Thanks Ian !
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Pleasure Anne as promised Ian
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Interesting Anne. I guess most of the Indian people in the US feel they are required to have the elaborate weddings here, even though it would be much less expensive in India. I always noticed with Niv that looks meant more than price. Even going deeply into debt to look good before her peers and the peasants (namely, me) was important to her. She once bought me a “gift” for helping her out with transportation during the weekends and after work hours, paid for by myself, a $1 doodad that I never could figure out what to do with, but something she felt I should treasure as a gift from my “Master/Mistress” figure. She was amusing, to say the least.
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These are obviously extremely rich people. But even in India, weddings are a very big deal. This is part of the sorrow that is apparent at the birth of a girl baby, cost of a dowry and wedding. All this is against the law in India now, but these long held traditions are hard to get rid of! Great funny story ! I am sure something else would have been more appropriate for you to use as a thank you !
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A tank of gas would have been very welcome at that time. It was $4 something per gallon and she enjoyed trips to out of state places. I still enjoyed her company though.
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I remember that when I was teaching in AZ and had to drive 16 miles one way in a car pretty good with gas! Ouch!
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