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The recent union of Gitika Ahuja and Rajeev Kaul was a love match that holds promise for the state of Hawaii.

The New York couple brought about 150 guests from their native India and all over the world to their destination wedding on Oahu. The main event was a sacred Hindu ceremony Feb. 1 at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course in Kailua. The bejeweled groom arrived on horseback with a boisterous Bollywood-style entourage. The bride, who wore a custom-made white "lengha" with gold and ruby tones, looked regal. The helicopter flyover and orchid drop at the end of the ceremony cemented their VIP status.

But the nuptials were only one part of the festivities. The full celebration spanned several days — a welcome event at the Sheraton Waikiki’s RumFire, pre-wedding parties at the Kathy Ireland estate in East Oahu, a wedding reception at the Royal Hawaiian and a next-day family brunch.

"There were hundreds of people working on just this one wedding," said Mira Savara, owner of Indian Weddings in Hawaii, who coordinated the various events. "We worked with vendors from all over Oahu. They supplied everything from henna artistry to food and beverage to flowers and decorations, rentals, music, lighting, photography and videography, to transportation and more."

Couples like the Kauls who come to the isles for traditional Indian weddings represent a small but growing trend for Hawaii’s tourist economy. Few visitors come to Hawaii directly from India, but the country’s developing economy and the recent boom in local Indian weddings has put the country on the visitor industry’s radar.

"As the second most populous country in the world, India has a growing middle class with disposable income and increasing demand to travel abroad," Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney said.

According to estimates from HTA and the federal Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, 2,229 Indian visitors came to Hawaii through August 2012. While HTA has no details on the reason for their visits, some in Hawaii’s visitor industry speculate that wedding invitations have fueled demand. The tourism count associated with Indian weddings is much higher, though, as guests may also come from the U.S. mainland, England, Canada or Indonesia.

"Guests come from all over the world. It’s a very cosmopolitan culture," Savara said. "Interest in Hawaii is definitely growing. I’m up to more than two weddings a month."

Others concur that the market is gaining ground.

"I work about one a month. That’s even more than I got in San Francisco, which has a large Indian population," said freelance wedding videographer Shaun Edward Goo.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel hosts more than five yearly.

"That might not sound like a lot, but (spending) is higher and it comes with guest rooms, longer stays and multiple events," said Royal Hawaiian General Manager Kelly Hoen. "Our company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is targeting the market. We’ve had huge growth in new hotels in India and are partnering with them to increase Hawaii’s exposure." 

Likewise, Turtle Bay has been developing its Indian wedding market for five years, said catering sales manager Pura Stephen. "The sheer size of each event makes it a very important market for us and for Hawaii," Stephen said.

Hawaii, with its small Indian community, might seem an unlikely destination for traditional Indian weddings. Obtaining some of the spices needed for traditional meals or renting an elephant for the groom’s entry are impossible.

Still, the state has some advantages. For starters, guests say the backdrop is similar to Goa or Kerala, top picks in India for brides wanting beach weddings.

"I think many Indian brides would feel at home in Hawaii," said Ashwani Ahuja, who took multiple flights from New Delhi to reach Oahu for the wedding of his niece Gitika. "It looks and feels like India. When we go home and show the pictures, I think you’ll see more couples coming from India." 

While it’s more common for mainland Indian couples to hold destination weddings in the Caribbean or Mexico, the Kauls chose Hawaii for sentimental and practical reasons. Hawaii was the favorite vacation spot of the bride’s late father, so this was a way of staying connected. The couple also got engaged while vacationing on Kauai.

"We love Hawaii. We wanted our wedding to be a large family reunion and a vacation for people," said the now Gitika Ahuja Kaul. "Having the wedding here ensured that only the people who really wanted to come attended."

No direct flights link India and Hawaii, so the journey can take nearly one or two entire days depending on the connections. But Savara said some families like the distance, as it lets them trim guests without offense. In India, much as in Japan, families must invite nearly everyone in their social circle, a number that can reach into the thousands. Also, the time constraints of the journey give modern couples, with demanding careers, an excuse to skip some wedding traditions.

"A reason they are looking at Hawaii and Turtle Bay is the opportunity for a smaller, more intimate wedding," Stephen said.

Still, most Indian weddings in Hawaii are over the top. Wedding planners report that the festivities mean larger guest lists and costs from $40,000 to more than $1 million.

"We average 33 guests for a destination wedding, but Indian weddings tend to range from 50 to 150 guests," said Sheraton Waikiki General Manager Kelly Sanders. One event even brought 500, he said.

Steven Boyle, designer for the Kaul wedding, said scene setting typically starts at $10,000.

"We had one wedding where the decor was about $500,000," said Boyle. "They often have days of events. Everything has to look perfect and be culturally correct."

Detail was so important to the Kauls that the groom’s uncle Hira Lal Koul gave Ginniberries owner Michelle Nakaya a Kashmiri cooking lesson to ensure authenticity.

"Rogan josh (spicy lamb) is the big celebratory dish. It has to be right," said Koul, who couldn’t even stay out of the kitchen at the "sangeet."

Nakaya, who has been catering Indian weddings since 2004, said they require strict attention.

"They are a way more demanding client because they want everything to be very high-end, and they want to bring their own traditions here," she said

Planner Savara, who grew up in India and had her own traditional wedding there, said the culture requires perfection.

"The better the wedding, the better the marriage," she said.

The efforts of Starwood, Savara and other local vendors on the Kaul wedding got attention. Preeti Nangia, one of the bride’s single friends from New York, said the isle-style nuptials were impressive.

"I’d love to come back," Nangia said. "It was a great place to have an Indian wedding."

Wedding rituals

Traditional Indian weddings differ by region and religion, last for days and involve endless ritual. Most begin with an engagement party, then involve a "mehndi ki raat," a "sangeet," the wedding ceremony, a reception and finally a next-day brunch. The intent, especially in the days of arranged marriages, was to create ties between the two families. Modern couples often combine elements for convenience. However, the families of the couple still must invite their entire social circle, which may comprise thousands. Destination weddings are becoming a popular way to trim guests without offending anyone. They also offer a place for international guests to meet in the middle.

Mehndi ki raat

The mehndi ki raat, or night of henna, signifies beautification before a wedding. An artist etches designs in henna ink on the bride’s hands and feet. Supposedly, the depth of the hue represents the depth of the love. After application, the bride must be treated like a princess since touching anything mars the art. When someone is lazy, Indians often joke, "Do you have henna on your hands?" This refers to the special treatment reserved for brides. Traditionally, the groom’s name was hidden in the design to serve as an icebreaker in arranged marriages.

Sangeet

Traditionally, the sangeet (music) was a 10-day home-based celebration. Nowadays it’s often a one-day affair that serves as an icebreaker between the couple’s families. Songs, which are typically chosen from the region of India that the couple comes from, generally include jokes about in-laws and advice to the bride and groom. Traditional dancing and feasting also are expected. The event can be elaborate; however, it should always be fun. It’s sometimes combined with the mehndi ki raat.

Cooking lesson

Tradition is so important in Indian weddings that the groom’s family gave Michelle Nakaya, owner of Ginniberries and their sangeet caterer, a cooking lesson in Kashmiri cuisine. Specific celebratory dishes are associated with Kashmir, which is between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. The couple shared Indian spices with Nakaya so her rogan josh (lamb cooked in spicy red gravy) would taste like the real deal. They also imported authentic desserts. Nakaya said each Indian wedding is different; however, a high level of detail holds true for all.