Inside Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Grand Wedding Celebration in Mumbai

This weekend, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding took place in Mumbai – and it’s no exaggeration to say the whole world was watching. The nuptials of Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son and Radhika, the daughter of business tycoon Viren Merchant, were a spectacle of grandeur and tradition, capturing global attention and drawing crowds and celebrities alike.

A Global Event

Thousands gathered in the streets of Mumbai to watch the son of India’s wealthiest man travel from the family home of Antilla to the Jio World Convention Centre for his baraat. Millions more scrolled through social media as Kim and Khloe Kardashian posted themselves in traditional Indian clothing with a camera crew in tow, rumoured to be filming an episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Major news outlets from the New York Times to the BBC sent reporters to cover the affair, and tabloids churned out articles on the family’s every move.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

The fervour surrounding the Ambani-Merchant wedding was understandable given the extravagant pre-wedding celebrations. In March, the Ambanis hosted a hastakshar for Anant and Radhika, with Rihanna performing. Subsequent celebrations included grand parties in London and a Mediterranean cruise, each event more lavish than the last.

A Weekend of Ceremonies

Vogue was granted an exclusive inside look at the wedding. Radhika shared that the wedding dates were chosen with meticulous care based on auspicious astrological alignments. The planning, overseen by Nita Ambani with the help of her daughter Isha Ambani and daughter-in-law Shloka Ambani, was a monumental task involving several teams of event planners and in-house staff.

The celebrations began on July 5 with a sangeet, where both families performed choreographed dances. Radhika wore a crystal outfit by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, while Anant donned an ensemble by the same designers, complete with ruby diamond buttons and a cheetah brooch. The evening also featured a private concert by Justin Bieber.

Traditional Rituals

Over the next few days, the couple participated in various traditional ceremonies. The mehendi ceremony saw the bride and guests having their hands and feet painted with henna, while the haldi ceremony involved applying turmeric paste for prosperity. Radhika wore sharara pants from Anamika Khanna for the haldi, which she described as a joyful yet chaotic event.

The Grand Baraat and Wedding

On July 12, Anant’s baraat made a grand entrance at the Jio World Convention Centre, with musical performers and hundreds of dancers. Designer Prabal Gurung, who attended the event, described the scene as out of this world, with the room filled with flowers and Bollywood celebrities. The floral arrangements, created by event planner Preston Bailey, included over 60 animal sculptures made from more than 100,000 flowers each.

The Hindu wedding ceremony began with the jaimala, where Anant and Radhika exchanged garlands. This was followed by the kanyadaan, where Radhika’s parents gave their blessing for the marriage, and the phera, where the couple took circumambulations around a ritual fire. Radhika wore a couture look by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla in red and white, honoring the Gujarati tradition of panetar, with a six-foot veil and a multi-emerald ranihaar, a family heirloom. Anant also wore an outfit by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.

The Emotional Bidaai

The bidaai, or farewell ceremony, marked Radhika’s transition from her family home to her marital home. She wore a custom red-and-gold lehenga by Manish Malhotra for this emotional moment. Radhika described her trousseau as a lifetime in the making, with dresses and jewellery planned with her mother and sister since childhood.

Display of Generosity

In a display of opulence and generosity, Anant Ambani gifted luxurious customised watches to select guests at his wedding. According to sources, each watch is valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore. The Ambanis took special care to customise these exquisite timepieces for their esteemed guests.

The exceptional gift comprised limited edition Audemars Piguet watches, which were presented to select attendees during the grand wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. A viral video captured celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Meezan, and other groomsmen showcasing the elegant watches. The customised watch gifted by Anant Ambani features a 41mm 18K pink gold case, is 9.5mm thick, and includes a sapphire crystal back and screw-locked crown. It boasts a pink gold-toned dial with a Grande Tapisserie pattern, blue counters, pink gold hour markers, and Royal Oak hands with a luminescent coating. Additional recipients of these luxurious watches reportedly include Ranveer Singh, Shikhar Pahariya, and Veer Pahariya, among others.

Final Celebrations

The celebrations culminated with a pooja to the goddess Saraswati on Saturday and a grand reception, the Mangal Utsav, on Sunday attended by over 14,000 people. Radhika wore a gold filigree corset from Dolce & Gabbana and a saree by Anamika Khanna for the final event. Reflecting on the wedding, Radhika expressed an overwhelming sense of fulfilment, looking forward to her life with Anant.

The Ambani-Merchant wedding was a blend of tradition, opulence, and modernity, a testament to meticulous planning and a celebration that captivated the world. The event not only highlighted the couple’s love story but also showcased the grandeur of Indian weddings on a global stage.