Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Grand Wedding Extravaganza

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Grand Wedding Extravaganza


The wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, a grand 6-day event, took place from 12 July 2024 until 30 August 2024 in Mumbai, India, at the opulent Antilia building and Jio Convention Center. Anant, the son of Mukesh Ambani—the richest man in Asia—and Nita Ambani, hosted a celebration that attracted many distinguished guests.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant with his presence, offering his blessings to the newlyweds. According to a Zoom report, he also spent a notable two hours interacting with the guests, making the celebration even more memorable.

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.

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 Center for his baraat. Millions more scrolled through on social media as Kim and Khloe Kardashian posted themselves in traditional Indian clothing with a camera crew in tow.

 

The fervor was understandable. Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, and Nita Ambani, his wife, hosted a hastakshar for their son and his fiancée in March where Rihanna performed. In the late spring, they held grand parties for their son and his fiancée in both London and on a cruise ship that sailed the Mediterranean. One had to wonder: If the pre-wedding events were this over-the-top, what would the actual wedding be like?

Sangeet Celebration Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding

Their nuptials kicked off on July 5 with a sangeet—a pre-wedding event where both the bride, groom, and their families do choreographed dances on stages to symbolize their upcoming union.

• Radhika’s Outfit: Radhika wore a crystal outfit by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.
  “I wanted to make a lasting impression,” she says.

• Anant’s Outfit: Anant also opted for a look by Khosla, complete with ruby diamond buttons by Kantilal Chhotalal.

• Symbolic Brooch: Pinned on his chest was a cheetah brooch, a nod to his 3,000-acre animal rescue sanctuary Vantara in Gujarat.

• Isha’s Outfit: Isha wore a custom Schiaparelli saree: a first for the French haute couture house.

As the party grew late—and Justin Bieber took the stage for a private concert—Radhika changed into a metal mesh saree by Manish Malhotra.

“It featured a corset that added a modern twist,” Radhika explains. “Although it was quite heavy, it was worth every moment.”

Ceremonial Traditions

Over the next few days, the couple had several poojas (ceremonial prayers) as well as a mehendi ceremony where the bride and her guests get their hands and feet painted with henna. Then on July 11, they held their haldi—an auspicious tradition when a soon-to-be-married couple is covered in turmeric paste for prosperity.

• Radhika’s Haldi Outfit: Radhika wore sherara pants from Anamika Khanna and a dupatta (stole) made of flowers.
  “The atmosphere was filled with joy—and a bit of chaos,” says Radhika. “Our haldi is what I hold most dear to me.”

The Baraat

July 12 was the baraat, the groom’s wedding procession. Arriving at the Jio World Convention, there were musical performers and hundreds of dancers as Anant arrived on horseback.

• Extravagant Decor: “It was out of this world. I’ve never seen anything like this,” designer Prabal Gurung, who was one of over 2,000 guests in attendance along with Tony Blair, Nick Jonas, and Priyanka Chopra, says of the baraat.
  “The whole room was filled with flowers and Bollywood celebrities. There was all this dancing and singing.

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• Floral Installations: The flowers were orchestrated by event planner Preston Bailey, who made over 60 floral animal sculptures using Indian flowers, including monkeys, elephants, and tigers. Each one took over 100,000 flowers to make.
  “It took many sleepless nights,” Bailey tells Vogue, who arrived in Mumbai three weeks ago in order to pull it off. Throughout the evening, people lined up to take photos in front of the installations.

The Wedding Ceremony

After a short break, it was time for the wedding. The Hindu ceremony began with the traditional jaimala, where Anant and Radhika exchanged garlands symbolizing acceptance of one another.

• Jaimala Ceremony: The jaimala was followed by the kanyadaan, the official moment where Radhika’s parents gave Anant their blessing to marry their daughter.

• Phera Ceremony: The actual wedding ceremony involved the bride and groom taking circumambulations around a ritual fire.
  Radhika describes the act as “somber yet mesmerizing.”

• Vows: “Each vow encompasses promises of love, fidelity, prosperity, and mutual respect, creating a foundation for a lifetime of shared happiness.”

This grand and meticulously planned wedding set a new standard for wedding photography trends in 2024. As you plan your own big day, consider incorporating these must-have shots to capture the essence and splendor of your celebration. From candid moments and creative lighting to drone shots and personalized albums, these photography trends will ensure your wedding memories are as timeless and beautiful as Anant and Radhika’s unforgettable affair.

Wedding Vows and Ceremonies

Bollywood actor Salman Khan, along with his sister Arpita, posed for a photograph at the extravagant wedding of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s son, Anant Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.

• “Each vow encompasses promises of love, fidelity, prosperity, and mutual respect, creating a foundation for our married life,” she says.

• Following this, the sindoor daan and mangalsutra ceremonies took place, where Anant applied vermillion in Radhika’s hair and tied a sacred necklace around her neck.

• “This can be likened to the exchange of rings in a Western wedding,” Radhika explains.

• “The ceremony concluded with the aashirwad, where we sought blessings from our elders, ensuring their good wishes for our future.”

Bridal Attire and Jewelry

Madhuri Dixit mesmerized guests at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s lavish wedding with her breathtaking performance of the classic song ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai.’ The star-studded event, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, attracted a host of celebrities, adding to the evening’s grandeur.

• For this holy moment, Radhika donned a one-of-a-kind couture look by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla in red and white, honoring the Gujarati tradition of panetar.

  • Her ghagra was adorned with intricate floral motifs, precious stones, and sequins.

  • Upon her head was a six-foot veil that featured a delicate jaali pattern and cut-work.

  • “My veil was a true Zardozi marvel,” says Radhika, referring to the cultural term for gold thread embroidery.

• Around her neck, she wore a multi-emerald ranihaar, or bridal necklace.

  • Radhika tells Vogue the piece is a family heirloom: “I wore the same necklace my sister and aunts wore at their weddings, and I truly believe it gave me a special strength and blessing,” she says.

• The groom, meanwhile, wore Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.

Bidaai Ceremony

• Then, it was time for the bidaai—the farewell ceremony for the bride as she leaves her family home to move into her marital home in Indian weddings.

  • “It’s considered a bittersweet and sentimental moment that marks the start of the bride’s new life as a wife and the end of her role as a daughter,” Radhika explains.

  • She changed into a custom red-and-gold lehenga by Manish Malhotra featuring a blouse from the Indian house’s archive that was over 100 years old.

  • “There are looks—dresses and jewelry, which I have planned on with my mom and sister since I was a little girl; I haven’t paid much attention to trends,” she says.

Religious Ceremony and Reception

• On Saturday, the Ambanis held a pooja to the goddess Saraswati.

  • “For this day I wore my favorite outfit of the whole wedding—a ghagra painted by one of my favorite artists, Jayshree Burman, in collaboration with Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla,” says Radhika.

  • “Burman intricately painted an entire world within my ghagra with Lakshmi and Vishnu at the center.”

  • The religious ceremony also attracted international press attention: India’s prime minister Narendra Modi attended.

• Sunday was the Mangal Utsav: the couple’s wedding reception, attended by over 14,000 people.

  • Radhika wore a gold filigree corset from Dolce & Gabbana and a constructed saree from Anamika Khanna for the final event of her wedding weekend.

Post-Wedding Reflections

• Now that it’s all over, Radhika says she has an “overwhelming sense of fulfillment.”

  • “We’ve been friends and confidants to one another for so long, and now we are finally embarking upon our official journey as a married couple,” she says of her marriage to Anant.

  • “I can’t wait to see what our shared life has in store
    
    Among them was superstar Rajinikanth, who was seen enjoying the exquisite cuisine alongside his family, including wife Latha, daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth, son-in-law Vishagan Vanangamudi, and grandson. The wedding was a splendid affair, capturing the essence of luxury and grandeur in every detail.

Varun Dhawan made a stylish entrance at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, adding a touch of glamour to the star-studded event.

• Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar graced Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Aashirwad ceremony wearing an elegant sherwani designed by Umang Mehta. The designer noted, “I understand what he likes, and his taste,” highlighting the bespoke nature of Tendulkar’s attire for the grand event.
  
  The Ambani wedding, a spectacular event attended by top celebrities, was further enlivened by Baba Ramdev’s spirited participation in the celebrations of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s union. A delightful moment captured on video shows Baba Ramdev dancing joyously with the groom, Anant Ambani, adding a unique charm to the grand affair.
  
  Pregnant Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh exuded regal elegance in photos from Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding ceremony. The couple’s royal appearance added a touch of sophistication to the already glamorous event.
  
  Shah Rukh Khan couldn’t take his eyes off his wife, Gauri Khan, as they chatted animatedly during the pheras of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding. Their endearing interaction added a touch of romance to the grand celebration.
  
  From Dimple and Akhilesh Yadav to Boris Johnson, a host of prominent politicians attended Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding with their families. Their presence added an extra layer of prestige to the already illustrious guest list at the grand celebration.
  
  On July 11, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Mumbai to attend the wedding ceremony of Mukesh Ambani’s son, Anant Ambani. She also announced plans to meet with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar on July 12.