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Pre-wedding events, and any additional celebrations that extend the wedding timeline, are trending in a big way; couples are paying homage to their love throughout the months leading up to the big day. But, no one’s done it quite like this before. The pre-wedding celebration for Anant Ambani—son of Reliance Industries tycoon and India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani—and his bride, Radhika Merchant, spanned three days in March; drew 1,200 guests, including tech billionaires, Bollywood stars, and Rihanna; and reportedly cost $150 million. (It wasn’t all excess: The night before the festivities kicked off, the Ambani family hosted a communal dinner for more than 50,000 villagers in Jamnagar, in the Indian state of Gujarat.)
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You may have been following along as the likes of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg posted snapshots to social media. We dug a little deeper, scouring the Internet and following along with the bride’s stylists to get the low-down on the incredible fashion choices of the weekend and other fun details. Here are some favorite FYIs.
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The celebration was planned in just three months.
You’d never know by the looks of it: There were fireworks, drone shows, multiple days of events, a host of resources at guests’ fingertips, and even a Rihanna concert. The planning duo behind it all? The groom’s mother, Nita Ambani, and Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who served as creative director and created looks for the bride.
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Every day had a theme (or two).
The weekend began with An Evening in Everland, a fashion-forward fête that kicked things off with the much-talked-about Rihanna performance. Next came a Mela Rouge party. Day three started with a jungle-themed brunch at a wildlife refuge and ended with “Hastakshar at Valley of the Gods,” a celebration of Indian culture and traditions that included a seated outdoor dinner, a maha aarti ceremony of light, and music from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. To prepare, guests were provided with a nine-page style guide and received assistance from a team of artisans, drapists, hair and makeup artists, launderers and more on-site.
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Radhika’s fashion was flawless.
The bride-to-be worked with stylists Shereen Sikka and Rhea Kapoor to curate looks for each event, and, with the exception of a stellar Versace, the selections were an ode to Indian designers.
The first night, Radikha wore Versace—and the piece may look familiar: The look was originally designed for Blake Lively when she co-chaired the 2022 Met Gala. Radhika’s version had a few notable customizations: It featured rose gold hues rather than the copper and turquoise tones of Lively’s and a shorter ankle-length hem.
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As Rihanna took the stage, Radhika changed into a rainbow fringed mini by London-based Indian designer Ashish, paired with Cartier sunglasses and Manolo heels, to dance the night away.
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For Mela Rouge, the bride donned not one but two luxe lehengas by Manish Malhotra (who also creative directed the weekend). The first was a corset-inspired gold gown with coordinating shawl; the second a steel blue ensemble adorned with Swarovski crystals. “The diamond cutwork blouse, crafted over 5,700 hours and [featuring] 300,000 globally sourced crystals, showcases a blend of art, time, and elegance,” the designer stated on social media.
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To best celebrate her culture, Radhika closed out the festivities in a custom couture Tarun Tahiliani ensemble with a veil to mark her as a bride. The designer worked to craft a nearly weightless but still rich veil. “Tahiliani and his team meticulously crafted a handwoven tissue veil, a delicate masterpiece that, despite its lightweight nature, bore witness to countless hours of intricate hand embroidery,” the design team posted.
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Wedding preparations remain under lock and key.
If the pre-wedding festivities are any preview, we’re in for a big treat come July—but internet sleuths are hard-pressed to find any information about the upcoming nuptials. Here’s what we do know:
- Much like the pre-wedding, the wedding itself is sure to span multiple days: Indian weddings typically comprise at least three events, and sometimes more, including a haldi, mehndi, sangeet, and wedding ceremony followed by a reception. Assuming there will also be a farewell brunch, we’d recommend having your phones at the ready July 10-13 to follow along.
- The Ambani family is constructing a brand-new Hindu temple complex to house the various rites and ceremonies. After the wedding, the temple complex will be opened for public use.
- If past Ambani weddings are any preview, we’re anticipating another concert of epic proportions. Beyonce performed at Anant’s older sister’s wedding festivities in 2018; Coldplay and The Chainsmokers played at his older brother’s celebration.
- Fashion, fashion, fashion. We cannot wait to see what Radhika wears and anticipate that she’ll continue to work with her dedicated styling team, led by Rhea Kapoor.