Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant

Here’s a roundup of the decade’s biggest wedding, which brimmed with innovative themes, high-profile guests and Bollywood A-listers.

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharmaceutical business tycoon Viren A. Merchant, redefined extravagance with their wedding celebrations that took the media by storm. Spread across several destinations, like, Jamnagar, the United Kingdom, Italy and Mumbai – the wedding honored Gujarati traditions while celebrating the couple’s love for all things modern.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant

Childhood sweethearts Radhika, 29 and Anant, 28 have been engaged for a while and their wedding celebrations kicked off in Jamnagar in Gujarat at Vantara – a 3000-acre zoo and animal rehabilitation centre located within Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex, often called the Green Belt Of Gujarat. Jamnagar being the native place of the Ambanis also holds a special place in their hearts. Iconic performers, one of the most notable being, international pop star Rihanna graced the stage after eight years. The three Khans of Bollywood also shook a leg together on stage delighting onlookers. Tech giants Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates were also in attendance. The Jamnagar-based celebrations not only put the couple under the spotlight but also introduced Anant Ambani’s brainchild ‘Vantara’ to the world while emphasizing Reliance’s alignment with sustainability.

The second set of pre-wedding celebrations took place at Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel located in the United Kingdom Acquired at a whopping 529 crores and spanning 300 acres the stunning estate traces its history back to the year 1066 when it was first built. It is also the oldest country club in the UK and has been home to Queen Elizabeth I.

The Ambani family along with their loved ones and several celebrities then jetted off to the Sicilian coast. The four-day luxury cruise started from Palermo and made stops at Rome, Cannes in South of France and Portofino with the theme of the celebrations being La Vite E Un Viaggio – translating to Life is a Journey. Backstreet Boys, rapper Pitbull and popstar Katy Perry entertained the approximate 800 guests onboard. Iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed for the wedding party at Portofino where the grand finale of the cruise celebrations took place.

Back at their home base Mumbai, the Ambanis and the Merchants embraced traditions with a series of Gujarati wedding rituals. The Merchants favored Trident Hotel, Nariman Point and The St. Regis Mumbai. On the other hand, the Ambanis chose their South Mumbai home Antilla and Jio World Convention Centre in BKC for their celebrations. Samuhik Vivah, Mameru, Raas Garba, Sangeet, Mandwa Muhurat, Mehndi, Grah Shanti and Peethi along with Bhajan and Shiv Shakti puja were the traditional pre-wedding rituals that were included in the lineup. Notably, pop star Justin Bieber performed at the Sangeet.

The wedding was hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre with Bollywood celebrities and prominent world personalities shaking a leg at the baraat. Floral animal sculptures were specially crafted for this event and became an instant sensation amongst the guests. Kim Kardashian and her sister, Khloe Kardashian, Hollywood reality stars and entrepreneurs also attended the wedding. Planned to the very last detail and spearheaded by Nita Ambani with Isha and Shloka Ambani backing her up – the wedding was smoothly planned with guests being sent their customised QR codes a few hours before the event for entry. The next day was the ‘Shubh Aashirvad’ event which had Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other political leaders in attendance. The reception named ‘Mangal Utsav’ that followed was just as star-studded with music maestro A.R. Rahman and Shreya Ghoshal performing on stage.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant

THE WEDDING MAKERS
Samuhik Vivah (2nd July)
Location: Reliance Corporate Park
Production & Decor: Popular DecoratorsLarly Bahl, DNA Entertainment Network

Mameru (3rd July)
Location: Antilia
Set Design: Sharmishta Roy
Florals: Surabhi Bhowmick – Mela, Heena Patel- Amaahyaaj, Interflora and Dinaz Noria
Emcee: Vaibhav Mota
DJ: DJ Vicky Metharamani

Raas Garba (4th July)
Location: Trident Nariman Point
Lead Designer: Viji Rudrappan (Krishna Parijata) with Aparna Venkatesh and Saranya Gogineni (Aara Decor & Design), Abhishek S Murthy (Haldi Kumkum)
Production: Maharani Florist
Lighting Design: Srikant
DJ: DJ Vicky Metharamani

Sangeet (5th July)
Location: Jio World Convention Center
Set Design: Omung Kumar
Decor: Seventy EMG
Florals: Dinaz Noria
Live Entertainment: Badshah, Justin Beiber, Thequickstyle
DJ: DJ AJ

Mandwa Muhurat (7th July)
Location: Trident Nariman Point
Wedding Planner: Reshme Saigal Weddings (Merchant Family)
Decor & Design: Bling Mushrooms

Graha Shanti and Pithi (8th July)
Location: Antilia
Set Design: Sharmishta Roy
Florals: Surabhi Bhowmick – Mela, Heena Patel- AmaahyaajInterflora and Dinaz Noria
DJ: DJ Sumit Sethi

Garba & Mehendi (9th July)
Location: St Regis Mumbai
Wedding Planner: Reshme Saigal Weddings(Merchants)
Decor & Production: House of Vivaah
DJ: DJ Vicky Metharamani

Bhajan and Shiv Shakti Puja (10th July)
Location: Antilia
Set Design: Sharmishta Roy
Florals: Surabhi Bhowmick – Mela, Interflora and Dinaz Noria
Emcee: Vaibhav Mota
DJ: DJ Vicky Metharamani

Wedding (12th July)
Location: Jio World Convention Center
Overall Event Management, Technicals and 3D Mapping: DNA Entertainment Network
Designs, Production and Set Construction (all pavilions and main entrance gates): Yogesh Popat Design
Decor: Heena Patel- Amaahyaaj
Florals: Preston Bailey, Dinaz Noria, Heena Patel- Amaahyaaj, and Larly Bahl
Baraat Design: Seventy EMG
Artists: Amit Trivedi, Honey Singh, Himesh Reshammiya, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi, Neeti Mohan, Harrdy Sandhu, Sukhbir, Tesher, Sivmani, King, Kavita Seth, Gurdeep Mehndi, Mame Khan, Pawan Singh, RDB, K’naan, Rema, Louis Fonsi, Jea Brass Band, Anil Bhatt, Sumit Bhatt, Vivek Bhatt, Sanju Rathod, Bhupinder Bappal, Veer
Emcee: Vishaal Rasquinha
DJ: DJ Vicky MetharamaniDJ AJ, DJ Chetas, DJ AmitDJ Ganesh, DJ Aqueel
Other designers at Antilia and Jio World Convention Center: Larly Bahl, Sumant Jayakrishnan, The Creative Company
Show Calling & Stage Management: On Cue Productions
Artist Management (international artists): DNA Entertainment Network
Hospitality and Guest Relations: A New Knot
Wedding Planner: Reshme Saigal Weddings (Merchant Family)
Other Vendors: Floral Art (floral jewellery) Malaga (Potlis), Power Spa (mobile spa), Event Fabric Suppliers (fabrics), Gifts Tell AllThe Tipsy Co., On Cue Productions (Shadows for the Bridal Couple & Immediate Family)

INVITES, CATERERS, BAR & PHOTOGRAPHY
Invites: Itchha Talreja Designs, Ravissant and EDC (Ambanis); Pink Whistle Man (Merchants)
Catering (Main): CCI, FoodlinkPopular HospitalityJio World Convention Center
Specialized Cuisine & Gourmet Experiences: Diva Restaurant, Gourmet Design Company (Chef Sharad Dewan, Dipti Modi), Puneet Sikand, Sage and Saffron, Potel et Chabot Officiel
Food Styling: Eat Drink Design and Aditi Dugar
Bar (For All Events): The Wedding Bartenders
Photography & Film: Dharma Productions, Network18, Stories by Joseph Radhik, Epic Stories (Merchant family)

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