They may not officially tie the knot until July, but Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant have spared no expense when it comes to their upcoming “pre-wedding” celebrations.
The couple, who come from two of India’s richest families, reportedly hired 21 chefs to feed their 1,000 guests at the lavish event at Anant’s parents’ home in Jamnagar this weekend.
The VIP guest list is said to include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Hillary Clinton, who attended the groom’s sister’s equally extravagant wedding in November 2018.
Bride-to-be Anant Ambani, 29, is the daughter of billionaire Shri Viren Merchant, CEO of private healthcare company Encore Healthcare.
Meanwhile, Anant Amabani, 28, is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man and CEO of Reliance Industries, which has revenues of $110 billion.
Bride and groom-to-be Anant Ambani (right) with Radhika Merchant at the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in March 2023
The invitation for the pre-wedding celebrations, which has been widely circulated on social media, read: “With hearts full of joy and excitement, we invite you to Anant and Radhika’s pre-wedding celebrations at our home in Jamnagar.
“We look forward to having you with us to share our joy, love and laughter, and create memories we will cherish forever.”
The times reports that Rihanna will perform over the weekend along with Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh.
For Annant’s sister’s wedding in 2018, the family reportedly paid Beyoncé $6 million to fly in and perform a private concert for guests.
Ahead of the celebrations, guests were given a nine-page dress code covering the range of events taking place this weekend.
Local media report that guests will travel to the city of Jamnagar on charter flights and ferries, and have been told there is a limit of three suitcases per couple.
On Friday night, the happy couple’s loved ones will enjoy a “Night in Everland”-themed cocktail party at the facility.
The next day, they were told to wear “comfortable shoes” for a “walk on the wild side” by visiting the groom’s Reliance animal rescue center, which spans 650 acres and is home to more than 2,000 animals.
Pictured: The groom’s family, who will host the couple’s extravagant three-day pre-wedding celebrations this weekend.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant (centre) seen with the groom’s family at their engagement ceremony.
Pictured: Beyonce shared this photo in 2018 when she flew to India to perform at Anant’s sister’s wedding.
The invitation for the pre-wedding celebrations, which has been widely circulated on social media, read: “With hearts full of joy and excitement, we invite you to Anant and Radhika’s pre-wedding celebrations at our home in Jamnagar.” .
That night, the couple will be hosting their ‘Rogue Mela’ and guests have been asked to dress in a ‘dazzling desi romance’ style.
On the third day, guests were asked to pack something “casual chic” for Tusker Trails, where they will presumably explore the local area.
The final event will be a Hashtakshar, which translates to “signing,” and guests are expected to wear traditional clothing such as sherwanis and saris.
Indian publication National News reports that the 1,000 guests will have access to laundry services throughout the weekend, including express steam service.
The information booklet also states that hair stylists, makeup artists and saree drapers will also be available to help.
The guide says: “We would like you to enjoy every moment to the fullest and create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.”
Hilary Clinton was seen posing with Beyonce’s parents and the bride’s mother at Isha Ambani’s wedding in 2018.
Indian billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani (left) with his daughter Isha Ambani (2nd left), son Anant Ambani (right) and Radhika Merchant in October 2023.
Mukesh Ambani, left, and his daughter Isha Ambani, arrive to attend the wedding of Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in November 2018.
Former first lady of the United States Hillary Clinton was seen posing with guests at Isha Ambani’s wedding in 2018.
According The times of Indiachefs employed by the luxurious Jardin Hotel have prepared more than 2,500 dishes, spanning Japanese, Mexican and Thai cuisine.
An insider told the publication that guests will be able to choose from 75 options for breakfast and another 225 and 275 for lunch and dinner.
There will also be 85 catering options on offer for the traditional midnight meal, which is served from 12 to 4 in the morning.
Furthermore, the source also stated that no menu items will be repeated over the three days.
The happy couple are said to have been childhood friends and both attended university in the United States.
In November 2018, Isha, Anant’s Yale graduate sister, married real estate tycoon Anand Piramal, a childhood friend and son of another super-rich businessman, in a wedding believed to have cost $100 million. dollars (£74.9 million), according to Bloomberg.
According to Indian tradition, Isha’s wedding feast began with the Sangeet, in which the bride and groom and their families typically gather to sing and dance in theatrical performances celebrating their unions.
Decorations outside the house are displayed at the hotel ahead of Isha Ambani’s nuptials in 2018.
The first hint of the luxury of the nuptials was the elaborate embroidered and gold-plated Dolce & Gabbana box that guests received as an invitation. Bollywood stars Karishma Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Aliaadvani are among the guests pictured above.
Celebrity friends: Hillary Clinton, center, with girlfriend Isha Ambani, left, and the bride’s mother Nita on Sunday. Mrs Clinton reportedly stayed with the Ambanis during an earlier visit to Mumbai.
The first hint of the nuptials’ luxury was the elaborate embroidered and gold-plated Dolce & Gabbana box that guests received as an invitation.
Each exquisite rose-print package contained a series of deluxe cards that unfolded to reveal details of the events that would take place over the five-day event.
According to Indian tradition, the festival began with the Sangeet, in which the bride and groom and their families usually gather to sing and dance in theatrical performances celebrating their unions.
But Ambani, whose business interests span oil, telecommunications, chemicals, textiles, technology and food, didn’t hold back when it came to entertaining his little girl.
Beyoncé flew in especially for a 45-minute private concert, where she did several costume changes and sang the hit songs Perfect and Crazy In Love.
It is unlikely that another musical act will perform that same day, as it is usually reserved for the opening night festivities.
Bollywood superstars including Aishwarya Rai partied the night away as laser lights streaked across the sky.
Other VIP guests at the wedding included former Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, BP Group CEO Bob Dudley and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Piramal and Miss Ambani, a Yale graduate, selected the best spots in Udaipur, known as the “city of lakes,” for the weekend, taking over the five-star Oberoi Udaivilas hotel and the 18th-century City Palace for two evening events.