In various cultures around the world, multi-day wedding events have become increasingly popular. What used to be a half-day affair can now stretch over three or four days, featuring cocktail receptions on Friday nights and Sunday brunches with lingering hangovers.
However, a wedding spanning seven months is highly unusual, even among the grandest Indian weddings. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani—India’s wealthiest man with an estimated net worth exceeding $122 billion according to Forbes—and pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant are finally tying the knot after a lengthy celebration period. Since January, the couple has been marking their engagement with events approximately every six weeks.
Their celebrations have been nothing short of extravagant, including a star-studded engagement party and performances by global music icons such as Rihanna and Justin Bieber. If you’re curious about the timeline and details of what is being hailed as the wedding of the year, here’s a comprehensive rundown.
December: The Engagement
On December 29, Anant Ambani proposed to Radhika Merchant in a relatively modest ceremony at a temple in Rajasthan, surrounded by family and close friends.
January: The Engagement Party
Radhika Merchant participated in a traditional “mehndi” ceremony on January 18, during which her hands and feet were adorned with intricate henna designs. The following day, the couple hosted their “Gol Dhana” engagement party, attracting major Bollywood stars such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh.
March: Pre-Wedding Party
Despite its name, this pre-wedding party occurred more than four months before the actual wedding. Held in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the event had a guest list of 1,200 and featured choreographed Bollywood dances, fireworks, and a feast prepared by around 100 chefs offering 500 dishes. Rihanna made a rare performance, her second in six years.
The guest list included tech moguls like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, who sported traditional Kashmiri coats, and Ivanka Trump with her husband Jared Kushner and their daughter. Additionally, the Ambani family hosted a communal dinner for over 50,000 villagers from Jamnagar.
May: The European Cruise Party
The Ambanis embarked on a four-day European cruise, starting in Palermo, Sicily, and ending in Rome. Despite a strict no-phones policy, leaked videos on social media revealed performances by the Backstreet Boys, Pitbull, and David Guetta.
The cruise included several stops: a masquerade ball at the Chateau de la Croix des Gardes in Cannes, featuring a performance by Katy Perry, and an event in Portofino where Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the guests.
July 2-5: Mass Wedding and Musical Night
On July 2, the couple hosted a “Samuh Vivah” or mass wedding in Palghar, about 70 miles from Mumbai. This event benefited more than 50 underprivileged couples, who received gifts ranging from gold ornaments to a year’s supply of groceries.
A few days later, at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai, the Ambanis held a “sangeet” night featuring traditional music and dance, with a live performance by Justin Bieber.
July 8: The Haldi
On July 8, the couple participated in the “haldi” ceremony, a pre-wedding ritual where family and friends apply a turmeric paste to the couple’s heads, faces, or bodies as a blessing. Though the ceremony was private, photos shared online showed the couple in coordinated gold and yellow outfits: Radhika in a custom ensemble by designer Anamika Khanna and Anant in a kurta and jacket by Sandeep Khosla.
Friday: The Main Ceremony
The main wedding ceremony is set to take place at the Jio World Convention Center, which can accommodate 16,000 people. A red carpet will be rolled out to welcome A-list guests, all expected to wear classical Indian attire. Speculations about the performer lineup include big names like Adele, Drake, and Lana Del Rey, ensuring the event spares no expense.
Saturday: Divine Blessings Ceremony
The day after the wedding, the couple will partake in the “Shubh Ashirwad” ceremony, a significant part of Hindu weddings where the couple seeks blessings from the elders in their community. During this ceremony, they are typically showered with rose petals or rice as they walk down the aisle again.
Sunday: The Reception
The week-long festivities will conclude on Sunday with the “Mangal Utsav” or reception. Guests have been asked to dress in “Indian chic” for this final celebration. Saturday and Sunday’s events are expected to be held at the Ambani family’s 27-story residence, Antilia.
