Everything you need to know about Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding

Ambani wedding

The Ambani wedding is shaping up to be one of the most extravagant and talked-about events of the year. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant are set to tie the knot in a grand celebration from July 12 to 14, 2024. This high-profile event has already seen two lavish pre-wedding celebrations that have set the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable wedding.

The Pre-Wedding Celebrations

The lead-up to the wedding has been nothing short of spectacular, with multiple extravagant events already taking place. One of the most notable pre-wedding celebrations was a toga party, followed by a masquerade ball. These events featured a light show involving 5,500 drones and Rihanna's first full concert in nearly eight years, held in a bespoke glass palace.

The first pre-wedding celebration occurred from March 1 to 3 at the Ambani estate in Jamnagar, India, with 1,200 guests, including global celebrities such as Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Karlie Kloss, and Mark Zuckerberg. Rihanna's performance at this event reportedly cost between $6 million and $9 million, underscoring the opulence of the festivities.

Who Are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?

Anant Ambani, 29, is the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Mukesh Ambani is the CEO of Reliance Industries, a conglomerate with interests in energy, communications, textiles, and chemicals, and has an estimated net worth of about $120 billion as of July 2024. Anant Ambani is a non-executive director at Reliance and serves on the boards of the Reliance Foundation and Reliance Industries itself. He is also one of the directors of Jio Platforms Limited. Anant graduated from Brown University in 2017 and has an estimated net worth of approximately $40 billion.

Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of Shaila Merchant and Viren Merchant. Viren is the CEO of Encore Healthcare, and Shaila is one of the company’s managing directors. Radhika's parents have an estimated net worth of approximately $90 million. Radhika graduated from New York University with a degree in political science and now sits on the board of directors at Encore. She is also a classically trained dancer.

 The Engagement and Relationship

Anant and Radhika's relationship first became public in 2018 when they attended the wedding of Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. They demonstrated the union of their families in December 2022 during a traditional Roka ceremony at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. This ceremony marked their formal engagement. A Gol Dhana ceremony followed in January 2023, symbolically welcoming Radhika into the Ambani family home in Mumbai, which Radhika described as "unquestionably, the best night of my life."

In interviews, Anant has expressed his admiration for Radhika, calling her the "person of my dreams" and crediting her with changing his perspective on marriage. Anant and Radhika were introduced by mutual friends in 2017, and their relationship blossomed from there. Anant, who had previously dedicated himself to animal care and had not envisioned getting married, found in Radhika a partner who shared his values and passions.

Radhika has been a strong pillar of support for Anant, particularly during his health challenges. Anant has spoken about how Radhika stood by him during difficult times, providing strength and support even when others gave up.

The Main Event

As the main event approaches, all eyes are on the Ambani-Merchant wedding, which is expected to be a grand affair reflecting the stature and wealth of the families involved. Given the grandeur of the pre-wedding celebrations, the wedding itself is anticipated to feature an equally impressive lineup of events and high-profile attendees.

The Ambani family is known for their opulent celebrations, and this wedding is set to surpass all expectations. With a legacy of hosting some of the most luxurious events in India, the Ambanis have a reputation for sparing no expense when it comes to family milestones. The wedding of Anant and Radhika will undoubtedly be a continuation of this tradition, showcasing the couple's love story amidst a backdrop of unparalleled luxury.

The anticipation surrounding the Ambani wedding is palpable, with media and fans eagerly awaiting the detailed coverage of the ceremonies. The couple's journey to the altar has been marked by a series of high-profile events that have captured the public's imagination, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable wedding.

Everything to Know About the Ambani Wedding

The Ambani wedding is poised to be one of the grandest and most talked-about events of the year. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant are set to get married from July 12 to 14, 2024. This high-profile union has already seen two lavish pre-wedding celebrations, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable main event.

The First Pre-Wedding Celebration

The first pre-wedding celebration took place from March 1 to 3 at the Ambani estate in Jamnagar, India, with around 1,200 guests invited. The event was marked by opulence and featured Rihanna's first full-length concert in nearly eight years, kicking off the celebration with a performance that reportedly cost between $6 million and $9 million. High-profile attendees included Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Karlie Kloss, and Mark Zuckerberg, among others. Other entertainers reportedly included Akon, Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh, and magician David Blaine.

The weekend's events were meticulously planned over three months, with Anant's mother, Nita Ambani, recruiting Indian designer Manish Malhotra as the affair's creative director. A nine-page dress code was shared with guests, including guidance for a "jungle fever" look for one event involving the Ambanis' animal rescue foundation. Hair and makeup artists, as well as Indian drapists, were on-site to ensure attendees looked their best. The cocktail party on the first night had an "evening in everland" theme, with fashion and spirits running high. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were reportedly quite taken with a $1 million Richard Mille watch sported by Anant, and Radhika dazzled in a custom Versace gown.

A few days before the guests arrived, the Ambani and Merchant families provided meals to their community, feeding 51,000 people. During the celebration, guests enjoyed 500 different dishes created by 100 chefs over three days. One memorable venue was a glass palace, designed to evoke the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Palm House, complete with a mini train for guests to ride. Following Rihanna's performance, the couple partied until 7 a.m.

The Second Pre-Wedding Celebration

In late May, the couple hosted a second pre-wedding celebration, a four-day cruise trip in the Mediterranean, departing from Palermo, Italy. This event included around 1,200 friends, family members, and coworkers. The celebration was styled by Law Roach, who had recently styled Isha Ambani for a Vogue India cover.

Radhika described the cruise as "a retreat for the people that have contributed to our life in different ways," with attendees ranging in age from six months to 90 years. The festivities were a testament to the couple's desire to include and honor those who have played significant roles in their lives.

Who Are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?

Anant Ambani, 29, is the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Mukesh Ambani is the CEO of Reliance Industries, a conglomerate with interests in energy, communications, textiles, and chemicals, and an estimated net worth of about $120 billion as of July 2024. Anant is a non-executive director at Reliance, sits on the board of the Reliance Foundation, and is a director at Jio Platforms Limited. He graduated from Brown University in 2017 and has an estimated net worth of approximately $40 billion.

Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of Shaila and Viren Merchant. Viren is the CEO of Encore Healthcare, and Shaila is one of the company’s managing directors. Radhika's parents have an estimated net worth of approximately $90 million. She graduated from New York University with a degree in political science and now sits on the board of directors at Encore. She is also a classically trained dancer.

The Engagement and Relationship

Anant and Radhika's relationship became public in 2018 when they attended the wedding of Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. They demonstrated their families' union during a traditional Roka ceremony in December 2022 at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. This ceremony marked their formal engagement. A Gol Dhana ceremony followed in January 2023, symbolically welcoming Radhika into the Ambani family home in Mumbai. Radhika described the night as "unquestionably, the best night of my life."

Anant has expressed his admiration for Radhika, calling her the "person of my dreams" and crediting her with changing his perspective on marriage. Introduced by mutual friends in 2017, their relationship blossomed quickly. Anant, who had previously dedicated himself to animal care and had not envisioned getting married, found in Radhika a partner who shared his values and passions.

Radhika has been a steadfast supporter of Anant, particularly during his health challenges, providing strength and encouragement. Anant has spoken about how Radhika stood by him during difficult times, ensuring he never felt alone.

The Main Event

As the main event approaches, anticipation is high for what promises to be a grand affair reflecting the stature and wealth of the Ambani and Merchant families. The Ambanis are known for their opulent celebrations, and this wedding is expected to surpass all expectations, continuing their tradition of hosting some of the most luxurious events in India.