For most, it would be impossible to top two ultra-lavish pre-wedding festivities, featuring concerts from Rihanna, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys and Andrea Bocelli—not to mention the finest of couture. But the Ambani wedding, which will unite billionaire scion Anant Ambani, youngest son of the richest man in Asia, and Radhika Merchant, who works for her family’s pharma empire, is already upping the ante.

Everything to Know About the Ambani Wedding

“This wedding is going to set trends for decades to come,” says luxury bridal stylist and consultant Nisha Kundnani of Mumbai-based Bridelan. “It’s going to leave a very big cultural imprint.”

She explains that the couple’s traditional Gujarati multi-event celebration, inclusive of around 16 events, is already underway. Friday’s Sangeet welcome jubilee bonded both families and their Bollywood superstar guests through music—in this case, a viral frenzy-causing concert by Justin Bieber. (The not-so-retired singer, who reportedly flew over via private jet, also chilled with the engaged couple backstage.) Earlier that week, the Garba—the traditional Gujarati song and folk dance ceremony—set the bar high for style. The bride stunned in an opulent deep amethyst three-piece lehenga set. Kundnani predicted that the Garba would be “a fashion spectacle.”

The ongoing extravaganza will culminate in an auspiciously timed July 12 wedding ceremony in the Ambanis’ sparkling new and sprawling—as in more than 10 times the size of the Empire State Building—cultural hub, Jio World Centre. More fêtes, including a grand reception, ensue over the following two days in the home of the groom’s parents, Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Home is Antilia, the family’s 27-story mansion designed by Chicago-based Perkins & Will and reportedly built for an estimated $1 to $2 billion. Considering that Beyoncé graced the stage at Anant’s older sister Isha’s 2018 wedding, expectations for the surprise performers are sky-high, with current bets on Drake, Adele, and Lana Del Rey.

“[Planning the wedding] has taken over a year of dedicated meetings, countless brainstorming sessions, and endless attention to detail,” explains Malhotra, via email, for translation purposes. Bringing the Ambani matriarch’s “essence of India” vision to life, the couturier and Bollywood costume designer weaves vibrant cultural heritage together with “modern elegance” for the overarching theme. “The wedding events are crafted to be immersive, bringing to life new stories and experiences while staying true to the core vision of celebrating Indian heritage and grandeur.”

Leading up to the July nuptials, Merchant has already showcased resplendent couture and an edgy fashion sense, from a sparkling corseted lehenga by Malhotra, to pink Versace with Hollywood provenance, to a 3D-printed toga by Grace Ling. “She has a great sense of personal style: more fresh, more millennial,” says Kundnani, who emphasizes that Merchant will continue to maintain tradition for her prolific wedding finery.

Creative director Manish Malhotra custom-created an entire “collection” for the bride, including a sumptuous orange and rani pink lehenga with real gold zari embroidery, and an uber-glam chainmail saree for an after-party “Each ensemble is crafted to reflect her distinct personality, blending traditional elements with contemporary aesthetics,” he says, underscoring the finest of fabrics, ornate embellishments and dramatic silhouettes. “Every detail is curated to celebrate her grace and elegance.”

Bollywood favorite Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla custom-designed the couple’s brilliant and ornately embroidered Sangeet ensembles, and perhaps more, Kundnani predicts. “To wear an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla for the main wedding day is like wearing a family history, a personal legacy, and very special heirloom quality couture,” she says. The former Marie Claire India editor also anticipates looks from Rahul Mishra, the first Indian designer invited to Paris Haute Couture Week; Anuradha Vakil, whose hand-embroidered ensembles Merchant and Isha Ambani recently wore; and bridal and eveningwear couturier Sabyasachi, who opened a Christopher Street flagship in 2022. “She’s going to be a very special Ambani bride,” says Kundani.

“I look at Radhika with a mothering eye,” Isha Ambani told Vogue India in her Law Roach–styled cover feature. She considers her soon-to-be sister-in-law one of her “closest confidants.”

So the Met Gala vet and fashion icon could also prove a sartorial influence. At her 2018 wedding reception, Isha made history by dazzling in the first-ever lehenga designed by Maison Valentino. Will Merchant also unveil an inaugural traditional Indian bridal look by a prestigious international house—and, if so, which one? “[We’re] all very curious,” ponders Kundnani.

Isha’s fashion reveal during her little brother’s upcoming nuptials will also generate breathless headlines. “She’s experimental and knows how to carry each look she sets out to sport,” couturiers Falguni Shane Peacock say in an email statement. The duo behind the brand, Falguni Peacock and Shane Peacock, designed Isha’s awe-inspiring diamond-and-pearl-encrusted ivory lehenga for the first pre-wedding Jamnagar bash in March, and are working on more.

“You can be sure she’s putting together a one-of-a-kind trousseau [for this wedding] that will be bookmarked for years to come,” promise Falguni Shane Peacock, also confirming custom-creations for the groom and a look “laden with crystals galore” for his mother.

“For one of the upcoming functions, we’ve created a bespoke look for Isha, which she wanted to be in sync with the jewelry she plans on wearing for the occasion,” they continue. “Isha is known to possess truly rare jewelry pieces, and she wanted an outfit to complement them.”

The Ambani family jewelry treasure trove is the stuff of legends. Nita and Isha Ambani are renowned for their superlative—and extensive—collections (especially fine diamonds and emeralds the size of small fruits).

“All her jewelry is made-to-order…completely bespoke. You don’t ever see [these precious stones and designs]—perhaps in history books,” says Kundnani, listing off the world’s rarest gems: “[Their] Golconda diamonds, Kashmir sapphires, Burmese rubies, and elusive emeralds are history bending.” As the only daughter, Isha calls first dibs on mom’s collection, and she regularly borrows the most jaw-dropping pieces for important occasions.

Isha and Nita often look to Mumbai-based high jeweler Viren Bhagat for special and family affairs, according to Kundnani. Shloka Mehta, Isha’s twin brother Akash’s wife, also hails from the family that runs Rosy Blue Group, one of the world’s largest diamond traders and suppliers. “Nita Ambani is a firm believer in wearing ‘made in India’ for her main intimate events,” says Kundnani.

“If you look at the history of Indian jewelry and the way the maharajas and maharanis wore jewelry, there are layers, volume, and a lot of color to our jewelry,” explains Kundnani. “So they really celebrate their jewelry collection, and bring it out, more so, at the wedding events.”

Word on the street: Former UK prime ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair and the Kardashians are planning their couture wardrobe for the impending revelry. Plus, “the whole of Bollywood is definitely going to be there,” says Kundnani.

Malhotra remains sworn to secrecy. “Rest assured that the guest list will be as illustrious as it is exclusive, reflecting the stature and significance of this extraordinary celebration,” he hints. Malhotra will, however, confirm custom-designs for “several” boldface names: “Expect exquisite lehengas, signature sequined sarees, and other timeless silhouettes embracing the essence of tradition.”

The creative director is also in charge of disseminating the themes and strict dress codes to VIPs and their stylists commissioned by the Ambanis. “We create detailed mood boards, comprehensive inspiration lists, and plan themes for each function,” he explains.

Falguni Shane Peacock consider working with stylists on a wedding of this caliber as “a collaborative and meticulous” process. For Isha, they’ve held “in-depth consultations” with Anaita Shroff Adajania and, for Anant, Shaleena Nathani—who also styled Merchant for her Mediterranean cruise (and regularly works with actress Deepika Padukone.)

“This collaborative approach has finally come to fruition, and we can’t wait to see them in the looks we’ve created for them,” say Falguni and Shane Peacock. “It’s a wedding that the world will be watching, after all.”