When it comes to planning a wedding in 2024, most of us are likely crunching numbers to see how many guests we can afford, wincing at the cost of hors dโoeuvres, and scouring for budget-friendly vintage gowns. But for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, the worldโs wealthiest couple, whose pre-wedding festivities have already surpassed a billion dollars, their nuptials are set to be one of the most talked-about events of the year. Celebrations have already included performances by Rihanna and Katy Perry, booking palaces, and orchestrating light shows with a fleet of 5,500 drones.
Since images of Rihanna performing at a pre-wedding ceremony went viral on X in early March, the public hasnโt been able to look away. Hereโs everything we know (and speculations as to why we care at all).
![Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant celebrate their engagement ceremony on January 19, 2023 in Mumbai, India](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/anant-ambani-radhika-merchant-wedding-576x1024.jpg)
Who Are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?
The happy couple registered on celebrity watchersโ radars in 2018 when they were spotted at Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopraโs wedding.
Anant Ambani is the 29-year-old son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani. Anant holds a position on the board of directors at his fatherโs company, Reliance Industries. This business spans energy, communications, textile and chemical interests. His fatherโs net worth is estimated at $120 billion, placing him in the top two wealthiest people in Asia and in the top 11 in the world. Meanwhile, Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of Shaila Merchant and Viren Merchant. Viren is the CEO of Encore Healthcare, and his wife is one of the companyโs managing directors. Radhikaโs parents have an estimated net worth of a โ relatively paltry โ 90 million dollars. Radhika graduated from Encore University with a degree in political science, and, like her, their fiance sits on the board of directors at her parentโs company.
The couple have gushed publically about each other and their romance. In an interview with India Today Anant called Radihika โthe person of my dreamsโ, saying he never thought heโd get married before he met her. Meanwhile Radhika said it was love at first sight, and that their first meeting, when they were introduced by friends, โsparked something special between us.โ
![Bollywood actress Disha Patani (L) and Mouni Roy pose for a photo during the Sangeet Ceremony of Anant Ambani](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/anant-ambani-radhika-merchant-wedding-1920-x-1080-px-1080-x-1920-px-576x1024.jpg)
How Much Has Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchantโs Wedding Cost So Far?
So far, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchantโs nuptials have cost an eye-watering sum with their viral pre-wedding celebrations totalling over $ 1.3 billion Australian dollars. Their โpre-weddingโ ceremony kicked off on March 1st, with a three-day wedding party in Jamnagar. It was attended by 1,200 guests, including Mark Zuckerberg, Karlie Kloss and Bill Gates; the bride wore a pink iteration of Blake Livelyโs Versace Met Gala Gown, and the groom wore Dolce & Gabanna.
Later that month the couple held a four-day Mediterranean cruise for friends and family with performances by Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys and Andrea Bocelli. It was hosted on the Celebrity Edge, and the cost of the cruise alone was reported to be $1.3billion Australian dollars ($900million USD). According to Page Six Justin Bieber was reportedly paid $10million to perform at another pre-wedding ceremony on July 6th.
Whatโs Expected For The Ceremony?
Details of the ceremony have been tightly guarded. Still, we do know that it will commence with the โShubh Vivaahโ, an โauspicious weddingโ ceremony, with the โShubh Aashiwardโ or โdivine blessing ceremonyโ with the conclusion of the celebration July 14 with the โMangal Utsavโ. And Manish Malhotra, one of the countryโs top designers, has been appointed as the weddingโs creative director to execute what he has referred to as the familyโs โvisionary approach.โ He told CNN via email that โeach detail, from the decor and cuisine to the attire and ambience; each event, from the vibrant Sangeet to the ceremonial wedding day and the grand reception, is designed to immerse guests in an atmosphere of joy, love and celebration.โ
![Bollywood actress Jahnvi Kapoor poses for a photo during the Sangeet Ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wearing a peakock patterned gown](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/anant-ambani-radhika-merchant-wedding-1920-x-1080-px-1080-x-1920-px-1-576x1024.jpg)
What Will The Couple Be Wearing?
Malhotra designed two lehengas that Radhika Merchant wore to the pre-wedding celebration with a gold garment studded with 20,000 Swarovski crystals, crafted by 70 artisans, and another Art Deco-inspired blue lehenga that took 5,700 hours to make. Merchant also wore Versace during the march celebrations, a custom pink version of the gown previously worn by Blake Lively at the 2022 Met Gala. Malhotra described the โIndian Chicโ dress code as something that marries โtraditional Indian elements with contemporary fashion.โ For the couple that means โstriking ensembles that honour our rich cultural heritage while reflecting their personal style. Think of intricate embroidery and innovative silhouettes that capture both tradition and modernity.โ
Why Canโt We Look Away From Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchantโs Wedding
The pre-wedding celebrations, which went viral on Twitter, have been a subject of intense interest. Major publications like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and CNN have been captivated by the event, providing extensive coverage.
Itโs also been heavily criticised. The wealth gap in India is at its highest historical level, with 10% of the Indian population holding 77% of national wealth, according to Oxfam. The couple have attempted to acknowledge this with charitable activities held around the wedding date, including a mass wedding held for โunderprivilegedโ couples in the city, where guests were gifted jewellery, household items, and groceries for the year. However, given the depth of inequality in the country and worldwide, whatโs anticipated to be a multi-billion dollar wedding seemsโฆ out of step with the general mood not only in India, but globally.
And why are we fascinated? Despite millennials pushing back on the extravagance associated with weddings, with women speaking out about the cost of being a bridesmaid (turns out being everybodyโs best friend can be expensive) and guests objecting to the cost of destination weddings and gifts, it seems weโre still enchanted by extravagant and pervy displays of wealth. Ultimately, whether we clutch our pearls or cheer them on, itโs a glimpse into a life entirely unlike our own.
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