Exclusive: Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Final Wedding Celebration

Pinned to his chest was a cheetah brooch, reflecting his 3,000-acre animal rescue sanctuary, Vantara, in Gujarat. Meanwhile, Isha wore a custom Schiaparelli saree, a first for the famed French haute couture house.

As the night advanced, Justin Bieber took the stage for a private performance, and Radhika transitioned into a metal mesh saree designed by Manish Malhotra. “It featured a corset that added a modern twist,” Radhika noted. “Though it was quite heavy, it was worth every moment.”

In the days that followed, the couple participated in several poojas, or ceremonial prayers, and a mehendi ceremony where the bride and her female guests had their hands and feet adorned with intricate henna designs. On July 11, they celebrated their haldi at Vantara. During this tradition, turmeric paste is applied to the soon-to-be-married couple to ward off evil spirits. Radhika donned sherara pants by Anamika Khanna and a floral dupatta. “The atmosphere was filled with joy—and a bit of chaos,” Radhika recalled. “Our haldi is what I hold most dear to me.”

By July 12, the festivities moved back to Mumbai for the baraat, the groom’s wedding procession. Anant arrived at the Jio World Convention riding a horse, accompanied by musical performers and hundreds of dancers. “It was out of this world. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said designer Prabal Gurung, who was among the over 2,000 guests, including Tony Blair, Nick Jonas, and Priyanka Chopra. “The entire room was adorned with flowers and Bollywood celebrities, with dancing and singing all around.”

The flower arrangements were a remarkable sight, with event planner Preston Bailey creating over 60 floral animal sculptures using more than 100,000 flowers each. These sculptures included monkeys, elephants, and tigers, crafted from Indian flowers. “It took many sleepless nights,” Bailey shared, having arrived in Mumbai three weeks prior to the event to put everything together. Throughout the evening, guests eagerly snapped photos in front of these floral installations.

After a brief respite, it was time for the wedding ceremony. The Hindu ceremony commenced with the jaimala, wherein Anant and Radhika exchanged garlands as a symbol of their acceptance of each other. This was followed by the kanyadaan, the formal moment when Radhika’s parents gave their blessings for their daughter to marry Anant. The ceremony culminated with the phera, the actual wedding ritual where the bride and groom circumambulate a sacred fire. Radhika described the ritual as “somber yet mesmerizing.”

Source: Vogue