Gala of the Giants: The Ambani-Merchant Pre-Nuptial Revelry

Anant Ambani, the youngest scion of Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Vivian Merchant, marked their pre-wedding festivities in a dazzling three-day celebration in Gujarat’s Jamnagar.

The glamourous 3 day event from March 1-3, saw Business tycoons, Industry leaders, Bollywood & Sports celebrities and News makers literally shake a leg or two.

Interestingly, this is just a pre-wedding event. The wedding is likely to be held in July this year.
Guests including Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Mark Zuckerberg, Rihanna, Bill Gates, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Ivanka Trump, and Qatar Premier Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, among others attended the ceremony.

With over a 1000 guests in attendance, you must be wondering how much did the Ambanis spend on the event that was actually just a pre-curser to the main event-‘The Wedding’.

According to the Daily Mail, the Ambanis spent a staggering £120 million (approximately Rs 1259 crore) on Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities.

• The catering contract alone cost a towering £20 million (approximately Rs 210 crore).

• Rihanna, who dazzled the crowd with an electrifying performance, was paid $8-9 million (approximately Rs 66-74 crore).

• Guests were not only flown-in by chartered private jets but also picked up and dropped from and back to the airport in luxury cars like Rolls-Royce.

• The event was so big that the local airport was temporarily granted international status as it received visitors from across the country and the world. Airport authorities said nearly 130 flights had arrived for the event to the region.

• Most of the guests stayed in luxury “glamping” tents near the venue that offered a level of opulence most would struggle to imagine, let alone afford – and could reportedly choose from more than 500 dishes created by dozens of chefs from around the world.

• There were also hair and makeup artists, laundry services and stylists on hand to help guests prepare for the themed gatherings taking place.

A nine page carefully laid out schedule was prepared and shared with all guests, beforehand, clearly detailing the various functions, the venue and the dress code.

• The Ambani family wore international and domestic fashion labels like Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Raghavendra Rathore, Ashish Gupta, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and more.

• Jeff Leatham was responsible for all the intricate flower arrangements at the event. He is known for his work with reality TV star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian and the rest of her family.

• No expense was spared in the decor and the themes as well. “An Evening in Everland”, “A Walk on the Wild side”, and Mela Rouge’” were three themes for the three day event.

• ‘An Evening in Everland’, set the tone for the lavish affair. Guests were adorned in elegant cocktail attire as they entered the enchanting venue.

• A Walk on the Wild side’ had ‘jungle fever’ being the dress code. Held outdoors in the Ambanis animal rescue centre Vantara in Jamnagar, the event featured peacock and jaguar motifs on chairs and furnishings. Forests, birds and animals could be found on everything from carpets to walls.

• In the evening, guests were treated to ‘Mela Rouge’, a Moulin Rouge-inspired carnival that was the epitome of opulence. The venue was adorned with yellow bulbs, chandeliers, and bold red colours, creating a dramatic and romantic ambiance.