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Among those who managed to get an invitation was a friend of Merchant’s, who spoke to Business Insider on the condition of anonymity in accordance with the bride’s values ​​of privacy and discretion.
The friend, whose identity is known to BI, is no stranger to Indian weddings but the celebration the Ambanis threw for the newlyweds was like nothing she had ever seen before.
“I’ll never have an experience like this again,” she said, describing the weekend as “a dream.”
Now that we are recovering from the big three-day event, BBC estimates She recalls what she witnessed, which may have cost more than $156 million.
The celebration was lavish, but had an intimate and “family-friendly” feel.
On July 5, a week before the wedding, the Ambani family’s inner circle gathered for a sangeet.
The sangeet is one of the few traditional pre-wedding events in Indian culture. Unlike the main wedding celebrations, which take place over the weekend, the event is “only for close family and friends,” she said.
The sangeet took place at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, and despite being star-studded, friends said it felt personal for the couple.
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Isha Piramal, Anand Piramal, Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani, Rihanna, Radhika Merchant, Shloka Mehta Ambani and Akash Ambani were on stage. Reliance Industries/Reuters
As per Indian wedding traditions, the sangeet usually takes place a few days before the actual wedding and involves families dancing, singing and sharing meals together.
“Her friends and family performed, and so did he,” the friend said, adding that it was essentially “a big dance party” that felt “very intimate” — except the Ambanis took it to the next level by treating their guests to a private performance by Justin Bieber.
The three-day wedding was lavish but didn’t feel overwhelming, friends said.
“Their venues are so big that you don’t feel overwhelmed,” she says, “and you can stand out among your peers,” she adds.
Staff will look after all your belongings, including your clothes.
The friend said that throughout the wedding, which began on July 12 and ended on July 14, it was clear to see that the bride and groom and their respective relatives valued family. “Family is always together,” she said. “They never separate.”
She also appeared unfazed by the pressure of hosting thousands of people and several world leaders and athletes.
“They were so calm,” she said, “the way they carried themselves is just amazing.”
Decorations around the Ambani family home in Mumbai, India, ahead of Anant Ambani’s wedding on July 12. Bhushan Koyande/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Merchant praised his mother-in-law Nita Ambani for running the event smoothly and making it both personally moving and breathtaking. trendThe bride called her husband’s mother “the CEO of the wedding.”
For example, the Ambanis employed staff to help at every turn: When a part of a friend’s dress “came off,” she was escorted to the bathroom, where a staff member had the tools and safety pins needed to fix it.
“It had everything we needed and everyone was really nice,” she said.
The celebrities entered the wedding venue separately, but some of them mingled freely.
Photographers captured family members, Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities and prominent politicians arriving at the venue, but instead of one red carpet, friends said there were separate entrances for each guest.
“I wish I could have been there,” she joked. “They had a private entrance for celebrities.”
The venue was filled with animal-shaped floral arrangements, designed by wedding planner Preston Bailey, which were a colorful nod to the 3,000-acre animal sanctuary that Anant opened earlier this year.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas attended Ambani’s wedding on Friday. Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
She said that after appearing on the red carpet, most of the celebrities mingled with the general guests.
“At the end of the day, everyone is a guest,” she said, adding that some Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities were meeting for the first time. “They were clearly interacting with each other and with other Bollywood celebrities,” she said.
Meals were served throughout the night in each room. Food was served buffet style, sourced from top restaurants around the world. Everyone, including world leaders and celebrities, enjoyed the food, nature and people they met.
One guest who was absent from the buffet was Kim Kardashian, who was escorted by security throughout the evening, a friend said.
The Ambani wedding, held in Mumbai, was attended by many celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian. MEGA/GC Images
“I do know they had a private dinner set up for her,” she said. Kardashian was still present at the main wedding and religious ceremony, puja, on Saturday.
Congratulations from the Prime Minister of India
“The aarti (prayers) were sung by some of India’s best singers,” the guest said. “It was wonderful.”
Another surprise moment on Saturday, friends said, was the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“He gave them his blessing,” she said, adding that the change in the “mood” in the room was palpable.
“It was honestly a special experience to be in the same room as the prime minister,” she said.
The party featured “top class” performances
The main wedding took place at the Geo World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Friday. Ahead of the celebrations, several roads around the venue were closed and detours were set up, sparking tension among locals, BI had previously reported.
He ended up getting stuck in traffic on the way to the event, but a friend who lives locally said he’s “used to it.”
“It’s just Bombay,” she said, calling the city by its former name.
Still, the trip was worth it to see the wedding celebrations and performances, friends said.
“It was really a party,” she said, referring specifically to the baraat – the procession in which the groom rides on horseback to the wedding venue.
The friend said guests were entertained by a variety of performances later in the night, including crowd-pleaser Luis Fonsi singing his hit “Despacito.”
“It was madness,” she recalled.
The celebrations continued into the early hours of the morning.
Some of the more traditional, alcohol-free functions, like the puja, ended early, but friends said the Ambanis hosted an “after-party” for friends and young people after the wedding and reception.
John Cena poses as he arrives at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding in Mumbai on July 12, 2024. Punit Paranjpe/Getty Images
“Big events like sangeets, weddings and receptions went on late as everyone partied afterwards,” she said.
While some guests, such as John Cena, didn’t stay for the afterparty, friends said at least a few celebrities did, including Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach.