As soon as a video of Rihanna arriving in India went viral on X, it seemed like everyone was buzzing about the "pre-wedding" weekend of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. High-profile guests like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Karlie Kloss were in attendance. The fashion was a major highlight: Radhika wore a custom Versace gown similar to Blake Lively's 2022 Met Gala look on the first night. With Rihanna performing, it became an internet sensation.
Anant Ambani, head of the energy division at Reliance Industries, and Radhika, marketing director at Encore Healthcare, met through mutual friends during a drive in 2017. “That first meeting just sparked something special between us, and it wasn’t long before we started dating,” Radhika tells Vogue.
In 2023, Anant proposed to Radhika at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, a sacred Hindu site by the Banas River. They hosted a dinner with close family after their formal engagement ceremony. Upon returning to Antilla, the Ambani home in Mumbai, they were surprised with an engagement party by extended family and friends. “It was, unquestionably, the best night of my life,” Radhika says.
Nearly a year later, Radhika and Anant hosted their famous three-day pre-wedding weekend and hastakshar (a traditional Indian prenuptial event) at the Ambanis’ home in Jamnagar, Gujarat. “Choosing Jamnagar was our way of honoring our roots and the family’s legacy,” Radhika says. “It’s where Anant works and where we spend much of our time, away from city life. It’s also where Anant’s grandmother, Kokilaben, was born and truly where our heart is.” The 750-acre compound includes a mango orchard and Vantara, Anant’s animal sanctuary. (The couple is working to open Vantara to the public. “Anant and I both believe that this is our karma bhoomi, or land of duty,” says Radhika.)
Planning the pre-wedding took three months. Anant’s mother, Nita Mukesh Ambani, organized the event with Indian designer Manish Malhotra as the creative director. “Nita and Manish’s meticulous planning and execution round the clock brought the event to life,” Radhika says. “I cannot emphasize enough that no one else could have created something like this—both in scale and on such a tight timeframe.” Anant’s sister Isha and sister-in-law Shloka also supported their mother and future sister-in-law. Meanwhile, Radhika asked Rhea Kapoor to be her head stylist.
On March 1, over 1,500 guests arrived in Jamnagar to kick off the festivities. Radhika wore a blush pink custom Versace dress with bespoke jewelry by Parthiv Mehta of Kantilal Chhotalal. Anant wore custom Dolce & Gabbana.
The couple chose not to preview any of the venues, wanting some surprises. Radhika’s mother-in-law and Malhotra had constructed a glass palace inspired by the Palm House in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—one of Radhika’s favorite places from her college days in New York City—adorned with flowers from Jeff Leatham. A mini train transported guests throughout the event. After dinner, 5,500 drones told the story of Vantara, creating India’s largest drone show ever, and breaking the world record for largest drone show.
As the night progressed, Radhika changed into an Ashish dress just in time for Rihanna’s performance. “I wanted to be fun, free, and young,” she says. “An Indian wedding is incomplete without a lot of dancing.”
The couple stayed out until 7 a.m. When they finally went to bed, they saw a rainbow. Radhika viewed it as a surreal moment in an already magical weekend. “Rain in March is an anomaly in India, and yet, during those three days, we experienced weather unlike anything we’ve ever known,” she says. “It felt magical, as if I were living in a dream.”
Several hours later, the couple held a lunch at Vantara’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. “We went to great lengths to accommodate our 1,500 guests, complete with an audio-guide system to ensure that everyone could connect with the animals that have been given a new lease on life here,” Radhika says. She wore a custom blue leopard-print look by Dolce & Gabbana—her personal take on the mob-wife aesthetic currently dominating fashion.
That evening, it was time to party again. The theme was Mela Rogue, a playful spin on Moulin Rouge. Radhika wore an outfit designed by Malhotra, known for his Bollywood costumes. “For the first look, we chose a modern interpretation of the traditional ghagra, an Indian wedding gown, intentionally omitting the dupatta, or scarf, to reveal a meticulous cutwork back that mimicked lace, complete with intricate embellishments,” she says. “We wanted to reinvent the bow by incorporating a drape around the shoulders for a geometric contrast of gold and silver against cool blue.” The ghagra was embellished with Swarovski crystals, and Radhika accessorized with more jewels by Kantilal Chhotalal. David Blaine performed magic tricks for the crowd, and there were several family dances. Then, Diljit Dosanjh—the first Punjabi singer to perform at Coachella—took the stage. Radhika then changed into her second look by Malhotra. “Malhotra, a true master of innovation, actually spent six months developing a mesh, or jaal, from a thin sheet of metal for a modern twist on the traditional dupatta,” she says.
On Sunday, it was time for their formal hastakshar. The bride-to-be wore a concept saree by Tarun Tahiliani as she walked down the aisle toward the temple. “I wanted to represent a traditional Indian bride but infuse the look with a fresh and contemporary reinterpretation,” Radhika notes. “I ventured beyond the typical bridal silhouettes while carefully integrating meaningful homages to Indian tradition and design. For example, my dupatta was intricately hand-painted and embellished, in a tribute to the art of Nathdwara, commemorating the place of our engagement. My veil was meticulously handwoven in Banaras with real gold threads, offering an ethereal elegance to my look and really allowing the detailed craftsmanship to shine through as it cascaded down the aisle.” Anant waited for her in an ivory sherwani by Rohit Bal, complete with diamond buttons by Raghavendra Rathod and a custom brooch by Lorraine Schwartz. They signed their wedding papers legally as 1,500 guests looked on.
Afterward, Anant’s mother performed a Bharatanatyam-style dance for the crowd. It was an emotional end to an emotional weekend for the couple: “It added to the divinity of the night—all in the temple where we spent so many special moments during the last seven years together,” Radhika says. As the party began, she changed into a pink gown that paid aesthetic homage to a traditional saree. “Embellished with crystals, it is what I envisioned a Parisian saree to look like,” she says. To close out the weekend, the singer Akon performed.
Reflecting on the experience, Radhika expresses immense gratitude. “I recognize that this is a privilege few people experience, and I truly feel blessed,” she says. “I hope that our wedding will bring global attention to Vantara, the largest animal rehabilitation centre in the world, a project that my husband and I hold very close to our hearts.” The actual wedding will take place in July. If you can believe it, the celebrations for Radhika and Anant are just beginning!
