What do you mean it’s just a wedding and not a global conference with the who’s who of the world? The wedding of the year or Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s magnum-opus has got us hooked to our phones and secretly waiting for an invite. If you like us are a notorious sybarite looking to curb your FOMO, then here are our insights into the event that go beyond the pomp and show that your feed is feeding you.
India is a country known for its grandeur, and as Asia’s richest billionaire, the Ambanis know how to own up to that fact. It started in Mumbai, then in their hometown Jamnagar, followed by an extravagant cruise in Italy and now back to Mumbai for the finale. While they were celebrating around the world, we were doom scrolling celebrity Instagram accounts only to witness things beyond any of our imaginations. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding has been keeping us on our toes since the beginning of the year. I mean ceremonies exquisite enough to last 7 months? Now that’s what we call an extravaganza! The Ambanis don’t set trends, they are the trends! It’s not every day that you witness elusive pop stars wooing wedding crowds, French Haute Couture being customised or the entire world talking about ‘the big fat Indian (read Ambani) wedding’. But there is always a first time, and the Ambani wedding had to be it.
Upping the ante one ceremony after another, the Ambani wedding highlights a conversation happening not just in India, but all across the globe. Having said that, while the Ambanis were raising our expectations, planting dreams in our heads and making jaws drop, we couldn’t help, but analyse the highlights.
While you were dreaming of concerts to book in Europe, the Ambanis were getting the concerts to you. Now that we look back, Rihanna’s presence at Anant and Radhika’s pre-wedding celebration feels like a prelude to a more iconic lineup in the final stage. Managing to get an icon like Rihanna to break out of her hiatus only to perform for a wedding counts for something grand in our books. It was only natural to spot the whole of Bollywood step out for the Ambani wedding, but it is the presence of popstars and socialites like Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, Drake, Adele and even Lana Del Ray that got us to thinking if this was just a wedding or second round of Coachella.
While we didn’t even get over Justin Bieber‘s performance, we spotted Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian arriving for the wedding giving us yet another moment to obsess over. Who thought we would spot the Kardashians, the ones who rule the couture scene, enjoying a local rickshaw ride in India? This might take a while to register! So, it’s safe to say, the Ambanis sure know how to make the world turn up for their celebrations.
While the Ambanis were travelling, so were the glimpses of their festivities. It isn’t just the talk of one town, or country anymore, but it’s a global fest today. The pomp and panache of the Ambani wedding went beyond borders and caught the eye of several international creators, resulting in them talking, vlogging and being fascinated by the wedding of ‘Asia’s top billionaire son’.
While at the pre-wedding festivities of the Ambanis, the saga of couture kick-started and it continues to unfold in the final stage. The Ambanis’ choice of couture conveyed that international couture was fair game too. After Radhika Merchant donned labels like Versace and Robert Wun, Isha Ambani created history with one of the finest in couture- Schiaparelli! Just when we thought Schiaparelli’s show at the Haute Couture Week came to an end, the Maison marked another moment and Isha Ambani made sure that moment was hers. If Schiaparelli, a world-renowned label customising a saree isn’t iconic enough, we don’t know what is. Isha Ambani stunned in an electric blue saree with a shimmery embellished silver blouse going up towards the back of her head, making it look like royal headgear.
We sure spotted a plethora of ensembles from some of the acclaimed Indian and international couturiers, but apart from the style quotient, traditions have always reigned supreme for the Ambanis. Despite minimalism and pastels ruling the wedding industry, the Ambanis chose otherwise and reflected on India’s cultural heritage through silhouettes. Be it Shloka Ambani’s Tharad ghagra with Toran, Isha Ambani’s culturally rich outfit from Delhi Vintage Co, and of course the bride, Radhika Merchant’s exquisite garba outfit with heavenly motifs, were some of the many outfits that went beyond just couture.
Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Tharad ghagra choli was one instance of the Ambanis keeping their Gujarati roots alive. Isha Ambani on the other hand opted for a vintage piece brimming with motifs like temples, birds, nandis- dictating the theme ‘Tree of Life’. Furthermore, another one of the highlight looks was Radhika Merchant’s ethereal intricately curated garba lehenga by Jigya Patel with details not to miss, especially the lord Shrinathji motifs weaved at the bottom of her skirt.
P.S.: they are not done yet! We have a whole another series of celebrations waiting to feed us with more couture and show.
All images: Courtesy Instagram
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India
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