Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant and Justin Bieber
The wedding of the year is here.
In less than a week, Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, will marry his girlfriend Radhika Merchant. India is no stranger to opulent weddings, but the preparations and parties for this union have transfixed the country.
Jaw-dropping guest lists, including Silicon Valley billionaires and Bollywood stars, have underscored Mukesh Ambani’s growing influence in the global economy. Asia’s richest family has also shown off its wealth with a display of jewels evoking the long-gone era of maharajas and Mughal emperors.
And, last week, Justin Bieber became the latest international pop star to entertain at yet another pre-wedding function by the Ambanis in Mumbai. The singer performed at the sangeet ceremony, a night when the bride and groom’s wedding party dances for guests. It also saw the entire Ambani clan, including Mukesh, on stage dancing to Bollywood’s hit song, Deewangi Deewangi.
The Ambanis have set a new benchmark for big, fat Indian weddings, which are bound to grow bigger and louder than ever as the number of the ultra-rich swells in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
Rihanna, couture and emeralds
The average luxury Indian wedding can cost anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000, according to Jefferies.
This kind of budget allows for accommodation at five-star hotels across the world, sumptuous catering, decor and entertainment, and sometimes includes Bollywood actors or international singers.
But the Jefferies cost estimate does not include expenses on jewelry or attire. Bridal spending accounts for over half of the total jewelry market it India, the bank noted.
The country is one of the largest gold markets, but its appetite for diamonds and other precious gems is also growing. The emerald necklace worn by Nita Ambani, the groom’s mother, at the festivities in March stunned the internet with its size and sparkle.
No luxury Indian wedding is complete without lavish meals, which at times involve flying in Michelin-star chefs and the finest of ingredients from across the world.