Editor’s Update: June 4, 2024

The lavish pre-wedding celebrations for the Ambani family have continued in grand style. For the second chapter, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, along with their guests, embarked on a $900 million Mediterranean cruise.

Image courtesy: Harpers Bazaar Arabia

Spanning four days from Italy to the South of France, the extravaganza featured musical performances by stars such as Katy Perry and Andrea Bocelli, multiple themed events and parties, and as always, an abundance of celebrities.

Let’s take a look at some of the fashionable highlights. . .

Bride-to-be, Radhika Merchant looked effortlessly chic in a vintage silk pink Dior cocktail dress from 1959 for her ‘Italian Summer’ La Dolce Vita experience. The dress was previously displayed at the MET in New York and was designed by Yves Saint Laurent during his time at the iconic fashion house. To elevate the look even further, Radhika picked the perfect accessories – including the Mini Kelly in two-tone shades of pink, and a pair of Manolo Blahnik Hangisi flats.

Image courtesy: Times of India

Nita Ambani, the mother of the groom, once again graces the occasion with some spectacular gemstones. Opting for a floral embroidered white dress from Oscar De La Renta, Nita Ambani elevated the look even further with a dazzling timepiece. Jacob & Co.’s Rainbow Astromania Fleurs de Jardin stole the show. Boasting a transparent sapphire design reminiscent of a greenhouse, the dial showcases a vast color range of brilliant sapphires to create a jewel-like garden.

Image courtesy: BollywoodShaadis

Image courtesy: @jacobandco

Image courtesy: @jacobandco

Disha Patani looked effortlessly glam in the Clio Peppiatt ‘Into the Ocean’ aqua embellished mini dress, paired with the matching Ice Heart Quartz bag.

Image courtesy: @dishapatani

Image courtesy: @dishapatani

Kiara Advani went for a classic look, with a black and white halterneck dress from Balmain. She completed the monochrome aesthetic with the Hermès Oran sandals in white and a white Chanel top handle handbag.

Image courtesy: @bollywoodnow

Actress, Ananya Panday embraced the Italian sunshine in a satin yellow dress from Dice Kayak’s Spring-Summer 2024 collection. Opting for understated accessories, Ananya styled the vibrant dress with the Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 Hobo bag in Ostrich.

Image courtesy: @ananyapandayuniverse

Sakshi Dhoni embraced an all-pink look for exploring Italy, pairing her midi dress with the Dior D-Joy and a pair of Loro Piana sneakers.

Image courtesy: @sakshisingh_r

Sara Ali Khan opted for a Falguni Shane Peacock India sheer embellished dress paired with a Saint Laurent crystal Kate Tassel bag.

Image courtesy: @saraalikhan95_

Image courtesy: @saraalikhan95_

The stylish outfits and accessories didn’t just begin during the cruise. Guests were already making fashion statements at the airport en route to Italy for the festivities.

From Hermès bags to Dior Book Totes, guests showcased their impeccable style and luxurious accessories during their travels.

Image courtesy: @yogenshah_s

Image courtesy: @yogenshah_s

Image courtesy: @yogenshah_s

The pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant were a grand affair, featuring bejeweled fashion, exquisite jewelry, and of course, a sprinkling of luxurious handbags.

Image courtesy: Vogue India

The festivities, which spanned three days in Jamnagar, Gujarat, began on March 1st, with over 1,500 guests in attendance. Notably, the guest list included a diverse mix of Indian attendees, Bollywood superstars, and elite guests from the United States. This eclectic blend created a vibrant atmosphere as everyone came together to partake in a weekend full of festivities.

Image courtesy: British Vogue

Among the star-studded guest list were Mark and Priscilla Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, Sunder Picha, and Karlie Kloss, all in attendance at the celebration. Rihanna also graced the event with a live performance. Guests wore custom jewelry with traditional polki motifs and intricately designed diamond sets.

Mark and Priscilla Zuckerberg. Image courtesy: British Vogue

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Image courtesy: @ivankatrump

Bill Gates. Image courtesy: @voompa

Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner. Image courtesy: British Vogue

Rihanna. Image courtesy: British Vogue

We take a look at some of the exquisite highlights of this extravagant event.

Luxurious Handbags

During the pre-wedding event, handbags took on a subtle yet significant role, showcasing rare and coveted pieces. As guests adhered to a meticulously detailed nine-page dress code for the entire weekend, the handbags seamlessly complemented the extravagance of the affair.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities for Day 2 commenced with the ‘Walk on the Wildside’ activity. Guests visited Vantara, the Ambanis’ animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Injecting a playful touch into the style, both guests and hosts followed the ‘Jungle Fever’ dress code, with lively animal prints and vibrant palettes adorning every silhouette. All eyes were on the bride-to-be, Radhika Merchant, who chose a custom-made Dolce & Gabbana blue leopard-print dress. Complementing the look was the incredibly rare and coveted Hermès Mini Picnic Kelly 20 in white Swift leather, finished with palladium hardware.

Image courtesy @_ishaambanipiramal

On day 3, during the Tusker Trails event held within the Vantara premises, attendees enjoyed a brunch with a picturesque view of the animal conservation center. Embracing the ‘casual chic’ theme of the day, Shloka Mehta stood out in her stylish ensemble, opting for an Oscar de la Renta lattice-embroidered leather midi dress. Complementing the green theme, she finished the outfit with a Hermès Mini Kelly 20 in Matte Gator, Jaune Borgeon.

Image courtesy: @_ishaambanipiramal

For the next event, lunch at an elephant orphanage, Isha Ambani, opted for a casual yet sporty look – with a custom JODI set. The look was completed with layers of colorful jewelry, and last but not least, a cherry red Hermès Kelly Doll.

Image courtesy: Vogue India

During the weekend’s events, Natasha Poonawalla made distinct style statements, but our focus was on the handbags. Natasha enhanced her ensembles with several noteworthy bags, including the Chanel Birdcage Minaudière from the Métiers d’Art 2020 collection, and the eye-catching golden Dolce & Gabbana Box Orologio Barocco bag.

Image courtesy @natasha.poonawalla

Image courtesy: @natasha.poonawalla

Image courtesy: @abujanisandeepkhosla

Bejewelled Fashion & Exquisite Jewels

During the festivities, guests adhered to a meticulously detailed nine-page dress code for the entire weekend. Aside from the ‘Jungle Fever’ theme, attendees were expected to don traditional Indian attire to the main events. Guests were requested to wear ‘Dazzling’ dress one night, while ‘Heritage Indian’ was a theme for another.

Radhika’s attire for the first night included a blush pink custom Versace dress worn by Blake Lively to the Met Gala in 2022, complemented by bespoke jewelry from Parthiv Mehta. This marked the start of a blend of couture, tradition, and luxury in their memorable pre-wedding celebrations.

Image courtesy: British Vogue

Blake Lively wearing Versace at the 2022 Met Gala

Isha Ambani, the sister of the groom, unveiled a wearable work of art in the form of a stunning jeweled top. Adorned with intricately detailed polki, ruby, diamonds, and emeralds, this exquisite piece not only showcased some of her personal collection but also incorporated new jewels sourced from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Each precious gem, meticulously hand-sewn onto the garment, contributed to the creation of an original masterpiece.

Image courtesy @abujanisandeepkhosla

Here’s a further glimpse into Isha Ambani’s extravagant wedding wardrobe. . .

Image courtesy: Vogue India

Image courtesy: Vogue India

Image courtesy: Vogue India

Image courtesy: Vogue India

Nita Ambani, the mother of the groom, graced the occasion in an opulent Emerald Set valued at an astonishing $60 million. Complementing this exquisite necklace, Nita adorned herself with coordinating diamond earrings, a sizeable 6.5 million solitaire ring, and a dazzling set of bangles embellished with diamonds and emeralds.

The show-stopping 52.58-carat Mirror of Paradise ring was sold by Christie’s auction house in June 2019, for $6.5 million.

Image courtesy: Vogue Signapore

Image courtesy: Vogue India

Image courtesy: @manishmalhotra05

The Mirror of Paradise/ Image courtesy: Business Insider

Image courtesy: Business Insider

Among the attendees, Ivanka Trump made a striking appearance in a series of stunning ensembles crafted by Indian designer Manish Malhotra. In her array of show-stopping outfits, was a two-piece ensemble, featuring an intricately embroidered skirt paired with a sparkling crop top. Ivanka complemented the white outfit with a beautifully crafted Maang Tikka and dazzling emerald jewelry.

Image courtesy: @ivankatrump

Image courtesy: @ivankatrump

Rare Timepieces

Groom-to-be Anant Ambani showcased a selection of his most exclusive timepieces during the weekend, offering a glimpse into his extravagant collection. These watches made such an impression that even Mark Zuckerberg confessed, “You know, I never really wanted to get a watch, but after seeing his, watches are cool,” in a video circulating on social media.

Image courtesy: New York Post

Among Anant’s curated timepiece choices for the weekend events was the Richard Mille RM 56-01 Tourbillon Sapphire – a limited series of 10 models, reportedly carrying a price tag of $2.2 million. Subsequently, Anant Ambani opted for a series of ultra-rare Patek Philippe watches, including the Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon in 18k gold, valued at $2.7 million, and finally, the ornate 5990 Nautilus in white gold set with diamonds and rubies.

Richard Mille RM 56-01 Tourbillon Sapphire. Image courtesy: Richard Mille

Patek Philippe, Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon in 18k gold. Image courtesy: Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe 5990 Nautilus in white gold set with diamonds and rubies. Image courtesy: Patek Philippe

Not to be outdone, the bride-to-be also adorned herself with an exceptionally rare timepiece. Radhika chose the Vacheron Constantin Égérie moon phase watch, adorned with diamonds, exemplifying the fusion of couture and jewelry in the realm of timepieces. Crafted in white gold with a 37mm diameter, the watch’s case boasts a lavish display of diamonds, totaling 1377 white diamonds.

Image courtesy: @radhika.merchant_

Vacheron Constantin Égérie moon phase watch in diamonds. Image courtesy: Vacheron Constantin

Now we’ve looked at some of the finer details of the Ambani pre-wedding, here are some more special moments and showstopping outfits caught on camera.