While Indian weddings are known for being long, elaborate, and rather brutal to the pockets, there has been none in the past several years that could by any measure, compete with the week-long celebrations for Isha Ambani's wedding. Ambani, 27, is set to marry her childhood friend Anand Piramal, 33, a real-estate developer and scion of yet another prominent business family. The bash is said to include at least five events. While the cost estimate of the entire affair is pegged at $100 million, a source close to the family said it is “not more than $15 million.” The higher figute is around three times the reported cost of Prince Harry's wedding.
The amount however, barely touches the bride's father Mukesh Ambani, a businessman with an estimated net worth of $41.6 billion. Pre-wedding festivities hosted by Ambani and wife Nita began on Saturday in Udaipur and roped in celebrities from around the world. A-list guests included former US secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, and none other than the queen, Beyoncé- who flew in to perform a 45-minute private concert, with several costume changes.
The one-day event saw India's celebrities dancing the night away. The wedding has seemingly overwhelmed Udaipur as the Ambanis' guests took over the city's hotels and even its airport. Also, Mumbai's international airport set record for traffic as dozens of private chartered flights made their way to the venue. It is also reported that the guests received their invitations in a Dolce & Gabbana box, adorned with pink and gold lace and detachable chains that could be worn as jewerly.
The wedding ceremony is planned for Wednesday at Mukesh Ambani’s 27-story home, which towers over southern Mumbai and includes a six-level parking garage and three helipads. Celebrations this week will also include a ceremony at Mr. Piramal’s father’s home in Mumbai, and a reception at JioGarden, an event space in Mumbai built by Mr. Ambani’s company.
