Inside Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's strict 'pre-wedding celebration' dress code - including mix of cocktail evening gowns and traditional Indian clothes - with Hillary Clinton and Bill Gates invited to couple's big day in July

• Couple are said to have requested 2,500 different meal options for 1000 guests 
• Read More:  Bride, 18, splashes out £13,000 for 13-foot wedding castle cake complete with eight-stone of icing and LED balloon lights

They may not be officially tying the knot until July – but Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant have spared no expense when it comes to their upcoming ‘pre-wedding’ celebrations.

The couple, who come from two of India’s richest families, have reportedly hired 21 chefs to feed their 1,000 guests at the lavish event at Anant’s parents’ home in Jamnagar this weekend.

The VIP guest-list is said to include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Hillary Clinton, who attended the groom’s sister’s equally extravagant wedding in November 2018.

Bride-to-be Anant Ambani, 29, is the daughter of billionaire Shri Viren Merchant, who is the CEO of private health firm Encore Healthcare.

Meanwhile, Anant Ambani, 28, is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man and the managing director of Reliance Industries, which has a revenue of $110bn.

Bride and groom-to-be Anant Ambani (right) with Radhika Merchant at the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in March 2023

The invite for the pre-wedding celebrations – which have been widely circulating on social media – read: ‘With hearts full of joy and excitement, we invite you to the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant and Radhika at our home in Jamnagar.

‘We look forward to having you with us to share in our joy, love, and laughter, and create memories that we’ll cherish forever.’

And it would seem that there is a strict dress code to follow for guests taking part in the lavish wedding warm up.

On the Friday night, the happy couple’s loved ones will enjoy an ‘evening in everland’-themed cocktail party on the premises.

The following day, they have been told to wear ‘comfortable shoes’ to take a ‘walk on the wild side’ by visiting the groom’s Reliance animal rescue centre, which spans 650 acres and homes more than 2,000 animals.

That evening, the couple will host their ‘Mela Rogue’ and guests have been told to dress in a ‘dazzling desi romance’ style.

On the third day, guests have been told to pack something ‘casual chic’ for the Tusker Trails, where they will presumably explore the local area.

The final event will be a Hashtakshar, which translates as ‘signature’, and guests will be expected to wear traditional clothing, such as sherwanis and sarees.

The Times reports that Rihanna will be performing over the course of the weekend along with Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh.

For Annant’s sister’s wedding in 2018, the family is said to have paid Beyonce $6m to fly in and perform a private concert for guests.

Ahead of the celebrations, guests were reportedly issued with a nine-page dress code which covers the variety of events that will be taking place this weekend.

Local media reports that guests will be travelling to the city of Jamnagar on chartered flights and ferries – and have been told that there is a limit of three suitcases per couple.

Pictured: the groom’s family, who will be hosting the couple’s extravagant three-day pre-wedding celebrations this weekend

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant (centre) seen with the groom’s family at their engagement ceremony

Pictured: Beyonce shared this photo in 2018 when she flew to India to perform at Anant’s sister’s wedding

The invite for the pre-wedding celebrations – which have been widely circulating on social media – read: ‘With hearts full of joy and excitement, we invite you to the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant and Radhika at our home in Jamnagar

Indian publication National News reports that all 1000 guests will have access to laundry services throughout the weekend, which includes express steaming.

The information booklet also states that hairstylists, make-up artists and sari drapers will also be on hand to help.

The guide reads: ‘We would like you to enjoy each moment to the fullest and make beautiful memories that last a lifetime.’

Hilary Clinton seen posing with Beyonce’s parents and the mother-of-the-bride at Isha Ambani’s wedding in 2018

Indian billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani (L) with his daughter Isha Ambani (2L), son Anant Ambani (R) and Radhika Merchant in October 2023

Mukesh Ambani, left, and his daughter Isha Ambani, arrive to attend the wedding of Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in November 2018

Former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton seen posing with guests at Isha Ambani’s wedding in 2018

According to The Times of India, chefs employed by the luxury Jardin Hotel have prepped more than 2,500 dishes – spanning Japanese, Mexican and Thai cuisine.

An insider told the publication that guests will have the choice of 75 options for breakfast and a further 225 and 275 for lunch and dinner.

There will also be 85 catering options on offer for the traditional midnight meal, which runs from 12-4am.

What’s more, the insider also claimed that no item on the menu will be repeated across the course of the three days.

The happy couple are said to have been childhood friends and both attended university in the US.

In November 2018, Anant’s Yale graduate sister Isha tied the knot with real estate mogul Anand Piramal, a childhood friend and the son of another uber-wealthy businessman, in a wedding that is thought to have cost $100million (£74.9million), according to Bloomberg.

As per Indian tradition, Isha’s wedding party kicked off with the Sangeet, which typically sees the bride, groom and their families come together to sing and dance in stage performances celebrating their unions

Decorations outside the home are pictured in the hotel ahead of Isha Ambani’s nuptials in  2018

The first hint of the nuptials’ lavishness was the elaborate embroidered and gold plated Dolce & Gabbana box guests received as invitations. Bollywood stars Karishma Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Aliaadvani are among the guests pictured above

Famous friends: Hillary Clinton, center, with bride Isha Ambani, left, and mother of the bride Nita on Sunday. Mrs Clinton reportedly stayed with the Ambani’s during a previous visit to Mumbai

The first hint of the nuptials’ lavishness was the elaborate embroidered and gold plated Dolce & Gabbana box guests received as invitations.

Each exquisite rose printed package contained a series of luxury cards which folded out to reveal details of the events that would be held across the five-day affair.

As per Indian tradition, the party kicked off with the Sangeet, which typically sees the bride, groom and their families come together to sing and dance in stage performances celebrating their unions.

But Mr Ambani, whose business interests cover oil, telecoms, chemicals, textiles, technology and food, did not hold back when it came to the entertainment for his little girl.

Beyoncé was flown in especially for the a 45-minute private concert, which saw her make several costume changes and sing hit songs Perfect and Crazy In Love.

It is unlikely another musical act will perform on the day itself as this is usually reserved for the opening night’s festivities.

Bollywood superstars including Aishwarya Rai partied the night away as laser lights criss-crossed the sky.

Other reported VIP wedding guests included former Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, BP Group CEO Bob Dudley, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Mr Piramal and Yale graduate Miss Ambani selected the finest locations in Udaipur, known as the ‘city of lakes’, for the weekend, taking over the five-star Oberoi Udaivilas hotel and the 18th century City Palace for two night-time events.

Read more