Entry based on a QR code messaged on personal mobile phones, colour-coded paper wristbands for access to different zones, and a medical response preparedness reserved for heads of state helped Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani wed his youngest son Anant to pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant in the year’s most extravagant wedding.
Global celebrities, business tycoons, cricketers, filmstars and politicians of all hues attended the wedding at Ambani-family-owned Jio World Centre at Mumbai’s BKC on Friday and a ‘blessing ceremony’ for friends and family members titled ‘Shubh Ashirwad’ on the following day.
A wide range of guests – from employees to business associates – were invited for another reception, titled ‘Mangal Utsav’, on Sunday at the same venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the venue on Saturday to bless the couple.
Three different invitations were sent out for the wedding and the receptions with top-run guests being sent a large red box that contained an intricate chest incorporating a mini silver temple featuring gold idols of various Hindu deities, including Lord Ganesh, Radha-Krishna, and Goddess Durga.
The invitation revealed different cards for each wedding function with one crafted from silver and resembling the main gate of an ancient temple. It included several keepsakes, such as an embroidered cloth with the initials ‘AR’ for Anant and Radhika, a blue shawl and a silver box filled with more gifts.
The simplest invitation was in a laptop-sized box with silver statues of three Gods and invitation cards.
The guests were asked to confirm their presence through an email or Google Form.
Those confirming their presence received a message that read: “We have received your RSVP and we look forward to welcoming you… the QR codes will be shared 6 hours prior to the event.” The QR codes messaged to the mobile phones and emailed were scanned to allow entry into the venue where different coloured paper wristbands were tied on the wrist of all the guests that gave them access to different zones depending on the colour.
Several film stars and cricketers as well as business tycoons like Korean electronic giant Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and his wife sported a pink wristband on their wedding day and a red one on Saturday.
Employees, security and service staff wore different coloured wristbands.
Ushers and a multi-layer security cover secured the sprawling venue, two sources aware of the matter said.
Detailed fire and other emergency plans were worked out while an elaborate medical response preparedness resembled one reserved for heads of state.
The medical response preparedness included doctors and paramedical staff with all emergency equipment at the venue. Ambulances had clearly demarcated routes to the nearest hospitals which had been primed in advance for dealing with any sort of medical emergency.
“The Ambanis did not want to leave anything to chance,” a source revealed.
Another source said the time between the QR Code being sent and the actual event was cut this time as in the previous Ambani wedding some had “sold” the access to non-invited people.
The dress code for all the events was Indian and international guests too wore designer traditional clothes such as embroidered sherwanis and bandhgalas. John Cena paired a powder-blue sherwani with white pants while Nick Jonas wore a pink sherwani and white pants. Samsung head too came dressed in a sherwani for the event.
Most guests wore different clothes for the ‘baraat’ or wedding procession and the actual wedding on Friday. The Saturday event featured all the guests invited for the wedding as well as some additional important people.
The guest list includes former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser, reality TV star Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe, Nigerian rapper Rema, and footballer David Beckham.
Business tycoon Gautam Adani came to the wedding holding hands of his little granddaughter with his son Karan and wife Preeti in tow. Kumar Mangalam Birla too came with his family.
Almost the entire top rung Bollywood actors — from Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Tiger Shroff and Varun Dhawan — were present, most with their families, while superstars Rajinikanth, Ram Charan and Mahesh Babu led the entourage from down south.
Indian cricketers, including icons Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, too were present.