At the biggest wedding of the century, all that glitters truly was gold. As the Ambani wedding festivities come to a conclusion, we look back at the internet-breaking record number of looks served by all guests in attendance. From Bollywood’s biggest stars to ultra-famous international celebrities and millionaires, everyone brought their A-game making the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant a Met Gala of its own.
While all the wedding jewellery worn by the billionaire family was a royal treasure of rare diamonds and unimaginably large emeralds, tradition remained at the heart of the celebrations. Gold – a colour that has long held a distinguished position in Indian weddings, symbolising wealth, prosperity and divinity took the centre stage. Starting off with the mother of the groom – Nita Mukesh Ambani who opted for a stunning antique gold ensemble by designer Manish Malhotra. “Inspired by the Classic Hyderabadi kurta worn with the Khada dupatta (double drape)” shared the celebrity-favourite designer’s Instagram account, the outfit featured “antique zari and timeless zardosi embroidery and an intricate silver gold chatai technique border by specialised artisans.”
Trends come and go, but gold has stood the test of time and continues to be a popular choice for Indian weddings, offering cultural significance, aesthetic appeal and enduring legacy. It is a hue that transcends the mere material and ventures into the spiritual and cultural realms, weaving its way into the very fabric of Indian tradition. The brilliance and allure of gold are not confined to jewellery but extend to wedding ensembles, decorations, and even rituals.
Cultural Significance
The colour gold in Indian culture is steeped in symbolism. Historically, gold has been associated with the goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity. Thus, incorporating gold into wedding ceremonies is seen as an invocation of divine blessings for the newlyweds’ future. Gold also signifies purity and sacredness, which aligns perfectly with the sanctity of matrimonial vows.
In many Indian traditions, gold is not just a colour but an embodiment of status and familial honour. By wearing gold, South Asian brides and grooms pay homage to their heritage, reflecting the opulence and grandeur that have been hallmarks of Indian weddings for centuries. Moreover, gold’s association with the sun, which is considered a powerful and life-sustaining force, further underscores its importance in a ceremony that celebrates the beginning of a new life.
Aesthetic Appeal
Billionaire heiress and probably one of the most popular brides of all time, Radhika Merchant paired a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Sardegna 2024 corset with a custom couture sari by designer Anamika Khanna for her reception. This gilded ensemble exuded the aesthetic allure of gold. This well-style multi-designer couture look not only added to the bride’s beauty, but like the family’s generational jewels, will serve as a cherished heirloom to be passed down.
Actor Ananya Panday served some modern glamour in gold as she chose a dazzling sequins sari while American star Khloe Kardashian opted for a muted ivory fit embellished with gold, both by designer Manish Malhotra.
Former Khush cover girls Sobhita Dhulipala chose a soft-core lehenga set featuring signature corset lehenga pairing are quite the catch, while Janhvi Kapoor opted for a gold heavy ‘art nouveau-inspired, hand-embroidered structured sweeping skirt… paired with a complementing crystal embellished sculpted corset and attached drape wings’, both by designer Tarun Tahiliani.
Renowned design house Falguni Shane Peacock, best known for their modern interpretations of India’s traditional silhouettes, dressed actor Madhuri Dixit Nene and Janhvi Kapoor in two different shades of gold. While Madhuri’s sheer sari exuded modernity and elegance, Janhvi’s lehenga set showcased maximalist vintage glamour.
Heermandi’s Bibbojaan – Aditi Rao Hydari made heads turn in a gorgeous gold lehenga set by designer Ridhi Mehra. Her choice of gold jhumkas and potli bag added a finishing touch to the gilded look.
Enduring Legacy
The timeless appeal of gold is rooted in its enduring legacy that appeals to wearers from all generations. Throughout history, gold has been a symbol of power, wealth, and eternal love. In Indian weddings, this legacy is meticulously preserved and celebrated through traditional handcraft techniques seen on luxurious designer pieces. Legacy design house Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla who took over most of the Ambani family’s wedding looks fully embraced this beauty of gold. For one the groom’s pre-wedding outfits, the designer duo created a majestic ‘navy blue bandhgala adorned with the inimitable allure of pure gold hand embroidery.’ The sheer use of pure gold thread for the exquisite embroidery on this outfit propels it into the category of jewellery itself.
Bringing the traditional embroidery techniques of South Asia into the limelight, the pioneer designer brands in India showcased some of the most gorgeous wedding looks at the Ambani wedding. Actor Ranveer Singh opted for muted luxury with designer Anamika Khanna’s ‘striking with gold’ yet ‘subtle in ivory’ kurta set. Director Karan Johar went with a slightly more heavily-adorned sherwani set by designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla and finished the look with a pair of simply gold loafers. Fashion icon and couture-loving billionaire Natasha Poonawala embraced her maximalist style by going ‘all bling’ with heirloom jewels and large emeralds with this AJSK gold look.
Miss world and actor Manushi Chhillar opted for a hand woven tissue saree with gold embroidered blouse by label Dhruvi Panchal keeping it graceful. This continuity ensures that gold remains not just a colour but a living testament to the richness of Indian wedding traditions. The colour gold takes the crown in Indian weddings due to its rich cultural symbolism, aesthetic grandeur and timeless legacy. As Indian weddings continue to evolve, the golden thread of tradition remains unbroken, weaving together past, present, and future in a tapestry of opulence and divine blessings.
