Inside the £250M Ambani wedding: Influencer who scored invite to world's most lavish nuptials reveals the bride entered on a wooden boat, tables were filled with luxury sweets and guests could explore an antiques shop

All eyes were on Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on Friday as they finally tied the knot in what seemed to be the world's most lavish wedding.

But only a lucky few witnessed the celebrations - estimated to have cost approximately £250million - from inside the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

One of them being gemstone wholesaler and influencer, Julia Hackman Chafe from New York, who snagged an invite to the grand star-studded ceremony as the plus one of Indian internet personality, Orry.

The influencer flew to India 's largest city to see the son of the country's richest man wed his pharmaceutical heiress bride, after months of extravagant pre-wedding celebrations and festivities.

Taking to TikTok and Instagram, the influencer has given the internet a glimpse into the wedding celebrations, ceremony, and dinner room, with her claiming it was 'the most beautiful ceremony... ever'.

Influencer Julia Hackman Chafe has given the internet a glimpse inside the lavish wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant (pictured is the ceremony)

The influencer took to the event dressed in a lengha from designer Manish Malhotra and dripping in Lorraine Schwartz jewels - the jewellery designer behind Meghan Markle's $62,000 pinky ring made with 'diamonds gifted from the Middle East'.

Bright flags and lights lined the entranceway for Julia and the other VIP guests as they stepped in the venue.

A table filled with luxury sweets, including macaroons, and flowers waited for guests as they first arrived, with the table itself being so lavish, Julia questioned: 'Am I Alice in Wonderland?'

It wasn't long before she bumped into stars including, John Cena, actress Priyanka Chopra and her singer husband Nick Jonas, Bollywood producer and actor Salman Khan, and former UK PM Boris Johnson, who was 'just chilling', according to Julia.

The influencer captured the baraat – Anant's arrival at the venue on a white horse, as per Indian wedding tradition. 'Seeing Anat in person for the first [is] surreal', she said'.

The groom danced with guests after his arrival as multi-coloured confetti fell from the ceiling in a moment Julia described as 'pure magic'.

Guests then took to their seats for the traditional Hindu wedding ceremony. Julia said: 'Then we sat for the wedding ceremony - the most beautiful ceremony I've ever had the pleasure to watch'.

The bride made her grand entrance on an electric wooden boat that moved on a track, before Anant and Radhika exchanged vows under a large altar with white domes. 'Pure beauty,' Julia explained.

Julia shared a snap of the brightly-coloured dinner room (pictured), saying 'so much beauty in so little time'

The gemstone retailer and influencer from New York (pictured) snagged an invite as the plus one of Indian internet personality, Orry 

Guests enjoyed a lassi shop - an Indian yogurt-based beverage - at the 16,000 capacity venue (pictured)

The groom's mother, Nita Ambani, 60, finished the ceremony with a poem reading about the value of daughters.

Julia explained: 'Afterwards, Nita gave a speech about the value of daughters that really sang to my soul. She is the true definition of elegance…and intelligence.'

The influencer concluded: 'The love in the room was palpable. Such a beautiful ceremony.'

After the ceremony, guests explored the lavish set up, which included a lassi shop (an Indian beverage) and an antique shop, 'we're in a magical world', Julia said.

It wasn't long before guests took to the dancefloor to celebrate the newlyweds with dancing and live performances.

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Friday, July 12, 2024

The bride, Radhika Merchant, 29, is pictured in her lavish bridal gown, known as a lengha

The bride beamed at the camera in her glamorous wedding dress ahead of tying the knot with the son of India's richest man

The glamorous, long-awaited event is reported to have cost around a staggering £250million - without taking into account the couple's estimated £100million accumulation of luxury wedding gifts and the hosting of several of the world's most iconic A-list celebrities.

Latest images from the wedding scenes show the bride draped in a heavy cream and red Indian bridal dress - called a lengha, adorned in jewels and a beaded headscarf as she holds hands with her new husband, Anant.  

The happy groom was pictured beaming down at his new wife while donning a red beaded jacket - called a nehru - as the pair tied the knot in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the Ambani-owned, 16,000-capacity Jio World Convention Center.

Police reportedly closed off roads surrounding the venue ahead of the massive star-studded wedding celebration that took place on Friday afternoon.

Anant Ambani (left), the son of India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant (right), the daughter of a wealthy pharmaceutical mogul in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Mumbai this afternoon

The happy groom arrived at his wedding donning an opulently designed jacket - believed to be called a nehru - along with a pair of crisp white trousers

Along with the extravagant jacket, Anant wore crisp white trousers and a pair of trainers featuring an extravagant gold logo.  

Earlier in the day, he posed alongside his proud parents; the managing director of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani, chairperson of the Reliance Foundation.

The Ambani family and a list of Bollywood stars were among the first guests photographed on the grand nuptial's lavish pink carpet.

A-list guests who jetted out to Mumbai to attend what could be India's biggest wedding this year included Kim and Khloe Kardashian, John Cena, and former British prime minister Tony Blair. 

Justin Bieber performed at a pre-wedding party for guests known as a 'Sangeet' and was paid a reported £7 million while according to sources, Adele, Drake or Lana Del Rey will provide the entertainment at a reception on Sunday evening.

Mr Ambani, 67, who is listed by Forbes as the world's ninth richest man and worth £100 billion has already gifted the couple a £62 million luxurious villa on Palm Jumeriah in Dubai which spans 3,000 square feet, has ten bedrooms, and comes with its own private beach. 

The couple were also given a £500,000 Bentley Continental GTC Speed and a dazzling array of custom-made jewellery and clothes worth millions of pounds.

Mr Ambani's glamorous wife Nita, 60 gifted her daughter-in-law a stunning pearl and diamond choker, worth an estimated £10 million which is just one of dozens of bespoke multi-million-pound pieces made for her. Anant was given a £2 million Cartier brooch.

Specialist weavers in India have spent the past few months making a series of rare silk sarees using gold and silver thread valued at more than £100,000 each.