Everything we know about the Ambani wedding: Akash and Shloka to wed today

It's sure to be one of Indian history's most opulent weddings

Isha, centre, daughter of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, gestures as her brother Akash Ambani, left, and sister-in-law Shloka Mehta perform a ritual at their wedding ceremony in Mumbai, India on Saturday. Photo: Reliance Industries Limited Photo via AP

Nita Ambani, center, wife of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, gestures as her son Akash Ambani, left, and daughter-in-law Shloka Mehta perform a ritual at their wedding ceremony in Mumbai, India. Photo: Reliance Industries Limited Photo via AP

In this Saturday, March 9, 2019 photo, Akash Ambani, second right, son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Shloka Mehta smile as they perform a ritual at their wedding ceremony in Mumbai, India. Photo: Reliance Industries Limited Photo via AP

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan (L) poses for photographs along with his wife and actress and model Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (R), and their daughter (C), as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani. Photo: AFP

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (L) poses for photographs along with his wife and film producer Gauri Khan. Photo: AFP

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani, son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani. Photo: AFP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, right, his wife Nita Ambani, left, son Akash Ambani and daughter Isha arrive for Akash's wedding in Mumbai, India. Photo: AP

Akash Ambani (C), son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani (R) and businesswoman Nita Ambani (3rd L), their daughter Isha Ambani (3rd R) and her new husband Anand Piramal (2nd R), son of Indian billionaire industrialist Ajay Piramal (not pictured), pose during the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani in Mumbai on March 9, 2019. Photo: AFP

Indian businessman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai (R) poses for photographs with his wife and engineer Anjali Pichai. Photo: AFP

(L-R) Radhika Merchant, Anant Ambani, Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani, Isha Piramal, Anand Piramal and Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries. Photo: Reuters

Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (R) poses for photographs with his wife and pediatrician Anjali Tendulkar. Photo: AFP

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor poses for photographs as he arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani. Photo: AFP

Bollywood Indian actor Aamir Khan (R) and his wife Indian film producer and director Kiran Rao (L). Photo: AFP

Indian businessman Anil Ambani (2nd R) poses for photographs along with his wife and former Bollywood actress Tina Ambani (2nd L) and their sons, Anshul Ambani (R) and Anmol Ambani (L). Photo: AFP

Former British prime minister Tony Blair (R) and his wife Cherie Blair (L) pose for photographs as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani. Photo: AFP

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao. Photo: Reuters

Chairman of Reliance Group Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani arrive for the wedding of Akash Ambani, son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, in Mumbai, India, Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo: AP

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (L) poses for photographs along with his wife and film producer Gauri Khan as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani, son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, in Mumbai on March 9, 2019. Photo: AFP

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (C) and his wife Cherie Blair (L) are welcomed by Indian businessman Anil Ambani (R), brother of Mukesh Ambani. Photo: AFP

Former U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and his wife Yoo Soon-taek. Photo: Reuters

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani welcomes former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the wedding of his son Akash Ambani. Photo: AP

Akash Ambani (L), son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, arrives along with his mother Nita Ambani (R) to his wedding ceremony in Mumbai on March 9, 2019. Photo: AFP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani stands for a photograph with former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Photo: AP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, left, his wife Nita Ambani, second left, son Akash Ambani and daughter Isha arrive for Akash's wedding in Mumbai, India, Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo: AP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, right, his wife Nita Ambani, left, and daughter Isha arrive for son Akash Ambani's wedding in Mumbai. Photo: AP

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra poses for photographs as she arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani, son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, in Mumbai on March 9, 2019. Photo: AFP

Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, arrives with her son Akash Ambani for his wedding. Photo: AP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, second right, his wife Nita Ambani, left, son Akash Ambani and daughter Isha arrive for Akash's wedding in Mumbai, India, Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo: AP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, right, his wife Nita Ambani, second left, son Akash Ambani and daughter Isha arrive for Akash's wedding in Mumbai, India, Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo: AP

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani welcome guests during the wedding of their son Akash Ambani in Mumbai, India, Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo: AP

Mukesh Ambani is India's richest man: and today, his son Akash will wed businesswoman Shloka Metha (daughter of diamond mogul Russell) in Mumbai. It is sure to be a truly lavish ceremony, or, rather, series of ceremonies.

Here's what we know so far...

The dates and times

The official wedding invitation of Akash and Shloka has widely circulated, and it says there are three days of wedding celebrations.

Saturday, March 9 is the wedding ceremony: the groom's procession will meet at 3.30pm at the five star Trident Hotel Bandra Kurla. The wedding ceremony will take place at Jio World exhibition centre in Bandra Kurla - there will be a high tea at 6.30pm and the ceremony is expected to be at 7.30pm.

Sunday March 10 is all about the wedding celebrations: this will be the lavish party portion of the week, also held at Jio World Centre. And then, on Monday March 11 there will another post-wedding reception, also at Jio World Centre, hosted by both of the families.

On the invitation, Mukesh and his wife Nita wrote: "As parents, our wish for them is for their love to grow stronger, their friendship deeper and their smiles brighter every single day."

This Instagram shows Altamont Road in Mumbai truly decked out for the event:

The sangeet

The sangeet and mehendi ceremonies were private affairs on Thursday night, but a video going viral on social media does give a glimpse of what the night was like, showing bride-to-be Shloka performing with her mother and sisters on an ornate gold and pink stage:

The gifts

While we don't yet, and likely never will know what gifts the wealthy young couple receive from their guests, we do know that the Ambani family have given out presents as part of the celebration.

Mukesh, who is the chairman of Reliance Industries, a multi-billion dollar company, sent nearly 50,000 boxes of sweets to Mumbai Police stations across the city.

The message on the boxes read: "On the joyous occasion of the wedding of Akash with Shloka, we seek your blessings and good wishes, Nita & Mukesh Ambani, Isha, Anand & Anant."

Also, the couple hosted an 'anna seva' at Jio World Centre earlier this week, where nearly 2,000 underprivileged children were served dinner:

The occasion was the opening of Dhirubhai Ambani Square, and also saw the unveiling of a fountain show featuring Bollywood classic Jai Ho:

Watch from 13 minutes to see the Jai Ho fountain performance:

The guestlist

The attendees of the wedding are sure to be a who's-who of Bollywood: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif and Anil Kapoor are all expected to attend according to Times Now.

There are also some international names flying in for the occasion:  UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon and his wife will attend, as will former British PM Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali will also likely be there.

Google CEO Sundar posted this on Instagram yesterday, confirming that he is in India:

Another Ambani wedding

As a flashback, here are photos of Isha Ambani and Anand Piranal's December 2018 wedding: