Indian weddings are legendary for their grandeur, opulence, and cultural depth. But in the 21st century, the concept of the "Big Fat Indian Wedding" has evolved into something entirely new—combining luxury, tradition, and the global flair of a modern, sophisticated celebration. We're talking about weddings that not only redefine what it means to throw an extravagant event but also create iconic moments that stick with you long after the mehendi fades.

Forget the standard, predictable wedding content you’ve scrolled past a hundred times. We’re not just counting guests, tallies on the gold jewelry, or comparing who spent more on their venue. Nope. These weddings, as iconic as they come, are memorable because they blend cultural richness, jaw-dropping venues, and unforgettable moments.

In this listicle, we’re showcasing weddings that made headlines not because of the size of their guest lists or cost (though, let's be real, they did a pretty good job of flexing) but because they broke the mold in setting new standards for weddings worldwide. From Italy’s stunning landscapes to grand palaces in India, each of these weddings represents a perfect blend of cultures, locations, and personal touches that left everyone talking.

So if you're searching for wedding inspiration, vendor tips, or simply a little gossip on what these icons did differently, keep reading. Whether you're a bride-to-be, a wedding enthusiast, or just curious about what the buzz is all about, you're in the right place.

What Makes a Wedding Iconic?

Okay, let’s get into the real tea—what actually makes a wedding "iconic"? We’re not talking about just another over-the-top bash that’s all about the bling and the big-name guests. No, honey, we’re talking about weddings that set the standard for what it means to blend culture, luxury, and moments that stick with you forever. Think unique venues, stunning cultural fusion, and details that make you say, “I wish I was there!”

It’s not just about the Insta-worthy shots or celebrity power (though that does help). These weddings are iconic because they’ve redefined luxury in a global context, giving a modern twist to age-old traditions. We’ve got top-tier wedding planners pulling off jaw-dropping ceremonies, custom mehendi designs, and unforgettable décor, all while incorporating the personal touches that really speak to the couple’s unique love story.

And if you’re looking for inspiration to throw your own big fat wedding (or work at one!), then you better be taking notes, especially since you’ll want the best vendors in your corner. That’s where Laali comes in—get ready to find the perfect wedding planner, mehendi artist, or DJ to make your day iconic.

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1. Radhika Merchant & Anant Ambani (2024)

If you haven’t heard of the Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding yet, where have you been? This wedding wasn’t just iconic—it was practically a masterclass in how to blend old-school tradition with a touch of modern opulence. Let’s start with the basics: the bride and groom, Anant and Radhika, are no strangers to the spotlight. Anant Ambani is the son of India's richest man, and Radhika Merchant is a business magnate in her own right. So, we’re talking serious power couple vibes here.

The wedding took place in 2024 across multiple European cities, blending European sophistication with rich Indian traditions. We’re talking about the most jaw-dropping venues—lavish palaces and estates—paired with Indian rituals that made this wedding a true cultural fusion. There were multiple pre-wedding events, including a sangeet, mehendi, and the actual wedding ceremony, all dripping with glamour.

What made this wedding iconic wasn’t just the extravagant venues or the high-profile guest list (hello, Bollywood royalty). It was the personalized touches that stood out. From the custom mehendi designs that incorporated both of their family histories to the wedding décor that seamlessly blended European and Indian aesthetics, every detail felt perfectly curated to celebrate their love. The vendors, from the event planners to the mehendi artists, went above and beyond to create an atmosphere that was both luxurious and deeply rooted in tradition.

2. Isha Ambani & Anand Piramal (2018)

Okay, let's be real—when the Ambani family does weddings, the world stops and stares. But what made Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s 2018 wedding more than just another "look at the money" event? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t just about flexing their billions (though, trust me, they did). This wedding was iconic because it blended global glamour with deep-rooted cultural traditions, and, honestly, it was also a masterclass in personalization.

Spanning multiple continents (we're talking Italy and India, people), the wedding was a series of perfectly orchestrated events that made sure no one was left bored. The sangeet? A Bollywood-style extravaganza. The mehendi? Stunning with designs that were basically works of art. And let’s not forget the intimate vibes of the ceremony in Lake Como, which set the stage for what would be an over-the-top reception back in Mumbai. It wasn’t just big, it was personal, and that’s what made it memorable.

What really set this wedding apart was how Isha and Anand infused their love story into every detail. From the personalized mehendi motifs to the custom outfits that paid homage to their roots, it wasn’t just about looking good—it was about feeling good. Vendors who worked on this wedding? Top-tier. The floral designers, decorators, and event planners went all out, making sure every corner of the wedding was an Instagrammable masterpiece.

3. Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas (2018)

Okay, let’s take a moment and talk about the wedding that literally broke the internet: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. I mean, do we even need to say anything? These two made waves not only in Hollywood and Bollywood but also in the world of iconic weddings. It wasn’t just another A-list affair; it was an event that bridged cultures and symbolized the modern, global Indian identity. Talk about setting the bar.

The wedding had it all—multiple ceremonies, a Christian and Hindu fusion, and a vibe that screamed “East meets West.” Hosted in India and the U.S., it was a fusion of two worlds, two religions, and two superstars in the most stunning way possible. The main event took place in Jodhpur, at the palatial Umaid Bhawan, and let’s just say—this was not a small affair. They had everything from a mehendi ceremony to a mega sangeet, and their wedding was a blend of glamour and tradition that left everyone in awe.

What made this wedding truly iconic wasn’t just the guest list (though yes, the guest list was a showstopper). It was how Priyanka and Nick personalized every single moment—especially their fusion of Christian and Hindu traditions, which was executed flawlessly. Their wedding décor was an Instagrammable dream—high-end florals, intricate designs, and outfits that paid homage to both their heritages. As for the vendors? They absolutely knocked it out of the park. Every detail—from the mehendi artists to the designers—came together in a way that made it feel like a personalized love story.

4. Deepika Padukone & Ranveer Singh (2018)

If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if a couture campaign, a centuries-old ritual, and six years of simmering Bollywood chemistry had a baby—this wedding was it. Deepika and Ranveer didn’t just get married, they crafted a cinematic universe with two leads, two traditions, and two countries swooning in sync.

The couple kicked things off at Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como—yes, the one from Star Wars (because of course)—with not one, but two ceremonies: one Konkani, one Sindhi. It was a love letter to their roots, complete with kanjeevarams, bandhgala glam, and pheras that felt more like poetry than protocol.

They followed up with a victory lap of receptions across Mumbai and Bangalore, each one with its own vibe and guest list strategy. No wedding fatigue here—just strategic outfit reveals and vendor coordination at an elite level. The florals? Peak moodboard. The lighting? On point.

Ranveer’s stylist delivered look after look like a runway playlist, and Deepika’s ensembles? Sabyasachi saturation point: unlocked. A blueprint for balancing tradition with pop culture icon status.

The wedding was highly private—no cameras, no phones—just an incredibly chic, intimate affair. It marked the start of the “no-phones-allowed” wedding trend. And for good reason: they wanted to savor their day without the constant flash of cameras (and we get it, can you blame them?).

5. Vanisha Mittal & Amit Bhatia (2004)

If you haven’t heard about Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia’s 2004 wedding, well, get ready to learn why it’s still talked about as the benchmark for luxury weddings. This wedding was not just a celebration; it was an experience—one that set the tone for all those over-the-top, opulent weddings to follow. The couple tied the knot in none other than Paris, and when you’re talking about a wedding at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, you know you’re in for something extraordinary.

What made this wedding iconic wasn’t just the glamorous location, but the sheer extravagance of the entire affair. Picture this: a 60-piece orchestra, live performances by Kylie Minogue, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (yes, the Bollywood elite were there!), not to mention the famous firework display that lit up the Paris sky. The mandap? It wasn’t just any mandap—it was an architectural masterpiece that merged French and Indian influences seamlessly.

And don’t even get me started on the animal arrivals. I mean, who rolls into their wedding on an elephant followed by a parade of horses? Vanisha and Amit do. The wedding wasn’t just about the big-ticket glamour, though. The couple personalized it with touches that reflected their backgrounds and love story, ensuring it wasn’t just a flashy event but one full of meaningful moments.

6. Brahmani Reddy & Rajiv Reddy (2016)

When Brahmani Reddy and Rajiv Reddy tied the knot in 2016, they didn’t just plan a wedding—they orchestrated an experience. Picture this: 50,000 guests (yes, you read that right—50,000!) flocking to a wedding so epic it required a small army of 3,000 security personnel just to manage the crowd. This wasn’t a wedding, it was *the* wedding of the century.

Set against the backdrop of a recreated ancient Indian temple, the venue itself was a jaw-dropping spectacle. They didn’t just go for luxury; they went for cultural fusion that made your average “wedding” feel like an afterthought. Add in bull-drawn carriages as transportation, and you have a vibe that was, well, nothing short of legendary.

The ceremony and festivities were the epitome of iconic: helium balloons that floated forever above the crowd, and live performances by stars like Tamanna Bhatia, Rakul Preet Singh, comedian Brahmanand, and even Kannada star Yash. It was as if they’d asked every Bollywood star to RSVP to their wedding (and, um, they actually showed up). Every moment felt like a movie—and honestly, it was better than most blockbusters.

And the best part? Brahmani and Rajiv infused their personalities into every single element, from the music to the traditional touches, creating a wedding that felt both intensely personal and outrageously extravagant. The vendors, from the floral designers to the tech teams, did the impossible: they made sure no detail was left unnoticed. It was a masterpiece in the making.

7. Shristi Mittal & Gulraj Behl (2013)

Let’s just say—if destination weddings were a competitive sport, Shristi Mittal walked away with the gold. Niece of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and heiress to one of India’s most powerful business families, Shristi didn’t just fly to Spain for her 2013 wedding—she landed on a helipad with a vision (and a literal helicopter photo op to match).

Hosted at the Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña in Barcelona—yes, an actual art museum—the venue alone screamed “this is not your average shaadi.” Guests were treated to a three-day event that included a Spanish celebrity chef curating the menu, a six-tier cake that deserved its own security detail, and fireworks that could rival a national holiday. It was luxe with a capital L, but not in a predictable way.

Instead of just throwing money at the problem (though they clearly could), the couple made deliberate, dramatic choices: think couture-meets-culture, and drama without the tacky. The helicopter? That wasn’t just for the gram—it was part of the videography team’s cinematic vision. Every angle, every shimmer, every petal in that floral canopy was intentional.

Vendors for this wedding? Think international-caliber creatives flown in to pull off what felt like a modern Indian-Mediterranean crossover episode. The scale was grand, but the choices were curated—proof that iconic doesn’t have to mean chaotic.

8. Anushka Sharma & Virat Kohli (2017)

You know that rare moment when everyone on your feed stops scrolling? That was December 11, 2017. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma didn’t just get married—they broke the algorithm. Their joint wedding post became the most-liked Instagram photo in India at the time, and honestly, for good reason.

The two pulled off the plot twist of the decade with a secret destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy—specifically at Borgo Finocchieto, a heritage villa that had us all Googling “how much is too much for a wedding venue?” The vibe was intentionally understated (in millionaire terms), but make no mistake—it set trends that still echo across South Asian weddings today.

Case in point: Anushka’s blush pink lehenga by Sabyasachi. It not only softened the bridal palette but launched a thousand imitation pins on wedding boards worldwide. And that floral mandap? A literal garden dream. Their wedding flipped the script on what it means to be high-profile yet low-drama, giving major credit to their dream team of vendors for executing the kind of elegance that didn’t need volume to be loud.

What made it iconic? The absolute confidence to do less. No stadiums, no elephants—just vows, views and Prime Minister Modi dropping by the reception like it’s NBD. The vendors delivered timeless elegance that felt less like a show and more like a memory—wrapped in jasmine, tinted in rose, and softly lit for history.

9. Richa Ahuja & Sushanto Roy + Chandini Toor & Seemanto Roy (2004)

If the Ambanis wrote the manual on modern desi opulence, the Roys published the prequel. In 2004, Sahara India’s Subrata Roy didn’t just marry off his sons—he launched a full-blown wedding universe. A double wedding with Sushanto-Richa and Seemanto-Chandini at the helm, it spanned over 10,000 guests, multiple venues, and enough decorative fabric to drape a small country.

But what really made this wedding iconic? It wasn’t just the stadium-turned-palace aesthetic or the floral horses carting in guests. It was the fact that in the middle of this OTT celebration, the Roy family hosted weddings for 110 underprivileged couples. Imagine blending philanthropy with pomp—and somehow pulling it off without looking performative.

The logistics? Aerial drone shots (before it was cool), horse-drawn carriages for guests, and décor that would make Sanjay Leela Bhansali weep. If you’re craving an event that balances showmanship with soul, take notes—and hit up Laali.co to find planners who know how to dream big and deliver with heart.

10. Anu Mahtani & Sanjay Hinduja (2015)

This wasn’t a wedding—it was a global luxury summit with vows. When Sanjay Hinduja (yes, those Hindujas) married Anu Mahtani in 2015, they didn’t just host a shaadi—they rebranded Udaipur as the destination for "if-you-know-you-know" weddings.

Held at the Jagmandir Island Palace, the multi-day extravaganza was the stuff of Pinterest fever dreams. But what truly tipped it into iconic territory? Oh, just a private concert by Jennifer Lopez. And Nicole Scherzinger. Because apparently, Beyoncé was busy?

The aesthetic? Think international haute couture colliding with hand-embroidered desi drama. Anu’s bridal looks served up serious fusion energy—Sabyasachi, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, and more, styled like Vogue had a sit-down with your nani. The décor played with Mughal themes, modern luxe, and enough floral arrangements to terraform a small island.

11. Shloka Mehta & Akash Ambani (2019)

By the time this wedding rolled around, the Ambanis had basically trademarked the phrase "iconic Indian wedding". But make no mistake—Shloka and Akash didn’t just ride the family name. They remixed the formula, threw in a little mystery, and gave us a wedding so hush-hush yet high-voltage that even seasoned paparazzi were like, “Wait, what just happened?”

Shloka Mehta, diamantaire heiress and all-round lowkey style queen, married Akash Ambani in a three-day Mumbai spectacle that unfolded like a Netflix thriller—tight-lipped guest lists, hushed rehearsal venues, and a pre-wedding bash with whispers of a Game of Thrones theme (you read that right). Rumor had it Rihanna was almost booked. We got Coldplay instead. Not a downgrade, just a flex.

Their personalized touches? Think less OTT, more intentional: Shloka’s lehengas leaned into classic silhouettes with hyper-detailed embroidery, and their floral setups felt like a soft-focus dreamscape. Oh, and the vendors? Hundreds of stylists, bespoke event producers, and designers who could style a Vogue cover blindfolded. If weddings had NDAs, this one was signed in 24-karat ink.

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What We Can Learn from These Weddings

Let’s be real—most of us aren’t booking Rihanna, recreating temple architecture, or shipping 600 guests to Lake Como anytime soon. And that’s fine. These weddings aren’t here to make you feel broke—they’re here to spark ideas and reframe what’s possible when culture and creativity link arms and do the bhangra.

Across all eleven of these shaadis, one thing is crystal clear: tradition isn’t getting left behind—it’s getting remixed. From fusion ceremonies that blend faiths, to lehengas that nod to heritage while whispering haute couture, modern Indian weddings are rewriting the rulebook without tossing it out. It’s less about following a template, and more about telling your story—loudly, proudly, and in whatever shade of pink (or neon) feels right.

These weddings also remind us that family isn’t just a guest list—it’s the DNA of a desi wedding. Whether you’re planning your own or supporting a friend, don’t underestimate the power of nani-level opinions, auntie logistics, or the sheer drama of a baraat gone rogue.

Looking to pull off your own version of iconic? Laali.co is your vendor BFF. From dhol players to wedding planners who actually get your vibe, we’ve got your dream team waiting. Your wedding doesn’t need a palace—it needs you, a plan, and maybe a moodboard that slaps.

xoxo,
Laali Ladki

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