- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
Wedding Moments From 2024 That Made Pop Culture History
From the iconic Ambani wedding to the Norwegian royals coming under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, it was a great year for wedding enthusiasts!
2024 was an iconic year for weddings. Not only are we in the middle of the biggest wedding season ever, but the year also saw the Ambani wedding. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s nuptials managed to capture the attention of the whole world, thanks to the many pre-wedding functions that redefined the word ‘extravagant’.
Aside from the Ambani wedding being a fixture in the news cycle around the world for months, the year also made us mini-experts on Norwegian royalty when the controversial Princess Märtha Louise got married to the more controversial ‘shaman’ Durek Verrett.
If you want to go down memory lane with us and revisit some of the most iconic wedding moments of the year, read on…
Iconic Wedding Moments Of 2024
The Ambani pre-wedding functions, nay concerts
Image credit: Instagram/Justin Bieber
The Ambanis tend to go all out when it comes to weddings, be it inviting global artists like Beyoncé, Maroon 5, The Chainsmokers, and Coldplay to perform during the functions or roping in the best of couturiers for their wardrobes. So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding kicked off with a mini-concert by Rihanna. But if you thought that was all, the Ambanis then enlisted other major artists like Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Akon, Backstreet Boys, David Guetta, Andrea Bocelli, Pitbull, Rema and Fonsi (to name a few!). Not to forget all the major Indian performers who entertained the guests at the wedding with their performances, like AR Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh and Diljeet Dosanjh.
Kim Kardashian and John Cena turningbaraatisfor Anant Ambani
Image credit: Instagram/Kim Kardashian
2024 was the year of the bizarre crossovers and more than half of these happened at Anant Ambani’s wedding. The Wedding of the Century saw Kim Kardashian under the same roof as Mamta Bannerjee, Orry and Justin Bieber singing together on a microphone,Rihanna and Janhvi Kapoor dancing to ‘Zingaat’(from the movieDhadak) and John Cena interacting with Indian paparazzi while wearing a sherwani. And these are just to name a few!
Shah Rukh Khan’s unexpected performance at a Delhi wedding
A high-profile wedding in Delhi went viral earlier this month when videos of Shah Rukh Khan performing on stage started making the rounds of social media. The actor gave an electrifying performance on some of his biggest hits onstage, looking dapper in his uniform of black evening wear. The moment that induced envy for many of the star’s fans was when SRK complemented the bride on her look (a stunning Michael Cinco gown) and dedicated the iconic poem from his 2012 filmJab Tak Hai Jaandirectly to her.
The Zora's opening in Delhi
Image credit: Baz Events
Delhi added a premium wedding destination to its roster with The Zora. Designed by Lebanese architect and owner of Baz Events, Walid Baz, the convention centre spans 200,000 square feet, making it one of the largest wedding venues in the country. It features cutting-edge architecture, lavish interiors inspired by India’s flora and fauna and world-class acoustics. There are grand halls with soaring 45-foot ceilings for those who prefer pre-designed halls. It also offers beautifully designed open spaces for fully customisable set-ups. If you’re planning a wedding in the capital, don’t forget to check this one out.
Norwegian princess Märtha Louise and ‘shaman’ Durek Verrett’s controversial nuptials
Image credit: Instagram/ Princess Martha Louise
Royal weddings are always a matter of interest for everyone, whether you love weddings or not. But when Princess Märtha Louise of Norway tied the knot with her boyfriend who happens to be a ‘shaman’ to the stars (among other things), Durek Verrett,the attention was on them but not necessarily of the good kind. From past life connections (the couple claimed to be rulers of Egypt in a past life) to the princess claiming racism as the cause behind people having a problem with the groom, the wedding was in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Lana Del Rey’s secret wedding ceremony that launched a thousand memes
Back in September Lana Del Rey shocked fans by announcing her wedding to boyfriend Jeremy Dufrene just a few days after revealing their relationship to the public. While the intimate wedding was stunning and romantic, the groom’s profession created a ripple of interest amongst fans. Lana Del Rey’s new husband is an alligator tour guide. While that on its own is not a big deal, it was enough to create a spate of viral memes and Tweets!
Ananya 'Bae' Panday's hilarious nod to Kiara Advani's bridal entry
Ananya Panday's debut on OTTCall Me Baemight have been divisive, to say the least, but one moment from the show went viral for all the right reasons. In the show, Ananya's character Bae, who is known for being extra and easily influenced by social media trends, copiesKiara Advani's iconic bridal entrydown to the folded hands photograph!
Britney Spears getting married to herself
Image credit: Getty Images
In October, Britney Spears redefined the meaning of self-love when she announced that she had gotten married to herself. The pop star took to Instagram to share a video of herself in an ivory gown and veil with the caption, “The day I married myself … Bringing it back because it might seem embarrassing or stupid, but I think it’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever done !!! (sic)”. Later, the singer shared another video, where she was wearing a white silk mini dress and white-rimmed sunglasses, set to the tune of Sheryl Crow’s ‘Run, Baby, Run’.
Thailand said love is love is love
Image credit: Twitter
This year, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriages! The law was approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and it will allow LGBTQ+ couples to legally register marriage from 22 January 2025! As we celebrated the big news it prompted us to ask,India when?
Which was your favourite iconic wedding moment of 2024?
Where we give you a fast-paced look into everything you should wish list when you start to think about marriage. What to buy and how to dress, along with modern mithai and the homegrown fragrance makers to bookmark. Make special note of the feature on alta.
It has everything you need to make your wedding special. From the big comeback of red and pink in bridal wear to how the cool kids are wearing corsets to the celebration, there is only one way to get ready for a wedding —with enjoyment.
This section is a building block, a step to a better life. A place where we have all the answers. Or at least the beginning of a great conversation.
This needs very little description. It has travel with a special focus on incredible India, and a collection of wedding albums, sourced randomly, but collected with abundance because happiness has no limits.
