Billionaire Russian oligarch and Arsenal FC co-owner pays for his niece's VERY extravagant wedding to an Uzbek tennis star, featuring three designer dresses and a fairytale castle (and the bride was treated to a Sex and the City-themed hen party, too)

  • Ganya  Usmanova married her tennis star husband Vazha Uzakov in a lavish ceremony in Uzbekistan
  • The wedding is believed to have been paid for by the bride's uncle, Arsenal FC shareholder Alisher Usmanov
  • The bride wore a total of three dresses on her big day and a fairytale castle was set up inside the venue
  • Uzbek-born Russian businessman Alisher has previously been named the 37th richest person in the world 

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A billionaire Russian oligarch and co-owner of Arsenal Football Club has treated his niece and her tennis star husband to a jaw-droppingly lavish wedding ceremony, featuring everything from a Disney-style castle erected inside the venue to a gown with a train big enough to cover the dancefloor.

Photographs of the extravagant affair capture bride Ganya Usmanova, who is understood to have worn a total of three dresses throughout the day, surrounded by dozens of guests holding her enormous train in the air. 

Her uncle, the business magnate Alisher Usmanov, 64, acquired a 14 per cent stake in London-club Arsenal in 2007 and is understood to have footed much of the bill for the opulent wedding of Ganya, 24, to Uzbek tennis star Vazha Uzakov, 29.

The wedding in the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent saw guests dancing in the shadow of a fairytale castle backdrop surrounded by opulent floral displays and dazzling light projections.

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Ganya Usmanova, the niece of Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, wed her tennis star groom Vazha Uzakov (pictured with his bride and parents) in a lavish ceremony funded by her oligarch uncle over the weekend

Ganya Usmanova, the niece of Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, wed her tennis star groom Vazha Uzakov (pictured with his bride and parents) in a lavish ceremony funded by her oligarch uncle over the weekend

Guests at the wedding helped to lift Ganya's weighty gown in order to capture this magical photo, which was shared on Instagram with the hashtag #VazhaGanya

Guests at the wedding helped to lift Ganya's weighty gown in order to capture this magical photo, which was shared on Instagram with the hashtag #VazhaGanya

Bride Ganya's wedding dress, from an American-Lebanese brand called Rami Kadi, was encrusted with precious stones - one of three dresses she wore for the duration of the celebrations. 

The newlyweds shared snaps of their extravagant celebrations at the Uzekspocentre Exhibition Centre on Instagram using the hashtag #VazhaGanya.

Ganya, who describes herself as an 'Influencer from Uzbekistan' on her profile, has over 117,000 followers, all of whom appeared delighted to be given a glimpse of her celebrations.

Uzbek celebrities performed at the event, but there is thought to have been no entertainment flown in from influential neighbour Russia, where Uzbek-born Mr Usmanov made his fortune.

Ahead of her nuptials, which are understood to have taken place over the weekend, Ganya enjoyed a Sex and the City-themed hen party, with the excited bride-to-be sharing photos under the hashtag #GanyaInTheCity.

The ceremony, held at the Uzekspocentre Exhibition Centre, was decorated with hundreds of fragrant blooms as well as a miniature fairytale castle for the bride's special day

The ceremony, held at the Uzekspocentre Exhibition Centre, was decorated with hundreds of fragrant blooms as well as a miniature fairytale castle for the bride's special day

For the reception, Ganya slipped into a less voluminous gown of ivory silk, printed with a geometric design and perfect for dancing the night away with her guests

For the reception, Ganya slipped into a less voluminous gown of ivory silk, printed with a geometric design and perfect for dancing the night away with her guests

Ganya wore a gown by American-Lebanese brand called Rami Kadi, encrusted with precious stones
She made a total of three dress changes throughout the nuptials

Ganya wore a gown by an American-Lebanese brand called Rami Kadi that was encrusted with precious stones - one of a total three wedding dresses chosen for her celebrations 

Ganya looked every bit the fairy talebride in her hand-embroidered veil as she greeted guests at her wedding reception 

Ganya looked every bit the fairy talebride in her hand-embroidered veil as she greeted guests at her wedding reception 

EXACTLY WHO IS THE BILLIONAIRE UNCLE OF THE GLAMOROUS BRIDE?  

Uzbek-born Russian Alisher Usmanov is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the third most-important oligarch in Russia, with an estimated net worth of £11.4billion.

Apart from Arsenal - of which he is understood to be the second biggest share owner - his company, USM, has links to Everton where USM chairman Farhad Moshiri is owner. USM also has a naming rights deal at Everton's training ground. 

Uzbek-born Russian Alisher Usmanov is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the third most-important oligarch in Russia, with an estimated net worth of £11.4billion

Uzbek-born Russian Alisher Usmanov is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the third most-important oligarch in Russia, with an estimated net worth of £11.4billion

In 2015 he was reported as being a member of Russia 2018 World Cup local organising committee, which is at the heart of FIFA's relationship with Russia.

His official biography records that in 2013 Usmanov was awarded the 'Order for Service to the Fatherland for his services to the (Russian) state' and also the 'Order of Alexander Nevsky' and the 'Order of Honour of the Russian Federation, for his professional achievements and contribution to business' as well as the 'Medal for Contribution to International Cooperation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.'

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The photos capture Ganya's hens being treated to an array of pink and sparkly treats and posing alongside cardboard cut outs of the stars of the cult HBO show.

Following their wedding Ganya shared a photo of her and her new husband's rings on Instagram, with the caption: 'Words can not describe how happy and thankful we are!!! Thank you so much for sharing this day with us!!! Lots of loooove!!!'

Tennis star Uzakov has gained a reputation as a 'sex symbol' in Uzbekistan, but some online commentators were unimpressed by the groom.

A follower posting under the handle 'kirysia' said: 'I would never call him a sex symbol. He is pretty mediocre. There are many Uzbeks that are a lot more handsome.

The bride spent hours preening ahead of her big day with professionals enlisted to help her look her best 

The bride spent hours preening ahead of her big day with professionals enlisted to help her look her best 

Following their wedding Ganya shared a photo of she and her new husband's rings on Instagram writing: 'Words can not describe how happy and thankful we are!!! Thank you so much for sharing this day with us!!! Lots of loooove!!!'

Following their wedding Ganya shared a photo of she and her new husband's rings on Instagram writing: 'Words can not describe how happy and thankful we are!!! Thank you so much for sharing this day with us!!! Lots of loooove!!!'

'This young woman is also so-so, the only thing that makes her stand out is that she is a niece of a billionaire. This man managed to guarantee himself a good future.'

'Vanity' added: 'Beauty is a relative thing but money and status change everything.'

Alisher Usmanov made his fortune in the mining industry.

Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated his net worth at 15.4 billion USD (11.4 billion GBP) and listed him as the 37th richest person in the world.

Before her big day, Ganya was treated to a Sex and the City themed hen party
The party was complete with enormous pink cocktails and cardboard cut outs of the cast

Before her big day, Ganya was treated to a Sex and the City themed hen party (pictured left and right) complete with enormous pink cocktails and cardboard cut outs of the cast

Despite being referred to as a 'mini' castle the installation was a rather large structure and was used for hosting drinks 

Despite being referred to as a 'mini' castle the installation was a rather large structure and was used for hosting drinks 

The bride got ready in a pair of Victoria's Secret silk pyjamas and had her hair and makeup done by a professional 

The bride got ready in a pair of Victoria's Secret silk pyjamas and had her hair and makeup done by a professional 

A blown-up picture of the happy couple was shown on screen as they cut their multi-tiered cake during the wedding reception

A blown-up picture of the happy couple was shown on screen as they cut their multi-tiered cake during the wedding reception

 

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