This is a attend a gala cultural program at the India House, specially organized to congratulate the Royal Couple for their impending Royal Wedding on October 10, 2011, in Thimphu, Bhutan. His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, will wed Jetsun Pema, 21, on October 13 in the historical Punakha Dzong, the same venue that hosted the King's historical coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebrations in the capital and nationwide. (Photo by Gelay Jamtsho / Royal Office of Media via Getty Images)
This is a snap of the happy couple at "a gala cultural program at the India House, specially organized to congratulate the Royal Couple for their impending Royal Wedding," and this is just the first of many BEAUTIFUL textiles in this slideshow. (The Bhutanese royals have a very close relationship with India, which is good given that Bhutan is right next door.)
THIMPU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 12: Souvenirs on display at the shops in Thimpu, Bhutan. Bhutan King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will marry Ashi Jetsun Pema on Thursday. (Photo by Naveen Jora/The India Today Group via Getty Images)
Royal wedding swag! These would truly be a crown jewel in anyone's collection.
WANGDUEPHODRANG, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 12: In this handout image supplied by the Royal Office of Media, Royal Bride Jetsun Pema is welcomed to a traditional Chipdrel in Wangduephodrang where she will spend the night on the eve of the Royal Wedding. on October 12, 2011, in Wangduephodrang, Bhutan. His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, will wed Jetsun Pema, 21, on October 13 in the historical Punakha Dzong, the same venue that hosted the King's historical coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebrations in the capital and nationwide. (Photo by Karma Nidup / Royal Office of Media via Getty Images)
Informative Caption here tells us that "Royal Bride Jetsun Pema is welcomed to a traditional Chipdrel in Wangduephodrang, where she will spend the night on the eve of the Royal Wedding." Her skirt is so gorgeous and this photo is so dramatic! The smoke! The stone steps! The monks! Where is my Lifetime movie about this?!
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 13: His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (L), 31, smiles at his bride during the purification marriage ceremony to Queen Jetsun Pema, 21, in the historical Punakha Dzong on October 13, 2011 in Punakha, Bhutan. The Dzong is the same venue that hosted the King's historic coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebration in the capital and countryside. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
And we've arrived at the wedding day! This is the "the purification marriage ceremony" and, again, these two people are VERY good-looking and the textiles of their wedding attire are stunning.
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 13: His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, holds his Raven crown as he and the Queen Jetsun Pema, 21, walk out after their marriage ceremony is completed on October 13, 2011 in Punakha, Bhutan. The Dzong is the same venue that hosted the King's historic coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebration in the capital and countryside. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Married! (The ceremony is private, and no photographers are allowed inside, so we only have before and after snaps.)
PARO, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 13: His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (L), 31 with Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema (R), 21 greeting the media after the wedding ceremony on October 13, 2011 in Punakha, Bhutan. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck wed in Bhutan's historic 17th century Punakha Dzong the same venue that hosted the King's historical coronation ceremony in 2008. The marriage of popular, Oxford-educated king was celebrated throughout the country's capital and countryside for several days. (Photo by Triston Yeo/Getty Images)
We have a very good look at the Phoenix Crown on the Queen here. (It's the crown she wears as the Queen, not a wedding tiara. I have NO information about it otherwise, though. It's beautiful.) I'm also obsessed with the embroidery on these scarves.
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 13 : Members of the royal family walk out after the royal marriage ceremony of His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema on October 13, 2011 in the historical Punakha Dzong, Bhutan. His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, is marrying Jetsun Pema, 21, on October 13 in the historical Punakha Dzong, the same venue that hosted the King's historical coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebrations in the capital and nationwide. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
Other royals didn't come to this wedding -- although the Dutch did send tulips, which is so nice? -- but these are "members of the royal family" of Bhutan. Their ensembles are really stunning.
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 14: The Royal Couple, His Majesty, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck giving thanks to the people after spending a long day greeting the locals along the way from Punakha on October 14, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. Royal Wedding celebrations will begin on October 14, in Thimphu as Bhutan celebrates the country's royal wedding. (Photo by Triston Yeo /Getty Images)
Here, the newlyweds are "giving thanks to the people after spending a long day greeting the locals along the way from Punakha." If I understand what I've read correctly, the King and Queen did basically a mini-tour of the country the weekend of their wedding to greet people.
Bhutan Celebrates Royal Wedding
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 15: The Queen mothers, from left Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck,Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and Sangay Choden Wangchuck prepare to leave the ChangLeme Thang stadium after the end of the wedding celebration festivities October 15, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. In this final day of wedding celebrations for the royal couple more than 50,000 people turned up at the stadium to see dancing and singing. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
Here's Jetsun Pema with all her mothers-in-law on the final day of wedding-related celebrates. (Polygamy is okay in Bhutan, but Jigme said he will never take any other wives.)
Bhutan Royal Wedding Celebrations
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 15: The Royal couple King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck stands with his new bride, Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck as they address a crowd of thousands of Bhutanese citizens at the celebration ground at ChangLeme Thang on October 15, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. Today marked the third and final day of celebrations for the royal wedding with singing and dancing. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
The final day of celebrations involved basically a festival of singing and dancing and archery and yet more stunning silks.
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 15: Marchang is offered by Gyalpoi Zimpoen to His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck at the TashichhoDzong on October 15, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. In this final day of wedding celebrations for the royal wedding, more than 50,000 people turned up at the stadium with about 500 performers to entertain the guests. (Photo by Triston Yeo/Getty Images)
Here's a good look at the Queen's OTHER tiara, which I believe she uses for more state dinner-y stuff, and less as her actual crown. It's pretty.
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 15: The Royal couple, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck greet thousands of Bhutanese citizens at the celebration ground at ChangLeme Thang October 15, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. In this final day of wedding celebrations for the royal couple more than 50,000 people turned up at the stadium to see dancing and singing. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
Hugs!
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - OCTOBER 15: The Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck fixes her traditional Bhutanese Kira as she greets thousands of Bhutanese citizens at the celebration ground at ChangLeme Thang October 15, 2011 in Thimphu, Bhutan. In this final day of wedding celebrations for the royal couple more than 50,000 people turned up at the stadium to see dancing and singing. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
What -- and I cannot stress this enough -- a dish she is! (She's also the world's youngest Queen.)
