Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced his engagement to 20-year-old Jetsun Pema during the opening of the seventh session of the Parliament of Bhutan on May 20, 2011.

A few minutes later, his 21-year-old bride arrived at the end of a procession of red-robed monks and flag bearers across a wooden footbridge over the wide, blue river beside the fort.

The King then received the Dar Na Nga, five silk scarves in the five auspicious colors, as well as the Raven Crown of the Wangchuck Dynasty.

The bride, Jetsun Pema, had ordered several elaborate kiras, the national dress for Bhutanese women, from among prominent weavers in the country.

[6] Confirmed guests included: The Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs declared 13–15 October 2011 a national holiday as part of wedding celebrations.

[12][13] Festivities on the wedding day featured traditional offerings song and dance,[14] archery,[8] a public luncheon of rice with scrambled eggs and potato (kewa datse), and congratulatory salutations (tashi lekdar) from public officials and ordinary onlookers who met the King and Queen face to face.

[6][15] On 14 October, the King and Queen made their way from Punakha to Thimphu,[6] where streets and buildings had undergone thorough repair and decoration with five-colored scarves, portraits of the royal couple, and lights to illuminate the city at night.

[17] King Jigme Khesar Namgyel and Queen Jetsun Pema appeared at a public celebration held at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on 15 October 2011, three days after their wedding.

After exchanging garlands, lighting butter lamps, and offering prayers, the King and Queen received statues of Vishnu and Lakshmi, associated with royalty.

[21] The presence and conduct of the royals greatly impressed the Japanese people, especially the sight of the King offering prayers at the disaster areas following the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan.