A BLESSING CEREMONY IN THE BHUTANESE HIMALAYAS
Paro, Bhutan
JAMES JOSEPH & TARA SUSANTO
Tara Susanto-Joseph and James Joseph celebrated their multi-day wedding in Bhutan’s Himalayas, choosing an Amankora setting that reflected their shared values of intention, nature, and sustainability through cultural traditions and deeply personal design. From a rain-kissed ceremony that opened onto snowy peaks to an intimate, joy-filled reception, the weekend unfolded as an intentional celebration rooted in place, love and community.
Published in US Vogue.
Tara Susanto-Joseph and James Joseph celebrated their multi-day wedding in Bhutan’s Himalayas, choosing an Amankora setting that reflected their shared values of intention, nature, and sustainability through cultural traditions and deeply personal design. From a rain-kissed ceremony that opened onto snowy peaks to an intimate, joy-filled reception, the weekend unfolded as an intentional celebration rooted in place, love and community.
Published in US Vogue.
AT UMA by COMO
Guests were welcomed to the archery grounds of Uma by COMO for a pine-grove dinner, where tents emblazoned with dragon motifs encircled a crackling fire that drew everyone in as dusk fell. The evening unfolded with guests dressed in ceremonial attire, Bhutanese folk dancers, and a feast of traditional dishes prepared with local ingredients, the firelight animating stories of folklore and ritual. As the embers softened and guests drifted back through the pines, the night settled into a quiet prelude to the ceremony that followed.
WELCOME PARTY
At Uma by COMO
Guests were welcomed to the archery grounds of Uma by COMO for a pine-grove dinner, where tents emblazoned with dragon motifs encircled a crackling fire that drew everyone in as dusk fell. The evening unfolded with guests dressed in ceremonial attire, Bhutanese folk dancers, and a feast of traditional dishes prepared with local ingredients, the firelight animating stories of folklore and ritual. As the embers softened and guests drifted back through the pines, the night settled into a quiet prelude to the ceremony that followed.
The WedDING Ceremony
AmanKORA
WELCOME DINNER
Set within the stillness of Paro Lodge at Amankora Bhutan, Tara and James’ blessing ceremony unfolded in a courtyard framed by Himalayan cypress, conceived as a meditation on interconnectedness between nature, ritual, and renewal. Held before the autumn harvest, the ceremony featured entirely foraged florals and rice-lined pathways symbolising abundance, while fire-inspired installations and amaranth in monks’ maroon hues echoed notions of purification and reverence. The result was an elemental ceremony that felt both intimate and transcendent.
WedDING Ceremony
Amankora
Set within the stillness of Paro Lodge at Amankora Bhutan, Tara and James’ blessing ceremony unfolded in a courtyard framed by Himalayan cypress, conceived as a meditation on interconnectedness between nature, ritual, and renewal. Held before the autumn harvest, the ceremony featured entirely foraged florals and rice-lined pathways symbolising abundance, while fire-inspired installations and amaranth in monks’ maroon hues echoed notions of purification and reverence. The result was an elemental ceremony that felt both intimate and transcendent.
Wedding Reception
AMANKORA
Cocktail hour unfolded at dusk, set against sweeping, snowcapped views of Jomolhari as the light softened and the mountains shifted into silhouette. With glasses raised in the fading glow, the moment felt suspended—quietly cinematic, intimate, and unmistakably Bhutan.
For the dinner reception, guests gathered inside the pared-back interiors of Amankora Paro Lodge, where monastic calm met alpine elegance and snow-dusted peaks framed the view beyond the windows. The tables were styled entirely with botanicals foraged that morning from a local garden, arranged in aged brass and singing bowls to evoke a balance between wildness and intention. The result was a quietly powerful celebration of seasonality, mindfulness, and the beauty of the present moment.
The reception took an unexpected turn when guests launched into impromptu karaoke, transforming the evening into a full-blown evening of karaoke as the newlyweds happily joined in.
Wedding Reception
Amankora
Cocktail hour unfolded at dusk, set against sweeping, snowcapped views of Jomolhari as the light softened and the mountains shifted into silhouette. With glasses raised in the fading glow, the moment felt suspended—quietly cinematic, intimate, and unmistakably Bhutan.
For the dinner reception, guests gathered inside the pared-back interiors of Amankora Paro Lodge, where monastic calm met alpine elegance and snow-dusted peaks framed the view beyond the windows. The tables were styled entirely with botanicals foraged that morning from a local garden, arranged in aged brass and singing bowls to evoke a balance between wildness and intention. The result was a quietly powerful celebration of seasonality, mindfulness, and the beauty of the present moment.
The reception took an unexpected turn when guests launched into impromptu karaoke, transforming the evening into a full-blown evening of karaoke as the newlyweds happily joined in.
Clients
James joseph & Tara Susanto
Welcome Dinner VENUE
UMA BY COMO
Stationery
Hans Jonathan
EVENT & FLORAL DESIGN
THIS HUMID HOUSE
Hair & Makeup
Roslynn Hair & Angelika Samara
Cinematography
Aldin Ortez
Pre-Wedding & Reception Dinner Gown
Stella Rissa
Cinematography
ALDIN ORTEZ
Groom's Pre-Wedding & Welcome DInner Outfit
Kraton by Auguste Soesastro
Groom's Ceremony Suit
Barney Cheng Couture
Welcome DINNER Gown
Chuni Dorji Prive (outer)
Kraton World (Dress)
Wedding VEnue
AMANKORA Paro Lodge
Wedding Planning
CHIC & CO Events
Wedding Ceremony Gown
Hian Tjen
Bride'sHair Accessories
Renaldy Yunardi
CLIENTS
James joseph & Tara Susanto
Event & Floral Design
This Humid House
Hair & Makeup
Roslynn Hair & Angelika Samara
Pre-Wedding & Reception Dinner GownS
Stella Rissa
Wedding Planning
CHIC & Co Events
Groom's Ceremony Suit
Barney Cheng Couture
Welcome Dinner Venue
Uma by Como
Stationery
Hans Jonathan
Wedding Ceremony Gown
Hian Tjen
Welcome DInner Gown
Chuni Dorji Prive & Kraton (outer)
Kraton World (Dress)
Bride's Hair Accessories
Rinaldy Yunardi
Grooms' Pre-Wedding & Welcome DInner Outfit
Kraton by Auguste Soesastro
Wedding Venue
Amonkora Paro Lodge
Cinematography
Aldin Ortez