mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Young ladies planning their wedding sometimes want to recreate a fairytale fantasy for the big event. Their fiances sometimes counter by arguing that any decent childhood fantasy would involve light sabers. So the science fiction wedding is becoming more common.
Eric and Juli had a Star Wars wedding that included a Darth Vader groom’s cake and an impromptu light saber battle!

Matt Wiggens’ fiance said he could have Stormtrooper escorts from the 501st Legion at their wedding if he could get 10,000 people to join his FaceBook group. And they would use the Imperial March if he got 20,000. So far, he has over 14,000 members. The wedding isn’t until October, so the orchestra should go ahead and learn the tune.

See more sci-fi weddings after the jump.
See a Peruvian Star Wars wedding on video.
After the ceremonial first dance, this wedding couple also had their ceremonial “first lightsaber duel” at the reception.
Star Trek:The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton offers a selection of Star Trek wedding packages.

K’Allen and Torsha’s Klingon wedding in 2003 became an internet sensation. If you want to do this yourself, you’ll find all sorts of help in the Klingon Wedding Manual.

Another option is the Romulan wedding.
I didn’t find any real-life examples of a Vulcan wedding, probably because the Vulcan mating ritual is so strange. But I found a recipe for Vulcan wedding cake! The cake pictures is not a Vulcan recipe, it’s from Allison and Aaron‘s wedding, which wasn’t a Star Trek wedding, but featured an awesome cake.
One of these days, someone will have a combination Star Trek/Star Wars wedding. The ushers won’t ask “bride or groom?” but instead ask “Federation or the Force?” I hope I can get an invitation to that one!
The blonde chick in the Star Trek is seriously hot. Absolutely NO WAY any decent looking real bride would go along with such dorkiness as a Star Trek wedding. That pic is obviously a promo shot for the people selling the Star Trek wedding packages… she probably really works at the Hilton front desk or something. It’s funny that the groom in that picture looks like a real Trekkie geek, though — I guess it’s intended to appeal to male Trekkie fantasies of the ideal wedding: marry some hot chick dressed up like Yeoman Rand (minus the beehive!) in a Star Trek wedding! hah hah…
The rest of the pics look like they employ (ahem) real wedding parties with (ahem) real Trekkie brides. Scary people.
posted by Sid Morrison on 5-15-2007 at 6:38 am
Yeah, that one is a promo picture. I found a few pictures of real weddings at The Experience, but I didn’t want to use personal pictures unless they had a webpage or a story to link to.
posted by Miss Cellania on 5-15-2007 at 6:47 am
Fake! The Borg would have assimilated the wedding rings.
posted by Frank Booth on 5-15-2007 at 10:07 am
My husband is a big Star Trek fan (and no, he doesn’t have Vulcan ears, a “red shirt”, or greasy hair, so you can just put your stereotypes away, folks!). We had a lovely, normal wedding. But we both joked during high-stress moments of wedding planning that we might just elope to Vegas and do the Star Trek Experience!
posted by lleachie on 5-15-2007 at 1:14 pm
Cool! Personally, I hate wearing masks on my wedding day. I’d like to keep mine simple yet unique. So if given the chance I think I’ll settle with Star Wars wedding. Not only because I’m a die-hard fan of Natalie Portman, my sweetie is dying to get a real fluorescent sword. Maybe the person who will win in a saber battle shall be the one to put on the stocking. Also, I think I’ll do away with those marching robots. I’ll just prefer the concept of Star Wars in some parts of the wedding rites.
posted by cool wedding portraits on 5-15-2007 at 9:43 pm
Nerdiest. Weddings. EVER! These are really creative, though. It’s starting to give me ideas for a themed wedding of my own!
posted by heather on 5-15-2007 at 10:41 pm
Feh. Star Trek weddings are for chumps!
My wife and I had a beautiful Doctor Who wedding, though the only daleks that showed up were on top of our wedding cake.
posted by Troy Wood on 5-16-2007 at 11:28 am
My husband would have been all for any Star Wars reference. He wanted to walk down the aisle to the Imperial March. Instead, we entered the reception to the Legends of Zelda Underworld theme song. It was basically the only thing he decided on for our whole wedding, so I threw him a bone.
posted by Elizabeth on 5-16-2007 at 12:11 pm
Particularly nerdy is that the cake at the bottom of the article says “To Boldly Go” and “Live Long and Prosper” in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
posted by Margaret on 5-16-2007 at 12:25 pm
That’s my sister doing the first duel. It was great. What you don’t see is that the wedding was in an old music hall with pipe organs belting out the one of the Star Wars themes. Hey, to each her own. I’ve always said that about my sister. I got married a month later and it was completely traditional. Both were fun and both were what we wanted.
posted by Dave on 5-16-2007 at 12:52 pm
All though not completely themed, my wife and I walked into the ceremony to the tune of the rebel march of episode IV.
It was particularly funny because it starts up like a normal wedding march, but shifts after 4 seconds. Most of our friends were laughing while the other guests where still trying to place the song.
posted by alejandro on 5-16-2007 at 1:11 pm
My husband and I just got married about three weeks ago. We did not have a Star Trek themed wedding, but we did (with the help of our bridal party) make a movie that payed homage to Star Trek and Pee Wee’s Playhouse combined and we showed it at the service (if you could call it that). All of the members of the bridal party including myself and my husband dressed up as members of Star Fleet and had our own Star Trek Big Adventure. It was a big hit and pretty much everyone at the wedding said it was either the best wedding they had ever been too or at least the most memorable. We weren’t completely over the top with our love of Star Trek, but a little bit of nerdiness can go a long way!
posted by Roxy on 5-16-2007 at 1:45 pm
Here was a semi-star wars wedding – Darth Vader was the father of the groom. The ring bearer was a 480 pound robot.
posted by David on 5-16-2007 at 3:24 pm
I am a bit geeky and do like star trek, star wars etc but this is tragic in the extreme. I wish them all well though. I guess the grooms are pretty lucky that they have found that special someone who will share their geeky lives with them.
posted by Peter on 5-16-2007 at 3:34 pm
I don’t have a themed wedding story, but I have a themed proposal story. The guy climbed in my window, presented me with a lightsaber and asked me to marry him. After that, we went out to see Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, wearing towels around our necks.
posted by Sylvia on 5-16-2007 at 4:55 pm
Why do I not see any Betazoidian weddings? :)
posted by DJH47 on 5-16-2007 at 5:01 pm
I’ve played piano for a ton of weddings, and I’ve played that rebel march a number of times. It DOES open like that traditional number (I forget the name.. you know… there goes the bride…) and by the time the new couple is out the door the groomsmen and bridesmaids are starting to figure it out, and the grandmothers are still dabbing at their eyes and saying what a wonderful wedding it was. Perfect.
The Romulans and Klingons were maybe… a bit… much….
posted by elphaba on 5-16-2007 at 9:24 pm
I resent the implication that girls who like star trek could not possibly be attractive.
posted by Tessa on 5-16-2007 at 10:21 pm
Our wedding was traditional, but with a Star Wars flavor- Pastor knew we are into Star Wars so he based some of our ceremony on it. We exited the sanctuary to the music from the medal ceremony in ANH, and entered our reception to the Imperial March under a lightsaber salute. We have pictures of me and hubby “cutting” the cake with a light saber.
posted by lissybear on 5-16-2007 at 11:48 pm
We had the Spanish Inquisition at our wedding.
posted by craig on 5-17-2007 at 12:34 am
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!
posted by Miss Cellania on 5-17-2007 at 7:10 am
How utterly passe and pedestrian! and it’s all fake to boot!
I perform Authentic Voodoo Ritual weddings for the genuinely interested in the sacred., that are exotic, mesmerizing, enchanting and bring blessings to all who attend and not from some weird imaginary planet but from the very real forces of the many Universes.
When the drms start beating and the flames burn and the altars shimmer under the Poteau Mitan, you know something real is happening and this day will truly be a new beginning. Not to miss, not to forget.
Oh, drums, dances, fire-eating and machete duel beat light-swords in a heart-beat!
Rev. Severina of New Orleans Voodoo Crossroads.
posted by Rev. Severina Singh on 5-17-2007 at 11:18 am
Our first main tactic is surprise… surprise and fear. No no.. two main tactics, Surprise, fear, and a fanatical divotion to the pop. No Three main tactics.
posted by James on 5-17-2007 at 11:34 am
We had a standard wedding, outside by a lake, a Cherokee prayer, with “The Inner Light” Suite from Star Trek Next Gen playing.
My best man shouted out, “Oh, yeah! This is that Picard-playing-the-flute music!”
Everyone laughed.
Our first dance was a Waltz to “Cullen Anderson” by the Rogues of Scotland, playing on bagpipes.
posted by King Henry VIII on 5-18-2007 at 11:54 am
We didn’t go with a theme wedding or reception, but our entrance was pretty dorky. Trek theme music, then Imperial March and our wedding party surprised us with lightsaber salute.
I asked my husband whether his groomsmen would be cool with entering to the imperial march; he informed me one had broken up with a girl because she hadn’t seen Star Wars.
posted by Laura on 5-23-2007 at 7:25 pm
Psssh. Where are the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA weddings?
posted by David on 6-27-2007 at 7:03 pm
How about some StarGATE weddings? I’d love to rent the Atlantis set and be married under the ‘gate! I don’t think I’d carry a P90 or wear a tac vest, though. :)
posted by Alexandria on 7-18-2007 at 12:40 pm
My cousin got married a few years ago, and he’s a total Star Wars nut. The church wouldn’t allow much, but the recessional was the Death March!
posted by Allison on 8-21-2007 at 9:48 am
Oops! I meant Imperial March, not Death March. See — I’m not a big fan!
posted by Allison on 8-21-2007 at 9:50 am
Hubby and I got married 4 years ago and had a Star Wars wedding. I went on Ebay and got original 1977 SW bed sheets and his tux vest and all the bowties and my garter was made from it. The cake had Han and Leia on top with Stormtroopers surrounding the bottom. I walked down the aisle to Princess Leia’s theme. We left to SW Theme and entered the reception to Darth’s theme. Friends of ours brought light sabers for us to walk under (as a surprise) on top of all that- we had a children’s choir that sang some traditional music as well. We tried to get our minister to wear Yoda ears but he refused… Oh- my head piece was designed after the headpiece of Leia on the cover of the book “The Courtship of Princess Leia” It truly was a day to be remembered!!!!
posted by Spluuugirl on 8-21-2007 at 6:27 pm
I’m a big fan of the Peruvian Star Wars wedding on video up there, but I can’t imagine involving so many other people in my geekiness. I generally try to keep it private, you know?
posted by Ion on 8-26-2007 at 8:30 am
My wife is FAIRLY keen on SF, and looks a lot like Counsellor Troi, especially in her wedding dress with her hair up.
She was late to the service due to her male hairdresser delaying her when he put his make up on. She was just about holding it together when she walked up to the church door. However the two ushers opened it with a chush-uk noise of a ST door opening. She struggled to maintain her poise and has only just forgiven them.
posted by Max on 9-3-2007 at 6:20 am
NOBODY Expects the spanish Inqusition anymore! It’s not fair! Anywho, star trek weddings sound like the best way into the future!
posted by trekkie159 on 9-23-2007 at 1:49 am
Alright, so next up is a Firefly wedding – that will have to be my theme, since the Star Wars one has already been done so well. I’ll just have the bride save the Star Wars theme for the honeymoon, when I’ll be Han and she can be Leia in the gold bikini.
For the other die-hard geeks out there, I want to see pictures from Farscape, Bablyon 5, and Lord of the Rings weddings. Come on, I know you geeks are out there. Make it happen.
posted by Daniel on 12-3-2007 at 12:14 pm
Actually, I’ve recently gotten engaged and have decided to go with the Firefly theme. Sadly, I saw online it has been done once- just not very well.
Only makes sense, since my fiance and I met over Firefly.
posted by Kaylee on 12-28-2007 at 11:06 am
Kaylee, you can do it better! Then send me pictures. Best wishes to you and your fiance!
posted by Miss Cellania on 12-28-2007 at 11:18 am
I had the orchestrated version of “Inner light” as my wedding march. No one knew where it came from except for us trekkies! You have to stay true to that inner nerd inside!
I would love to renew my vows in Vegas and do the full on trek thing!
Kat
posted by Kat on 1-9-2008 at 9:53 pm
I had the orchestrated version of “Inner light” as my wedding march. No one knew where it came from except for us trekkies! You have to stay true to that inner nerd inside!
I would love to renew my vows in Vegas and do the full on trek thing!
Kat
posted by Kat on 1-9-2008 at 9:53 pm
So we’re having a renaissance wedding, with the grooms outfit costing nearly $1,000. and the bride’s nearly as much. with the groomsmen doing a sword arch, and the paster in a monks robe. Our southern baptist pastor is going to dress up. we looked into the trekkie wedding in vegas, but it was to expensive. the reception at quarks bar looked fun.
posted by Sorcha_Mochrie on 1-17-2008 at 12:07 am
I resent the implication “that no real bride would want the dorkiness of a star trek wedding”
Why the heck not? It sounds way more fun than a conventional one! I’m getting married next year or the one after and I’m looking to incorporate sci-fi and especially Babylon 5! We met at a sci-fi convention after all!
I’m currently planning a dress vaguely based on the one worn by Jadzia Dax whem she was marrying Worf in the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode “You are cordially invited.” but in blue with ammendments.
And I am decent looking too :p
posted by dlenn on 1-24-2008 at 5:47 pm
I think a firefly wedding could be beautiful. so much from that universe to choose from. they even have their own preacher character. but i’d have to go with a doctor who theme. all i’d have to do is get my guy to dress like The Doctor. let’s hope my future husband is as nerdy as me.
posted by Claire on 6-3-2008 at 4:53 pm
We’re having a fantasy/Japan-themed wedding in a month. I made my dress and all of the bridesmaid dresses to match some of our favorite ladies of fantasy, and the groom and his groomsmen are dressing as samurai and carrying swords. Our keyboardist is wearing Arwen’s coronation gown, and I’m dressing as Galadriel. I’d say that I’m quite the good-looking (enough that I’m always chosen to play the “hot” characters when we do costume groups with friends; i.e. Poison Ivy), even if I’m hopelessly nerdy.
I know I was the driving force behind our amalgamation of LotR and a Kurosawa movie. :) A respectful and loving wedding doesn’t have to be traditional.
posted by Katrina on 6-18-2008 at 3:09 pm
My ex-wife and I had a wedding based on the movie, “Pitch Black”. She turned into a Bioraptor even before the darkness enveloped us. Just like the film, our marriage didn’t end well either. (I’m just kidding about the wedding theme, but not the Bioraptor part.)
posted by Hunter Gratzner on 6-27-2008 at 11:01 am
My partner and I (both not-too-ugly chicks!)are huge Stargate fans and were thinking of getting the gate design made into our wedding rings. But she is also a Trekkie of serious proportions and I’m a Star Wars fan since birth so the whole scifi wedding thing is getting a bit confusing! We also absolutely love Lord of the Rings, so are trying to work out how to combine the lot. The rest of my family are trekkies but hers hate all scifi so it could be an interesting day!
posted by froggy on 7-7-2008 at 5:37 am
I’m really pushing for a Betazoid wedding (just think how much money everyone will save on their clothes!), but I’m not sure who would show up. Even if I told them I’d bring people to the nudist colony who weren’t over 65 and saggy. ;-)
Sadly, Star Trek the Experience at the Hilton in Vegas has been closed down, so no presto-Star-Trek-wedding for me.
posted by Anna on 5-28-2009 at 11:19 pm
Star Trek weddings are so good but
I want to see pictures from Bablyon 5, weddings.
posted by Hiberya on 6-8-2009 at 7:01 am
I am a huge sci-fi geek (and a fairly good looking gal too, thank you very much!) and I love these ideas. My boyfriend is a big sci-fi fan too…if we wind up getting married (well, really more of when, at this point), I could totally see the two of us including something totally random and sci-fi in our otherwise traditional wedding. I’m really digging the idea of a lightsaber battle myself. Although I definitely need to work in some Stargate and Star Trek, as we’re big fans of both.
posted by Elizabeth on 6-17-2009 at 3:22 pm
My husband would have loved a star trek wedding
posted by wedding chair covers on 8-27-2009 at 12:44 pm