Megan & John’s Legend of Zelda geeky gamer union

The Offbeat Bride: Megan, Clerical administrator and crafter extrordinnaire

Her offbeat partner: John, IT Help Desk

Date and location of wedding: Ella's Garden, Tomball, Texas — April 19, 2014

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: I researched wedding traditions and what expectations were, sometimes solely so I could break them. We just didn't want to conform. It really began with a visit to another friend's wedding with John, realizing that I would never do a lot of the more traditional stuff, like dancing (neither of us dance). Video games were the first thing to come to mind, and we added board games and more because of our obsession and growing collection due to TableTop web series.

Tell us about the ceremony:
Our ceremony started with The Impressive Clergyman's speech from The Princess Bride. There were many geeky references in and around the ceremony. Before assembling a LEGO Triforce together, we exchanged Triforce rings while asking “Will you be my Player Two?” Our response was, “As you wish.” Here are our vows and unity ceremony:

Megan's vows:

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered,
I have fought my way here,
Beyond the goblin city,
To take back that which you have stolen.
For my will is as strong as yours,
And my devotion as great:
You have my heart, and I, yours.
It's been almost five years since I first tasted your yummy pot roast, after spotting your online profile on a dating website. The time has flown by, but seems like we've been together forever. And you're old.
John, you are a sweet man. You do your best to take care of me, and I appreciate you. You offer comfort and stability. You provide love and friendship. For as much as we enjoy each other's company, we also have diverse interests to cultivate away from each other.
My bear, I will try to be your honey… more often than a sour puss. I will bear your obnoxious nature. I vow to love and cherish you, until death do us part. I, Megan Quinn, knowingly and willingly take you, John Smith, to be my lawfully wedded husband.

John's vows:

I'm not an easy man to know; my armor is thick and my shield broad, as it were. I suspect many of the people here never thought they would see this day, because I had long ago come to the conclusion that life is pain (and anyone who says otherwise is selling something). But that's just the surface, and down in my guts it's a different story. I would not say you've made me a different person, because that makes it sound like you've set out to change me, and we both know I'm forged of too stubborn a metal for that. I would say that you've made me more who I really am, and I would hope to say I have helped you to do the same.
So on this, the day of our wedding, when we put formal words to the partnership we've already formed, I will endeavor to help those we have gathered here to understand us.
I will strive to help you be what you wish to be, as best I can. I know it is not my place to tell you what to do, and I know you will treat me with a similar respect. That being said, neither of us is secretive with our opinions; I will do my best not to be too strident and I will trust you to do the same.

I will defend you as best I can. I cannot vow to defend you as I would myself, because I know that in your honor I will be less likely to show restraint. Help me to know when I have done enough, and try to understand that I mean no offense when I struggle to defend you from yourself. I will make every effort to know your mind and understand your thought. I will sometimes fail. But I ask that you forgive me, and know that I will continue to make the attempt. I will face each new day with you. I hope that we greet them all with the courage to face what comes, the power to overcome any obstacles, and the wisdom to pursue our happiness together. I, John Smith, knowingly and willingly take you, Megan Quinn, to be my lawfully wedded wife.

Triforce unity ceremony:

The Triforce is a relic that reappears throughout the Legend of Zelda series. Hyrule's Triforce consists of three separate golden triangles: the Triforce of Power, the Triforce of Wisdom, and the Triforce of Courage. The Triforce has the power to grant the wish of whomever touches it, and molds the realm to reflect that person's heart. The Triforce does not discriminate between “good” or “evil”. However, if a person without an equal balance of power, wisdom, and courage makes a wish, the Triforce will split into its three separate parts. Reassembly is then required for such a person's wish to be granted.
Play “Temple of Time” theme (from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time), as the couple move to the unity stand and assemble 3 gold triangles into the shape of Triforce.

My funniest moment:
There was an announcement made at the reception, after a couple of guests tried nomming the 8-bit heart soap favors on the tables. We were all quite amused that it took a couple of bites for someone to realize that the black-cherry scented soap was not for eating. And then there were the toss fake-outs: a Bob-omb before the bouquet (played to “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”) and a MegaMan Energy Tank before the garter. Not to mention the groom yelling out “Roll to hit!” as we exited the building, showered in dice.

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

• Photography: Tara Star Photography
• Save-the-dates and invites: Bang Boom Pow Design
• Thank you cards: Jojo Bean Designs
• Cake: Dream Cakes
• Food: Mel's Country Cafe
• 8-bit heart soap favors: Small Things For Sale
• Hidden Soaps (pieces of heart) and Jar for Rupees: Fushicho's Gallery
• Candy: Smash Candies, Old Time Candy, and Candy Crate Inc.
• Champage Flutes: Etchin' Good Times
• Perler bead work (including cake topper, Donkey Kong figure, Zelda Chest with rupees, Zelda master sword in stone), ring box, Triforce Necklaces: Emma DreamStar's Creations
• Fighting Armies, Donkey Kong Bananas, Pacman Figures, Pokeball & Pokemon, Mario Mushrooms: Patricia Vlach
• Potted pirahna plant, etched sonic vase, Dr. Light capsule, Portal mirrors: Shana Moffitt
• Starman question block, Fire Flower brick block, and signage: Megan Quinn
• Pacman base, Katamari ball and figurine: Heather Votaw
• Portal card box: Marissa Humphrey
• Rings: made by Wilkins Jewelry Co., text engraving by Shannon Fine Jewelry & Watches
• Bridal gown & bridesmaids dresses: Shana Beth's Dress
• Crocheted flower pieces (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, garland): Megan Quinn
• Bride's necklace: Ross Simons
• Bride's Circlet: Thyme 2 Dream Weddings
• Bridesmaids Headwear: Heather Votaw
• Groom's and groomsmen's costumes: CSddlink
• Boots, belts, and bracers: Medieval Collectibles
• Toss fake-outs (Bob-omb and Energy Tank): Megan Quinn

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!

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