#TeamGingerlevelsup: Sarah & Geoff’s 8-bit video game wedding

The Offbeat Bride: Sarah, Project Manager

Her offbeat partner: Geoff, Urban Mercenary

Date and location of wedding: Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, Las Vegas, NV — December 28, 2014

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We had an 8-bit video game-themed wedding. On all the printed materials, we called it “Team Ginger Levels Up” (since we are both redheads), and we wanted to give it a subtle, classy theme. We have been playing video games together for over a decade, and this theme TRULY fit who we are as a couple.

A Few nerdy highlights:

• Our rings were in a Zelda Chest and we played the opening chest theme as we took out our rings and held them above our heads.
• Each table was a different 8-bit video game: Mario, Tetris, Bubble Bobble, Galaga, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Kirby, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, Zelda, and Pokemon
• Our first dance was to “Anything for You” by Ludo.

Tell us about the ceremony:

The ceremony was a completely secular ceremony. The ceremony was short, sweet, and simple. There were two readings: one was a selection from All the King's Men and the other was a poem by Neil Gaiman.

The best man presented the rings in a custom Zelda chest and the chest opening music played as we took the rings from the box and triumphantly held them above our heads.

Our biggest challenge:

The biggest challenge that we encountered was space. One of my best friends offered to be our personal chauffeur for the weekend. The Las Vegas Airport overbooked its rental cars, and the ended up with a Chevy Spark instead of a midsize vehicle as planned. I, as an event producer, decided to bring most of the decor items myself rather than pay the exorbitant delivery fees most places charge. So, at one point, there was a full trunk, four passengers, stacked suitcases in the center backseat, me with a bag on my lap, a bag of linen's on Geoff's lap in the front of the car, boxes anywhere they would fit and zero visibility for the driver. We made it safely, but thankfully we were all Tetris pros!

My favorite moment:

The first dance to Ludo's “Anything for You” was incredible. Despite being in a crowd of over 100 people, time stopped and we were alone on the dance floor. The song truly captured us, since it sounds romantic and appropriate for a first dance, but is a bit fantastical and out of the box.

We also had a combined bachelor/ette party two nights prior to the wedding where we encouraged folks to dress up like Villains. We dressed up as the Green and Blue Lantern versions of ourselves (since Geoff proposed to me with a Green Lantern ring, and since the idea of Geoff being a Blue Lantern to my Green has been important in our relationship for years). At one point during the first stop on the costumed bar crawl, we had over 40 people all dressed in awesome costumes. Having all of our friends get into the spirit like that was incredible!

My funniest moment:

The funniest moment of the ceremony is when Geoff started crying (as I had been crying the whole time and he is not made of stone). The officiant asked if anyone had a tissue for Geoff. None of the groomsmen did, so a bridesmaid had to give away some of the large stack they were hoarding for me.

Vendors

• Photography: Mona Shield Payne
• Centerpieces: LEGOs by LEGO Artist Baron Von Brunk
• Bead Sprite Favors: OC Bead Sprites
• Flowers: Diddlebug
• Ring Box: Graham Cracker Crafts
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Lirola
• Gluten, Dairy, and Soy Free Groom's Cake: Beau Monde Bakery
• Headband: Sheeta Design
• Vests for Groom and Groomsmen: Celestine Ranney-Howes
• Game Boy Advance Cartridges: Camp Hill Play N Trade
• Program and Invitation Design: Captain Scorpio