DIY Your Geeky Wedding Ceremony | A Step by Step Guide

Our custom written Geeky Marriage Ceremony featured LOTR, The Princess Bride, and Corpse Bride.

If you’re anything like us, the idea of a traditional wedding ceremony probably feels a little… bland. Sure, those classic readings and scripted vows have their charm, but where’s the magic for the nerds, geeks, and lovers of all things fantastical? Enter: the geeky wedding ceremony.

Our Halloween wedding in 2018 presented a challenge that most standard ceremonies just couldn’t meet. Nothing felt right. So, with inspiration from Offbeat Bride and a lot of movie quotes, we crafted a completely custom ceremony that reflected us! We wanted to include our humor, our fandoms, and our love story. We’re talking LOTR, The Princess Bride, and Corpse Bride sprinkled throughout, because why not?

The great thing about your wedding ceremony is that it’s one of the easiest parts to personalize. Many officiants offer pre-written readings, but the ones we know love it when couples blaze their own trail. If you want a ceremony that’s uniquely yours, embracing your inner nerd is a perfect way to do it. Here’s how we did it, plus some tips to help you write your own geeky wedding ceremony.

Why a Geeky Wedding Ceremony Works

A wedding ceremony isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s a moment to show your guests the essence of your relationship, your shared humor, your favorite fandoms, and your values. For us, blending fantasy and sci-fi into our ceremony was about more than just quoting movies (though Jake does that A LOT), it was about creating a story that represented our adventure together.

Geeky ceremonies let you:

Make your guests feel like part of your story
Include lines that make you laugh, cry, or both
Honor shared interests in a way that feels authentic
Write vows that speak directly from your heart without resorting to clichés

As a wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed how personal ceremonies make moments even more emotional and more photogenic. When you’re laughing through a quote from The Princess Bride or wiping away tears after a heartfelt, fandom-infused vow, the camera catches all the magic.

Choose Your Own Fandom Adventure: Tips for Writing a Geeky Wedding Ceremony

Creating your own geeky ceremony doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure for your vows and readings. Here are three fandom paths to guide you:

1. Fantasy Path

For lovers of elves, wizards, and magical adventures:

Source quotes from beloved books/movies: LOTR, Harry Potter, Princess Bride, Corpse Bride, or D&D campaigns.
Incorporate symbolic items: Rings of power, wands, enchanted candles, or even a shared spell you recite together.
Blend humor and heart: Don’t just quote the movies but rather add personal context. For example, when we quoted Bilbo, it wasn’t just for the line, it reflected the adventures we were starting together.
Ceremony structure tips: Introduce a “call to adventure,” share vows as a quest pledge, and use a symbolic object to mark the start of your journey together.

2. Sci-Fi Path

For space explorers, time travelers, and tech wizards:

Pick a central universe: Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Marvel.
Use quotes that resonate: “The Force will be with you, always,” or “Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey… love-y stuff.”
Include fun rituals: Hand over a light saber, shield, or other fandom artifact as part of the ring exchange.
Balance geekiness and ceremony essentials: Make sure your vows still communicate love, commitment, and intention. Fandom references should enhance, not replace, the emotional depth.

3. Pop Culture Path

For those whose fandoms are a little broader:

Mix movies, TV shows, and literature: Disney, Pixar, The Office, Parks & Rec, Harry Potter, or anime.
Create inside jokes for your guests: Incorporate beloved lines, but give context so everyone can enjoy them.
Fun guest participation: Ask guests to raise their wands, cups, or superhero masks at a key moment.
Tie in tradition with creativity: Even pop culture ceremonies can honor standard vows, rings, and legal phrasing; you just add your own twist.

General Tips Across All Paths:

Start with a list of your shared fandoms and favorite quotes.
Blend quotes into the ceremony naturally and avoid overloading.
Work with an officiant who’s flexible and gets your vision.
Balance humor with heartfelt intention.
Make a short “cheat sheet” for your officiant so nothing gets missed on the big day.

Our Geeky Marriage Ceremony Script

Below is our full script, performed by Officiant Danielle Burlingame on our Halloween wedding day.

The Geeky Marriage Ceremony of Jacob & Markie | October 31, 2018

Officiant: MAWWAGE. MAWWAGE is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawwage, that bwessed awangement. That dweam wifin a dweam. And wuv, tru wuv will fowow you foweva. So tweasure your wuv.

Officiant: Lords & Ladies, Ghouls & Goblins, Princes, Princesses, Zombies and alike, Welcome.

Officiant: Today you are here because you have been invited to join in an adventure. You will be witness as Markie and Jacob embark on the adventure of marriage to one another. As Bilbo Baggins said to Frodo, “It’s a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Love is much the same, it’s dangerous to fall in love with someone, you never know where it may take you. Markie and Jacob thank you for the journeys you have taken today to be with them as they commit their lives to one another.

Officiant: Markie and Jacob have pledged to be married this day and we ask the higher powers to bless this union. If anyone can show just cause, why they may not be joined together by God’s Law, let them now speak. However, any such scurrilous objector shall be hexed by the cute little blonde witches before you.

Officiant: The couple acknowledges the spiritual presence of some people who meant a great deal to them. They deeply regret those that are not physically here today to join the celebration. Together they ask you to help celebrate the lives of all those who’ve gone before us, by placing a flower on the ofrinda as you enter the reception.

Officiant: Markie and Jacob have chosen to write their own vows. They will share them now.
(Reading of vows)

Officiant: It is now time to exchange rings. Wedding rings are symbols of the journey taken together, a completion of one story and the start of another. Forged by the fires of compassion, compromise, and love, not to be easily destroyed. To alter from Tolkien: Two rings to rule them all, Two rings will find them, Two rings to bring them all and in this marriage, bind them. The rings, please.

Officiant: Jacob, please place the ring on Markie’s finger and repeat after me:
“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in the darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine.”
(pause for repeating between sentences and repeat for Markie)

Officiant: Markie and Jacob, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and friends and have declared your love and commitment to each other.

Officiant: By the power vested in me by the State of Washington and the internets, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
(pause for kiss and step to the left)

Officiant: Friends and family, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Stein.

Your Geeky Wedding Story

A wedding ceremony should feel like you: quirks, fandoms, and all. Whether you’re drawing inspiration from the worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, or pop culture, remember the goal: a ceremony that reflects your love story, makes you laugh, and makes your guests feel part of your adventure.

If you’re ready to craft your own geeky wedding ceremony and want someone who gets it, we’d love to cheer you on and capture every magical, messy, hilarious, and heartfelt moment. Your story deserves to be told in a way that’s authentically you—and we can’t wait to help you do that.