I had heard of the Halo Wedding months earlier on a geek blog and knew this was prime Ehell material. My deep disdain for theatrical wedding themes where the bride and groom become role-playing characters is longstanding and resolute. Marriage is a profound commitment and should not be entered into lightly or frivolously. So, when the bride and groom don costumes and stage make-up, one wonders who exactly is uttering the vows of marriage…Skeletor or John Smith?
As you’ll see in the video, neither the bride nor groom assume a role and the entire wedding party is very traditional. What makes it a Halo Wedding is the appearance of troopers as ushers and the officiant is the Halo character Master Chief. The processional music is undoubtedly Halo music which makes it sound like funeral dirge. I wouldn’t even attempt to describe it as “hauntingly beautiful”. It’s just plain creepy and depressing. And I challenge anyone to watch the following video of the ceremony and tell me you did not experience extreme cognizant dissonance watching a video game character conducting a serious wedding ceremony.
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I can completely understand your objection to overly theatrical weddings, but since neither the bride nor the groom here are dressed as anyone other than themselves, I don’t really think this applies. The officiant didn’t bother me, since it doesn’t look like they’re in a church, and personally I thought the music was nice (but I’ve never played Halo, so I don’t have negative associations with it). This really struck me more as a “different strokes for different folks” issue than an etiquette one.
They met while playing Halo against each other online, so that game is a huge part of their history together.
There’s an article about them here (found on google) with more pictures and details: http://www.greenpixels.com/articles/features/2449/We-Had-a-Halo-Wedding
Some people like to have fun, and know the commitment they each have towards each other is not diminished because they do not take a government contract as seriously as they are “supposed to.” The personal touch may not be to the liking of some, but that does not necessarily give a clue as to their personal views on adult, consensual relationships, or their love for each other.
With all due respect what do you call a couple that never dresses in formal wear donning a tux and bridal gown if not theatrical? Marriage is a profound commitment. A wedding is just the vocalization of that commitment and what better way to do that then in your own personal style – regardless of what tradition holds.
Poor etiquette is one thing, but bashing on someone because their taste is non-traditional and heaven forbid different than yours is just sad. Best wishes to the halo bride and groom.
From the name of the video it looks like it might have been done at a convention so maybe their friends and family understand that they love the game. I thought it was very respectful. They got married as themselves and the vows were respectful and straight foward. They like Halo and wanted to have that as a part of their wedding. If that’s what they wanted to do then good for them. I wish the best for the bride and groom.
ALL weddings are theatrical in nature. Why else would people feel the need to have the *perfect* dress (that they never wear again), and location, and decorations and all the garbage that goes along with it? IF people didn’t want a big to-do, they’d either elope or have a bare-bones ceremony.
To be fair, I was bored watching this wedding, mainly because I get bored at all weddings. But, since the couple apparently met through Halo online, it makes sense for them to do thus. I wouldn’t recommend this for everyone, but it works for them.
I find this to be hilariously awesome. I love it how they take this supposedly serious uber-commitment and make light of it. It’s not nearly as serious as it used to be, besides, this way their wedding is personalized and isn’t it for the couple getting married? I would think that they would have a stronger relationship than the half that end in divorce if they’re willing to do something like this.
My partner and I met through a friend, but it was the fact that we found out that we both played World of Warcraft that pushed us to want to get to know each other better. We will be including elements of World of Warcraft in our wedding and reception because it is a very important part of our history. (What if we hadn’t played, or if only one of us had?) Nobody will probably be dressing up in costume but I don’t understand at all why it’s such an etiquette faux pas to dress up or have fun at a wedding. The wedding is celebrating the Bride and Groom’s life together isn’t it? So it should make perfect sense that each wedding would be individual and why shouldn’t it include something that they have in common and both enjoy? I read in a blog (unfortunately I cannot remember which one) about how no matter what – someone will always think that something in your wedding is tacky so there is no use trying to please anyone but yourself.
I love this site, and the stories but it is posting things like these that make it feel like they’re just being posted for people to make fun of because it doesn’t live up to your expectation of what a wedding ‘should be’
Most weddings are made up of elaborate ritual with designated costumes that may come from varying cultures and interests.
Why is your choice valid and other’s choice light or frivolous? Do you disapprove of the elaborate makeup that women sometimes use with some traditional Asian weddings? How about the arrival of a groom on a white horse or elephant?
Should I disapprove of the numous brides I have heard say “I want to be Cinderella” or I want to be a princess” – aren’t they just dressing up in a costume?
If you don’t like themed weddings, then the simple solution is not to attend any. No one’s forcing you to stain your eyeballs with the terrible social faux pas of the bride and groom wanting a wedding that will be fun and memorable.
Especially since you weren’t invited to the wedding and don’t know the people involved. It’s not like you were kidnapped by men in S.T.A.R.S outfits, dressed like a zombie and tied to a chair at a Resident Evil wedding or something. So why should you care? A wedding party is just that–a party.
My husband and I are big gamers so something like this would be more up our alley than a huge ta-do.
We were married by a Justice of the Peace but if we chose to do something big for a vow renewal, it probably be something like this.
Not Halo, oh dear lord, no. But fun and “gamery” none-the-less.
My wedding, my rules. I take my commitment to my husband a lot more serious than some people who have spent 50 thousand on their weddings. We spent $200. $50 for the license and $150 to take our closest friends and family out to eat afterward.
Given that the officiant’s …er, uniform….scares the flowergirl, I have to agree with the OP. Sorry, but just because it floats your boat, doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate for a wedding — and event far more sacred than college graduations. The guard and officiant definitely add a “children’t birthday party” element to what should be a serious occassion. The bride and groom are expected to take the advice of love, respect and trust from a character guy dressed like he’s ready to kill the congregation — I mean, seriously?