This one's for Elliot

He's in a bit of a funk, what with all the bad news out there. Luckily, while surfing around looking for something to get my own blogging juices flowing, I came across this:

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The bride and groom grasped one another's dart launcher-clad wrists and stared into each other's starry eyes.

Fifty armour-clad guests, including several "Jedis" and a white caped "Elvis" in a rhinestone-studded ammo belt, stood reverently at attention. A couple of superheroes showed up late.

...Friday's wedding ceremony, based on the language, costume and lore of a fictional Mandalorian race in the "Star Wars" movies, was the brain child of Tenille Kuhlman, 30, and Thomas Kuhlman, 39, avid fans who decided that the convention was a perfect place to gather far-flung members of their close-knit "Star Wars" fan club to celebrate their special day.

For those of you who aren't cool enough to already know, Boba Fett was a Mandalorian. So, basically, these are Boba Fett geeks - a large and vibrant subspecies of the more generic Star Wars geek.

The couple met online two years ago...

Whoa. Didn't see that coming. Who'da thought?

Last winter they married in a civil ceremony and settled in Yuma, Arizona, yet Thomas Kuhlman longed to receive a Mandalorian blessing of their union.

...The bride and groom held their helmets in their hands, a solemn sign of Mandalorian respect. As they grasped wrists, Tom Hutchens, a 30-year-old IT professional...

Whoa. Didn't see that coming. Who'da thought?

...and erstwhile Mandalorian preacher, began the ceremony.

"Vodas," he said, using the Mandalorian word for "friends," "Outsiders, Jedis, everybody, welcome. This is a contract between two Mandalorians who made a journey and future together and bled together and will continue to bleed together until their last day," he said.

After reciting their vows in both Mandalorian and English translation, the jubilant crowd shouted: "Oya!" which in Mandalorian language means "celebration."

"I now pronounce you Mandalorian husband and wife," Hutchens said.

Just consider the vastness of the geekiness. And I say that as a closet Star Wars geek myself. Okay, sure, so I'm not up to Owen's level, but still (make special note of the comments to that post!).

Feeling any better, Elliot? No? Hm. Maybe some pictures will help:









More pictures here.