Did your jaw totally drop when you saw a sneak peak of Ginny & Rob's amazing red rock wedding last week? Perhaps it was the freakin' full-size TARDIS that blew your gourd? Or maybe you're a fan from way back when we featured her Star Wars poster STDs? All I can say is that this wedding is awesome and proves that you and/or your event can be both nerdy and incredibly gorgeous. – Becca

Who invited the oncoming storm?

The offbeat bride: Ginny McQueen (Tribe member)

Her offbeat partner: Rob Kern

Location & date of wedding: Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada — October 2, 2010

What made our wedding offbeat: We had next to no money to pull this off. We had next to no planning go into it. And yet we still had a fun party and some unexpected thunderstorms in the middle of the desert to keep it interesting.

Honey, I'm home.Tell us about the ceremony: It was just very short. The thing I really remember was something I would have bitched about if it wasn't in the middle of my wedding ceremony. My husband was in charge of finding a judge to marry us. And I guess he wasn't terribly clear about how I did *NOT* want any mention of god or religion in the ceremony. She said she used her “civil” script but I don't know. One of the first words out of her mouth was God and I was pretty pissed. But what can you do when you are in the middle of your wedding?

Our biggest challenge: The challenge was really getting my husband to understand that a wedding doesn't have to be some formal, boring thing. It can be fun and low-key. Much like with our [Intern's note: super rad Star Wars poster] invitations, I had to suggest things and be creative because he wasn't as open-minded at first about doing things differently.

Time Party

My favorite moment: I was just glad to have my few close friends with me. Both of my parents died a while back and I don't have much in the way of family. My friends are my family and I was just happy to hang out with them.

Also our dance being to As The World Falls Down by David Bowie was awesome.

And having a TARDIS.

Wind attackMy funniest moment: We were married out in Red Rock Canyon here in Las Vegas. We had scouted out a place that was secluded yet easy enough to drive to. The weather all week was predicting 0% chance of precipitation. And then, the day of, random thunderstorms started popping up everywhere. I was so lucky I thought ahead and didn't bother to curl my hair or anything, because the wind was insane. I nearly keeled over a few times from the gusts of wind trying to get to the spot. And the whole time I was just laughing.

Was there anything you were sure was going to be a total disaster that unexpectedly turned out great? I didn't think anything would really go horribly. But I didn't think it would be some magical, wonderful day of bliss where everything should be perfect and I was a beautiful princess, either. So I think that kept everything pretty sane. I even broke the heel on one of my shoes and I just sat and glued it back on. No big deal!

outside looking inMy advice for offbeat brides: I didn't even want to have a wedding. I don't think it's something worth wasting money on and I think the marriage is important, not the wedding. So if you just view it as some party where you get to see your friends and wear a dress you like, you won't stress out.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? I think I just reaffirmed by belief that everything is better when you can laugh [Intern's note: AND when you have a TARDIS. For realz.].

Cake Toppers

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

  • Dress: I had my dress made overseas for under $200. I designed it and just sent those designs to the same people who are producing those designer gowns you pay up the butt for.
  • Decorations: All the decorations were just string lights and star garland you can get online for dirt cheap. I even found LED balloons (all of this you can just google and find), which were awesome, and they came with free glow bracelets.
  • Cupcakes: The cupcakes were from the grocery store.
  • Booze: I think the most expensive thing was the booze, and I don't drink!

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Comments on Ginny & Rob’s no-budget, desert canyon, sci-fi wedding party

    • you can find them at Target…i dont remember what they are called…but there in the starwars section…and they come in packs of two..i donno if these two come together..our nephew tommy loves them…hope this helps

    • They are called Star Wars Galactic Heroes!
      They are not only available at Target as mentioned, but also at Ralph’s in the toy aisle as well.
      They do rotate, you may have to be diligent to find those same ones…

  1. Just a quick nit-pick – The photo credit under the first photo there is incorrect. The right credit is on the photo if you click on it. 🙂

    • Oh the drama that was getting that TARDIS. I ordered one weeks in advance. Then 2 weeks later they tell me “OOPS Out of stock”. So then I order from another company. 3 days later “OOPS Out of stock”. Then I find another company and at this point I have to pay for 2 day shipping for this enormous thing. And then they don’t bother to give me tracking information so I assume they also messed up. Luckily it finally arrived the day before the wedding.

      In conclusion – there are a ton of places that carry them, just Google TARDIS standee. If you need it in a hurry, that’s a whole other story. 🙂

  2. Wow!! I’m glad to see your stuff up! Im a cosplayer from the east coast thats getting married in July and I was so happy to see yours so personalized and you. Were going with a more anime route but I do love the Dr.Who/Star Wars/Sci Fi way you went about about!

    Cheers and good luck!

    • I am anime fan! What anime are you doing? This is an awesome theme for a wedding. I want to see pics.

  3. I was lucky enough to be one of the guests at Ginny & Rob’s wedding (that’s me and my husband with them and the TARDIS) and I can confirm it was every bit as beautiful and awesome as it appears. =) The intimacy of both the ceremony and the reception made them so memorable and genuine. Plus they had Rock Band and gave out little alien toys as favors. Pretty rad =)

  4. We’re doing the exact same first dance song! Love David Bowie and the Labyrinth:)

  5. i swoon! the setting is beautiful! and you are tiny, can i borrow that figure for a night lol, i have a dress im dying to wear haha!

  6. I loved your wedding and you are right, the marriage is important not the wedding. Some brides made fun of me because I went against tradition and had no flowers at my wedding. I used feathers instead. Anyway your dress was gorgeous.

  7. Ok I’m lost. What on earth is a TARDIS? The links in the post bring you to different things. I’m confused.

    Everything looks lovely though! 🙂

  8. 1. Awesome dress and TARDIS. 🙂
    2. I feel you on the “civil” ceremony script including religious references. My husband and I went to the courthouse a month before what we called our social/spiritual wedding. The judge read the whole traditional script – to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, honor (although I don’t think obey was in there), and God references. We just did what we needed to do to get the state to recognize our marriage – our real vows were much more personal. I hope you got what you needed out of your ceremony despite that script and that your wedding was a good kickoff to your marriage – it sounds like it was!

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