Believe it or not, video games can bring people together – though anyone who has ever been hit by a Blue Shell in Mario Kart may disagree. Whether you strike up a friendship over your love of an indie game or forge an alliance while playing an MMO, lifelong connections – and even romantic relationships – can spawn in a matchmaking lobby. If you’re lucky enough to have found your ‘eternal player two’ in one of those scenarios, then this article is for you.
Our hobby-based wedding series recently began with an erudite theme: in “Once Upon a Bookish Wedding: Stepping Into Your Next Chapter with a Literary Twist,” we explained how to base your wedding stationery, décor, and favors around a classic work of literature. In this installment, we adopt a similar approach – but with your PlayStation library instead of your local library. Read on for enough inspiration to craft a whole host of video game weddings, with tips and instructions so straightforward as to rival Pong!
Themes: Press Start to Choose Your Style
Choosing a theme for your wedding is essential: without an aesthetic or atmosphere to frame everything else, your vision can become muddled. Typical wedding themes can be narrowed down to a particular adjective, keyword, or phrase – see “2026’s Trending Bachelorette, Bridal Shower, and Wedding Themes” for examples. However, for a gamer wedding, you need to pick a series or brand that has the right vibe or look; then the other details will fall into place, Tetris-like.
Admittedly, not every game will be suitable: The Last of Us and Silent Hill are unlikely to inspire any happily-ever-afters. But themes can lead to cohesive decision-making, leave a lasting impression on guests, and become a byword for the mood or tone. For “rustic” weddings, substitute Stardew Valley. For “fantasy,” think The Elder Scrolls. And for “retro/vintage,” try Space Invaders or Donkey Kong!
Invitations: A Quest Worth Accepting
Invitations are only one component of your wedding stationery suite – as we recently explored in “Your Wedding Stationery Timeline: When to Send Wedding Invitations, Save the Dates, and More!” However, they are the crux of your wedding correspondence and should serve to give guests a glimpse of the coming attractions. We recommend you nod to the gaming theme right from the headline; for example, by encouraging recipients to “‘SAVE’ the Date” or by inviting them to the “XP-erience of a Lifetime.”
To prevent any logistical errors and ensure clear communication, invitation wording should be exact: list precise times and addresses, and state the RSVP deadline and protocol. Feel free to put a twist on these conventions too, though: “PRESS A TO ACCEPT” turns your response card into a Shenmue-style QTE. The color scheme can also help you to channel the right gaming memories: use pops of color to recall the opening cut-scene from Super Mario64, or add greens, purples, and blacks to emulate an invitation from Hellen Gravely à la Luigi’s Mansion 3.
Venue Tips: Loading… Your Dream Location
We know that deciding on a wedding venue isn’t as simple as selecting a stage in Smash Bros. or an arena in Tekken; we’ve compiled a strategy guide on that very challenge in “Say Yes to the Address: Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Venue.” Even if you can’t completely transplant your favorite location into real life, aim for a site that evokes the right spirit: a beach wedding resembling Super Mario Sunshine, a castle or woodland estate reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or a tavern reception to stir up those Monkey Island memories.
For a more overtly video game-themed location, it’s possible to find bars and restaurants that keep arcade and pinball machines on standby, as Game Informer points out. You could also try roller rinks, bowling alleys, or any modern amusement center like Round1, where a spontaneous DDR session can still be had.
Ceremony Tips: Beginning Your Co-Op Campaign
Depending on the type of ceremony you’re planning, there may be restrictions as to how much you can tailor the structure: a civil ceremony will generally afford you more flexibility than a religious one, which follows a set format. Even the most traditional event will allow for some Portal-level experimentation, however. Take inspiration for your vows from Final Fantasy X or VII, or commission a custom-made ring worthy of Sonic the Hedgehog with an engraved logo or quote.
Video game theme songs are some of the most iconic in popular culture: from Super Mario Bros. to Pokémon Red and Blue, these bouncy chiptunes have been repurposed and reimagined for decades. There’s precedent, then, for you to do the same: soundtrack your walk down the aisle with a sweeping rendition of “Dearly Beloved” from Kingdom Hearts.
Décor: Pixel-Perfect Wedding Décorations
If our advice on ceremony etiquette came with some caveats, then you’re unlikely to encounter such conditions with your décor. For the reception, assign each group names that read like a who’s who of gaming (how about “Blinky,” “Pinky,” “Inky,” and “Clyde” tables for a Pac-Man theme?). Or, crown each table with a video game-themed centerpiece: an Animal Crossing display, or a commemorative controller and cartridge to declare the ‘theme’ of each table.
If wedding décor for your favorite fandom isn’t represented on sites like Etsy, YouTube, or here on Zazzle, then consider DIYing an alternative: mine Pinterest for ideas and craft something in classic video game fashion. Think of the normal décor items you’d see at a wedding – cake toppers, seating charts, bunting, banners – and prepare your guests for a series of random encounters with video game stickers and collectible figurines.
Attire and Accessories: Cracking the Dress Code
Your wedding wardrobe may be another area where you want to follow tradition – at least based on the relatively few brides we’ve seen sporting Samus Aran-style body armor. Achieve the best of both worlds by pairing your bespoke suit or appliqué wedding dress with unique accessories: Double Dragon cufflinks; Pikmin earrings; God of War socks. These cute, distinctive touches will add personality without overshadowing that classic gown or black-tie look.
Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from transforming your venue into something approaching an anime convention either – cosplay weddings are on the rise! Encourage guests to participate by referencing the dress code in your invitations: even a Candy Crush or Call of Duty t-shirt will allow attendees with a casual interest to take part.
Activities: Let the Games Begin!
As you might expect, the activities at a video game-themed wedding are self-explanatory! Hire out some arcade machines (or purchase a couple of tabletop ‘coin-ops’) and let everyone duke it out in Street Fighter II or compare high scores in Galaga. For a more economical alternative, PauseMyGame recommends rigging up TVs (maybe even CRTs) with joypads or steering wheels, and hosting your own mini tournament. The winners can then face you, the happy couple, for the chance at a ‘Flawless Victory’!
Video game development has its roots in other kinds of analog games – tabletop games, such as D&D and Go – and so card, board, and even lawn games make for appropriate diversions at a gamer wedding. And for other ways to keep your guests entertained (especially over a whole weekend), check out “Keep the Good Times Rolling: Ideas for the Day After Your Wedding.”
You may have had a video game wedding of a sort in the past – by courting suitors in Story of Seasons or by selecting the ‘Elope’ option in The Sims – but by following the tips above, you can bring your real-life gamer wedding to fruition! If you need further advice on bringing a themed wedding to life, take a look at “Incorporating Your Favorite Characters into Your Wedding Theme” and “Let Your Heart Decide: Tips for Planning a Disney Wedding.” It might be GAME OVER for now, but stay tuned for the next entry in our hobby wedding series!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
