Live long and prosper" Couple plans wedding on bridge of U.S.S. Enterprise

For any dedicated Star Trek fan, the chance to set foot on the U.S.S. Enterprise would be the opportunity of a lifetime. For Kate Erwin of Phoenixville and Brad Siegel of Denville, New Jersey, the dream experience goes one step further.

On September 13th, Erwin and Siegel will be married on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise at the Franklin Institute, as winners of the Institute's Star Trek Wedding Giveaway. As the couple stated in their contest entry, "Nothing would make us happier than to be able to pledge our lives to each other in the Star Trek universe, among our family, friends, and fellow Star Trek fans."

Prior to hearing of the contest, Erwin and Siegel's dream wedding included a ceremony on the bridge of the Enterprise D in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed when the Vegas exhibit closed in September of 2008. Fortune was in their favor, however, when they came to the Franklin Institute earlier this year to see the Star Trek exhibit, unaware that a wedding contest was taking place. "We were actually here checking out the exhibit, and the woman in line with [Siegel] mentioned it to him," said Erwin.

The contest, for which voting was held from July 10th until July 20th, judged contestants on the creativity of their entry, their photo, and their devotion to Star Trek.

Over 25,000 members of the public cast votes to decide the lucky winners, presided over by a panel of

judges that included Star Trek actor George Takei, 6ABC's Matt O'Donnell, WMMR's Preston and Steve, and leaders of the local Star Trek fan club U.S.S. Sovereign.

Erwin and Siegel, who currently reside just outside of Portland, Maine, met three years ago at a Star Trek convention in Chicago and got engaged in March of 2008 when Siegel proposed to Erwin onstage at a convention in New Jersey. Siegel planned ahead of time with convention organizers to have Erwin brought up on stage as the "chance" winner of a raffle.

While onstage, the raffle announcer asked Erwin, who was unaware of the plot underway, to choose the next winning ticket. As Seigel stood up, the 400-person crowd smelled a rat, groaning audibly as he made his way to the stage. Siegel soon won them over, however, when he got down on one knee and proposed to a chorus of over 400 "awws." Naturally, Erwin's answer was yes.

Siegel and Erwin's mutual love of Star Trek began when each of them stumbled across the show while flipping through the channels, bored with other TV offerings. "Star Trek at its best tells classic, timeless stories that speak to many generations," said Siegel. "For me, it all started with The Original Series. When it started in syndication, people rediscovered it." As luck and fate would have it, Erwin was among those who discovered it in syndication. "I happened upon [The Next Generation], and fell in love," said Erwin. "I've been hooked for 20 years now."

Though they share a passion for Star Trek as a whole, Siegel and Erwin have very different opinions when it comes to favorite characters and plotlines. The character that Erwin can relate to most easily is Data, the android from Star Trek: The Next Generation. "There's no judging with him," said Erwin. "He looks at everything through a child's eyes, and because of that he finds the joy in everything."

Siegel, who especially admires George Takei's character, Captain Sulu, praised the recent Star Trek movie for its commitment to Star Trek's original message. "If you're an original series fan, it's hard not to love the Kirk character," said Siegel. "Star Trek began with the relationship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, so seeing [director] J.J. Abrams stay so true to the original story was incredible."

While they each have their own favorite aspects of the show, both Erwin and Siegel relish the camaraderie that events such as Star Trek conventions foster. "Suddenly you have ten, 15, or even 20 thousand people all getting together with one common interest," said Siegel. Added Erwin, "There is a collective effervescence that spreads through the crowd."

Unfortunately, "trekkers," as Star Trek aficionados are affectionately called, have in the past been given a bum rap, being labeled as weird or nerdy for dressing in costume and attending conventions. Star Trek costumes, however, are little different than sports jerseys, as Siegel rightly notes. "Have you ever gone to a football game or a baseball game, and you look around to see that everyone is wearing the same thing?" asked Siegel. "It's exactly like that." Siegel went on to point out the ultimate goal of wearing fan gear, which is to show respect for a favorite athlete, character, or team, fosters feelings of unity at any given event.

Because Pennsylvania has relatively strict laws when it comes to who can legally preside over a wedding, finding the right person to perform the civil ceremony was difficult. After some searching, Erwin and Siegel found the perfect candidate in a Buddhist priest from Harrisburg, who performs weddings in a long white robe and shawl. "Her normal look for performing weddings is perfect," said Siegel. "She totally gets what we're trying to do."

Erwin will walk down the aisle in a crimson dress, accompanied by man of honor and longtime friend, Adam Rhoads of Phoenixville. Siegel and his groomsman, Eric Frost, will be in specially made suits from Pierre's Costumer in Philadelphia, tailored to emulate the formal dress wear of Star Trek Nemesis. Guests at the wedding are also encouraged to arrive in costume.

Planning a wedding is stressful, but doing it under the glare of the media spotlight is understandably more difficult. Erwin and Siegel, however, are taking it in stride with both candor and grace. For now, they seem to be enjoying the whirlwind of what they refer to as their "fifteen minutes of fame," which will culminate in their September 13th wedding. As Star Trek's Spock would say, may the happy couple live long and prosper.

http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/articles/2009/08/22/news/srv0000006182829.txt