Wedding to be 'Star Trek' enterprise

He wanted the wedding proposal to be special, so he carefully chose his words, selecting a foreign phrase with special meaning.
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"Would you be my wife … my imzadi?'' he asked.

Imzadi means true love in Betazed, a language peculiar to the "Star Trek: The Next Generation'' TV show.

Brad Siegel, a longtime Denville resident, and Kate Erwin will be married early next month on a mockup of the Starship Enterprise 1701-D bridge, part of a traveling Star Trek exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, after winning a contest where entrants were encouraged to exhibit a combination of romance and geekiness.

They were chosen by a public vote after a group of judges, including George Takei, who played Sulu on the original "Star Trek,'' narrowed the field to three couples. And this past week, they went to Philadelphia to select a wedding cake, to be supplied by the museum.

The couple plans a traditional ceremony on Sept. 13, with some references to the Star Trek wedding between Cmdr. William T. Riker and Deanna Troi in the movie "Insurrection.'' Siegel said he plans to wear a Next Generation uniform while Erwin will wear a red wedding dress. Friends dressed as Klingons will be imposing-looking ushers.

"They'll be security,'' Siegel, who recently moved from Denville to Maine, said with a chuckle.

They plan to have comfort food such as Philly cheese steaks and a tower of chocolate, and to give out Star Trek-themed favors such as Tribbles … fictional furry creatures that, although cuddly, once created chaos on the Starship Enterprise.

"We want it to be homey and relaxed,'' Siegel said.

But he said they also might consider some traditional Star Trek food, such as Klingon qagh, serpent worms that are supposed to be served while still alive. The dish can be approximated by using noodles and either red or black food coloring, according to Internet-based recipes. Gummi Worms are another possible ingredient.

Siegel acknowledges that he was "definitely in that geek group'' as a child, attending the first Star Trek conventions as a teenager in the 1970s. He was hurt years later when William Shatner, who played Capt James T. Kirk, told fans to get a life during a "Saturday Night Live'' appearance.

"It was very hurtful to a lot of us,'' Siegel said. "I think over the years he was
frustrated that no one would take him seriously other than that one character. I think he was trying to make a joke and it was misunderstood.''

By then, Siegel had become a television advertising executive. He was married with two daughters, and for a while stopped attending conventions. But he returned to the convention scene after getting divorced five years ago.

He met Erwin at a Chicago Star Trek convention three years ago, and they managed to find common ground even though they were in some ways from different universes. Siegel, 53, had grown up as a fan of the original Star Trek that ran in the late 1960s while Erwin, 34, is a fan of The Next Generation, which began in the late 1980s.

"The Next Generation is more cerebral,'' Siegel said. "In the original series, it was just Capt. Kirk pulling out a weapon and shooting.''

He said they agreed on other things more important than Star Trek episodes, such as a basic outlook on life. He asked her to marry him at a Star Trek convention in Secaucus this past March, arranging to get them both on stage so the proposal would be made in front of hundreds of people. She was called up to receive a prize and then picked a seat number out of an envelope to reveal another prize-winner.

"They called me up to the stage,'' Siegel said. "What a coincidence.''

Groans from the crowd turned to hushed silence as the promoter asked Siegel if he had something to say. Because Deanna Troi referred to Riker as her imzadi, Brad knew Kate would be moved when he used that term.

"It's very Next Generation,'' he said. "How much more romantic could you get to reference her series instead of mine? I was so nervous, I opened a box with a ring and forgot to take out the ring.''

They hoped to get married at a Star Trek exhibition in Las Vegas, but it has since been torn down. Then they heard about the Franklin Institute's contest and submitted an entry, explaining the connection between their romance and Star Trek conventions. Siegel also might have told the judges about his interest in Star Trek collectibles, including photos of him with Star Trek actors taken at conventions over the years. He estimates that he's spent close to $50,000 on such items over the past 40 years.

That investment apparently will help get him a break on his wedding. The Franklin Institute is providing space for the reception, along with champagne and the wedding cake. Siegel said people also have donated flowers and photographic services. Their friends are going to be dressed up in various Star Trek costumes.

And if the Klingon qagh moves, that just means it's authentic, and really fresh.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20090822/COMMUNITIES/90821036/1005/NEWS01