The Messed-Up Truth About Star Trek's Klingons

Love conquers all, even the Klingon heart. Many warriors face that special time — when they've fallen for a certain someone, when they've proudly tossed a freshly killed animal onto their lover's table, when they've tasted each other's blood and broken each other's bones. It is time, then, to take the oath.

As detailed by Memory Alpha, a traditional Klingon wedding involves just as much ritual as any other sacred rite. For the marriage to even take place, the lady of the groom's house must approve the bride, who'll have to do basically everything except jump through hoops to earn the lady's blessing. She must become well-versed in the history of the women of her prospective husband's house, and she'll have to be able to perform several rituals flawlessly. Meanwhile, the groom and his friends endure the Kal'Hyah, during which they spend four days in a cave fasting, bleeding, suffering, and singing. It's not your typical bachelor party.

At the wedding ceremony itself, the happy couple are welcomed by the beats of warriors' drums as the lady of the groom's house tells the Klingon tale of creation. The Tawi'Yan (essentially the best man) hands bat'leths to the bride and groom, who then engage in mock battle, representing the clash of two Klingon hearts. Finally, vows are said, and then the guests attack the newlyweds with ceremonial sticks.

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