This Deep Space Nine Season 6 Episode Did One Star Trek Trope Better Than Any Other Series

The romance between Lieutenant Commanders Worf (Michael Dorn) and Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) is probably the most unexpectedly charming storyline in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. From the beginning of the show, Jadzia is filled with a passion for life and an enduring interest in Klingon culture. Lt. Commander Worf, on the other hand, is a significantly more somber figure, making their relationship simultaneously unexpected and deeply complementary. Especially after then-Lieutenant Worf's failed romances in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the genuine love he found in DS9 was a welcome change.

But DS9's Lieutenant Commander lovebirds are far from the only romances in Star Trek. And when Worf and Jadzia culminated their relationship in a marriage in the season 6 episode, “You Are Cordially Invited,” they joined the rare ranks of Star Trek couples who actually got married on the show. From Prof. Keiko Ishikawa (Rosalind Chao) and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) in TNG to President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) and Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) in Star Trek: Discovery, weddings have a special place in Star Trek history.

Worf & Dax On DS9 Had Star Trek's Best Wedding Episode

They Beat Out Keiko & Chief O'Brien In TNG

Lt. Commanders Worf and Jadzia Dax have the best wedding episode of Star Trek, and it's not even close. Very few weddings are shown in Star Trek, and even fewer have entire episodes devoted to the impending nuptials. Indeed, only DS9's "You Are Cordially Invited" and TNG's "Data's Day" are explicitly centered around a wedding. But whereas the latter treats Keiko and Transporter Chief Miles O'Brien as secondary to political intrigue and Lt. Commander Data's (Brent Spiner) emotional development, "You Are Cordially Invited" is devoted to the marriage of Worf and Jadzia.

The episode perfectly transitions DS9 from Dominion control of the station back to the Federation. After the darkness of the war, the brightness of Worf and Jadzia's wedding is a breath of fresh air. The episode even has a great A-B story of Jadzia winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law while Worf starves his friends during the Klingon equivalent of a bachelor party. Since the wedding is the backbone of the episode, and every aspect of the plot is so genuinely uplifting, "You Are Cordially Invited" is clearly the best wedding episode in Star Trek.

Why Star Trek Still Rarely Does Wedding Episodes

There Are Thematic & Narrative Reasons That Weddings Don't Work Well In Star Trek

Despite the success of "You Are Cordially Invited," Star Trek does not have much in the way of wedding episodes. Indeed, President T'Rina and Ambassador Saru just get a scene in the last episode of Discovery, and, despite having one of the longest relationships in Star Trek, Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Commander Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) are relegated to an introductory beat at the start of Star Trek: Nemesis. Speaking generally, Star Trek does not spend time on weddings.

One reason for this is thematic. Star Trek is set in the far future, and, by and large, 21st-century Earth religions do not seem to hold sway with Starfleet. Since weddings are historically religious events, showing the rituals of marriage could easily create thematic dissonance for Star Trek. However, Worf and Dax's wedding could handily sidestep these issues since neither party was human and the traditions in question were Klingon.

Another reason weddings aren't frequently shown in Star Trek is narrative: Weddings are the culmination of a romantic relationship. Once a couple gets married, many classic romantic stories are off the table. Although a happily married couple can be compelling, it is frequently easier to focus on a less stable relationship. But Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did not take the easy route with Lt. Commanders Worf and Dax, and, for that reason, their wedding is the most iconic in Star Trek.