Weddings are a chance to celebrate love, tradition, and all things meaningful. But what if you could take it a step further and infuse your unique passions and professions into your celebration? That’s exactly what we did for our geeky-chic wedding, where forensic science and chemistry were front and center, making our special day not just memorable, but truly one-of-a-kind. Now, ten years later, we’re still just as in love—and just as nerdy!
As a crime scene investigator and a chemist, we wanted a wedding that felt personal—something that spoke to our love for our professions and our nerdy sides. And with a splash of science, a dash of forensics, and a whole lot of creativity, we crafted a day that was both elegant and quirky, all while keeping things chic.
In this post, Ashley is excited to share how she brought a geeky-chic wedding to life, and how you can, too! Whether you’re a forensic professional, a scientist, or just someone who loves the idea of blending personal passions into a big celebration, this guide will give you actionable ideas, inspiration, and tips to create your own science-themed wedding.
The Inspiration Behind Our Geeky-Chic Wedding
Every wedding begins with inspiration, and ours was no exception! From the moment we started planning, we knew we wanted to make our wedding a reflection of who we are—not just as individuals but as a couple. I’m Ashley, a crime scene investigator, and my husband, Ben, is a chemist. We’ve always been a little “nerdy” in the best way possible. Why not lean into that and incorporate elements of our careers and passions?
The theme we chose was “geeky-chic,” combining the elegance of a traditional wedding with fun scientific and forensic twists. Our colors were purple and mint green, accented with gold—tones that felt sophisticated but still fresh and playful. But we didn’t stop there.
As we started planning, we realized that many of the traditional elements of a wedding (centerpieces, table numbers, seating arrangements) could be easily transformed into something more personal—something with a scientific or forensic twist!
Planning Our Geeky-Chic Wedding: Where Science Meets Love
Researching and Conceptualizing the Details
The planning process was a mix of creativity and practicality. I spent countless hours on Pinterest, searching for ways to incorporate scientific and forensic elements into traditional wedding details. I loved the idea of making the science theme subtle and chic.
We wanted guests to walk into the venue and feel the elegance, but also to see nods to our professions in unexpected places—like test tubes instead of place cards or a wedding cake that looked more like a lab experiment than a traditional confection.
Challenges in Bringing Our Ideas to Life
While we were thrilled to incorporate these geeky elements into our wedding, it wasn’t always easy. For example, we were able to borrow glass flasks and beakers from a high school teacher, which saved us a ton of money! But sourcing the brass cartridge cases for the table décor was a bit trickier. These were essential to our forensic theme, but we needed to ensure that they wouldn’t be taken by guests or be mistaken for real evidence. We made sure to mark them clearly, so there was no confusion!
We also had to explain our scientific ideas to some of our wedding vendors. For example, when we worked with our baker to design the wedding cake, we had to explain the intricacies of a double helix and benzene rings. Thankfully, our cake decorator was up for the challenge, and she brought our vision to life perfectly!
Choosing Our Vendors and Making It Happen
One of the highlights of the planning process was working with our wedding coordinator at the Cypress Grove Estate House. She was a dream to collaborate with and was so supportive of our theme. However, when it came to specific elements like the cake design, we had to explain in detail what we envisioned. Luckily, our cake decorator was enthusiastic about the challenge, and together we crafted a cake design that included double helixes and benzene rings, making it both scientifically accurate and stunning.
We also created detailed mock-ups for the centerpieces and decor, ensuring everyone knew how to set things up. Since we were using beakers, flasks, and other glass items, I made sure to include photos of what everything should look like on the big day.
Key Geeky-Chic Wedding Elements That Made the Day Special
1. Our Unity Ceremony: A Color-Changing Chemical Reaction
One of the most memorable parts of our geeky-chic wedding was the unity ceremony. Instead of the traditional candle lighting or sand ceremony, we incorporated a color-changing acid-base reaction—a perfect mix of chemistry and love! Here’s how we made it happen:
Materials:
- 2 beakers
- Cabbage juice (as a natural pH indicator)
- Graduated cylinder
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or lye
- Dry ice (for the acid-base reaction)
- Gloves (to handle dry ice safely)
Steps:
1. Set Up Two Beakers of Cabbage Juice:
We started by preparing cabbage juice, which naturally changes color depending on the pH level of the solution it’s mixed with. To create the juice, we boiled chopped red cabbage and strained the liquid. The juice was a rich blue hue.
The beakers filled with cabbage juice were placed on each side of the unity ceremony table. Each beaker was brought forward by a parent—one from the mother of the bride, and the other from the mother of the groom. This represented the union of our families.
2. Add Sodium Hydroxide:
On the table, we had a graduated cylinder containing a small amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which we sourced as lye from a local hardware store. This base solution was key to triggering the color-changing reaction.
During the unity ceremony, we each took a beaker of cabbage juice and slowly poured it into the graduated cylinder together.
3. Watch the Color Change:
As we poured the cabbage juice into the sodium hydroxide solution, something magical happened: The color of the cabbage juice immediately changed from a rich blue to vibrant green!
This was due to the cabbage juice acting as a pH indicator, which turns green under basic conditions.
4. The “Magic” Moment:
Next, we added dry ice to the graduated cylinder. The dry ice sublimes, producing carbon dioxide (CO₂) which dissolved into the solution, creating carbonic acid (H₂CO₃).
As the carbonic acid was introduced, the pH of the solution decreased gradually, causing the cabbage juice to change colors again—this time, from green to shades of blue and eventually pink.
5. The Final Result:
The entire color transition symbolized how our love, like the reaction, would go through many beautiful changes.
The stunning visual effect was not only scientifically captivating but deeply symbolic of the union we were forming.
It was a fun, interactive, and unique way to symbolize our union. Guests were amazed by the reaction, and even those with no chemistry background couldn’t help but be in awe of the color transformation. It was a truly unforgettable moment that perfectly reflected our love for science.
Want to see the reaction in action? Ben breaks down the science behind the unity ceremony on his YouTube channel, Ben’s Chem Videos!
2. Wedding Cake: Double Helix & Benzene Rings
The wedding cake was another standout element of our geeky-chic theme. We wanted something that would incorporate our professions while still looking beautiful and elegant. We worked closely with Anna Hightower, the talented owner and operator of Anna Cakes, who helped us design a cake with two key features:
- Double Helix: The cake featured two swirling double helixes, a nod to Ashley’s work as a crime scene investigator.
- Benzene Rings: For a touch of chemistry, the cake also had benzene rings piped on the tiers, a nod to Ben’s work as a chemist.
We brought pictures and sketches to the baker and explained the significance behind the designs. She took our ideas and made them come to life in such a gorgeous way. The cake wasn’t just a dessert; it was a true representation of us as a couple—both nerdy and chic!
3. Table Décor & Seating Arrangements: Science Meets Elegance
We wanted the tables at our wedding to feel like an interactive experience. Instead of traditional table numbers, we chose to incorporate elements of the periodic table. Each table was labeled with the name of an element, making it both educational and fun.
For the centerpieces, we used glass flasks and beakers, giving a nod to Ben’s chemistry background. We also added brass cartridge cases to tie in the forensic theme. The seating arrangements were equally unique: guests found their table numbers on test tube racks. Inside each test tube was a strip of paper with their name and the corresponding element number. Some guests even took their test tubes home as keepsakes!
4. Fingerprint Guestbook: A Lasting Memory
Instead of a traditional guestbook, we opted for a fingerprint canvas. Guests were invited to press their fingerprint on the canvas and sign their name, creating a lasting piece of art to hang in our home. The result was a beautiful, personal reminder of all the loved ones who shared our special day.
One piece of advice: Choose a smoother surface for your fingerprint guestbook! While it turned out beautifully, the textured canvas caused some fingerprints to smudge or not appear as clearly as we’d hoped.
Memorable Moments from Our Geeky-Chic Wedding
Fun Reactions from Our Guests
While we had a lot of fun planning and creating the scientific details, the best part was seeing our guests’ reactions. The color-changing unity ceremony was a huge hit! Guests were amazed by the transformation of the cabbage juice and the dry ice effect. Even non-scientists were fascinated by the “magic” of it all.
Another memorable moment was seeing my crime scene squad and colleagues at the wedding. It was heartwarming to have them there, especially given that our wedding theme spoke so much to what we do for a living.
Advice for Future Geeky-Chic Couples
If you’re in the forensics or science field and planning your own geeky-chic wedding, here are some tips to make it come to life:
- Think Outside the Box:
Don’t be afraid to add subtle science or forensic elements to your wedding. You can make it chic and fun without overwhelming the event. - Collaborate with Your Vendors:
Explain your ideas in detail and work closely with your vendors to ensure everything comes together. For example, we shared pictures and sketches with our cake decorator to get the perfect scientific design. - Make It Interactive:
Consider adding interactive elements to your wedding, like our color-changing unity ceremony or test tube seating chart. These ideas engage guests and create memorable experiences! - Learn from Us:
If you’re planning a fingerprint guestbook, consider using a smoother surface to ensure clearer prints!
Conclusion: A Wedding That Was Truly Ours
Our geeky-chic wedding was a reflection of who we are as a couple—both nerdy and in love with science. By incorporating forensic and chemistry elements, we made our wedding day as unique as our relationship. From the color-changing unity ceremony to the test tube seating chart, every detail was a celebration of our passions and professions. If you’re a fellow science or forensic professional, we hope our experience inspires you to plan a wedding that’s truly yours. Embrace your inner geek, and make your big day as fun and meaningful as you are!
NEW Mini-Courses Launching May 21st! 
COMING MAY 21ST 
Crime Scene Excellence: Optimizing Forensic F
