AKRON, Ohio — May 4th is Star Wars Day and a special day for fans of the pop culture franchise. 

What You Need To Know

  • The phrase, "May the force be with you," led to the creation of Star Wars Day on May 4 using the phrase “May the Fourth be with you"

  • Couples celebrated by exchanging wedding vows at the Highland Square Theatre

  • Akron Municipal Court has off-site weddings several times a year

  • This is the first time it has had a Star Wars-themed event

The date is a pun on the phrase “May the force be with you” that was first popularized in the original 1977 movie. 

Many didn’t need to travel to a galaxy far, far away to celebrate the holiday. With love being a big part of the story lines, some couples in northeast Ohio used it as the perfect day to say “I do.”

Akron Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable and his team took over Highland Square Theatre to preside over some off-site nuptials with an inter-galactic twist. 

“The day-to-day work that I do, a lot of times people are, you know, a little uneasy being in front of a judge and sometimes it’s very stressful times in people’s lives,” he said. “This is all smiles and fun, so it’s a lot of fun for me.”

But, it’s not exactly the way Ashly Bitter and Michael Codispoti planned on walking down the aisle. The couple traded the courthouse for the cinema for their wedding day. 

“Honestly, I think it makes it a little more exciting,” Bitter said. “It adds a cute little twist to it and makes it more unique.”

“And none of my friends have gotten married to Star Wars,” Codispoti said. 

Cable jumped into the spirit of the theme. 

“Believe it or not,” Cable said, “I do have a [judge’s] robe on, because I think they expect it, but I have a Yoda tie.”

The idea for Star Wars weddings came from his bailiff, Natalie Scott. 

“It’s just my childhood,” she said. “My husband and I grew up with it. I remember having R2D2 Underoos.”

She brought some other items as special touches for the ceremony. 

“I brought my Star Wars DVDs and got some Grogu key chains for the bride and groom,” she said. “Made my Star Wars dress.”

The accessories helped to make it a day to remember for the nearly 10 couples tying the knot. 

“I always think it’s such a cool ice breaker, whether it’s Star Wars or Lord of the Rings or Star Trek,” Scott said. “Speak nerd to each other.”

That’s a love language clear to Bitter and Codispoti, who were excited to make their marriage official. 

“It makes it unique, and it makes it ours,” Bitter said.