PT Anakin and Padme's Wedding

A simple question but one that is really bothering me ever since it occurred to me - why did Anakin and Padme get married?

Think it through - they couldn't share a surname for secrecy reasons, they couldn't tell anyone or even invite anyone, they couldn't share a home or finance, they couldn't have a honeymoon, they couldn't really do anything.

Meanwhile to even have the makeshift ceremony they had, they needed to involve a random bishop - who Palpatine claims told him all about it, so who else did he tell? - and they also have their oh so secret relationship written and recorded in legal documents. They also have to trust their witnesses, one of whom is the not exactly proven secret-keeper C-3PO. They also have to obtain a wedding dress, travel all the way to that remote island once again, all of which would involve at least 5 or so more people.

So...why? They can enjoy none of the benefits of being married and there are serious risks and downsides. Why bother? Before you say "they're so in love" that's not an acceptable answer. They may be besotted but Padme is still a logical person and wouldn't do something for love if there was literally no good reason to do it.

Am I missing something? I'm aware that the answer is that Lucas didn't think this element through but what would be the in-universe justification?

 

lol i never thought about how 3PO was there. maybe they wiped his memory after (jk). though i think you can program him to never mention certain things; like how he wasn't allowed to tell luke who princess leia was (she was just someone of some importance... he doesn't really know).

i thought their marriage was a ceremony of commitment to one another. it's funny that they found the most gossipy bishop to perform it. although they had to find someone more shady anyway (they are doing something kind of shady), and this person is from naboo, and palpatine probably knows many shady people on naboo (he has to find all the shady people to advance his power).

 

I think Padme did if for her moral/religious beliefs. (Jedi/Sith aren't the only beliefs in star wars.)

They did have a "holy man" which I think shows people on naboo had some religious beliefs.

 

They got married because they wanted to. You're overthinking it. They don't have to share a surname, since real world people don't have to either. They do live together in her apartment when he's on Coruscant. As to honeymoon, they did have one. On Naboo. It wasn't a long affair. Most married people don't take a week off and go on a trip. As to legal documents, it isn't and issue and Threepio kept quiet about it for three years.

 

They got married because they love eachother and wanted to pledge themselves to one another. It's for the romantic semi-happy ending for AOTC, nothing more. You wouldn't take Anakin's fall as seriously if it was to save his somewhat serious long-distance relationship with his girlfriend.

Them being husband and wife is legit just to be romantic and sweet. Also, as Darth-Sinister mentioned, they did infact get a honeymoon in an EU comic. Granted, they were only allowed some time together quite some time after their ceremony, due to the war and all.

 

I think the symbolic aspects of the wedding are underestimated or more precisely said, ignored a little bit . We discussed that aspect in this thread (mostly in Samnz’s and in my posts in p.1).
http://boards.theforce.net/threads/...-lea-and-why-i-prefer-the-first-one.50041462/
In short, Anakin and Padme didn't want a love affair, they wanted to dedicate each to another completely. That is the reason behind the marriage. They don't think it is a deviation or mistake, because they are really in love. I think this aspect of their relationship is very subtle in the movie. By making this at first sight traditional act, Padme and Anakin in fact rebel against so much things. And it was very risky, because if it is revealed that would indeed destroy their lives forever, but in the same time was the only option that is worth of their love.
Now, the practical aspects of the wedding itself and how it could be hidden. I'm glad that they decided to skip what is in the novelisation (how Palpatine knew about the wedding) and instead let it more mysterious, felt by the Force thing in the middle of the movie, for one simple reason: if the priest told this to Palpatine he could told it also to someone else and the rumors would spread. Instead, they choose to preset indeed a secret wedding, in Braveheart style, in very romantic style, actually. The secret wedding is very used motive in legends and other old stories. But secret or not, it has to be witnessed by third party (to be ensured that both beloved are marring willingly). So in this aspect the wedding of AOTC looks more realistic than this of Braveheart (even if we accept that this in Braveheart is symbolic presentation of other similar events) because there are 2 that witnessed the wedding (indeed the droids). Also, the place is importat. Is not only that this is the place where their love flourished for the first time, is also a very isolated place. I dare think that this indeed some place in Naboo where enough couples go to make such discrete, even secret marriages and the priests are indeed holding their secrets. Is not pure speculation from my part. In Ep. 3 Padme said to Anakin in her veranda that she wanted to give birth in Naboo, at the lake country "where no one would know and we would be safe). She wouldn’t say that if this indeed wasn't such isolated, discrete place, even enough discrete for Naboo. And if it is dedicated to such events, it is not so surprising to find wedding dress and all necessary things there.
For the record, in many countries the women keep (and kept) their old surname. So sharing a surname is not necessary for a marriage at all.

 

Just to add to reasons already given, both Anakin and Padme were pretty certain they were both going to die on Geonosis, so that probably spurred them into sealing their love by marriage too.

 

It also serves as symbolism for Anakin's problems with attachment. The Jedi practice, essentially, the Buddhist compassion-vs-attachment set of ideas, in which to be attached is to grasp something to the point that you cannot let go of it when the time comes (and the time WILL come, because all things are impermanent) and so you cause harm to yourself, the object of your attachment, or others.

Anyway, Anakin obviously has huge problems accepting that little fact of life. He has to have, and keep, forever. True love forever and ever, until death do us part, you're mine, and so on. To him these binding vows are just another way of expressing that aspect of his character, where he obsessively needs to keep things and have his life be unchanging.

As Lucas describes in the AOTC commentary, proper Jedi have learned to care about others while simultaneously accepting the impermanence of that person; whether your affection for that person is platonic or not, it's only going to be for a little while in the grand scheme of things, because everything ends. Your friendship may fade, the person may die or move elsewhere, or who knows. The movie represents this by Jedi not getting married, because to say forever goes against their acceptance of the fact that one way or another that person you care about is going to pass out of your life and you need to be okay with that. The universe will always change.

So it's a pretty little scene, but what it actually represents is very ominous. It's not just heat of the moment irrational actions based on his need to keep things anymore, it's a conscious choice in a quiet moment to cross that line and stay there. And it should really have been the moment when Anakin admitted he needed to stop being a Jedi - but of course, he didn't, because he never could let go of his childhood power fantasies about being a Jedi (and his childhood power fantasies about what being a Jedi was like) either.

 

Theraphos beat me to it. Did a better job anyway, so bravo, sir. Yes, essentially it illustrates Anakin's need to commit himself to that which he is devoted to and vows to protect, and wants to keep close forever. And that Padme is the true north to which he sets his compass, not the Jedi Order. (Yes, he breaks the rules, but only when it best serves those he loves, "she would do her duty" is a special anomaly that deserves it's own thread, but ties in nicely with this one).

The other important thing I would add is that it symbolizes Padme taking his hand.
Accepting him for his flaws and past mistakes because she sees the good in him and what he is capable of. In doing so she takes part in his destiny.

She lost her sleeve on Geonosis shortly before Anakin loses his arm, and right after they pledge thier love for each other. She is already becoming grafted on to his life. Almost in a stigmata twin sort of way?
(Etymology for attack shares its roots with attach, as in grafting sticks to trees).
I could get into what I see in the symbolism of the three cuts on her back, but it requires a lot of set up.


Another thing I'd add, Theraphos, is Padme was more behind the idea of Anakin being a Jedi than Anakin was, because she felt that was very important to him (tying into "she would do her duty"). In RotS he talks of leaving the order but she doesn't realize how serious he was being.

One thing I'm tempted to ask is, we know it wasn't just a rash decision on Anakin's part, but what about Padme? The OP reminds us she is a rational person, but also that she was indeed "so in love" with him. I would put forth that the (at least partial) spontaneity or irrationinality on her part is the point, which symbolizes the whole tragedy underlying her arc.
(Was Padme also blinded by love?)

 

There is a symbolic and spiritual meaning to a wedding that goes beyond mere legalities and contracts. For some people, at least.

 

This thread and the literal meaning in the original post reminds me of a time I watched Twilight with my friend who had a few too many beers.

The Vampires being Vampires didn't bother her, that wasn't the issue... her main concern was whether the 200+ year old Vampire's had birth and marriage certificates, and who's name their property ownership was under. Over thinking at it's finest.

 

I think they did it just because they wanted it for themselves. Sentimental reasons, I think.

Too funny!

 

I'm taking an awful risk jumping in to this thread with my second post, so forgive me if I sound kind of stupid. In the cut scenes from Attack of the Clones, they show Padme with her family (Anakin meets them, her sister teases Padme about him being her boyfriend, etc). There's a scene where Padme is packing so they can go up to house in the Lake Country, and she tells Anakin about how she still lives at home (when she's not on Coruscant) because it feels "warm".

So I think she married Anakin because she was looking to build her own family life. She was a dedicated senator who just underwent an assassination attempt a couple days before the Naboo trip. She was probably looking at her life and wanted some kind of comfort and security after almost dying. Nearly getting killed on Geonosis would have reinforced that feeling. So Padme looked with her heart instead of her mind and got married.

(Again, this is just my opinion).

 

Padme indeed had plans or at least dreams to build a family, you are completely right. But the situation is very unusual, is not like Anakin is some random guy, it is forbidden for Jedi to get married. I think the OP asks more why they in the end choose to marry as they marriage would be always in the shadows (that's why I mentioned Braveheart where there is such motive). And I think indeed they refuse accept they connection as something temporary or not so significant, is all or nothing, that's why they choose to be connected 'till their last breath" ( and in their case is not only a metaphor).

By the way, welcome to the forums!

 

as others have said padme's religious beliefs would of been a big part of it and also shows each other how comitted they are to each other. my personal belief is after the war anakin would of left the jedi to be with padme and the twins if the council didn't accept them.

 

they got married because SW is a fairy tale and usually characters marry with little courtship. It's like most old stories not set near the present day, it doesn't take much for 2 people to get married.

 

Its funny how many of you bring up Padmè's beliefs to me, because from what I gather it is Anakin was that was fixated with the idea of an actual marriage. Aside from the fact that he told her as much(script/Novel) in TPM, he has innate sense of honor despite his shortcomings. I don't think he would have settled an affair as I believe Padmè would have; I mean he wouldn't let her lie to her parents about the reality of her situation in AOTC and while some may see a dark undertone to that, I believe it very sweet and genuine. I don't think he would not have been able to touch her had it not been serious and I believe that subconsciously Padmè knew that.

As to why, a promise they would always have eachother.

Ps: Never believed cannon stories in regards to Paply and finding out, why not have 3PO as a witness? ??

 

I think both have sense of honor. But I think in this aspect no one of them want “to be rational“. Altough Anakin is indeed a knight (not only literally) he was ready to keep it in secret and I don‘t think he talked exclusively about marriage. But indeed the marriage proved that this is not some temporal attraction but something very special and is worth of sacrificing so much.

 

I also love the symbolism in while the galaxy was being split in two, with the Separatist movement, and both sides marching off to war, the masculine & feminine were uniting, in secret, beneath it all, in spite of it all, in hopes to rise above it all.
That last little bridge of tenderness, holding the galaxy together, until it too was torn asunder.

 

Brilliantly said!

 

Well from a public (in the film) point of view it was a pointless wedding. From GL's point of view I guess he didn't want A & P living in sin. I didn't read much EU material. In the long gap between 1983 and the PT, Vader never struck me has the "marriage type". I assumed L&L were "created" in a scandal filled affair. Something out of medieval ballad.

Some say it was a happy moment in the film. But once I saw Ani's robot hand I knew doom was not far away.

 

I would add understanding with tenderness. Padme mentioned that the war represents a failure to communicate. But throughout most of the war, Anakin & Padme's marriage was the last bastion of an attempt at reciprocation, meeting halfway, cooperation, understanding and communication. Such a rare thing at the time that it was relegated to secrecy. The beacon bridge of the Galaxy while all other bridges were being burned.

A disruption in communication can only mean one thing.

 

Anakin and Padme got married because the soap opera conventions of the narrative demand it.

Also, I think they're both still young and under the illusion that they can get away with it. The fact that Anakin and Padme don't really know what they're doing is a big reason for why they fall for each other to begin with and ultimately why their relationship implodes.