Why No One From Star Trek: The Next Generation Attended Worf’s Deep Space Nine Wedding

By Lee Benzinger

Published Apr 20, 2025

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Worf's status as the first Klingon in Starfleet has made him a staple of the franchise. On TNG, Worf transformed himself from an intimidating loner to a father and a regular member of Commander William T. Riker's poker games. On DS9, Worf's growth only accelerated.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6, Worf and greatest romances in Star Trek, and it is frankly bizarre that none of Worf's friends from Star Trek: The Next Generation showed up for their wedding.

Star Trek’s In-Universe Reason Why No TNG Characters Went To Worf’s DS9 Wedding

It Was A Rushed Wedding And The Enterprise Was On Assignment

Lt. Commander Worf served with the crew of the USS Enterprise-D for seven years, and even after he transferred to Deep Space Nine, they would have remained his family - so, they should have been at his wedding. However, there are several reasons why the crew of the Enterprise could not have shown up. "You Are Cordially Invited..." takes place in 2374, right in between Star Trek: First and Star Trek: Insurrection. The Enterprise was on assignment; it wouldn’t make sense for the Federation’s flagship to be diverted to attend a wedding, even for Lt. Commander Worf.

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

Worf and Jadzia Dax already had one of the most iconic Star Trek romances - it only makes sense that they would also have the most iconic wedding.

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Another reason Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew may not have been able to attend is the timetable of the wedding itself. Understandably, Lt. Commander Worf wanted to include his son, Alexander Rozhenko (Marc Worden) in the ceremony as his Tawi'Yan, or sword bearer - the Klingon equivalent of a best man. But Alexander was about to begin service on the Klingon vessel Ya'Vang, and Worf and Jadzia agreed to move up the timetable of the wedding. This change of schedule could easily have prevented characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation from appearing at the wedding.

The Real World Reasons Why Worf’s DS9 Wedding Had No TNG Guest Stars

Paramount Could Not Make The Logistics Work

The in-universe reasons for Worf's wedding were under the control of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's writers and Paramount executives. If the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation could have appeared in the wedding scene, "You Are Cordially Invited..." would have been written to include them. Ultimately, their absence from Lt. Commander Worf's wedding is better explained by out-of-universe filming logistics than in-universe contrivances. Cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation would have been expensive to appear as guest stars on Deep Space Nine.

Michael Dorn appeared as Worf in Star Trek: First and Star Trek: Insurrection, which took place during Dorn's run on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Furthermore, Paramount prioritized Star Trek: Voyager over Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: The Next Generation characters like Marina Sirtis' Counselor Deanna Troi were more apt to appear on Captain Kathryn Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) series. Ultimately, Lt. Commanders Worf and Jadzia Dax's wedding was a highlight of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with or without appearances from the crew of the USS Enterprise-E.