In the name of love, one Star Wars auction raised money for a fan's wedding

While Star Wars is definitely about struggle, the hero's quest, and the battle between good and evil, there is definitely room for matters of the heart. Just ask Han and Leia, Luke and Mara, Anakin and Padme, and any of the romances in the franchise. One fan has expressed his love to the tune of over 170,000 credits—I mean, pounds.

According to the BBC, Vectis Auctions in Stockton-on-Tees, England, auctioned more than 600 Star Wars items for a fan who wanted to pay for his upcoming wedding. Over 1,000 people participated in the bidding, and ten times as many watched the proceedings online.

The original projections were for the collection to fetch between 94,000 and 120,0000 pounds, but according to Joanne McDonald of Vectis Auctions, "it was beyond our expectations." With three terminals at work for buyers, "a lot of the items will be going abroad to international buyers, particularly to Americans."

Part of the auction's success is due to some items being sold for significantly higher prices. A Meccano Luke Skywalker model sold for 7,595 pounds, nearly four times its estimated sale price of 2,000. A Meccano model of Boba Fett went for more than 8,000 pounds. The highest bid was 9,180 pounds for a "rare vinyl-caped Jawa figurine." Luke Jarmyn of the BBC remarked that "Memorabilia included figurines and life-size helmets," and McDonald described the event as "a brilliant day [for] vintage toy markets."

Memorabilia of film and television franchises is a long-standing fan activity, and this labor of love by one man "is a really positive sign for the future of Star Wars collectibles and younger collectors," said McDonald. Hopefully, this man's beloved will respond to this sacrifice with a heartfelt "I know." It is certainly a testament to how seriously they are taking this commitment to each other, and we wish them the best.