7. You Are Cordially Invited

Lieutenant Commanders Worf and Jadzia Dax plan their long-awaited wedding. Since Dax will be joining Worf's surrogate family, the House of Martok, she agrees to endure the traditional evaluation by the mistress of the house, Martok's wife, Sirella. Dax is surprised to learn that as a non- Klingon she will almost certainly fail to gain Sirella's favor. Learning that Sirella disapproves of Dax, Worf asks Martok to intervene, but Martok refuses to interfere with Sirella's prerogative.

Worf invites his son Alexander, as well as Captain Sisko, Chief O'Brien, and Dr. Bashir to join him and Martok in Kal'Hyah, which they expect to be the Klingon equivalent of a bachelor party. They are disappointed to learn that it is actually a four-day ceremonial ordeal consisting of physical trials that include fasting and bloodletting.

Dax struggles to meet Sirella's exacting standards. When asked to recite the history of Sirella's family, Dax infuriates her prospective mother-in-law by revealing her discovery that Sirella has no imperial blood, and is descended from a concubine.

Dax throws herself a bachelorette party, which Sirella interrupts to demand that she perform a ritual. When Dax tells her to leave, Sirella threatens to cancel the wedding. The confrontation escalates into a physical assault, and Sirella storms out. The next morning, Worf informs Dax that Sirella has forbidden her to join the House of Martok. He asks her to beg Sirella's forgiveness, but Dax refuses to endure any further humiliation just so Worf can have a Klingon ceremony. He rejects her suggestion to simply have Sisko officiate, and the two call off the wedding.

Martok persuades Worf to apologize to Dax, but she refuses to change her mind. Determined to see the lovers wed, Sisko goes to see Dax. She describes the indignities to which she has been subjected, reminding Sisko that, as Curzon Dax, she was Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. Sisko points out that even though she shares Curzon's memories, she is a new person, and that Sirella sees her only as a young woman who wants to marry into her family. Sisko states that Dax knew what she was getting into when she agreed to marry Worf, and she must honor the traditions of his people.

Warmed by her deep love for Worf, Dax follows Sisko's advice, and they are married with Sirella's blessing. Once the ceremony is complete, O'Brien and Bashir enthusiastically attack the couple with padded staves, both in keeping with Klingon wedding traditions and to avenge themselves for the hardships they have endured.