Margaret & Marc pre-wedding party

Holiday Inn East Mountain

Wedding Day

Wildflower Weddings by Holiday Inn East Mountain

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

How I Met My Spouse at an Anime Convention

OUR FIRST MEETING (Marc)Zenkaikon 2019, Day 1. I was dressed as the title character from the Cartoon Network series "Steven Universe" (check this out if you haven't already) and was running up the stairs to head for a panel. While passing through the lobby, I saw someone cosplaying as Steven's mother, Rose Quartz, so as I ran out, I called out "HI, MOM!" Yup, those were the first words I ever said to Margaret!

OUR FIRST MEETING (Margaret)2019 was a tough year for me - I was working on my 5th degree in music and taking a teacher certificate test while trying to prepare for a US citizenship test. So I decided to treat myself by attending to Zenkaikon! I was really enjoying myself running around the Lancaster Convention Center as Rose Quartz, taking pictures of other cosplayers, and having my picture taken. And during one of these moments, I heard "Hi, Mom!" which was clearly addressed to me! I turned around and saw Steven (who happened to be Marc)! "How clever!", I thought to myself. And also "Cool shield!"

THEN WE KEPT SEEING EACH OTHER (Marc)While waiting in line for an autograph from Michaela Dietz, a "Steven Universe" voice actor, Rose Quartz approached me and complimented my shield, took a picture, then ran off. At the ballroom lesson later that evening, I saw her again but we didn't end up practicing together. Once the ball was actually in full swing, I noticed her, now out of costume, standing by the wall and doing that side-to-side "I wanna dance but don't want to actually get on the dance floor" dance. We made eye contact and smiled at each other, then I went back to dancing with my friends. A song or two later, I looked over to see her still shuffling from side to side. I walked up and invited her to dance with us, and she FINALLY got on the dance floor!

THEN WE KEPT SEEING EACH OTHER (Margaret)I was passing through the vendor hall when I saw the same cool Steven with a glowing shield waiting in line, so I took a picture with him! While attending the ballroom lesson I noticed the only person who clearly knew how to dance - and it was Steven again, in a new outfit! I really wished I could dance with him someday. Little did I know... When I was taking the elevator down to the ball later that evening, an old creeper came in and started staring at me. Unfortunately he was going to the ball as well. He asked me to dance and I agreed to be polite. After we danced, he tried to kiss me! (EEEEW!!!) I spun under his arm, yelled "I saw a friend over... there!" and ran to the other side of the dance floor hoping to see a familiar face. And I saw... Steven dancing with a group of friends! Sending "Please recognize me and pretend to be my friend! I am Rose Quartz!" messages telepathically while I was dancing in the corner and staring at him. Luckily, he recognized me invited to dance!

THE REST OF ZENKAIKON (Marc)Margaret and I traded information so we could stay in touch during the show. I got her into a free meetup with Michaela Dietz, who ended up streaming Margaret singing opera on her Instagram! I was happy to meet another Steven Universe cosplayer and decided I would stay in touch with her to let her know about other conventions coming up so we could hopefully cosplay together again in the future.

THE REST OF ZENKAIKON (Margaret)Marc helped me a lot during the rest of the convention! He told me about the opportunity to meet Michaela Dietz (the voice actress of Amethyst from "Steven Universe") and spent an hour with her just hanging out. Marc made me sing for her! He also cheered for me at the Karaoke contest. We hung out for the rest of the convention and had a nice lunch together right after. Marc basically made my con that weekend! And after we said "goodbye" I thought: " Too bad I will never see him again!" Again, little did I know...

Our Story

Please enjoy a collection of our couple moments. Even if you don't recognize the characters in our cosplays, we hope you'll think they're cool!

The couple that cosplays together, stays together!

Photos

Margaret has known Clodia for almost 20 years.  They met as members of the female J-Pop band Crystal Project in Ukraine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYqr4-IfRdo) and have remained best friends over the years despite their distance apart.  They have been through a lot together: cosplay convention fun, love hardships, travel adventures across Ukraine, and more.  This will be Clodia's first time visiting the United States and Margaret is excited to add a new chapter to their adventures!

Clodia Ohloblina

Margaret met Lindsay through Marc and Matt and immediately connected through their mutual love of Sailor Moon!  Since then, they have spent a lot of long nights playing boardgames (and drinking a lot of tasty tea, yum!)  Last year, they did a group cosplay as characters from one of Lindsey's favorite fandoms, Love Is War!  Margaret hopes to get Lindsay out for some more conventions in the (near) future.

Lindsay Baron-Beard

Margaret first met Bee online during Marc's COVID Karaoke Discord show on Saturdays.  She finally got to meet Bee in person at DragonCon 2021.  When Marc proposed to Margaret at DragonCon 2024, Bee was able to record the beautiful moment.  Margaret and Bee are very close, despite meeting only during conventions.  They cosplay many different characters, but one fandom they always group cosplay that remains a constant is Steven Universe.

Bee Orgain

Margaret met Raewyn when she and Marc's brother Derrick were vending at a convention with their company, Airship Oddities. Margaret began assisting Raewyn with handcrafting jewelry: Raewyn is teaching her all the intricacies of the art of jewelry making from earrings and necklaces to pins and magnets. Margaret even works their booth sometimes. And during every convention, Raewyn uses her superpower to always find an excellent place to eat!

Raewyn Tonner

Marc has known Derrick all his life - literally, since Derrick is his younger brother.  The two of them continue to engage in their geek interests and attend conventions together.  Please be advised we will count how many people mistake the two of them for each other during the weekend!

Derrick Aquino

Matt and Marc have been friends for over 10 years, going back to a C.S. Lewis book club.  After initially almost always disagreeing in that group, they somehow started finishing each other's sentences and will now end up being groomsmen in each other's weddings!

Matt Beard

Brian met Marc at a Magic tournament (raise your hand if you can say the same) where Marc convinced him to put more removal in his deck, and then he proceeded to beat Marc in that tournament (also raise your hand
 if you can say the same).  They both share a passion for music as well.

Brian Pae

Troy and Marc also met playing Magic the Gathering (honest, this is not the only way Marc meets people) and ended up becoming co-workers as well as good friends.  When they aren't working on making their company the best it can be, they're playing Ark Nova for 24 hours straight!

Troy Sands

Wedding Party

You can RSVP on the following form: <a href="https://forms.gle/VwKu3p1WQVQoo5zx5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/VwKu3p1WQVQoo5zx5</a> We know that taking time off and/or traveling with little ones may make it difficult to come in for Friday, but if you are attending, we'd love to have some additional time to spend with you.

RSVP by August 31st

Board games! What will you be bringing?A full list of the board games we are bringing can be found here: <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cbAnFgCvJriQW3qPAIhIrukr14AO12zn4q69xQVxjdg/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Board games</a>

Q + A

Holiday Inn Wilkes Barre - East Mountain

Travel

We will also have a 360 Photobooth available that can fit 2 people on both days! Details on how to use it are coming soon.

Photobooth 360

We will have a Photo Booth on our wedding day! Have fun and get your photos printed out in minutes after taking them!

KRUU Phot Booth

Things to Do

We do not have a registry, as you being a part of our life and hopefully a part of our wedding is gift enough. However, if you wish to contribute to a future honeymoon fund, you can send gifts to Marc via PayPal at thehomer@comcast.net or to Margaret via Venmo at @Margaret-Yefimenko. If you do contribute to the honeymoon fund, you can also submit a vote for one of three possible honeymoons, or even a suggestion of your own:- A cruise- Attending D23, the big Disney convention- A trip to Japan

Margaret & Marc

Margaret & Marc

M&M

Margaret & Marc pre-wedding party

Wedding Day

4:00 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Cocktail Hour

6:00 PM–11:00 PM

Reception