Most couples connect over similar interests, but not everyone can say they exchanged vows–or engagement rings–surrounded by thousands of fellow self-described geeks. Dallas Fan Expo, which returns to the Dallas Convention Center today, provided a perfect platform for two North Texas couples who found–and affirmed–their love at the convention.
Forney residents Lori and Jeff Parks were married at the convention in October 2014–while dressed as Batgirl and Captain America, respectively. Almost a year later, Travis Hawvermal, of Fort Worth, proposed to his girlfriend of four years, Jamie Buckley, in front of the TARDIS, a fictional blue time machine and spacecraft made popular by the Doctor Who franchise.
Dallas Fan Expo, formerly Dallas Comic Con, is a twice-annual convention inviting fans to dress as their favorite fictional characters while interacting with actors, writers, artists, and others involved in the creation of video games, comics, movies, and television shows.
After a year together, Lori knew Jeff was the one for her. Lori, a real estate agent and hardcore gamer, and Jeff, who designs lightsabers, met through dating site PlentyofFish.com, where they discovered their mutual admiration for video games and comic books.
Jeff stood out. He was the first to “check all of the boxes” for what Lori wanted in a partner, and he was the only man to express genuine enthusiasm about her interest in video games and comic books. (Others had called her devotion “cute.”)
Once the couple decided to marry, Lori expected a simple legal ceremony conducted by a justice of the peace. But Jeff had a unique celebration in mind. When Jeff suggested exchanging vows at the convention, Lori thought he was joking. Once she realized he was serious, the couple planned a wedding in three short months with the help of Dallas Fan Expo manager Ben Stevens.
Following the wedding’s theme, the couple’s friend, Russell Wayne Miller, officiated the ceremony in a full Jedi knight costume. In the front main hall of the 2-million-square-foot Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, Jeff hoisted his self-designed Captain America shield and kissed his Batgirl bride. Olivia, Jeff’s 4-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, served as Lori’s maid of honor while dressed as Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.
Lori refers to the patrons of Dallas Fan Expo as “our people” and thinks fondly of the community surrounding the convention. A year and a half after the wedding, fans still stop by Jeff and Lori’s lightsaber vendor table to “say hi and tell us they were at our wedding.”
A year later in October 2015, Jamie Buckley unsuspectingly posed for pictures with her boyfriend Travis Hawvermal in front of the TARDIS. Travis swiftly knelt in front of the camera and asked Jamie to marry him–a gesture he spent six months planning.
The setting was strategic as the couple initially bonded over watching Doctor Who reruns. The ring, too, was carefully planned. The custom-made band, set with Travis’ mother’s diamond, is accented with blue stones–inspired by Doctor Who’s infamous TARDIS.
It seemed perfect that he proposed somewhere that we frequent and related to some of the things we both greatly enjoy.
The couple met through online dating site Chemistry.com, and–initially–Jamie thought Travis had made up part of his profile because their interests matched so well. Throughout their relationship, the duo developed a habit of watching Doctor Who together. Jamie had seen a few reruns of the BBC series, but Travis, equipped with Netflix, was willing to help her catch up to the most recent season.
Self-proclaimed Whovians, the couple always makes a point of posing for a photo at the convention’s Doctor Who booths. “It seemed perfect that he proposed somewhere that we frequent and related to some of the things we both greatly enjoy.”
The couple took their engagement photos in the same place as the proposal this past February. Look closely and you may spot them in the same place, taking the same photo, this weekend.
