Two EVE Online players celebrated their wedding at EVE Fanfest 2018 and exchanged vows. The popular “Space Pope” organized a ceremony for the two German players. Our author Lucas was present at the wedding.
EVE Online is a massive online game where players travel through New Eden, gather resources, wage war, and form alliances. Often, in-game contacts lead to friendships in real life, and sometimes these connections develop into more … But having the Space Pope perform a wedding at EVE Fanfest is something that doesn’t happen too often.
A Wedding at EVE Fanfest 2018
Tairon Usaro (in-game name) and Irma Amatin (also the in-game name) met five years ago outside of EVE just before EVE Fanfest. Tairon was immediately attracted to Irma.
Because he was going to EVE Fanfest a few days later, he couldn’t see her for several days. However, he took the opportunity to send her pictures of his cosplay at the event.
Irma found the pictures interesting, and as soon as Tairon returned from Iceland, the two of them began dating. A year later, Irma accompanied her boyfriend to EVE Fanfest for the first time – by then, she was already a player herself.
The “Space Pope” Officiated the Ceremony
Charles White, aka the “Space Pope,” is known in the EVE Online community as a member of the “Sixth Empire.” I spoke with him at EVE Fanfest 2018 and asked how he came to officiate the wedding.
“Last year, they contacted me over the internet, and I saw them as a couple at Fanfest 2017,” he said. “They actually fly with a faction [in EVE Online] that does not like the ‘Space Pope,’ but they liked me.”
Tairon Usaro and Irma Amatin said they wanted to conduct a small wedding ceremony at the Fanfest.
“They asked me if I could marry them, and I said there won’t be a small wedding if I marry you,” he laughs. “We’re in Iceland, in front of many fans. Let’s stream it,” he adds.
In fact, a large part of the event was quite improvised. Initially, it wasn’t thought that the press, fans, and developers would show such great interest.
Who is this Space Pope?
Charles White got the title “Space Pope” when he participated in a costume contest wearing the vestments, which you can see in the pictures. Players liked the cosplay so much that he became known as the “Space Pope” at the Fanfest from then on.
Charles White says about himself that the title “Space Pope” is a title bestowed by the players that can be revoked at any time. So he is essentially an elected Space Pope, who does good things.
He further explains that he has three personas:
- He is once an employee at NASA
- the “Space Pope” in EVE Online
- and he throws parties with a converted Boeing 747 at the Burning Man Festival in America.
The man has a lot to do.
Is the Marriage Valid?
Charles White is a member of the Universal Life Church. The Universal Life Church is the largest “internet church” in the USA and sells its members ordained certificates, which allow them to officiate marriages and hold funerals in many American states.
When asked if the marriage between Tairon and Irma at Fanfest 2018 would count as a “real” marriage, he added with a grin that he had to do some paperwork in Iceland.
But anyway, that’s just a detail; the two spouses were already legally married before their EVE wedding in February. However, it was in a small circle – now they wanted to formalize the marriage in front of the assembled EVE community.
It Must Be Love: Tairon Even Changes His Race for His Wife
During the ceremony, the “Space Pope” gave a speech telling the couple’s story. Tairon had the idea that he was a Gallente and then looked for a way to become an Amarr like his wife.
Changing races is not possible in the game EVE Online, but in the universe of EVE, the “Space Pope” says it is definitely possible.
Tairon came into contact with the underworld of EVE Online and found a solution to his problem. Now the two are happily married Amarr.
You can watch the ceremony in the embedded video.
A Positive Atmosphere
The visitors at the Fanfest are all characterized by very high friendliness. In the game, they may be enemies and fight vigorously, but at the Fanfest they are just fans enjoying drinks and having fun. During the wedding, much of this positive connection between EVE fans was tangible.
We at Mein MMO have for you this year, for the first time, live at the EVE Online Fanfest 2018 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The title image of this article is also by Roger Sieber.
More from EVE Fanfest 2018: Project Nova: EVE Online team wants to build a sci-fi shooter again.
