The fighting game community means different things to different people. For some, it’s been a place they’ve called home for years, a constant in their lives as they’ve grown from children to adults. For others, it’s where they’ve met their closest friends, relationships that have endured over a mutual love of the genre. In times of need, we’ve banded together to help our fellow competitors and even bring arcades back from the dead. Sure, it’s not perfect (what is, really?), but there’s no denying the impact the fighting game community has made on countless lives.
Jayson and Bonnie Boyce, however, have something very different to thank their local scene for: funding their wedding.
After meeting in 2010 and gradually growing closer during trips to events like Evo 2011, Jayson and Bonnie tied the knot earlier this year in San Antonio, Texas. Weddings can be monstrously expensive, but the couple were supported by the generosity of their fighting game scene, including Ultra Arcade owners Brandon Alexander and David Ruben, who started the crowdfunding campaign and held a tournament at their establishment to raise additional funds.
But the outpouring of love didn’t stop there. Roger Howard, who currently acts as the area’s main streamer, choreographed their first dance. Local tournament organizer John Dilworth served drinks as the event’s bartender. Edmund Ray Dantes and Frank Nguyen offered their services as photographers. Anthony “Nori” Acosta was able to hook them up with his family’s catering service. As you would expect, each and every one of these acts of kindness took another load of their backs financially and contributed to making the event as smooth as possible.
“[San Antonio’s fighting game community] has been such a big support for the both of us,” Bonnie said during our conversations. “Our wedding is not only a tribute to us, but mainly to show the actual love in the community has held us together and supported us in so many ways.”
We here at Shoryuken would like to offer our congratulations to the newlyweds and wish them all the happiness in the world as they continue their lives together.