Julia & Gene
Wedding Party
Julia Mae
Bride
Julia was born during a full moon and a hurricane, which explains a lot. A former classical musician who spent her youth with orchestras - even touring as a soloist in Germany - she attended the Peabody Conservatory and then became an indie songwriter. She’s a published author of all things dark, horrible, fantastical and romantic. Julia has a penchant for the dramatic and is a voice actress who runs RPG games for her friends. In her free time she loves gaming and LARP and has a soft spot for Miyazaki movies. She loves making new recipes. She has a huge family—adopted and birth! Julia’s favorite flowers are orange Ranunculus and favorite food is sushi. She dislikes mean people and waiting to hear back from a submission.
Gene Stern
Groom
Gene is a natural born storyteller and game runner, featured in “Leaving Mundania” by Lizzie Stark by the time he was in his mid-twenties. Naturally dramatic and intelligent, he often consults for conventions, video games and RPGs to help them run smoothly. He currently works as a catering manager. He is Head Storyteller at a weird west LARP, Dead Legends. Gene is an incredible cook who can whip up anything from whatever is in the kitchen. He loves terrible action movies and 80s films. His favorite pastime is getting to spend time with his friends in a pool or playing games, and playing complicated characters—especially the villains. His favorite food is a burrito. His signature drink is a whiskey ginger.
Caroline Sucharski
Maid of Honor
“See you on the dance floor!” When they were 8 years old and down the shore, Julia asked cousin Caroline to be her Maid of Honor someday, and Julia kept that promise! Their friendship doesn’t know miles or time and always picks up right where it left off. Caroline currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and works as a Creative Project Manager for the The Walt Disney Company. She is the mother to many plants as well as a mini husky named Misty. Caroline enjoys hiking, drawing, musical theater, volunteering, creative makeup, traveling, and vintage fashions. She sends all her love and well wishes to the new couple. Sto lat!
Frank Martinez Jr.
Man of Honor
Frank has been friends with Gene since their high school days. He’s as close to family as you can get - an amazing photographer, musician, and creative hero.
Renny Stern
Groomspeople
“Nothing bad can ever happen, proceed with confidence” - Bacchus Brother of the groom, General Lord of Debauchery, Pomp and Circumstance
Madeline “Maddie” Guy
Bridesfolk
Sister of the Bride, plant mom and cat mom with an amazing taste in indie music.
Jeremy van Hecke
Groomspeople
Jeremy has the distinctive honor of being someone the bride and groom fought to have in their wedding party. Jeremy is a good friend of both Julia and Gene’s and is a trusted confidante. Jeremy enjoys nights around a fire pit or in a hot tub relaxing and drinking with friends while talking about the deep spiritual matters of the world.
Ola Goral
Bridesfolk
“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all. “ -Theodore Roosevelt Julia and Ola met at Nazareth where they encountered (and survived) many wonderful adventures together. It has been Ola's utmost joy and pleasure having Julia for a friend. When she isn't persuing a business degree while working as a Quality Assurance Lead, you can find Ola camping, hiking, traveling, stargazing, meditating, performing in theater, listening to spooky documentaries, sipping mojitos on some beach or pretending to know how to blow fire. She especially enjoys spending time with her loved ones, and looks forward to more of life's adventures!
Ian Penny
Groomspeople
Ian and Gene have been friends since highschool. Ian is an expert at tabletop games and a brilliant role player.
K.T. Brown
Bridesfolk
K.T. knew Julia was going to be one of their best friends forever as soon as they met in Junior year of high school. Years full of late night storytelling and plotting, jokes that would always go too far, and a love of the magic in life, made these two a set of muses and creative partners in crime. K.T. now works in theatre and television, creating the worlds of characters. But Julia has always been one of the first people they call when those little sparks of fantastical ideas need to be blown into flames. Which is why K.T. is so thrilled Julia and Gene are going to be tying the knot as one of the greatest stories to ever be told.
Sam Owens
Groomspeople
The Samowens. Dear friend of Gene who have known each other for years. Works at Google and is a generally awesome guy. Funnily enough Julia met Sam at KR before she met Gene and he ALSO played one of the villains in her story!
Kirsten Lotano
Groomspeople
“If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou Kirsten met Gene at a high fantasy LARP. They’ve been of twin minds ever since.
Brittany Zweir
Bridesfolk
Laughs! Props! Action! Brittany & Gene met while LARPing in 2012 and quickly became close friends. Although world settings changed, the pair always knew how to get themselves (and others) into hilarious tiddlywinks and misadventures. Brittany was thrilled when Gene introduced his new leading lady, Julia, to their group of rag-tag comics to add her own theatrical flare to their joviality. Spending hours riffing with one another, Brittany has the utmost love for the couple and the laughter they share. When not dropping ridiculous one-liners, Brittany works in Film & Television as a producer at Peloton Studios NY. She looks forward to raising her family beside Gene & Julia’s and cannot wait for all of the hilarity that will ensue
Gabriella Kenney
Bridesfolk
It is through a bit of wonderful chaos that Gabi and Julia first met. Through various creative projects they have bonded through their love of words and the weird. She is happy to be a co-conspirator to Julia whenever possible. She lived with the couple for a time and saw the love that they have for one another. They have a true and sincere bond that she hopes will be a legend that continues through the ages. Let this be one marriage to rule them all and in the darkness bind them. Gabi is a substitute teacher and writer. She dances and generally spends a lot of time creating a lot of wonderful ideas for people to enjoy.
Andrea Staley
Mother of the Bride
Julia and her mom were always two peas in a pod while Julia was growing up. Andrea taught Julia a deep love for music and an appreciation of the arts. Andrea is a nurse and works in pharmaceuticals. She likes going to the beach, traveling around the world, dogsledding and gardening. She is as devout to her family as she is a Catholic.
Colleen Dean
Birthmother of the Bride
Julia and Colleen reunited in 2010, and in some ways it was like they never parted. Creative, quirky and warm, it’s easily apparent after even a short conversation how genetics work- and how this awesome lady is definitely Julia’s biomom. She makes beautiful jewelry and is also a painter, and has worked as an artistic director with advertising agencies.
Jiji Cat, Handsome Boi
The Jiji Cat
While he can’t join us on our special day, we must mention fur baby: Jiji Cat. Named for the famous and sarcastic Jiji in Miyazaki’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, Jiji lives up to his namesake. A “trash panther”, Jiji enjoys rummaging for whatever food he can find, and enjoys standing on countertops and other surfaces where he is not allowed. A cuddle bug, he must be acknowledged by all house guests and held at least once a day, and will scream for food, where he will sit in front of the robot feeder an hour early and wait. This tiny house panther is a joy and a challenge to his family, but we love him. He loves catnip and secret madeleines. He dislikes the vacuum, baths and cardboard boxes.