The Brooklyn Bride

ENGAGEMENTS

Cepelak – Henkel

Jessica Cepelak, 23, and Thomas Henkel, 24, of Sunset Park, plan to be married on Oct. 28, 2006 in Brooklyn. The couple runs a Web site about the borough, www.digitalbrooklyn.com, and are committed to using as many Brooklyn vendors as possible in their wedding plans.

How did you meet?
The bride-to-be says: “We met while Thom was working as the advertising director for Caroline’s [comedy club] on Broadway. (My roommate was working there at the time.) We soon moved in together in Sunset Park, and have lived in Brooklyn for three years now.”

Who proposed, and how?
The bride-to-be says: “Thom proposed while we were vacationing in New Orleans, over free mussels! We do not know exactly where we will be getting married yet, but we do know that it will be in Brooklyn. We are hoping for Oct. 28, 2006 as the wedding date, depending on location availability.”

Rivera - Bryan

Evelyn Rivera, 29, and Andre Bryan, 27, plan to be married on Oct. 15, at the New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church in Haverstraw, N.Y., which is near many of the bride’s relatives.

The bride-to-be’s parents are Wilfreda and Aurelia Rivera of Brownsville. She is a graduate of William H. Maxwell High School in East New York, and is now a student.

The groom-to-be is the son of Norma Dean Smith, of Virginia, and Steiton Bryan, of Baisley Park, Queens. He attended Jonathan Grant High School in Jamaica, and now works for HSBC Bank.

Rivera and Bryan met in 1998 while they were both working at Chase Manhattan Bank. They were engaged in September 2004.

Who proposed, and how?
Says Rivera: “Andre proposed to me in Battery Park, which is where we used to go every day after work. He started reminiscing about the nice times we had there. Then, right in the middle of the park, he got down on one knee and told me he couldn’t see his life without me.

“I was so surprised, it took me a minute to respond. When he took out the ring, all I could say was, ‘Oh, my God!’ Everyone in the park was looking at us.”

Concerns about the wedding:
Says Rivera: “I’m Hispanic, and he’s Jamaican, and we’re working on melding some of our ethnic traditions together. In Jamaica, the groom’s mother bakes what is called the black cake, made with rum, raisins and walnuts. Each guest takes home a piece of this cake; it’s a very important tradition. And after the wedding ceremony is completed, we need to jump over a broom, in front of the altar, so all the guests can see.

“For me, the traditions are mainly about the food. We’re having rice and peas, baked pork shoulder and potato salad, foods you’d find at a traditional wedding in virtually any Hispanic country. For us, the cake is not a big deal.”

WEDDINGS

Heimann – Markham

Stephanie Ann Heimann, 36, and Walter Langan Markham, 39, were married June 25, 2005, at the Pavilion on the boardwalk in Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J. The Rev. Barry Klessel, humanist celebrant, officiated. The reception was held at the Markham family beach house in the same town.

The bride is the daughter of Richard and Lou Heimann of Mission Viejo, Calif. She grew up in Boston, London and Saint Louis, graduating from Villa Duchesne High School in Saint Louis in 1987, and from the University of Arizona, in 1991. She is presently employed by Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, in Manhattan.

The groom is the son of Suzanne and Walter Markham Sr., of Englewood, N.J. He grew up in Englewood, graduating from Duane Morrow High School in 1984 and attaining his master’s degree from the Chicago Art Institute in 1999. He is a fine artist and painter.

The couple lives in Park Slope.

About the wedding
The bride says: “We had friends and family who traveled from London, Paris, Kathmandu, Taipei, and every part of the USA. Many of the guests did impromptu performances during the eight-hour, outdoor reception. We brought our DJ from Brooklyn, who spins at Long Tan [a Thai restaurant in Park Slope], to make sure the music would be great!”

Who proposed, and how?
The bride says: “When we decided it was time to get an engagement ring, we walked around the block and found a spectacular ring at Bob & Judi’s Coolectibles, on Fifth Avenue at Union Street. And I bought him a set of vintage beer mugs, so everybody left the store happy.”

How did you meet?
The bride says: “We met after Sept. 11, both working at a grassroots exhibit called ‘The September 11 Photo Project’ in SoHo. Walter was the curator, and I edited the photography into a book for Harper Collins. In August 2002, we moved in together on St. John’s Place, where we found nirvana.”

The Brooklyn Bride welcomes Brooklyn engagement and wedding announcements.

For more information, e-mail us at weddings@brooklynpapers.com.