Cowan-Ries

Jane S. Cowan, 40, and Timothy C. Ries, 42, were married by the Honorable Alice Rubin Fisher in a civil ceremony, followed by a unique and charming reception at the Coney Island Museum on Sept. 24, 2005.

The bride, who grew up in Bay Ridge, is the daughter of Barbara and Roger Cowan of Bay Ridge. She attended John Dewey High School and earned a degree in the Growth and Structure of Cities from Bryn Mawr College in 1987, then went on to attain a Masters in Historic Preservation from Columbia University in 1996. She is currently employed as a freelance architectural historian and educator, working for clients such as the Municipal Art Society; Learning by Design, NY; Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation; Coney Island, USA; the Queens Historical Society; and the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island.

The groom is originally from Stamford, Conn., and is the son of Elizabeth B. and the late William J. Ries of St. Louis, Mo. He attended Westhill High School In Stamford, Conn., and earned his Associates degree at St. Louis Community College, and plans to complete his Bachelor’s in Anthropology at City College of New York in 2006. He is employed as a freelance film and television production manager.

The couple now resides in Windsor Terrace.

Love story:
The bride says: “We had a non-denominational ceremony at the Coney Island Museum, which is part of Coney Island, USA, the only arts and theater organization in Coney Island. It is housed in a 1917 building which originally housed Childs Restaurant. The building contains Coney Island memorabilia, including an original Steeplechase horse, fun house mirrors, bumper cars and wicker rolling carts.

“After the ceremony, guests were given tickets and rode Coney Island’s legendary rides, including the Cyclone. Some viewed sideshow performances, other strolled along the famous beach and boardwalk, and some guests took a self-guided tour of Coney Island with a brochure I wrote.
“Guests then returned to the museum for the reception, which included music provided by my husband’s large collection of 78 RPM records played on his wind-up Victrola.”

Who proposed, and how?
The bride says: “Tim proposed at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. Using a vintage Polaroid camera, he took a picture of me. When the picture came out, and the top sheet was unpeeled, it revealed the words ‘Jane, will you marry me?’”

How did you meet?
The bride says: “We met on an online dating service, when Tim noticed that I owned a 1930s Philco radio. Intrigued and being a collector of vintage ephemera himself, he contacted me. We are both ardent admirers of all things vintage.”

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