{"id":132910,"date":"2026-02-13T21:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T21:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/132910\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T21:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T21:09:11","slug":"juniors-hosts-romantic-vow-renewals-in-downtown-brooklyn-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/132910\/","title":{"rendered":"Junior\u2019s hosts romantic vow renewals in Downtown Brooklyn \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"NY:\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Alan Rosen, owner of Junior\u2019s, officiates a vow renewal ceremony for four couples at the landmark Brooklyn restaurant on Friday, Feb. 13.<\/p>\n

Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Love was on the menu at Junior\u2019s in Downtown Brooklyn<\/a> on the morning of Feb. 13, as four couples renewed their wedding vows inside the iconic eatery known for its world-famous cheesecakes.<\/p>\n

The couples, selected from over 1,000 submissions nationwide, traveled from across the country to participate in the ceremony. Each shared personal stories about how Junior\u2019s had played a meaningful role in their relationships \u2014 from first dates to anniversary traditions.<\/p>\n

The Valentine\u2019s season vow renewal marked the restaurant\u2019s third such event, following a hiatus in 2025. Organizers said the overwhelming response this year reflects the enduring place Junior\u2019s holds not just in Brooklyn\u2019s culinary scene, but in couples\u2019 love stories as well.<\/p>\n

Alan Rosen, the third-generation owner of Junior\u2019s, was ordained as a minister for the occasion by the American Marriage Ministries, and looking forward to officiating the vow renewals of the four couples.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He told Brooklyn Paper<\/a> that among the thousand entries Junior\u2019s received for the competition, which included a two-night stay at a luxury hotel, off-Broadway tickets to \u201cJust Desserts,\u201d and a lifetime supply of anniversary cheesecakes, the couples stood out not only for their love for Junior\u2019s but also for their love for each other and for New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Alan Rosen was ordained as a minister for the occasion by the American Marriage Ministries and looked forward to officiating the vow renewals. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

\u201cI love love, and I\u2019m really looking forward to celebrating with these four lovely couples,\u201d Rosen said, emphasizing that he is single. \u201cThe world is so divided today that we thought we had to bring it back and bring people together and kick off this Valentine\u2019s weekend the right way. It\u2019s putting me in a good mood, and I\u2019m really looking forward to celebrating with these four lovely couples.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kristi and Bob Caton celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last December. The two met on a dating website and hit it off immediately.\n<\/p>\n

Bob Caton described their first date as his \u201cbest last, first date.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe both found someone who wanted to outdo each other to see who could treat the other the nicest, who could be the kindest, who could be the most caring. It was just so nice to be with somebody that I wanted to spoil finally, and she\u2019s like, \u2018No, I\u2019m gonna spoil you instead.\u2019 It just worked immediately,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Bob and Kristi Caton met on a dating website and hit it off immediately. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania natives visit New York City at least two to three times a year with their 11-year-old son Nick to see a Broadway show, and the Junior\u2019s location in Times Square is always their go-to spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t come to New York and see a Broadway show and not eat at Junior\u2019s,\u201d Bob Craton said, noting that the visit to the Brooklyn location was their first time visiting \u201cthe mothership.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kristi Caton\u2019s words of wisdom for a successful marriage: \u201cJust laugh together and celebrate the good and be there for the bad. He\u2019s the person I want to tell everything to, whether I\u2019ve had a good day or a bad day. Just find someone that you want to be your friend too, and who can keep up with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their son Nick, who is a Broadway fan, added that \u201c[My parents] are amazing, they talk, they help, and [we] go to Disney.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Erin and Vance Van Horn from Norfolk, Virginia, were middle school sweethearts and remained friends until 11 years ago, when they realized they were made for each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[Vance] was my first kiss,\u201d Erin said. \u201cThere was a spark back then but [we] ended up, you know, it being middle school, wanting to go off and live life. So we stayed friends for all those years. We were the last people to realize that we should be together, even though everyone was like, \u2018Oh, we knew that was gonna happen.\u2019\u00a0 There was always kind of a spark there, even if we were dating somebody else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Vance and Erin Van Horn were middle school sweethearts. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Junior\u2019s celebrated four couples renewing their vows a day before Valentine\u2019s Day.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

The couple got engaged in June 2020 and married in November the same year during the COVID-19 pandemic. They celebrated their wedding vows with family and friends a day before Virginia\u2019s governor implemented new restrictions, which included limiting all indoor and outdoor activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next day, they shut everything down for COVID,\u201d Vance Van Horn recalled. \u201cSo we were so lucky.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

For the second wedding anniversary, the couple visited New York City, and Erin took Vance to Junior\u2019s for cheesecake \u2014revisiting a tradition Erin had shared with her mother before she passed. During their visit, they had a slice of the world-famous cheesecake every day, and Vance was \u201chooked\u201d ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s advice for a happy marriage: \u201cMarry your best friend.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMarry somebody who is gonna have your back on your good days, your bad days, because it\u2019s the journey that matters. So if you have fun together, the tough times don\u2019t matter so much. Tough times are going to be there, no matter what you\u2019re doing or who you\u2019re with, but make sure you find somebody who\u2019s going to bring out the best in those tough times.\u201d<\/p>\n

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