Jessica Cumberbatch wed Matthew Anderson in a vintage-modern style wedding on August 22nd, 2009, at The Beecher Garden at Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn, New York.
By: Jenisha Watts
Jessica, a stylish Brooklyn, New York native, who earns her living as a magazine editor, kept her look clean and unfussy for her big day.
“My makeup was done by Ashunta Sheriff. She tied in the overall color scheme and really highlighted by eyes, keeping my lips more nude, which I loved,” explains Jessica. “She did an amazing job at giving me a totally glam, timeless look that would stand up to the intense heat and humidity we had that day.”
“It was really humid that day, so one of the bridesmaids insisted on keeping everyone’s hair in check with her spray,” Jessica says.
“My twin sister and first other half, Nykia, is commonly referred to (by Matt) as my little big sister, because she is two inches shorter and two minutes older than me. Three years ago, I was in her place, literally getting ready in the same room for her wedding.”
Here Jessica is finishing up her vows hours before the wedding.
“I admire Jess because she is very persistent and ambitious. There are a lot of things in her that I would love to have in myself,” Matt says.
“The day of the wedding I had almost no jitters at all,” Jessica says. Adding, “It had been five years and I just felt ready and excited knowing that Matt is who he is and that he would fight for our relationship to no end.”
“This painting was based on a photo of Matt and I on the first New Year’s Eve we spent together in 2004,” Jessica shares. “His best friend’s sister, artist Natalie Del Villar did it as a gift for my parents.”
Matt who teaches high school English in Astoria, Queens flashes his ring-less hand before he says, “I do.”
Jessica brags about her beau, “I knew very early on that he was going to be an amazing husband and father one day, just by the way he treated his mother and family.”
The groomsmen enjoy a group shot before the wedding bells.
“We all pretty much played basketball together in high school and college,” Matt says. “For the most part, we keep our friendship together through ball.”
“We wanted to incorporate an outdoor element for the ceremony since the wedding was going to be in August. After months of searching my mom came across the garden at Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn Heights that worked perfectly!” Jessica says.
A cute Jessica walks down the aisle with her father.
“My father was actually really emotional. But I thought he would be more calm since he had already gone through it with my sister. Right before we walked out, he told me that I had made a really good choice with Matt,” she shares.
The two exchange vows. Matt admits, “I was nervous and anxious at the same time.”
Jessica shares, “Those were the vows I wrote. I was so busy that I didn’t get around to actually writing them out, until a couple of hours before the wedding. I even did some of it in the limo on the way to the church. But, as I said when I read them aloud during the ceremony, that was a move that would make Matt proud.”
She adds, “He can be very carefree where as I am very organized and have to have a plan and a time and a place for everything! Writing the vows was somewhere in my schedule, but getting them on paper didn’t quite work out ahead of time.”
“The gown is from the White One collection by Pronovias. I didn’t want a pouffy, bright white, or strapless dress. But I couldn’t resist going strapless once I tried this one on,” she says.
The artsy couple decided to have the reception at the Smack Mellon Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. Here a few guests dance to their own beat.
Matt dances with his mother-in-law who is also known as a skilled dancer in the family.
“My mother died last August so it was pretty exciting to be able to dance with her,” he says.
Jessica gives meaning to why they pose by the Manhattan Bridge.
“It represents the bridge we were building and crossing together—between the two boroughs, two lives. It also represented the place where we’d be starting our marriage since Matt, who is from the Bronx, was moving to Brooklyn. And of course, it’s just the most beautiful backdrop ever for a summer wedding in NYC,” Jessica says.
“As New Yorkers, we knew our wedding had to be in the city. We found the gallery in DUMBO first and absolutely loved it. It was the perfect mix of New York City chic and raw empty space that we could add our own flourishes to,” Jessica says.
“I really wanted a space that was a blank slate that allowed us to add our own personality to it,” Jessica says.
The pair spent their honeymoon in Salou, Spain and went sightseeing in Barcelona.
“I was just ready to be husband and wife. That’s all I kept thinking about,” Matt shares.
The happy bride shares a special moment with her father.
T
