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Home · Love & Sex

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
At Last

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

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
02
Natural Beauty

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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
03
Friend Duty

“It was really humid that day, so one of the bridesmaids insisted on keeping everyone’s hair in check with her spray,” Jessica says.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
04
Twin Power

“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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
05
Anything For Him

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
06
I am Ready for Love

“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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
07
An Artist’s Touch

“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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
08
Soon to be Married

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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
09
Team Players

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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
10
Nature Experience

“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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
11
Daddy’s Girl

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
12
Love Without Barriers

The two exchange vows. Matt admits, “I was nervous and anxious at the same time.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
13
Personal Touch

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.”

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
14
The Gown

“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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
15
Party With a Purpose

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
16
Dance Fever

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
17
Deeper Meaning

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
18
City Love

“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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
19
Vintage Style

“I really wanted a space that was a blank slate that allowed us to add our own personality to it,” Jessica says.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
20
Just the Two of Us

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.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
21
Dance With My Father

The happy bride shares a special moment with her father.

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
22
Family Love

T

Bridal Bliss: Jessica and Matthew
Ryan Brenizer
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