Times Weddings Highlights: Cats Vs. NJ

If there's one NY Times Weddings & Celebrations write-up you read this week, read the one for Claire Israel and Oren Silverstein. Not only did the couple get married at Cupid’s Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas (but they'll have another service in Brooklyn next month), they also described how their initial online courtship had its roadblocks:

When the couple met online in April 2005, Ms. Israel was as concerned about where Mr. Silverstein lived (New Jersey) as he was about who she lived with (her two cats).

Ms. Israel, who lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, said she thought “Jersey guys were geographically undesirable.”

Mr. Silverstein said he did not want a relationship with “a woman who treated her cats like children.”

Despite their reservations, the couple spent a week bonding through e-mail over a love of obscure indie rock bands, pop-culture ephemera and Howard Stern.

Some other interesting facts from this week's NY Times Weddings & Celebrations:

• There are 32 wedding announcements.
  
• Of the 32, there are 19 photographs: 1 for the Vows column (for motorcycle enthusiast newlyweds), 17 couple photographs, and 1 bride-only photograph.
  
• The youngest bride is 25, the oldest is 50.
  
• The youngest groom is 25, the oldest is 52.
  
• One groom met his future wife at Megu on Christmas; she gave him her card but couldn't remember if he was cute.
  
• Former Mayor David Dinkins is officiating one ceremony today.
  
• A NY Times metropolitan desk reporter was married last night at the Hotel on Rivington.
  
• One bride has had bit parts in movies like The Thomas Crown Affair and Keeping the Faith (she's a broker for Citi-Habitats, when not acting).