Love was on the menu at Junior’s in Downtown Brooklyn on the morning of Feb. 13, as four couples renewed their wedding vows inside the iconic eatery known for its world-famous cheesecakes.
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’s had played a meaningful role in their relationships — from first dates to anniversary traditions.
The Valentine’s season vow renewal marked the restaurant’s third such event, following a hiatus in 2025. Organizers said the overwhelming response this year reflects the enduring place Junior’s holds not just in Brooklyn’s culinary scene, but in couples’ love stories as well.
Alan Rosen, the third-generation owner of Junior’s, 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.
He told Brooklyn Paper that among the thousand entries Junior’s received for the competition, which included a two-night stay at a luxury hotel, off-Broadway tickets to “Just Desserts,” and a lifetime supply of anniversary cheesecakes, the couples stood out not only for their love for Junior’s but also for their love for each other and for New York City.
“I love love, and I’m really looking forward to celebrating with these four lovely couples,” Rosen said, emphasizing that he is single. “The world is so divided today that we thought we had to bring it back and bring people together and kick off this Valentine’s weekend the right way. It’s putting me in a good mood, and I’m really looking forward to celebrating with these four lovely couples.”
Kristi and Bob Caton celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last December. The two met on a dating website and hit it off immediately.
Bob Caton described their first date as his “best last, first date.”
“We 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’s like, ‘No, I’m gonna spoil you instead.’ It just worked immediately,” he said.
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’s location in Times Square is always their go-to spot.
“You can’t come to New York and see a Broadway show and not eat at Junior’s,” Bob Craton said, noting that the visit to the Brooklyn location was their first time visiting “the mothership.”
Kristi Caton’s words of wisdom for a successful marriage: “Just laugh together and celebrate the good and be there for the bad. He’s the person I want to tell everything to, whether I’ve 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.”
Their son Nick, who is a Broadway fan, added that “[My parents] are amazing, they talk, they help, and [we] go to Disney.”
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.
“[Vance] was my first kiss,” Erin said. “There 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, ‘Oh, we knew that was gonna happen.’ There was always kind of a spark there, even if we were dating somebody else.”
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’s governor implemented new restrictions, which included limiting all indoor and outdoor activities.
“The next day, they shut everything down for COVID,” Vance Van Horn recalled. “So we were so lucky.”
For the second wedding anniversary, the couple visited New York City, and Erin took Vance to Junior’s for cheesecake —revisiting 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 “hooked” ever since.
The couple’s advice for a happy marriage: “Marry your best friend.”
“Marry somebody who is gonna have your back on your good days, your bad days, because it’s the journey that matters. So if you have fun together, the tough times don’t matter so much. Tough times are going to be there, no matter what you’re doing or who you’re with, but make sure you find somebody who’s going to bring out the best in those tough times.”
