EBHS students say ‘I do’

Annual lesson teaches
students the traditions
involved with weddings
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

Groomsman Keith Jean-Pierre takes a picture of the bride and groom — Elizabeth Ressler and Glenn Kipnis — with their sociology class’s student teacher, James Laster, at East Brunswick High School.

A vision of white satin and tulle, the bride nervously fussed over her bridesmaids as she helped them with their makeup and hair in the makeshift bridal suite.

"I’m nervous. I’ve been waiting for this," said Elizabeth Ressler, the bride.

Any weekend in a church or synagogue, this may be a normal sight to see. But in the crowded halls of East Brunswick High School, it looked a bit strange.

Ressler, a senior in Richard Koenigsberg’s sociology class, was getting ready to marry a fellow classmate, Glenn Kipnis, in a mock wedding — an annual event in Koenigsberg’s class.

Best man James DeStefano gives a traditional toast to the bride and groom during the mock wedding ceremony.

As part of a lesson on the traditions of marriage, the class learned firsthand what it takes to plan a wedding on a set budget, which was chosen randomly.

With her maid of honor, Lauren Sausmer, and bridesmaids Michelle Anderson, Marygrace Calimano and Erica Thiry at her side, Ressler lined up to walk the aisle of the sociology classroom.

Accompanied by Bob Hilcken, a senior citizen who visits the class on a regular basis with others from the township’s senior center, Ressler met Kipnis at the front of the class. Beside Kipnis stood his best man, James DeStefano, and groomsmen Keith Jean-Pierre, Bob Dunphy and Brandon Harris.

Officiating the ceremony were "Rabbi" Jeremy Bohmstein and "Father" Danny Miller, both students in the sociology class.

East Brunswick High School students Glenn Kipnis (l) and Elizabeth Ressler are “married” during a mock wedding ceremony officiated by Danny Miller as priest and Jeremy Bohmstein (not pictured) as rabbi.

"With this ring, I join my life with yours. This is my beloved and my friend," Ressler and Kipnis repeated to each other as part of their wedding vows. After exchanging the vows, the rings and a quick kiss on the cheek, the ceremony was over.

Koenigsberg said the lesson has been used in sociology classes for years.

"When I first started to teach the course, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it," Koenigsberg said of the mock wedding, which he uses in a course that deals primarily with culture and social values in primitive and modern societies.

Koenigsberg said he gave in over the years and has been carrying out the now-famous ceremony for about 10 years.

Elizabeth Ressler and Glenn Kipnis share their first dance during the mock wedding ceremony Jan. 17 in Richard Koenigsberg’s sociology class.

"They do all of it," said Koenigsberg, referring to his students.

The students are responsible for setting a budget and, within that budget, they must provide all the necessities for the wedding — from flowers to attire to the cake.

Melissa Kvidahl was the class florist for the mock wedding and had to find local florists to donate the bouquets for the bride and her attendants.

"It was fun, but it was stressful at the same time," sociology student Valerie Staub said.

Other students were in charge of the music and played the bridal march when Ressler came through the door. For the bride and groom’s first dance together as husband and wife, they queued the song, "I Swear," by All-4-One.

As the officiates of the wedding, Bohmstein and Miller had to research different kinds of ceremonies and find one that met the short length they needed. Each "clergy member" was needed because the bride and groom chose to have an interfaith ceremony — Ressler is Catholic and Kipnis is Jewish. The couple incorporated different traditions from each faith’s marriage ceremonies, such as lighting a unity candle from the Catholic tradition, and stepping on a glass from the Jewish tradition.

The students elected who among them would be the bride and groom. Ressler and Kipnis chose their real-life friends to be their attendants, the bride said. The entire wedding party had dresses and tuxedoes donated by local businesses for the event.

Other students decorated the classroom with red rose petals, red and pink heart-shaped balloons and white wedding bells. A small reception was provided, complete with pasta, sandwiches, and a pink and red wedding cake.

"I had a great time. It’s such a good time putting this whole thing together," sociology student Caitlin Grzybek said.

The event came to a close as the best man, DeStefano, raised his glass to the "newlyweds" and wished them good luck.

"Peace, God bless, and l’chaim," DeStefano said.