From co-workers to something more... In 2018, Manaan moved to Crown Heights in Brooklyn, just 5 blocks from where Olex had been living since 2013. We began meeting up around the neighborhood and sharing our favorite spots which finally lead to our first official date at the Franklin Park Reading Series (where Manaan won a book!) in Jan 2019. Fast forward to Jan 2020, we moved in together just weeks before COVID hit.
By the summer of 2020, we chatted a lot about what our future would look like and decided to get engaged. We designed the engagement ring in collaboration with Thomas Michaels from Manaan's hometown. Even though she knew a ring was in the works, Olex surprised Manaan with a romantic dawn proposal at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park using a Haribo gummy ring (she said yes, and ate the ring).
More about Olex Olex grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine and moved to Virginia when he was 10. He's been in Brooklyn ever since graduating from UVA's Engineering school. He spends his days working as a web developer, and pursues a multitude of creative hobbies by night. You can find him DJing the occasional Bushwick rave and painting the summer away with his easel and overalls in Prospect Park.
More about Manaan Manaan grew up in Camden, Maine where the mountains meet the sea. A life-long voracious reader, Manaan studied the great books at St John's college and has a graduate degree from UChicago. Manaan loves great food and yummy snacks. She is obsessed with their dog Cordelia, celebrating everyday wins with Champagne, and is currently employed by AbstractOps.
September 18th, 2021 Ceremony at 3:30pm (sharp!) Location: "The Granite Prospect" at Brooklyn Bridge Park Everything else: Popina at 5pm Dress code: Festive. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
We understand that it's been a hard year and we know it's risky to plan a wedding when we don't really know what 2021 will bring. That being said, we're excited to celebrate with you - either in 2021 or the future! At this point in time, we are planning on requiring a negative rapid test and quarantine if you're flying in from out of state. We also hope that if you are able to, that you take advantage of the vaccine.
If things aren't much better, we will likely ask for attendees to get a rapid test, and get into NYC at least 4-5 days prior to the wedding.
Some of our favorite moments
The last two years have been filled with many amazing memories - here's a selection of some of our favorites.
