Alicia Rangel, daughter of Rep. Charles Rangel, weds New Jersey finance manager

Alicia Frances Rangel vowed she would never have anything to do with fraternity men after she dated several during her days at Howard University. In her opinion, they lacked "constancy" as boyfriends.

And the 30-year-old daughter of Rep. Charles B. Rangel of Harlem and Alma Rangel stuck to her word. That is until two years ago, when she met Howard Lee Haughton, a finance manager at New Jersey pharmaceuticals company Schering-Plough Corporation--and an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Haughton, 34, must have changed Rangel's mind about fraternity men because she recently took a new vow, pledging her love and life to Haughton during an intimate wedding at New York's Regency Hotel on Park Avenue, which was followed by a romantic honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

Rangel, an assistant producer of commercials at BBDO, a New York advertising agency, as well as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Haughton, who joined Alpha Phi Alpha when he majored in accounting at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ, made a picture-perfect Greek union as they exchanged nuptials before 130 guests, including former New York Mayor David N. Dinkins, who performed the nuptials; Basil A. Paterson, former New York deputy mayor; and Percy E. Sutton, former Manhattan borough president.

The beautiful bride, who was escorted down the aisle by her congressman father during the traditional ceremony, looked lovely in a simple, yet elegant white column gown. Her jewelry, pearl earrings and a necklace adorned with a single pearl, was made from a necklace that had been her father's first gift to her mother. The handsome groom, the younger son of retired U.S. Army Maj. Albert A. Haughton and the late Vinell Haughton, donned a tailored black tux with a white tie and boutonniere.

So what made Rangel take a chance down the aisle with this Alpha man? His compassion, the bride revealed, and his persistence. The couple, who will reside in Englewood, NJ, first met, or rather didn't meet, during a failed matchmaking attempt in 1999, when Rangel was working in Washington, D.C., at Howard University's television station.

The husband of a coworker wanted Rangel to meet Haughton, a fraternity buddy who was visiting the city, The New York Times reported. True to her earlier vow against dating fraternity guys, Rangel declined. Still, Haughton bided his time, calling Rangel months later to ask if her father would be available as a speaker for Alpha Phi Alpha. They spoke again the next day and the following day. Two years later, Rangel and Haughton vowed to love and cherish each other.

And this vow they both intend to keep for a lifetime.