Katie & Andrew – Living The Good Life

How did you meet?

Andrew and I met our sophomore year at Virginia Tech, We spent the rest of our college years studying together, cheering on the Hokies at football games, and attending each others fraternity and sorority events. Virginia Tech is a magical place and we knew how lucky we were to find one another.

How did you get engaged?

Upon graduation, I moved to Georgia to pursue teaching through Teach for America and Andrew moved to DC to work with Lockheed Martin. 11 months later, Andrew asked me to come home to DC for his parents 25th wedding anniversary. I agreed. A week later I received his parents invitation in the mail. I quickly called to RSVP, bought a gift, and planned for the trip. After touching down in DC, I called Andrew and he told me he was waiting for me at baggage claim. However, when I arrived at the main terminal I was greeted by a stranger holding a sign with “Katie Hercik” written on .

He told me to follow him. Nervous and hesitant, I followed him outside to see a large stretch limo. The man took my bag and opened the car door. Drew was on one knee and asked me to come inside. Both in tears, I said yes as we drove away from the airport. Just as I thought the day couldn’t get any better, the limo pulled into Andrew’s parent’s house where my family and closest friends were waiting for us. It was the perfect day.

Why OBX for your wedding day?

My family and I have spent the last 15 summers in the Outer Banks. It is our second home. There is no where else in the world more special. Elegant, yet simple, it was the perfect place for me to start a new chapter in my life.

How did you decide on your ceremony and reception location?

It was easy. We wanted the reception in a “big old oceanfront Pine Island” home. We wanted a church wedding with a Catholic priest so the Corolla Chapel was the ideal spot. We wanted a classy, sophisticated reception but we also wanted a place that resembled the OBX. Duckwoods gave us the sophistication of a country club but also the relaxation that comes with an Outer Banks vacation. It was fantastic!

How many guests did you have?

140

How long did you allow for the wedding planning process?

about a year

Share with us some planning details that were important to you.

Everyone was amazing! Every single person from the photographers to the florist to the musicians, to the woman who designed our cake was amazingly supportive. Everyone was professional while also being friendly and supportive. My husband and I are in graduate school so it was imperative that we worked with people who were patient with our hectic schedule. We were blown away by everyone involved with our wedding process.

Looking back, what was your favorite moment of your wedding day?

This is an impossible question for us. The day was flawless. Walking into the church, arm in arm with my Dad, to music by the club violin; traveling in a limo with my 9 bridesmaids under a crystal blue sky to the reception; dancing with my husband for the first time; running from the reception at the end of the night on a path lit by sparklers and cheers…not one of these moments was better than the other. They were all unforgettable.

If you could do one thing different either in the planning or actual day, what would it be?

Nothing

What advice would you give to another bride planning her wedding in the Outer Banks?

Allow yourself time. We lived in Georgia so everything was done over the phone or online. Although it turned out beautifully, it took time and organization.

Did you have a theme or style that you carried through the planing process?

Everything was soft, romantic, and vintage-like, Shabby-chic describes it the best.

How did you choose your menu?

I like seafood and my husband likes steak. Steak and coconut shrimp with au gratin potatoes and asparagus was the perfect combination.

What was the style of service?

Plated

Did you have a specialty drink at the bar?

no

Personalization:

We decorated the mantle with family wedding photos in antique frames. We also had cupcakes for desert made by my grandmother and my mother-in-law. They were a huge hit! Our entire rehearsal dinner was done in burnt orange and maroon for Virginia Tech.