A Romantic, Beach Wedding at the Indian River Marina at Delaware Seashore State Park

Katrina Szish, a television correspondent, was intrigued when she received an email from high school friend and biomedical engineer, Marc Korczykowski, in April 2014. The two hadn’t seen one another in twenty-four years and lived very different lives. They agreed to meet in their hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, a few days later.

Though adamant each had no romantic motives behind the reunion, it seems fate had objectives of its own. “Within two weeks, we were making long-term plans,” recalls Katrina. “It just didn’t make sense to wait too long to get married.”

In July, Marc made it official with a sweet declaration of his love on the Great Lawn in Central Park. A whirlwind of wedding planning in three short months followed, though this bride and groom admit they weren’t intimidated by the adventure.

“We liked the idea of creating an ‘atypical’ event,” she says, “and, throughout the process, we often felt as if everything just fell into place.”

Aware that many wedding venues would be booked for the fall, Katrina and Marc opted for Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, a favorite destination during Katrina’s childhood. Nearby Indian River Marina, quickly became their choice for the reception. From there, the bride says she concentrated on fashioning an elegant affair, though one not overly formal or forced. It’s a theme that resonated throughout every detail.

They married seaside surrounded by 60 guests, just before sunset. Marc awaited his bride wearing a custom-designed ensemble. Katrina made her walk down the aisle on her father’s arm to a jazz rendition of “Surfer Girl” donning a sleek, A-line gown by Sharon Elle acquired from a New York atelier.

Their ode to the out-of-the-ordinary continued with readings of poetry by E.E. Cummings and a modern take on unity sand in which they each blended their favorite alcoholic beverages to create a signature cocktail instead.

“Everything felt right,” Katrina says of the ceremony. “I think we both tried to take in every moment.”

After a short trolley ride to the marina, pathways lit by string lights and candles led guests to cocktail hour, which featured bite-sized seafood selections and a jazz trio. The couple kicked off the reception with a choreographed foxtrot to Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea.”

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed an eclectic array of local surf and turf fare served family style, as well as a dessert bar overflowing with the couple’s favorite treats including French macarons, chocolate pop cakes and nautical-themed cookies.