Although Erica Berg and Scott Brennan met in Atlanta, they knew that Charlottesville was the perfect location for their October wedding. Not only is Charlottesville Erica’s “favorite place in the world,” a fondly remembered home to her during her undergrad and law school years at UVA, but it was also a central gathering place for the couple’s families who live on opposite ends of the east coast. On October 18 of last year, the northern and southern wedding guests converged at Ash Lawn-Highland to celebrate the bride and groom on a clear autumn day in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Erica Berg and Scott Brennan |
Erica and Scott’s relationship began in the offices of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, perhaps not the most auspicious environment for young love. Erica, now an associate attorney in the Paul Hastings corporate department in Atlanta, was “the new girl in legal” and subject to much interest and inquiry from Scott, the vice president of sales and trading at FHLBA. Finding out that Erica was planning to participate in a food drive for Hurricane Katrina victims, Scott signed on to the same community service project. Erica was blissfully unaware of Scott’s ulterior motives when they met at the event.
Ever the professional, at first Erica was reluctant to date a co-worker, but she relented after two months of Scott’s duly diligent pursuit. “Even then she would only commit to a drink, not an actual meal,” Scott says. But after the second date the two were “inseparable.” When Erica left FHLBA and joined her current law firm a few months later, the relationship thrived, even offices apart.
After about two years of dating, Scott surprised Erica with a three-course candlelit dinner on the beach in Seaside, Florida, their favorite getaway spot. Flowers and photos of the couple decorated the table. Whereas Erica had been expecting a sunset walk, he asked her to be his wife. “I’m not the most romantic guy,” says Scott, “and I think I had one good one in me….I really wanted to do something that she would remember forever because she deserves it.” A storybook engagement like that is hard to live up to, but with the help of a local event planner, Erica and Scott were able to design their Blue Ridge dream wedding from distant Atlanta.
Even though Erica was born in Honolulu and grew up in coastal cities, she always felt an affinity for this university town nestled in the mountains. Scott’s frequent business trips had similarly highlighted the area’s charms for him. Scott’s favorite part of the Ash Lawn-Highland wedding besides the ravishing bride? The view.
