Iowa State University Memorial Union

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Roat Home

Brunch

Summer

Celebrate with us!

We may have legally gotten married last year, but it's not official in our minds until we get to properly celebrate with those we love (aka, YOU!) We invite you to join us for a wedding (er... "renewal of vows") ceremony and a reception (read: dinner and dancing!) in the very place we met 9 years ago. We can't wait to celebrate with you!!

Our Wedding

Bill: Our story begins with RA (resident assistant) training back in August 2015 in the Memorial Union at Iowa State University. I mainly took the job for the free room and board, and wasn’t necessarily trying to win RA of the year, so I sat in the back, thinking about lunch during our 9am training session. During the training, I noticed this cute girl sitting at the very front of the room, competing like she was a Jeopardy contestant to answer every training question first. The moment I laid eyes on Katy, I knew I had a crush on her. My thoughts shifted from whether I would get the ham or turkey sub for lunch to what I could do to get Katy’s attention. I got what I asked for, as in one of our dining center lunches I unexpectedly passed her on the stairs. In my excitement I waved at her, causing the ice cream to slide off the top of the cone I was holding. I managed to pull off one of the more athletic moves of my life by catching the falling ice cream with my free hand, saving Katy’s shoes from certain lactose-vanilla destruction and effectively catching her attention.&nbsp;

Chapter 1: Our first meeting

Bill: After several brief conversations with Katy during RA training, I felt like there could be something there, but I wanted to be absolutely sure. After some light social media stalking, I realized that Katy and I had a mutual friend, Katie Johnson. When I asked Katie what she thought of Katy, her response was so positive that I realized I not only wanted to ask Katy on a date, but should really swing for the fences to do so. I began brainstorming how to ask her out, striving to strike the balance between being bold enough to stand out while remaining measured enough to hide how much time I’d spent thinking about it. I eventually decided to leave roses and a decorated note asking her to coffee outside of her dorm room door. I crossed my fingers and hoped she would say yes.

Chapter 2: A bold gesture

Bill: For our first date, the plan was to eat at the renowned culinary establishment Noodles &amp; Company, followed by a garden stroll through Reiman Gardens. Katy and I had a great conversation and lots of stories to share back and forth. I thought it was a perfect date and couldn’t wait to ask her out again.&nbsp; Katy: The date began on a rough note, as I, who had just returned from 2 years at school in Alabama where men went out of their way to be overly chivalrous, was mildly disappointed when Bill did not offer to pay for my $8 meal. The rest of the date went fine, but it became clear that Bill was not “boyfriend material”—at least not yet! I knew I wanted a life partner who shared my faith, and at the time that wasn’t a priority in Bill’s life. (Otherwise, he was 10/10–witty, cute, smart… the whole package!) When Bill asked for a second date, I instead extended an invitation to the dreaded friend zone. Thankfully, he took it well and we did indeed become good friends. P.S.--Pic of us with the "world's largest gnome" on our (better) recreated version of the Reiman Gardens date in 2020.

Chapter 3: The first date

Katy: Over the next few years we enjoyed hanging out and getting to know each other over tennis matches (Bill always won), at RA conferences (yes that was a thing), and meals in the dining hall (I would intentionally walk 20 minutes across campus to eat in the dining hall near Bill’s dorm in hopes I might run into him!) While we each had a secret crush on the other, we remained solidly in the friend zone through graduation and beyond, staying close friends through phone call catch-ups and in-person meet-ups when I came back from DC to Des Moines to visit family.﻿

Chapter 4: The friend zone

Katy: During one visit back home over Christmas in 2018, Bill and a few friends and I went out dancing. I thought I was picking up on flirtatious vibes from Bill (I later learned that I was), but I ultimately attributed it to the wine and wishful thinking, nothing more. So when Bill asked me to meet for coffee at 7:00 AM (VERY early for a Katy!!) the day before I flew back to DC, I hoped that perhaps he shared feelings for me after all. The coffee date came and went, and… nothing. No declaration of love. Just early morning grogginess and disappointment.&nbsp; Bill: I had indeed intended on sharing my feelings over coffee that morning, but I changed my mind once I saw Katy’s (lack of) enthusiasm for getting up early. Instead, I mailed Katy a heartfelt, 3-page handwritten letter confessing my feelings for her, and also asked for the opportunity to take her out on another date if we ever got the chance. After waiting what seemed like forever to get a response, I got a text! And she agreed to……be friends. I was more than a little disappointed, but friends we would have to remain.

Chapter 5: A second chance

Katy: While I still definitely had a crush on Bill, I was hesitant to start a relationship long-distance and wanted to gather more data on if/how he had changed since college before agreeing to pursue a relationship. A few months after he sent me the letter, I still couldn’t stop thinking about him and came up with an idea to get to know him better—a trip to Costa Rica! (What better way to get to know someone than travelling internationally together?) The trip was fantastic and I quickly realized that this was someone who could be a great life partner. He had started pursuing his own faith journey over the last couple years, and I could truly see the transformation in his shifted priorities and values. He was kind, patient, flexible, incredibly humble, a great road-trip DJ, and could somehow keep me calm in stressful situations.&nbsp; Bill (thankfully) was willing to give me another chance, and we gave long-distance dating a shot. After a few months, I, always the planner, struggled to see where the relationship was going practically, given that there was no end to the long-distance in sight. Bill offered to move to DC, but that seemed rash and irresponsible to my hyper-logical brain. Instead, we agreed to go back to being “just friends”, though we decided that since we made great partners and truly enjoyed each other’s company, we could give dating another chance if we ever somehow ended up in the same place at the same time. (Unlikely, right?)

Chapter 6: Third time's the charm?

Bill: A few months later, the calendar flipped to March 2020, and we all know what happened next. Katy decided to temporarily move back to Des Moines to save on rent and wait out the pandemic, which gave us the chance to finally date in person! Our first “date” was to take Katy for her COVID test upon arriving in Des Moines, followed by ice cream as she was NOT a fan of being swabbed. Later, we recreated our actual first date by heading back to Reiman Gardens and dinner. Yes, I paid this time, and yes, it included a much nicer restaurant.&nbsp;After a few months, Katy had to move back to DC for work, but now with a firm foundation for our relationship and the potential for frequent visits, long-distance dating didn’t seem so daunting.

Chapter 7: An unlikely opportunity

Katy: In the fall of 2021, Bill and I traveled to Iceland for a 10-day road-trip around the island together. By this point I had gotten the opportunity to really get to know Bill. Over the months on and off living together in Des Moines, he had demonstrated his genuine care and affection for me through gestures like getting a space heater because I’m a wimp in the Iowa cold, buying candles and decor to make me feel more at home in the otherwise bare-bones apartment, and surprising me with lattes from my favorite coffee shop “just because”.&nbsp; The Iceland trip was the tipping point that really sealed the deal for me and solidified that Bill was, in fact, “the one”! As we hiked glaciers and volcanoes, ate Icelandic hot dogs from roadside carts in small villages, and drove miles in the middle of the night in an attempt to (unsuccessfully) catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, I was struck by Bill’s patience, kindness toward strangers, adventurous spirit, and incredible sense of humor and joy even in mundane moments. As we said goodbye and I flew home to DC, I knew I wanted him as my life-long adventure partner.

Chapter 8: "The one"

Bill: After returning from Iceland, we talked and decided we were ready to put an end to long distance once and for all. We made a date out of picking our new city, which involved going to the library and checking out almanacs that dissected characteristics of various cities into values and numerous charts. After picking a city with an average winter temperature above freezing (for Katy), population bigger than Des Moines (for Katy) and smaller than DC (for Bill), and year round golf (for Bill), we landed on Raleigh, NC. In spring 2022, we both found jobs in Raleigh and moved!

Chapter 9: The move to NC

Bill: On March 17, 2023, I proposed to Katy. She made the proposal simultaneously easy and difficult for me, as she not-so-subtly hinted at proposal ideas she would love. I, however, also wanted to have a big surprise for her. What I settled on was a mix of both. The day of the proposal included a day-long scavenger hunt with clues tying in some of her favorite places, people, and things in Raleigh. The surprise came with help from her parents, Kathy and Andy, who flew into Raleigh without her knowing and helped set up a surprise engagement party for her in our apartment with all of our good friends in Raleigh. Safe to say, she was suprised! After a beautiful day of romantic gestures, family, and friends, we were finally engaged.

Chapter 10: The proposal

Katy: We didn’t want to wait a full year to get married but also wanted the chance to throw a big party to celebrate with friends and family, so we decided on the best of both worlds with an small ceremony in summer 2023 and a proper celebration in 2024. We got legally married in an intimate mountaintop micro-wedding on June 8, 2023 and are THRILLED to properly celebrate with you all on our anniversary in 2024.&nbsp; Thanks for supporting us along this journey–We’re so excited for this next chapter in our story and can’t wait to celebrate with you!!

Chapter 11: Happily ever after

Our Story

Photos

Maddie and Katy met wayyy back in 8th grade English class. The two bonded over their nerdiness (two of the few who actually did the assigned summer reading!) and have remained close friends ever since. Ask her about her favorite recently-read book, the secret to making a stellar cup of tea, or about middle and high-school shenanigans with Katy! 

Maddie Pierce

Becca and Katy met through Maddie freshman year of high school. Katy loved Becca's spunk, vibrance, and great sense of humor--And that hasn't changed since! Ask her about the Greenbay Packers or about (more!) high-school shenanigans with Katy! 

Rebecca Cooks

Amanda and Katy met while working together in DC. They became roommates and good friends, filling many evenings with wine-and-cheese nights, chick flicks, and living room dance parties. Ask her about her adorable pup, Luna, or her adventures with Katy across Thailand!

Amanda Infeld

Katherine and Katy met at an ISU happy hour in DC and quickly bonded over their Iowan roots, type-A tendencies, and desire to fully explore and take advantage of all DC had to offer! Ask her about the coolest museum or restaurant she's discovered recently, or about the crazy-small-world story of how she and Katy met!

Katherine Rapp

Erin and Katy met while working together in DC. Erin kept life fun both inside and outside of work with her boundless energy and constant ideas to try new and fun activities (picnic by the tidal basin? making homemade ricotta? a marathon just for fun?) Ask Erin about her latest triathlon, the coolest hike she's discovered recently, or about party-planning with Katy for the Life Sciences practice at their old firm!

Erin Yang

Bill has known Andrew since middle school. Ask him about how he and Bill knew they weren’t destined for basketball greatness!

Andrew Jennings

Bill has known Eric since freshman year of college. Ask him about the first time they played broomball!

Eric Lacey

Bill and Matt have known each other since freshman year of college. Ask him about their John Denver cover band!


Matt Kriha

Brian and Bill have known each other since freshman year of college. Ask him about their concurrent realizations that they're "washed”!

Brian Garrido

Al and Bill have known each other since freshman year of college. Ask him about their one and only Spartan Race!

Al Lucero

Bill has known Haley since middle school. Ask her about Bill's crazy antics as a wild high-schooler, or ask for pics of their adorable pup Charlie!

Haley Jennings

Katy and Brian met while working together in DC. Brian kept work and life fun with a great sense of humor, a substantial dose of sarcasm, and a healthy appreciation for chocolate. Ask Brian about his M&M research or favorite ice cream!

Brian Pollack

Katie can be credited for the start of Katy and Bill's relationship! (See "Our story"!) Katy met Katie through high school debate, while Bill met her while serving as Cyclone Aides at Iowa State. Katy and Bill quickly became big fans of Andy too, with his warm smile and fantastic sense of humor. Ask them about the value of native plant restoration or their latest historic home restoration project!

Andy & Katie James

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have a room block at the Gateway Hotel &amp; Conference Center, about a 7 minute drive from the venue. Book via this link or call and mention the Roat-Hendricks block.

Gateway Hotel & Conference Center

Travel

The farmers market is the place to be Saturday 7am-noon in Des Moines (DSM)! Swing by for blocks of food trucks, fresh produce, locally made jewelry and art, coffee, sweets, and more--it's worth a stop!

Des Moines Farmers Market

If you're into local shops, bookstores, and coffee shops, check out the Historic East Village! It's great for a stroll, a quick bite to eat (Zombie Burger or Nosh), a great cup of coffee (Daisy Chain or Scenic Route), some quirky shops (Raygun or Porch Light Antiques), a good bookstore perusal (Storyhouse Book Pub) or a few games at the arcade bar (Up-Down). It's also the location of Katy's parents' store, Fleet Feet Sports, which also offers free parking at the garage at the corner of E. 6th and Locust, so it's a great place to start! (Shameless plug!)

Stroll and shop in DSM's Historic East Village

The Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was built to recognize Iowa women from history who have made outstanding contributions. Illuminated with rainbow colors and suspended over a dam in the Des Moines river, it's a great stop to incorporate into a stroll along the Des Moines riverwalk by day or night. Consider parking by the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden and walk south from there, perhaps to the World Food Prize Hall of Fame (check out their gardens!). Pair this with a stop at the Farmer's Market and/or a visit to the East Village!

Stroll along the DSM river, including the Women of Achievement Bridge

While in Ames, go for a stroll through Reiman Gardens, ISU's botanical gardens and the site of our first date! Admission is $12.

Reiman Gardens

COFFEE!! AMESCan you tell Katy drank a lot of coffee in college??- Burgie's Coffee- Cafe Milo- Cafe Diem- Stomping Grounds DES MOINES- Mars Cafe--A classic for high school study sessions for Katy :)- Chain &amp; Spoke--A bike shop/coffee shop combo!- La Mie--A French cafe known for their pastries, but their coffee is also decent. Go to the location on 42nd St.

FOOD!! AMES- Provision Lot F--Bill's all-time favorite restaurant! DES MOINES- La Mie--A French cafe with pastries to die for! Their other food and coffee is decent too.- A Dong--Unassuming Vietnamese spot Midwestern chains to trySo this is your first and probably only time visiting the midwest? Try these classic midwestern spots! (Note, none of these are renowned culinary establishments, so set expectations accordingly--just some uniquely midwestern fast food!) - Pancheros: Per Katy, this is the better version of Chipotle (Bill disputes this) What to order: A burrito (homemade tortillas!!) - Culver's: The midwestern burger spot. What to order: A butter burger and custard! - Taco John's: The (slightly better?) version of Taco Bell. What to order: Potato Ole's! (hashbrown bites with delightful seasoning) - Casey's: You say, "but this is a gas station?!" Correct! It's not glamorous but it sure is delicious. Trust us on this. What to order: Breakfast pizza!

Katy & Bill

Katy & Bill

K&B

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Brunch

Celebrate with us!