A Bright Fall-Inspired Wedding at the Whitford Plantation in New Bern, North Carolina

Holly Bland (24 and a receptionist) and Michael Funk's (27 and a network administrator) relationship didn't have the easiest of beginnings. The two met online through a mutual friend and hit it off right from the start, but with Michael stationed in Afghanistan, the two relied on daily Facebook messages and e-mails to really get to know one another. But the unconventional relationship didn't deter either one of them. "We just knew this was something special," says Holly. "Michael flew me to Germany to meet him for the first time after six months of talking and skyping online. We traveled to Paris during our time overseas and had the most amazing and romantic time." Three months later, Michael came back stateside to visit Holly and meet her family, asking her to marry him before boarding the plane to go back overseas. "My parents obviously didn't know him very well after only one short week with him but my dad approved after stating that all he wants is for me to be happy and that he can tell that Michael definitely does," says Holly. "We were apart for another six months until he finally came home in May 2013 for good. People thought we were absolutely crazy for getting engaged so quickly, but we knew we were meant to be." For their wedding, Holly and Michael headed to the Whitford Plantation in New Bern, NC. The stately plantation home with it's large white columns, river views and acres of trees showcasing bright fall foliage offered the ideal backdrop for the fall-inspired affair. The couple chose a color palette of dark purple and bright orange and bunches of brightly hued mums to highlight the season. A subtle Parisian theme, with French macaron favors and fleur de lis accents, was woven into the decor as a nod to where their relationship truly began.