A Rustic Fall Wedding at The Oaks at Salem in Apex, North Carolina

Rachel Milano (25 and in nonprofit communications) and Alan McQuiston (31 and in the United States Navy) met online and went on their first date soon after. Almost exactly two years later, Alan proposed to Rachel on a quiet night at home. They were both watching television when Alan said that spending this relaxing, quiet time with her was the best part of his day. He then said that they could do it for the rest of their lives and proposed. They chose to have their wedding at The Oaks at Salem in Apex, North Carolina. "It was very important to us to have as much of our day outdoors as possible, and The Oaks offered a beautiful backdrop for our outdoor ceremony and a tented area for our reception," Rachel says. Rachel and Alan opted for a rustic DIY wedding style with a "best day ever" theme. Mason jars, lace, mercury glass and chalkboard signs truly made the theme come alive. Their color palette was orange and navy and was carried throughout the day. "We chose orange to represent my Clemson University background and navy blue to represent Alan's career choice," Rachel says. Rachel carried a bouquet of her favorite flower, tulips, while the bridesmaid bouquets and ceremony and reception arrangements were made with baby's breath and hydrangeas. "The entire day really reflected us as a couple, from the colors to the location to the food and music," Rachel says. "Everything was exactly as we pictured it."