Christina & Matthew in Fairmont, WV

They say that the best relationships are those that have a chance to grow and mature over time. Such was the case for Christina and Matthew. The two met and became friends in college but it wasn’t until after they graduated that a love interest sparked. Still, they had to endure a long-distance relationship and relocate to another state before settling down. Luckily, it was worth the wait. The Bride Christina Marks, 26, analyst The Groom Matthew Evans, 27, account manager The Date July 23 Once this twosome finally became engaged -- in the beautiful Duke Gardens of Durham, North Carolina -- the plans for a summertime wedding in the bride’s home state of West Virginia kicked into high gear. The two requirements for the perfect day: Christina and Matthew wanted to get married in a church and have the reception in a hotel since the majority of their guests would be traveling from afar. The result was a ceremony in the bride’s childhood church with a cranberry red, white, and platinum hued wedding at a golf resort in Fairmont.