Rachel and Wes met the summer of 2011 at the pool at Cape Harbor Apartments. After a year without contact, they had their first date at Indochine. Every since then, there has been a lot of laughter, smiling, and love. Most of their time has been spent watching favorite television shows (see Mad Men in particular), cooking dinners, exercising, playing in the sun, laughing, and cuddling with Gingy bug! Sometimes it takes a long time to find the right person, but when that happens, time seems to fly by. Truly they are best friends, which is why they are excited to continue the next chapter of their life through marriage. Rachel and Wes are thrilled to announce their engagement and look forward to sharing God's blessing of marriage with their friends and family.

As friends gathered on a Sunday for football and barbecue at Wes ad Rachel's home, Rachel wasn't aware of what was going to happen that day. In fact she was the only one who wasn't. Wes had planned a surprise through the help of his friends. Wes prepared barbecue, friends filed through the door with dishes, kids laughed and ran through the house, Ginger (the family dog) was running and hiding from the kids, guys were talking about sports and other manly things as the game continued, and Rachel was entertaining the ladies as she was waiting to serve everyone. Rachel asked Wes, "Why aren't we eating? The kids are starving!" Wes replied, "Go ahead and get everything ready. We will eat at halftime." Wes walked into the living room and gave Alan (who was more nervous than Wes) the signal that it was time for the proposal. Rachel was called into the room and the TV was turned off. From one knee, he simply handed Rachel Ginger, who had the ring tied to her collar, and asked for her hand in marriage. Through tears, and after a moment, she said yes.

They will be having a private ceremony for their family at Wes' grandparent's house in Whiteville, NC. Rachel's father, Dale Childress, will be officiating. Lillian Ferguson, Rachel's niece, and Maddie Gore, Wes' niece, will be flower girls. Zachary Ferguson, Rachel's nephew, will walk Rachel down the aisle.

To celebrate with their friends and family, they will be having their reception at the Coast Line Convention Center in Downtown Wilmington, NC. The party will begin at 7pm. Southern Smoke BBQ of NC will be catering for them.