Rehearsal & Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

One Lovely Evening became One Loving Union 

One lovely evening, in October of 2024, Preston was studying in the Library at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was an ordinary evening for him as he was studying on the first floor. Meanwhile, Rachel was looking for assistance for her laptop because it was hacked with a virus. Preston noticed Rachel and she caught his eye. He went up to talk to her and heard about her situation. Rachel was receiving help for her laptop from Preston, his friends, and several other employees at the Library. That is when we first met. Rachel’s laptop was fixed soon after. We grew a friendship together over the next month, seeing each other in the library. During this time, we both continued to have interest toward each other. This led to us talking and studying together in the library. As this progressed, Preston asked Rachel out on a date at Thanks A Latte in Angier, NC. She said Yes! We had our first date there on November 25, 2024, the Monday before Thanksgiving. We became an official dating couple (Going Steady!) on December 2, 2024. This happened on our second date at Brig’s Resturant in Wake Forest, NC. On December 15, Preston first visited Rachel’s home church, Grace in Willow Spring. This is where her Dad—Rodney Baker—is the Senior Pastor. During that church service, Preston received a successful vote to be the Pastor at Duncan Baptist Church in Holly Springs, NC. He started pastoring there on January 5, 2025. We continued to date for 10 months. One lovely day, in October of 2025, we went riding on an ATV on Preston’s family farm. We walked down to a nearby creek. Then finally, Preston went down on one knee. He said for the very first time,“Rachel Anne Baker, I love you.“Will you marry me?” “Yes!" Rachel replied."I would love to."She was surprised, but excited. We drove back to the farmhouse with congratulations from both our families.Our engagement season officially began. It was not long before we realized we have many mutual friends. But somehow, we never crossed paths until that one lovely evening in October 2024. Circumstances were unfolding in a way that both of us could not have manufactured on our own. They were not simply circumstances.They were days perfectly placed in the Lord’s perfect timing. Preston sought after Rachel, actively pursuing her.Rachel accepted Preston’s pursuit with excitement and anticipation.All along, our Lord was writing a love story we never could have written ourselves. This passage became our doxology, as it was for the Apostle Paul:“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”-Ephesians 3:20-21

Our Lord was writing a love story we never could have written ourselves.

We want to give glory to our Lord for who he is and what he has done in our lives. This has been our goal since the beginning. And it remains our goal for the rest of our days. We want to glorify Him by taking our relationship to the next level, according to his Word. This next step is marriage. Marriage is a command from God for Christian couples.Marriage is also a picture of Christ’s saving love for his church. The Word of our Lord says this about Marriage:“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” -Ephesians 5:31-32 The church is those who have trusted Christ for salvation. This salvation is made possible to them because Christ paid for their sins through his death. Marriage is a picture of this glorious truth, called the Gospel. It is the message of redemption from God to mankind. People have the opportunity to receive this redemption by repentance of their sins, placing their faith in Christ alone. This is the Gospel we believe with all we have. This is how one lovely evening leads to one loving union. It is between two people who were purposefully brought together to look to the one who is infinitely loving, merciful, sovereign, and holy.

We want to glorify Him by taking our relationship to the next level, according to His Word. 

All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025.)

Our Story

Photos

Rebekah Baker Vanderhoof

Christopher Pierce

Elizabeth Baker

Samuel Flook

Ella Pierce

Jacob Bone

Sarah Baker McLamb

Nathan Baker

Olivia Baker

Joshua Baker

Abigail Baker

Kodie Baker

Hannah Baker

Caleb Baker

Esther Baker

Harper McCarter

Adeline Cherryholmes

Wedding Party

Located within 15 miles of PNC Arena and 17 miles of North Carolina Museum of Art, Holiday Inn Express Holly Springs - Raleigh Area by IHG has rooms in Holly Springs. This 3-star hotel offers a shared lounge and a 24-hour front desk. Museum of Natural Sciences is 18 miles from the hotel and State Capitol is 18 miles away. Buffet and American breakfast options are available at the hotel. Holiday Inn Express Holly Springs - Raleigh Area by IHG offers an indoor pool. A business center, gym and an ironing service are available at the property as well as free private parking. North Carolina Museum of History is 18 miles from the accommodation, while North Carolina General Assembly is 18 miles from the property. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 21 miles away.

Holiday Inn Express Holly Springs Raleigh Area by IHG

Located in Holly Springs and with PNC Arena reachable within 17 miles, Hampton Inn &amp; Suites Holly Springs has a fitness center, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a shared lounge. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a business center. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and luggage storage space. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Guests at Hampton Inn &amp; Suites Holly Springs will be able to enjoy activities in and around Holly Springs, like fishing and cycling. North Carolina Museum of Art is 19 miles from the accommodation, while Museum of Natural Sciences is 20 miles from the property. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 25 miles away.

Hampton Inn & Suites Holly Springs

Featuring a fitness center, Quality Inn &amp; Suites Apex-Holly Springs is located in Apex in the North Carolina region, 11 miles from PNC Arena and 13 miles from North Carolina Museum of Art. This 1-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, a business center and free WiFi. North Carolina Museum of History is 14 miles from the hotel and North Carolina General Assembly is 14 miles away. At the hotel rooms have a private bathroom. Buffet and continental breakfast options are available at Quality Inn &amp; Suites Apex-Holly Springs. Museum of Natural Sciences is 13 miles from the accommodation, while State Capitol is 13 miles from the property. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 17 miles away.

Quality Inn & Suites Apex - Holly Springs

Located in Apex, 11 miles from PNC Arena, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Raleigh Apex provides accommodations with a fitness center, free private parking, a shared lounge and a bar. The property is around 13 miles from North Carolina Museum of Art, 14 miles from Museum of Natural Sciences and 14 miles from State Capitol. The hotel has an indoor pool and a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a coffee machine, a shower, free toiletries and a desk. At the hotel, each room is equipped with a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Buffet and American breakfast options are available at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Raleigh Apex. The accommodation has a sun terrace. A business center and vending machines with snacks and drinks are available on site at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Raleigh Apex. North Carolina Museum of History is 14 miles from the hotel, while North Carolina General Assembly is 14 miles away. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 17 miles from the property.

Rachel & Preston

Rachel & Preston

Registry

There are other stores to choose from at the bottom as well!