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Deena Cortese Explains The Vision Behind Her ‘Rustic’ Fall Wedding: ‘She Didn’t Want It To Be Traditional’
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme hero](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/480x251/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/640x335/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/768x402/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/1024x536/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/1280x670/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/1440x753/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/1600x837/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ps99Owi2A/2160x1130/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-hero.jpg 2160w)
When Deena Cortese got engaged a year ago, she knew she wanted to plan the wedding all on her own. Inspired by her love of fall and childhood memories in her hometown of New Egypt, New Jersey, the Jersey Shore star had a unique vision in mind from the start, she revealed to OK! exclusively. Although Deena admitted planning everything got “overwhelming” towards the end, she pulled it off and married her longtime love Chris Buckner in a gorgeous fall-themed ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 28. Click through for all the details on Deena's wedding plans!
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 01](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/480x307/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/640x409/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/768x490/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/1024x653/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/1280x817/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/1440x919/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/1600x1021/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qLUoNWD41/2160x1378/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-01.jpg 2160w)
“She wanted a very different kind of wedding,” Deena’s now mother-in-law Julie Buckner told OK! exclusively. “She didn’t want it to be traditional. She mixed it up a bit. She put her own spin on stuff.”
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 02](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/D-l7KaB2d/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-02.jpg 2160w)
When asked about her vision for her wedding, Deena said, “I love fall so very rustic.”
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 03](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/480x307/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/640x409/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/768x490/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/1024x653/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/1280x817/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/1440x919/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/1600x1021/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/rVRwJlaWg/2160x1378/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-03.jpg 2160w)
For the venue, Deena chose Laurita Winery in honor of her late father John. “I wanted it at Laurita because my dad passed away last year and we used to come here with him. And I grew up in New Egypt, so New Egypt’s a huge part of my life,” she told OK! Plus, “I love wine,” Deena quipped.
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 04](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/z4Hg6MewW/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-04.jpg 2160w)
“I just wanted it to be more intimate and more me and Chris,” Deena explained, adding that she wanted something “more cozy and homey because that’s how I grew up.”
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 05](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/FGrEITCrn/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-05.jpg 2160w)
“I've been to so many weddings, and the halls are beautiful, but I wanted something more us,” she continued.
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![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 06](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/j4gzcPhZt/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-06.jpg 2160w)
Still, Deena admitted planning an entire wedding from start to finish on her own was no easy task. “In the beginning, it was really awesome. And then the last week, I just got a little stressed, and it was just overwhelming,” she admitted to OK!
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 07](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/480x307/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/640x409/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/768x490/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/1024x653/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/1280x817/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/1440x919/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/1600x1021/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/5NGhTQRUv/2160x1378/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-07.jpg 2160w)
Luckily, Chris and her bridesmaids were there to help! “Chris helped me a lot,” she said. “And my girls were such a big help, too, but they all yelled at me because they were like, ‘Why don't you ask for help?’"
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 08](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/2e097IlBr/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-08.jpg 2160w)
“But I’ve just always been the type of person when I see something, and I need to do it, I just do it,” Deena explained.
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 09](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/480x307/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/640x409/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/768x490/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/1024x653/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/1280x817/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/1440x919/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/1600x1021/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ep0zdH-9m/2160x1378/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-09.jpg 2160w)
In the end, though, Deena’s unique vision came to life. “She had a vision and she stuck with that vision. She planned the whole thing,” Julie added. “She really did everything.”
![deena cortese wedding pics rustic fall theme 10](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/480x320/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/640x427/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/768x512/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/1024x683/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/1280x854/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/1440x960/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/1600x1067/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/dBMDrbk9o/2160x1440/2017/10/deena-cortese-wedding-pics-rustic-fall-theme-10.jpg 2160w)
What do you think of Deena’s rustic fall wedding theme? Sound off in the comments below!