Rachel Link and Matthew Starnes' Vintage Wedding

As the saying goes, a bride needs something old, something new, something borrowed and a special something blue. Luckily for bride-to-be Rachel Link, finding the something borrowed and something old was a piece of cake. When the big day arrived, Rachel was accompanied down the aisle by several family heirlooms. Her vintage wedding dress was the same one her grandmother wore in 1952 as was the pearl necklace around Rachel’s neck. The shoes she wore belong to her aunt, and her earrings belonged to her mother-in-law. When Matt first saw his bride, he says he felt as though he had traveled back in time. “It was kind of surreal,” Matt says. “She looked beautiful. The whole thing kind of felt like it was in black and white.” For this Lebanon couple, the beyond-adorable memorabilia can be traced all the way back to their engagement last year. Matt popped the question after reading Rachel her favorite Bible verse, under an arbor that he built for her. During the engagement, he gifted Rachel a hand-painted canvas with the title of their favorite song by The Avett Brothers. And to top off the romantic moment, Matt proposed with a five-stone estate piece from the 1950s. “I was very giddy,” Rachel says. “In the pictures, we were both just smiling our heads off.” When it came time to plan the wedding, the couple wanted something personal, something that could never be replicated. So, instead of a color scheme, Rachel and Matt focused on unifying textures and feelings. The vibe was natural, with an emphasis on cedar wood details and antique décor. Instead of hiring a wedding planner, Rachel and Matt recruited several family members to help with (and take part in) their nuptials. Matt’s aunt kept things organized; Matt’s grandmother did the flower arrangements and Rachel’s musician brothers and friends took care of the entertainment. At one point, Rachel, who tours as a musician, joined the group on stage to perform. “The feeling in the room was very warm,” Rachel says. “Everyone was happy for each other.” Matt and Rachel live in Lebanon, where Matt is a high school journalism teacher and Rachel is a musician.