My Great Grandmother's Wedding Veil
I chose Olivia for this month’s Valentine's Blog. She captured my heart when sending me her great-grandmother’s 1947 wedding veil to restyle into something special.
Michaelina Cirasella and Vincent Lumenello’s love story began on Christmas Eve while making ravioli and sauce at his aunt’s house. That night, they attended midnight mass together, and their love bloomed. They married on April 20th, 1947.
Olivia’s caring personality comes naturally. She is a LPN at a nursing home. For years, she wanted to become a lawyer, but after witnessing her great-grandfather cared for in the hospital, her heart took her in another direction: nursing. Helping people and seeing them improve instilled a passion for caring for the senior population.
1947 Wedding Veil Restoration and Restyle
Before providing design ideas and estimating restoration work for a vintage bridal headpiece or crown, I must do a hands-on evaluation to determine how it was initially constructed and any challenges we might face. Olivia’s heirloom satin wedding crown had some surprises in store for me.
I determined that the headpiece was handmade of satin ribbon and stitched to a frame. The satin fabric was stained along the wire and in other areas. I knew this piece would need a bath. Removing stains from a 76-year-old wedding veil is never guaranteed. I had an inkling the stains were rust. The beautiful beaded trim also needed repair, as many of the sequins and beads needed reinforcement.
My idea to repurpose this old crown was to make a set of floral hairpins from the cleaned satin ribbon and repaired beaded trim.
When I took the crown apart, I was surprised to find out the frame base was purple, and the satin wasn’t ribbon but rather raw cut strips of satin fabric with purple dye stains. This posed two challenges: removing the aged dye and devising a technique to sew rolled ribboned flowers with unfinished, raw edges.
Olivia’s floral pins, designed from her great-grandmother’s headpiece, were among the prettiest I have ever created.
Click here to see the short video of Olivia showing her Nonna her wedding hairpins for the first tme. Her great-grandmother offers Olivia wise and loving wishes.
Olivia and John’s Grand Teton, Wyoming Elopement
Photos by Pear Tree Photography
LOCATION / Grand Teton National Park VINTAGE CROWN RESTYLE and VEIL / Headpiece.com HAIR / Tanya Crocker Danironi Hair Co MUA / Ashley Drew Artistry BRIDAL SALON / Madeleine’s Daughter
While John didn’t arrange for the message on the marquee at the theater turned pizza joint, it was the perfect setting for the final shots of the night.
During a recent magazine interview, I stated why I love working with vintage pieces so much. My answer will always remain the same. Vintage restoration and restyle is a love story! Through my work, I witness beautiful relationships and become a part of the love story through something as simple as a family headpiece or wedding veil. I feel like I know Olivia and her Nonna, and I have never even met them in person. And this is what it means to be a part of the Headpiece.com family. Blessings to all those you love this Valentine’s Day! <3- Marie
See you next month on the Fourteenth