The Vintage Heirloom Wedding Crown
This 1959 vintage beaded wedding crown made its second appearance in 64 years as granddaughter Rebecca Connolly graced the architectural grandeur of One North Broad for her wedding nuptials.
Grandmother Frances Spadaro originally wore this gorgeous crown on June 6th, 1959, when she married Rebecca’s grandfather, Gene Kutner. Frances bought it from Blue Bird Bridal Shoppe, 531 South Street in Philadelphia.
“My grandmother’s crown is so beautiful and intricate and has a timeless element to it. I was always inspired by the classic look of my grandparents’ wedding photos, and my grandmother’s headpiece always struck me as a beautiful bridal accessory that completed her look.”
Rebecca was surprised to find out her grandmother still had her crown after all these years. She took her grandmother to see the beautiful ballgown she had chosen and thought it would be fun to try it on with her gown. From the moment she placed it on her head, she knew she wanted to incorporate it into her wedding day style.
Rebecca found it difficult to find someone with expertise to work to restore her family's crown.
“One seamstress I consulted, highly recommended for wedding gown alterations, suggested I buy a white headband from Amazon and drop it off with the crown for her to attach it. The plan made me nervous, given the age of the piece, beadwork, and most importantly sentimentality.”
“I had given up on the idea and, on a whim, Googled suggestions for a DIY alteration. I figured if it was going to be ruined in a failed attempt, I should at least be the one to do it. This is when I found Headpiece.com through a blog post. My grandmother came over for dinner the next night, and we went through almost every blog post, admiring the work. It felt like finding a fairy godmother!”
“The biggest issue with the crown was that it was totally closed, which didn’t work with my head size or the hairstyle I was looking for. The crown needed some restoration, but the redesign was my main concern.”
Rebecca drove from Philadelphia to the shop for a consultation and evaluation. Her grandmother's headpiece needed extensive restoration. The crown was crushed and lacked stability, the wire was rusted, and beads were missing. During her appointment, I clipped the fixed circumference of the crown to open it up. I could see the relief in Rebecca’s eyes. At this point, she realized that she had come to the right place, and her dream of wearing her grandmother’s crown was becoming a reality.
“I have restored many beaded wedding crowns. Because of the thickness of the crown lining, they are among the most difficult to work with. The bead threading is often broken and extremely fragile, and replacing the vintage beads is intricate. Finding vintage beads to match is like finding a needle in a haystack, as many are no longer produced. Although, I have found the needle on occasion!”
The Vintage Heirloom Wedding Crown
Wedding Photography by Elizabeth Hasier Photo
GOWN / Sareh Nouri VENUE / One North Broad CROWN RESTORATION / Headpiece.com BEAUTY / Aleksandra Ambrozy FLOWERS / Pridmore Floral Design PLANNER / Courtney Space Events
“I couldn’t have been happier! Not only did the modernized shape perfectly fit my style, but the final restoration kept the integrity of the piece and brought shine back into the beadwork.”
Rebecca chose to wait until her wedding day to show her grandmother the final look.
“I was very excited and honored that Rebecca wanted to wear my crown on her wedding day. The restoration was beautiful, and I was so impressed with how it turned out and how beautifully it matched her wedding dress.”
“When we booked our venue, I wasn’t sure what gown silhouette I wanted. The scale and historic style of the venue seemed perfect for a ballgown, so I leaned into that vision. I was also inspired by how my grandmother’s ballgown stood the test of time. When looking for dresses, I was drawn to Sareh Nouri’s designs because, in addition to being beautifully made, they incorporate modern and chic elements while remaining timelessly elegant.”
“The changes worked perfectly with my hairstyle. The crown completed my whole wedding day look.”
Rebecca and Tim chose One North Broad in Philadelphia because of its “wow factor.” They wanted a formal wedding with a venue that felt fun and not stuffy while also allowing their guests to have an experience. This 1873 National Historical Landmark is filled with unique spaces that allow for exploration. During cocktail hour, docents led discussions explaining the rich art and history of this breathtaking Masonic Temple.
“Our wedding day vibe was gilded-age glamour. The whole day had a very grand and vintage feel, so the crown fit perfectly.”
I asked Rebecca if she had advice for brides hoping to restore an old wedding crown.
“Call Headpiece.com! By going through this process, I learned so much about the intricacies of the restoration process and how much can go wrong. Don’t trust just anyone with your family heirlooms!”
Rebecca and Tim’s wedding photos are magnificent in grandeur and beauty. As a lover of historical fashion, Rebecca’s regal wedding ensemble, combined with the majestic setting of One North Broad, looks as though she stepped out of a time long, long ago. I am so grateful to be the artisan who restored her family heirloom so that it may passed down for future generations to wear on their wedding day. Maybe the story of this gorgeous crown will be one for the history books!
See you next month on the Fourteenth