I have created many beautiful bridal accessory designs using vintage wax flowers, but Teresa’s restyle was my first using porcelain flowers from 1990. The results from repurposing her mom’s headpiece were modern and stunning!
“I struggled to find a veil and headpiece that fit the style of my dress and made me feel beautiful. I knew I wanted to honor my mom on my wedding day. When nothing I tried on was quite right, I knew I needed to get my mom’s headpiece into the right hands!”
Photo by Du Castel Photography
“I found Headpiece.com by searching Google for “Vintage Veil Restoration.” I wasn’t sure if restoring my mom’s headpiece and veil was possible, but Headpiece.com had unbelievable ratings. So many brides said they were meeting with Marie virtually from all around the country. It was a little sign (and a blessing) when I saw her shop was only 40 minutes away. I just had a feeling we needed to meet Marie.”
Maryann Lonsway on her wedding day, September 3rd, 1990. Maryann bought her headpiece from a local designer in Pittsburgh, PA. She chose it because of the porcelain roses. Roses are her favorite flowers; this was a beautiful way to incorporate them into her headpiece and veil.
“My mom was such a beautiful bride and wasn’t afraid to be a little different. She wore a light pink wedding dress instead of white, and her headpiece was unlike many of the 1990s pieces.”
“Teresa and her loving heart came to me after researching vintage restoration. It was meaningful and touching that she wanted to incorporate something from my wedding day. We discussed at length, reviewed Marie’s portfolio, and saw her incredible work. We knew we could trust her with my delicate headpiece.”
Porcelain flowers were popular in the nineties. Lori London created intricate miniature blossoms and leaves in beautiful soft, pastel colors. I carried her romantic, ethereal collection when I opened my store in 1999. Teresa was right, though. Her mom’s headpiece was unique. I have never seen anything like her mom’s soft silk-covered halo and veil elaborately embellished with gorgeous petite buds.
Removing the floral clusters from the headpiece was a challenge. If I used too much pressure, the porcelain petals would break. I swear they were put together with super glue! Taking apart the beautiful tiny buds took two and a half hours.
I restyled them into a set of five pins in different sizes. This allowed for creative freedom when arranging in her bridal hairstyle while having the option to use them again, which is one of my signature suggestions when consulting with a bride. The extra hairpin was made for Teresa’s sister, Maddy.
“Because the flowers were so closely clustered together, I felt the project would be nearly impossible. Separating the flowers to make smaller delicate pieces was no small task. The final hair accessories truly blew me away and were everything I could dream of. Marie placed some of the tiny strung pearls throughout each piece. The small addition of sparkles, which Marie advised, was such a beautiful touch that made them glisten and eye-catching.”
Teresa chose the talented Elena Usyk to do her hair. They played around with hairpin placement and found a style that our bride-to-be loved!
Vintage Porcelain Flower Headpiece Restyle
Photos by Du Castel Photography
GOWN / Anthropolgie Weddings VENUE / The Ryland Inn BRIDAL ACCESSORIES / Headpiece.com HAIR / Elena Usyk Styles BEAUTY / Skin By Chey FLORIST / Hopeless Romantics Design
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw them; they had been completely transformed and restored. I was so grateful to share such a sentimental piece of my mom with my sister on her special day. I know they will be used for generations, and I hope to use them for my wedding one day.”
Maddy and Teresa getting dressed for the wedding.
“I was in awe! I never imagined they would be that beautiful, and she will have them forever. The porcelain pins were always meant to be there. They were truly breathtaking, and I felt so honored. The sentimental value of these pieces is important to me, but it meant even more that she valued them the same way.”
“I never really had a vision for my dress, but I always had a vision for my veil. I always wanted a long veil with a blusher.
I remember picking up my veil at Headpiece.com and getting goosebumps when I tried it on. It was so sheer and incredibly dreamy. ”
“I vividly remember walking down the aisle under my blusher and seeing all my friends and family through the sheer fabric; it was such a dream!”
I always tell my brides you can tell the quality of a bridal veil by its movement. Fake “veil blowing” photos are so easy to spot. Teresa’s veil photographed natural and flowing.
“There were so many moments during the day where my veil blew in the wind and wrapped around me and I loved every minute.”
“While planning the wedding, I didn’t share the details about what I was planning for my headpiece and veil with my fiancé. On our wedding day, my husband, Aidan, looked at me and said, “I really LOVE your hairpieces, and they match your dress perfectly.” I then shared how they were made from my mom’s.”
“The small vintage clusters on my hairpins looked so beautiful with my gown. It is as if it was meant to be decades ago when my mom chose them for her wedding day.”
“Transform your “something old” into something timeless with Marie. She is the best and can bring your vision to life!”
See you next month on the Fourteenth
