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.
“This story is unique in many ways, but Olivia’s Nonna adds to the narrative with her love and wisdom at the age of 100. Her wedding veil found its way to Headpiece.com with challenges and hopes for renewed love.”
Olivia and her Nonna at her 100th birthday celebration.
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.
“Since I was little, I have spent much time with my Nonna and Papa. We shared family dinners on Thursday nights, Easter and Christmas. I always put on a show and dance, and my Nonna and I would sing “Oh You Beautiful Doll” together for the table of guests.”
“I visit my Nonna several times a week, and we watch game shows, look through photos, and listen to music. Our relationship is one I feel very blessed to have.”
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.
“As a little girl, I pretended I was getting married. I would go into my Nonna’s closet, put on her heels, grab one of her nightgowns or housecoats, apply some lipstick, and finish it off with her veil, which she left in the toy closet for me. Her wedding veil would be special to me before I even knew it.”
“After a family dinner the night I graduated from nursing school, I asked my Nonna if me, my mom, and my fiancé could come by. It was the first time she met John, and the moment I asked my Nonna if I could have her wedding veil.”
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
“John and I wanted to keep the day about us and our love without the influence of other people. We wanted to keep it intimate and laid back.”
“I loved it! It incorporated all the parts of my Nonna’s headpiece while giving it its own new look and design.”
“I have always been a planner and wanted things a certain way down to every detail. My wedding day was the opposite. I was ok with it flowing naturally; however, the day would go. I wasn’t nervous because I was just happy marrying my best friend. Overall, I was peaceful.”
“My Nonna was the only person I called that morning. I told her I missed her and wished she could be with me. She said, “John really got the best of my grandchildren.” She told me she was feeling very lonely that day, more than normal. I expressed I wouldn’t feel lonely because I had her with me. The necklace I wore was also hers.”
“Many years ago, John mentioned a desire to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I didn’t know what the heck was in Wyoming, but when we started watching Yellowstone, I looked into Montana and Wyoming and just found it so beautiful.”
“We married at the Wedding Tree in Grand Teton National Forest on September 21, 2023. I chose this date solely based on the song “September” by Earth Wind and Fire.”
“The clouds started coming before the ceremony. It was partially sunny throughout the ceremony.”
“The wind and rain really started by the time we made it to the Mormon Row Barn. The rain didn’t bother us at all. I love the rain so I was actually really happy when it rained.”
“A lot of people think rain could be the worst thing on your wedding day. On my Nonna’s wedding day (mind you, it was April 20th...spring!), she woke up and looked out the window, and it was snowing. She yelled out, “MAA it’s snowing!” She shared that story so many times, and I love it because I can hear her yelling it.”
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