Repurpose Your Vintage Heirloom Headpiece Into Wedding Hair Pins
Repurposing your mom’s or mother-in-law’s vintage headpiece into wedding hairpins adds deeper meaning to your wedding day. It creates a sentimental connection with someone you love, and it is something only the heart holds.
Repurposing An 80s Floral Bridal Headpiece
Stephanie wanted to repurpose her mom’s 1985 wreath-style headpiece. She loved the embroidered and organza florals but had no idea how to use them in a modern way for her wedding day.
“My goal with vintage restyles is always to create gorgeous, meaningful bridal accessories that preserve a heartfelt, yet private connection between the bride and the loved one’s piece they are repurposing. I want the final design to be so unqiue and beautiful that it causes guests to question where the bride got it. One thing for certain—I never want it to scream “this is my mom’s 80s headpiece!””
The petaled flowers on this headpiece were large and pouffy. The embroidered organza flowers were pretty but also oversized. The challenge was to make them more dainty and delicate while also adding dimension, all while preserving the essence of her mom’s original headpiece.
I designed a set of three hairpins, each unique, and two more light and ethereal in style. This offered Stephanie flexibility to accessorize her wedding day hairstyle, while also allowing her mom and sis to each wear a piece too.
“What I love so much about designing in components is that the options for hair placement are endless. My brides can even switch up their accessory style later in the evening.”
“I wanted to repurpose my mom’s headpiece to incorporate a small moment from her day into my own, and to create heirloom pieces for my sister to wear one day on her wedding day and for us both to pass along to our children one day.”
Photography by Emily Arleene Photo
Hair by Jaime K Hair
Designing Hair Pins From A Lace Juliet Cap
Repurposing lace Juliet caps from the 80s into bridal hair pins or a hair clip is trending with my clients. Eighties Juliet headpieces were made by gluing lace to a mass-produced frame. Restoring the lace to a supple fabrication by removing glue is one of the most arduous and complicated parts of my work.
After I restored the lace, I worked my magic with a needle and thread to add subtle dimension and beaded embellishment. The once glue-laden Alençon lace was now softened and beautiful once again. Jenny also chose to surprise her mom with hair pins made from her headpiece.
“I wanted to use my mom’s wedding veil and headpiece because they represent something so much bigger than just a beautiful accessory. They are a part of her story, and being able to incorporate something she wore on such a meaningful day in her life into something of my own felt really special.”
“I didn’t know what was possible to restyle them, so seeing the transformation was such a beautiful surprise. The final result made me appreciate them even more because it allowed me to carry a little piece of my mom’s story forward in a way that feels timeless, personal, and uniquely mine.”
Photography by Leah Ozanne
Hairstyle by Locks & Lashes
Restyling A Vintage Floral Spray Headpiece
Restyling a vintage headpiece isn't just for the mother of the bride anymore. More of my brides are including their mother-in-law in this sentimental process. Francesca sent me her MILs 1993 headpiece. I immediately fell in love with the elements of her floral spray.
“I conduct a thorough interview with my clients to understand their vision for their wedding-day style. This includes every aspect of their wedding. Once I get a feel for their bridal vibe, I asked them what they love about the headpiece they want to transform. This exchange of ideas is where my work begins and creative suggestions start to flow.”
“When I first gave Marie my mother-in-law’s (very 1993) headpiece, I hoped to channel some of the love that’s kept my in-laws happy for thirty-three years. But where I saw something dated and over frilly, she saw potential.”
“The pins that Marie created were unlike anything I’d ever seen before—they were dainty, elegant, and such a beautiful thread that united my in-laws’ wedding with ours.”
Hairstyle by Brianne Sassone
Making A 90s Wedding Crown Into Bridal Hair Pins
Caitlin and her mom discovered Headpiece.com on Instagram after following my design work with Carla Marie in Seattle. Carla Marie posted a Reel on Instagram asking for help finding someone to restore and restyle her mom’s headpiece from the 90s. Carla Marie then found me—Marie! She later posted another Reel about her experience at Headpiece.com, and since then, several brides have reached out looking for repurposing precious family heirlooms.
“Caitlin’s mom worked locally and scheduled a consultation with me at the shop. Together, we met virtually with Caitlin, who lived hours away in upstate NY. I loved Caitlin’s open, creative spirit and desire for uniqueness on her wedding day.”
Her mom’s 1995 crown had such pretty elements. Caitlin loved the idea of making a set of five hairpins, each with its own design and style. I loved the satin tubing and knew that after cleaning it, the satin would be a beautiful, unique touch when paired with the existing pearls and beads.
“I am a big proponent of family, so when my mentioned the possibility of using her headpiece, I knew that was going to happen; it just felt right!”
“I had no idea what beautiful pieces could be made from her headpiece, but they were perfect. I still have a piece of myself in my childhood roots, but you made it new, representing my future and building my own family. My mother was absolutely elated.”
Photo by Caitlin Miller Photography
Hairstyle by Meaghan Phelps
Lace Wedding Hair Pins With A Vintage Bridal Style
I am certain this is only the beginning of what you'll hear about my bride, Sarah. For this blog, I will only mention her beautiful lace hair pins repurposed from her mom’s 1988 headpiece.
“Sarah is a vintage lover—my kind of girl! She had reasons beyond family relationships to restyle her vintage accessories. I’m patiently waiting for her full wedding gallery to arrive, and I hope to feature her in a full wedding blog.”
Sarah wanted to use only her mom’s lace and pearls to create her hairpins. She let me add a tiny touch of invisible sparkle to this graceful, classic set of three.
“I wanted to repurpose my mother’s veil, not only to have something old, but also to give reason and specific purpose for as many choices I could make about what I was wearing and surrounded by on my wedding day.”
“In this day and age of Amazon, I wanted to avoid ordering or buying something just because I thought it looked nice. I put real thought into how I could embed love and lineage into my wedding day.”
“When people asked me about my hairpiece, I was so excited to tell them it was my mother’s veil turned into hairpins. It became more than just my beautiful hair pins, knowing its history. It’s a symbol of those who have raised me and made me the woman I am today.”
Photo by Ashleigh Howard
Hair by Meghan Hardy
Before you buy a standard bridal accessory that just looks beautiful with your dress, look around: check your mom’s closet, open her preservation box, and ask your MIL what she wore. The most beautifully designed and unique bridal accessories might be one conversation away and something you will cherish on your wedding day and always.
See you next month on the Fourteenth