Wearing My Grandmother’s Vintage Bridal Headpiece
It is easy to fall in love with the crystal wedding crown your grandmother once wore, especially when your mom wore it too. Restoring a vintage bridal headpiece to its 1960s beauty while updating it and preserving its original essence is a balance that requires design experience and curative skill. Kaitlyn was intent on finding the right person so she could be the third generation to wear this meaningful heirloom.
1960s Wedding Attire
The graceful formality of bridal gowns worn by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1953 and Grace Kelly in 1956 continued to inspire brides in the early 60s. Sculpted bodices, demure bateau necklines, and tailored waists, made of luxurious satins and crisp silk organza, created an era of the most beautiful wedding fashion.
“Headpieces and crowns were the style in New Jersey in 1964. I chose this crown because of the Aurora Borealis crystals. I loved the way they sparkled and shined when they caught the light.”
“In 1991, everyone was wearing some type of headpiece. I thought my mom’s crown was pretty, and it became my “something borrowed” for my wedding day. ”
When Kaitlyn’s mom got married, she altered the crown to open it up, so it sat more like a 90s-style headpiece and made room for her bubble veil.
Kaitlyn visited her mom during the holidays and asked to pull out her wedding dress, try it on, and have a good laugh while experiencing the pouf and volume of a ‘90s bride.
“Once she opened the box, there was the crown! I put it on my head and felt a little silly in it because of how big it was: height, width, and the amount of tulle.”
Kaitlyn had no desire to wear the vintage headpiece with a veil so big and pouffy. She had her eye on the family crown, but only if she could modify it according to her bridal vision.
“That veil needed to go! I needed the crown sized to my head correctly, and I wanted it shaped more like a tiara to better fit the hairstyle I chose. Some crystals were missing from the wires, and it needed to be cleaned. It was definitely time for repair!”
Vintage Wedding Crown Restoration
Every detail, from her grandmother's carefully set curls to her luminous pearls and sparkling crystal crown, created a look of timeless sophistication, worthy of becoming a family heirloom for generations to come.
“I didn’t mind that Kaitlyn wanted to alter the style of the crown to fit her look. Besides, the crown needed some love and attention after 60+ years.”
September 13th, 1964
April 18th, 1991
“Initially, I was not on board with Kaitlyn wearing the crown. It no longer sparkled; some beads had fallen off, and it was misshapen. But she was determined to wear it!”
Kaitlyn and her mom began searching for someone to restore their crown. First, they took it to a bridal shop that sold bridal accessories, but it only sold new pieces. Next, they reached out to a jeweler, who said they didn’t feel comfortable cleaning or repairing it.
“Finally, we turned to Google, and every search brought me back to the same name. Each time, Headpiece.com was the first result. I read the reviews and blogs, and scrolled through tons of photos. I knew this was my best shot to restore my crown!”
This crown had such potential to be a stunning piece for Kaitlyn on her wedding day. With many years of expertise in vintage headpiece restoration, I immediately knew the issues I needed to address to make it look current, eye-catching, and the talk of the wedding.
“The ‘60s are my absolute favorite decade for bridal headpiece design, and I loved the two-layer style of this wedding crown. I wanted to reduce the crown’s height, weight, and bulk. Creating a new pitch and reviving its brilliance and shine would check off all of my bride’s boxes! ”
Steps For Vintage Bridal Headpiece Restoration
Deconstruct the headpiece, removing every crystal, blackened, tarnished wires, and heavily glued pearls
Hand-clean every crystal to remove years-old hairspray damage and aged epoxy
Engineer a new design, slightly downsizing it while preserving the look and bridal style of the original 1964 crown
This is a close-up look at hairspray damage, tarnished wire and metal cup chain, and old epoxy that has turned gold over the years. This is what causes old crowns and headpieces to look yellow, dingy, and dated.
Before & After Vintage Bridal Headpiece Restoration
Grandmother’s 1960 crystal and pearl wedding crown before restoration.
Kaitlyn’s bridal crown after restoration, repair, and alteration.
“Kaitlyn chose to be surprised when she came to pick up at the shop. I was so excited to see her reaction. I was confident this was everything she dreamed of.”
“Once the crown was placed on my head and I saw it for the first time, I couldn’t believe how bright it was shining in the light. It was exactly what I hoped for! It fit perfectly, and even though it had been modernized, it still had its original vintage beauty that I loved from the start. ”
Go behind the scenes to see how this gorgeous crown was restored and Kaitlyn’s reaction on this popular Instagram Reel.
A Crystal Wedding Crown Restored
Wedding Photography by Kelly Sea Images
GOWN / VENUE / The Madison Hotel VEIL / Headpiece.com HAIR / Top Knots By Aimee MUA / Samantha Scipione FLOWERS / J&M Home and Garden BRIDAL SALON / Seng Couture
“On my wedding day, the crown was the first thing everyone noticed. It shined beautifully and brought my wedding style together.”
“I felt honored to have my daughter and granddaughter wear my crown. Kaitlyn looked so beautiful on her wedding day. I was just so glad to see her so happy.”
“The crown looked brand new. The once dirty beads were now shiny. The wedding guests loved the story of the crown and how all three of us have worn it.”
After Party Bridal Accessories
“I felt gorgeous in it, and when the night ended, I didn’t want to take it off. I literally wore it to my after-party.”
What I love most about working with these precious vintage heirlooms is that their stories live on and will never fade. A beautiful family crown will patiently wait over time for a new love story to begin. I hope a new bride’s eyes will open wide, and her heart will race at the pristine condition and preserved brilliance of this incredible piece. And when the night ends, so will one more chapter in a book yet to be finished.
See you next month on the Fourteenth