What To Do With An Old Wedding Veil Or Bridal Headpiece
If you are not sure what to do with an old wedding veil or bridal headpiece, you are not alone. Maybe you have inherited your Grandma’s old wedding crown, are cleaning out a loved one’s home, are divorced and don’t want to keep it, or you’ve simply had a headpiece and veil hanging around for way too long. This guide will walk you through what to do with an old wedding veil or headpiece, whether you choose to donate it, sell it, or repurpose it.
Is My Old Wedding Veil or Headpiece Worth Anything?
Over my lengthy career, I have received at least one call a month from someone asking me if I want to buy a used wedding dress, bridal veil, or headpiece. Each caller shares a personal story and why they believe their piece has value. In my experience, an old wedding veil or headpiece is most likely to have real market value if it falls into three categories: it’s rare, it’s handmade by a skilled craftsman, and it’s in truly pristine condition.
“I find value in every vintage piece I see. Not a monetary value, but value in the human story of each piece. I immerse myself in the wedding story behind every veil, crown, or headpiece, learning its history from the bride or family member.”
Marie Hunt, Designer and Owner of Headpiece.com since 1999. Photo by Antonietta Henry Photography.
What Makes A Vintage Wedding Veil Or Headpiece Valuable
Many seek to discover the value of old wedding pieces. Most vintage headpieces and veils come with challenges that are incredibly costly to overcome. There have only been a handful of occasions where someone has brought me a piece that took my breath away, and when I see such a piece, I make sure to let them know how valuable it is.
Rare, Handmade, And Pristine: Three Signs of Value
Brussels Lace wedding veils can fetch a pretty penny if they find the right buyer. This family veil is of high quality and in pristine condition. It was originally purchased in 1974 in Brussels, Belgium. When Marie brought this veil to me, it needed a good bath and strategic repair to a few very small holes. The fabric's integrity was impressive, given that eight family members have worn the veil. It was never stored in an attic, and that is a major reason for its preserved modern beauty to this day.
Through the years, I have worked to restore and restyle many wax flower crowns. Kaitlyn’s grandmother’s floral wax headpiece was in the best condition of any that I have worked on in my 27 years at the shop. The florals were strong and free from broken or cracked petals, and the blossoms were the whitest I have ever seen, with beautiful, bright stamens in the centers. She was unaware that the crown was made of wax. The enamel coating on the flowers of vintage crowns often oxidizes to a golden color, but not Kaitlyn's. I let her know that she is so blessed to have a wax flower piece in such beautiful condition.
Vintage wedding veil or bridal headpiece details that prove value:
Fabrics in beautiful condition, strong fibers, free of holes and staining
Authentic fine laces such as Brussels and Chantilly
Handstitched detail
Freshwater or cultured pearls
Swarovski crystal
Wax flowers
Why Your Veil or Headpiece May Be Priceless to You But Costly to Restore or Repurpose
Choosing to restore or repurpose a vintage headpiece or veil depends on whether the bride wants a quick DIY solution or a lasting, beautiful design for future generations. There is a big difference between the two.
“So often I hear from a bride, ‘It is in really good condition! It just needs to be cleaned up a bit.’ OR ‘You just need to clip it to make it smaller and put it on a comb.’ I think to myself (with a smile), “ Oh, is that all it really needs? It’s that simple?!”
Kaitlyn brought me her grandmother's 1964 wedding crown, which her mother also wore in 1991. It was spectacular, but it showed signs of age, with tarnished wire, hairspray damage, and globs of oxidized glue. In Kaitlyn’s eyes, and in mine, this family crown had incredible promise to become an heirloom headpiece if restored.
All the details of this gorgeous vintage wedding crown restoration can be found on this blog Wearing My Grandmother’s Vintage Bridal Headpiece.
On her wedding day, Kaitlyn is wearing her grandmother’s restored wedding crown. Photo by Kelly Sea Images.
Melissa brought her mom’s 1992 headpiece to me, hoping to find a way to downsize it so she could wear it as a backstyle headpiece above her bun. I helped her see the design potential for a statement-style headpiece that preserved sentimentality while creating a fashion “Wow” on her wedding day.
I captured the story of Melissa and her mom at Headpiece.com on this Instagram Reel. You will love their reaction.<3
I restored and repurposed Melissa’s mother's bridal crown.
Melissa is wearing her mom’s bridal crown repurposed as a backstyle headpiece. Photo by Breathe Artistic.
The Costs to Restore or Repurpose Your Vintage Headpiece Can Add Up:
Proper deconstruction to preserve vintage elements
Glue removal
Hand cleaning crystals and pearls to remove hairspray damage and grime
Removing rusted or blackened, tarnished wire and rewiring elements
Bathing florals and fabrics to reverse discoloration
Hand designing new millinery frames to replace glue-ridden mass produced frames
Vintage Headpiece or Wedding Veil: Deciding To Let It Go
Deciding to let go of your vintage wedding veil or headpiece is quite emotional for some, but freeing for others. Some want to hang on to the stories and memories of the past, while others want to let go, end a chapter, and carry on with the road of life.
Letting Go of a Headpiece You Will Never Use
After traveling up from Maryland, Karen stopped by the shop one day with her beloved mom’s 1950s wedding crown, wishing to create something, anything from it to pass down. Her mom had passed away, and after hanging on to it for several years, she felt it was time to let go of it. No weddings were in the works, and her grandchildren were just toddlers. She wanted to cut it up so that each of her grandchildren could have a piece.
Her crown was perfect in so many ways. It needed nothing but love and a home. We talked for a bit and, by the end, agreed that we would be friends if we lived closer. I insisted she take the crown back home. I could never cut such a beautiful crown without a plan to wear it.
“Karen realized my passion and love for bridal accessories of yesteryear. She left me with a hug and a gift. Her beautiful crown is now displayed in my shop. ”
Why Donate Your Vintage Veil, or Headpiece to Headpiece.com?
After Karen’s visit, I thought long and hard. So many moms and grandmothers have shared stories of how they threw out their wedding veil and dress or dropped them off at a thrift store. Nothing would make me happier than to rescue some of these beautiful pieces to display, restore, and restyle.
Photo by Antonietta Henry Photography
Donate Your Vintage Wedding Veil, Bridal Crown, or Headpiece to Keep Its Story Alive
Headpiece.com now accepts donations of vintage wedding veils, bridal headpieces, and wedding crowns through our website. We can’t accept all pieces, so please include details about your piece and a little wedding history, and we will reply.
Headpiece Donations
Ashley returned to Headpiece.com after her marriage with the most incredible gift. She gave me the remnants of her grandmother’s wax flower headpiece. This was such a beautiful gesture! I have used a few damaged pieces to perfect my techniques for wax flower repair.
Mary donated her mom’s handmade pillbox hat after her mom moved out of her family home. It is lovingly displayed at the shop.
Wedding Veil Preservation and Headpiece Restoration Studies at Headpiece.com
Brides have donated the remnants of their vintage headpieces and crowns after restoration and repurposing. Even the smallest piece helps the discovery of new methods for cleaning, restoring, and preserving vintage elements.
Please let us know if you have a vintage piece that you would like to find a home for. Headpiece.com is that place! It will be truly loved, and your family's wedding story will be preserved. ~ Marie
See you next month on the Fourteenth