Get inspired by Something Old, Something New...

Where did the wedding custom of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" come from anyway?

Something Old, Something New

Author: Unknown

Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue,

And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

This traditional saying has become a wedding custom for good luck for a bride.  Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy.

"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.

"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead.

"Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.  

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true." 

Have you ever considered a blue wedding gown?

Ball Gown Sweetheart Embroidery Bead Satin Chiffon Wedding Dress

Blue Ball Gown Portrait Applique Ruffles Train Draped Satin Wedding...

or maybe add a blue sash to your dress...

Classic A-line Sweetheart Blue Sash Beaded Bust Train Satin Wedding...

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.

So lets summarize:

Something Old--symbolizes the continuous chain between the the bride's family and the past.

Something New--symbolizes optimism and hope for good fortune and success in the brides new life.

Something Borrowed--symbolizes the friends and family that will always be there for the bride and the shared happiness from married couples.

Something Blue--symbolizes the bride's faithfulness, loyalty, purity, fidelity and purity.

Sixpence - symbolizes wealth and financial security.

There are so many creative ways brides can carry on this great tradition.  Have fun and share with us your ideas, we'd love to hear from you! How do plan to carry on your family tradition or will you start your own?

Get inspired by these popular ideas:

Something Old  

• A relative's wedding gown or using a piece of the fabric to sew into your own gown or wrap the bridal bouquet
• A family heirloom: jewelry, veil, headpiece, handkerchief
• A piece of fabric from an old childhood doll or article of clothing, either sewn into your gown or used as a wrap for your bouquet.
• A locket with photos of your parents or grandparents.

Something New  

• New shoes
• New jewelry
• You might consider your "something new" your dress, if purchased new.
• New lingerie or garter

Something Borrowed  

• Often, this is jewelry belonging to someone close to you: earrings, a watch, pearls, etc.
• A veil or headpiece
• A brooch or hair comb
• A purse

Something Blue 

• Monogram in blue thread sewn into wedding dress
• Blue shoes
• Blue underwear or lingerie garter
• Blue crinoline
• Blue nail polish
• Jewelry accents in blue: earrings, rings, bracelets, anklet, toe rings, necklaces containing sapphires, topaz, aquamarine, Swarovski crystals, etc.
• Blue bouquet accents: ribbon wrap, brooches, cameos, lockets
• Blue sash for wedding gown
• Blue embroidery on wedding gown
• Blue hair accessories: hair clips/barrettes, headband, etc.
• Blue handkerchief (for tears of joy) or handkerchief with blue monogram/embroidery
• Blue rhinestones glued to bottom of wedding shoes in shape of initials
• A Blue Temporary Tattoo - idotattoos.com

Start your own tradition with this something blue handkerchief

$17.95

 

Something Blue© Personalized Hankie

or maybe this Sapphire Crystals Brooche Wedding Brooch Stylish Trendy Brooch only $19.99

Blue shoes?

or perhaps your bouquet

We hope this information sheds light on this wonderful tradition and you start your own.

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