Traditions: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

22 Jun Traditions: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

The elder family members say that a bride should carry or wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue is a time-honored tradition that is supposed to bring the bride good luck. These items can represent something totally different and be incorporated into the Brides attire in many different ways.  Traditions like this date back for centuries and are still honored by many modern day brides.

Something old – continuity with the bride’s family and the past.

Something new – optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead.

Something borrowed – an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride

Something blue – Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”.

Wearing something old is a means to connect with family members even after you enter into your own marriage and start a family of your own.  Something old could be a piece of jewelry from your grandmother or great grandmother to express sentiment on what your family truly means to you and your new life.

Wearing something new represents the beginning of your new life with the one you love.  This could be something special your fiancé bought for you for your special day, or it could be something the two of you selected together that represents your love for each other.

Wearing something borrowed can symbolize your love for the person you are borrowing the item from, like your mother or perhaps a sister or best friend.  This item usually has a special meaning or significance in their lives and this allows them to share that with you on your journey.

Wearing something blue on your wedding day symbolizes a couple’s fidelity to each other. Some brides have the thought “How am I going to wear blue on my wedding day”, but it is very easy to do…You may select a necklace or a pair of earrings that have a blue stone, how about a blue ribbon on your bridal bouquet or you can wear a blue garter if you do not want the blue showing. If you plan to do this you might want to wear a blue garter and a white garter and instruct the groom to remove the white one so that he is not tossing away your garter that symbolizes faithfulness.

Did you know, that in the past, the rest of this poem went as follows: A silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe, representing wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. 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.